MRI Apparatus Variable Wait Time Biosignal Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that synchronize pulse sequences with biosignals, such as respiration or heart rate, face challenges in maintaining image quality when these signals become irregular, leading to degraded data acquisition during periods of body motion or cardiac arrhythmia.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that adjusts the start timing of a data acquisition sequence by varying a wait time based on biosignal fluctuations, ensuring data acquisition during periods of minimal body motion or cardiac stability, thereby reducing image quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pulse sequence is carried out in synchronization with respiration signals using respiratory gating method, then data can be acquired during periods of minimal body motion, but image quality degrades when respiration becomes irregular during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wait time variable rather than fixed. The wait time is dynamically adjusted based on the detected biosignal (respiration or heart rate) to accommodate irregular physiological patterns. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions during scanning, maintaining image quality even when respiration becomes irregular.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of wait time from a constant value to a variable value that depends on the biosignal. By monitoring the biosignal and adjusting the wait time accordingly, the system optimizes the timing of data acquisition to coincide with periods of minimal body motion or cardiac stability, thereby maintaining image quality under varying physiological conditions.
2Measurement precision
If a pulse sequence is carried out in synchronization with heart rate signals using heart rate gating method, then data can be acquired during desired period of cardiac phase, but image quality degrades when heart rate becomes irregular due to arrhythmia
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the wait time based on the detected heart rate signal, allowing it to adapt to irregular heart rates caused by arrhythmia. This dynamic adjustment ensures that data acquisition continues to occur during optimal cardiac phases even when the heart rate pattern becomes irregular.
Solution Approach 2:
The wait time parameter is changed from fixed to variable, with its value determined by the biosignal characteristics. This parameter change enables the system to maintain synchronization with the cardiac cycle under varying conditions, preserving image quality despite arrhythmia.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed wait time is used in the pulse sequence, then the sequence structure remains simple, but the start timing of data acquisition cannot be adjusted to accommodate biosignal variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wait time from a fixed parameter to a variable parameter that is determined based on the biosignal. This allows the start timing of data acquisition to be precisely adjusted to match the physiological state, improving timing accuracy while maintaining reasonable system complexity through automated calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to carry out a pulse sequence in synchronization with a biosignal is provided. The pulse sequence includes an RF pulse, and a data acquisition sequence for acquiring data when a wait time has passed after the RF pulse, wherein the wait time has a variable value that can be varied based on the biosignal.