Portable MRI EMI Mitigation via External Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable MRI systems face challenges in reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) without the use of RF-shielded rooms, which affects image quality and makes them non-portable.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring magnetic resonance data and EMI signal data using external EMI detectors, generating an EMI correction model, and applying it to subtract EMI-related artifacts from the magnetic resonance data, allowing for image reconstruction with reduced artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If RF shielded enclosures are used to reduce EMI, then EMI mitigation is improved, but portability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the EMI detection function from the MRI system itself and places external EMI detectors outside the imaging volume. These detectors independently monitor EMI signals in the environment, allowing the MRI system to maintain portability without RF shielding while the external detectors provide continuous EMI monitoring for correction purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational model that correlates EMI signals detected by external detectors with artifacts in MRI images. This model acts as a mediator to estimate and remove EMI contributions from the imaging data, enabling EMI mitigation without requiring physical RF shielding enclosures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If portable MRI systems operate outside RF shielded rooms, then portability is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to EMI artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary EMI detection and characterization using external detectors before and during the MRI scanning process. By continuously monitoring the electromagnetic environment in advance and during imaging, the system can pre-compute correction models and apply them to remove EMI artifacts, ensuring high image quality in portable settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where EMI signals detected by external detectors are continuously fed into a computational model that estimates EMI contributions to the imaging data. This feedback loop allows real-time correction of EMI artifacts, maintaining image quality as the system operates in unshielded portable environments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces EMI-related artifacts in MRI images, enabling portable MRI systems to operate outside RF-shielded rooms while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring electromagnetic interference ('EMI') signal data using at least one EMI detector positioned external to an imaging volume of the MRI system
Implementation Method 2
Corrected magnetic resonance data are then generated by computing an EMI correction model using the magnetic resonance data and the EMI signal data; applying the EMI correction model to the EMI signal data, generating output as correction data; and subtracting the correction data from the magnetic resonance data
Data Source
AI summary
Electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) is mitigated for portable magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) systems using postprocessing interference suppression techniques that make use of EMI detectors external to the MRI system imaging volume to detect EMI signals and remove them from acquired magnetic resonance data. EMI correction models, including static transfer function-based models, dynamic transfer function-based models, correction weight-based models, or parallel imaging kernel-based models can be used to remove the EMI-related artifacts from the magnetic resonance data.