Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for automatic assignment of a spin species to a combination image

A method for determining relationships of respective magnetic resonance spin species to each other for assigning a respective magnetic resonance spin species to a magnetic resonance combination image reconstructed from at least two magnetic resonance datasets acquired respectively at different echo times of a multi-contrast magnetic resonance data acquisition sequence, wherein only one spin species is represented in said reconstructed combination image, said method comprising:

• loading a database into a computer that comprises stored designations of a plurality of pairs of previously assigned reconstructed magnetic resonance combination images with an associated magnetic resonance spin species;
• in said computer automatically analyzing parameters of the reconstructed combination images in said database and the respective magnetic resonance spin species assigned thereto in order to obtain an analysis result and, from said analysis result, automatically determining generalized relationships that designate said assignment;
• and
• making the determined relationships available from the computer in electronic form for subsequent use during assignment of a magnetic resonance spin species to a reconstructed magnetic resonance combination image, which is not included in said database.

A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:

• a computer loaded with predetermined relationships, determined from existing databases, into a computer that define assignment of magnetic resonance spin species to magnetic resonance combination images;
• a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner configured to execute a multi-contrast magnetic resonance data acquisition measurement in which at least two echo times are produced, and to acquire at least two magnetic resonance datasets respectively during said at least two echo times;
• said computer being provided with said magnetic resonance datasets, and said computer being configured to reconstruct at least one combination image from said at least two magnetic resonance datasets;
• said computer being configured to use the loaded relationships to assign spin species represented in said determined at least one combination image to respective magnetic resonance spin species;
• and
• said computer being configured to make an electronic signal representing the assignment of the respective magnetic resonance spin species available from the computer in electronic form.

A computer comprising:

• a memory;
• an input interface in communication with said memory, via which stored designations of a plurality of pairs of previously assigned reconstructed magnetic resonance combination images with an associated magnetic resonance spin species are loaded into the memory;
• a processor configured to automatically analyze parameters of the reconstructed combination images in said memory and the respective magnetic resonance spin species assigned thereto in order to obtain an analysis result and, from said analysis result, automatically determine generalized relationships that designate said assignment;
• an output interface;
• and
• said processor being configured to make the determined relationships available from the processor in electronic form via said output interface for subsequent use during assignment of a magnetic resonance spin species to a reconstructed magnetic resonance combination image, which is not included in said memory.

A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a control and evaluation computer of a magnetic resonance apparatus that comprises a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner, and said programming instructions causing said control and evaluation computer to:

• receive predetermined relationships, determined from existing databases that define assignment of magnetic resonance spin species to magnetic resonance combination images;
• operate a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner to execute a multi-contrast magnetic resonance data acquisition measurement in which at least two echo times are produced, and acquiring at least two magnetic resonance datasets respectively during said at least two echo times;
• reconstruct at least one combination image from said at least two magnetic resonance datasets;
• use the loaded relationships to assign spin species represented in said determined at least one combination image to respective magnetic resonance spin species;
• and
• make an electronic signal representing the assignment of the respective magnetic resonance spin species available from the control and evaluation computer in electronic form.

A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a control and evaluation computer of a magnetic resonance apparatus that comprises a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner, and said programming instructions causing said control and evaluation computer to:

• receive a database that comprises stored designations of a plurality of pairs of previously assigned reconstructed magnetic resonance combination images with an associated magnetic resonance spin species;
• automatically analyze parameters of the reconstructed combination images in said database and the respective magnetic resonance spin species assigned thereto in order to obtain an analysis result and, from said analysis result, automatically determining generalized relationships that designate said assignment;
• and
• make the determined relationships available from the control and evaluation computer in electronic form for subsequent use during assignment of a magnetic resonance spin species to a reconstructed magnetic resonance combination image, which is not included in said database.