# US 10,481,229 B2 · Magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,229 B2 - Document ID: US10481229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/349,294 - Filed: 2016-11-11 - Published: 2017-05-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-13 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Hiroshi Kusahara; Yuki Takai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481229B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/3856: {Means for cooling the gradient coils or thermal shielding of the gradient coils} - G01R 33/283: {Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus} - G01R 33/3873: using ferromagnetic bodies {; Passive shimming} - G01R 33/4816: {NMR imaging of samples with ultrashort relaxation times such as solid samples, e.g. MRI using ultrashort TE [UTE], single point imaging, constant time imaging} - G01R 33/4818: {MR characterised by data acquisition along a specific k-space trajectory or by the temporal order of k-space coverage, e.g. centric or segmented coverage of k-space} - G01R 33/482: {using a Cartesian trajectory} - G01R 33/4822: {in three dimensions} - G01R 33/4824: {using a non-Cartesian trajectory} - G01R 33/4826: {in three dimensions} - G01R 33/546: {Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences} - G01R 33/483: with selection of signals or spectra from particular regions of the volume, e.g. in vivo spectroscopy - G01R 33/4831: {using B1 gradients, e.g. rotating frame techniques, use of surface coils} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a gradient coil, a transmitter coil, and a processing circuitry. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field to an imaging space in which a subject is placed. The transmitter coil applies a RF (radio frequency) pulse to the imaging space. The processing circuitry calculates a target temperature of the gradient coil throughout multiple protocols to be executed in an examination of the subject, and controls a temperature of the gradient coil to approach the target temperature when a data used to set a center frequency of the RF pulse is measured. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus, comprising: a gradient coil configured to apply a gradient magnetic field to an imaging space in which a subject is placed; a transmitter coil configured to apply a RF (radio frequency) pulse to the imaging space; and processing circuitry configured to calculate a target temperature of the gradient coil throughout a plurality of protocols to be executed in an examination of the subject, control a temperature of the gradient coil to approach the target temperature when data used to set a center frequency of the RF pulse is measured, generate image data based on MR signal data acquired by executing the plurality of protocols, and display an image based on the generated image data on a display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate a terminal temperature value of the gradient coil corresponding to each of the plurality of protocols, and calculate the target temperature according to the calculated terminal temperature values. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate an average of the calculated terminal temperature values corresponding to the plurality of protocols to be executed in the examination, as the target temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control a display to display an alert to suggest re-execution of measuring the data used to set the center frequency of the RF pulse when at least one of cases when an imaging condition included in one of the protocols is modified, when an order to execute the plurality of protocols is changed, and when one of the protocols is deleted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to re-calculate, when an imaging condition included in a particular protocol is modified, a terminal temperature value when the particular protocol is executed based on the imaging condition after the imaging condition is modified. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to re-calculate, when an order to execute the plurality of protocols is changed, a terminal temperature value at a time of executing each of the plurality of protocols, based on the imaging condition included in the plurality of protocols for which the order to execute is changed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to re-calculate, when at least one protocol of the plurality of protocols is deleted, a terminal temperature value based on an imaging condition of protocols subsequent to the deleted at least one protocol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control a temperature of the gradient coil during execution of a particular protocol of the plurality of protocols to adjust homogeneity of a static magnetic field to approach the target temperature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a metal shim configured to be provided at the gradient coil, and adjust inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control a temperature of the metal shim. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gradient coil includes a plurality of coils configured to correspond to an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, respectively, and the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate the target temperature per each of the coils.