MRI Temporal Resolution Adaptation for Cardiac Flow Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face inefficiencies in imaging fluid flow through subjects without contrast agents, particularly in determining the optimal temporal resolution for imaging fluid phases within a cardiac cycle, leading to prolonged data acquisition and processing times.
Innovation Solution
The MRI system incorporates a determining unit and imaging unit that perform pre-imaging with lower temporal resolution to identify an interest period, allowing for higher temporal resolution imaging using methods like Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) or Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP), enabling efficient data acquisition and display of time-resolved fluid vascular images by selectively focusing on periods of significant signal change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional MRI systems image fluid flow through the entire cardiac cycle at high temporal resolution, then complete hemodynamic information is obtained, but data acquisition time and processing load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary low-temporal-resolution scan of the entire cardiac cycle to identify periods of significant signal change (such as systole and diastole). Based on this preliminary analysis, it then selectively acquires high-temporal-resolution images only during these identified periods of interest, avoiding unnecessary imaging during periods with minimal fluid flow activity. This preliminary action enables the system to optimize subsequent imaging parameters based on actual hemodynamic characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different temporal resolutions to different time periods within the cardiac cycle. Instead of using uniform high temporal resolution throughout, the system uses high temporal resolution only during periods of significant signal change (identified as periods of interest), and lower temporal resolution during other periods. This local differentiation of imaging quality matches the actual hemodynamic activity patterns, reducing overall data acquisition time while maintaining measurement precision where it matters most.
2Loss of information
If MRI systems acquire data at high temporal resolution throughout the cardiac cycle, then detailed fluid phase information is captured, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and focuses imaging resources on specific periods of interest within the cardiac cycle where significant fluid flow changes occur. By identifying these critical periods through preliminary scanning and then concentrating high-temporal-resolution imaging only on these extracted periods of interest, the system captures essential fluid phase information while eliminating redundant data acquisition during periods with minimal hemodynamic activity, thereby reducing processing load.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete high-temporal-resolution imaging throughout the entire cardiac cycle, the system performs partial imaging only during identified periods of interest. This partial action approach captures the most critical fluid flow information (such as during systole and diastole) while avoiding excessive data acquisition during periods where fluid flow changes are minimal, thus maintaining information completeness for hemodynamic analysis while improving processing efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If uniform high temporal resolution is applied to all cardiac phases, then consistent image quality is achieved, but scan time becomes prohibitively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of temporal resolution based on the actual hemodynamic state. The system transitions from a static, uniform temporal resolution approach to a dynamic approach where temporal resolution is adapted to match the instantaneous fluid flow characteristics. During periods of significant signal change, high temporal resolution is applied; during periods of minimal change, lower temporal resolution is used. This dynamic adaptation maintains image quality consistency where needed while reducing overall scan duration.
Solution Approach 2:
A preliminary low-resolution scan is performed first to characterize the hemodynamic patterns and identify periods of interest. Based on this preliminary action, the system then plans and executes the main imaging sequence with optimized temporal resolution allocation. This two-stage approach allows the system to maintain high image quality during critical phases while avoiding excessive scan time by using lower resolution during less critical phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a determining unit and an imaging unit. When a fluid traveling through a subject is imaged for multiple times at different phases, the determining unit determines a period on the time axis within which imaging is performed at intervals satisfying a predetermined temporal resolution. The imaging unit performs imaging for multiple times by the temporal resolution within the period.