# US 10,481,235 B2 · Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,235 B2 - Document ID: US10481235B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/655,281 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Shuhei Nitta; Kensuke Shinoda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481235B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/5608: {Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels (image data processing or generation, in general G06T)} - G01R 33/58: Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material} - G06F 18/2135: based on approximation criteria, e.g. principal component analysis - G06F 18/217: {Validation; Performance evaluation; Active pattern learning techniques} - G06T 7/0002: {Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection} - G06T 7/0014: {using an image reference approach} - G06T 7/30: Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration - G01R 33/5611: {Parallel magnetic resonance imaging, e.g. sensitivity encoding [SENSE], simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics [SMASH], unaliasing by Fourier encoding of the overlaps using the temporal dimension [UNFOLD], k-t-broad-use linear acquisition speed-up technique [k-t-BLAST], k-t-SENSE (structural details of arrays of sub-coils G01R33/3415)} - G01R 33/56563: {caused by a distortion of the main magnetic field B0, e.g. temporal variation of the magnitude or spatial inhomogeneity of B0 (G01R33/56509, G01R33/56518, G01R33/56536 take precedence)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry conducts, on a subject, first imaging and second imaging that is subsequent to the first imaging. The processing circuitry estimates, based on a magnetic resonance image related to the first imaging and an imaging condition set with regard to the second imaging, information about an image quality in a case in which the second imaging is conducted. The processing circuitry presents, on a display, an estimation result, superimposing the estimation result on the magnetic resonance image. The processing circuitry receives a designation operation on the magnetic resonance image from an operator, and changes a setting of the imaging condition related to the second imaging based on the designation operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising: sequence control circuitry configured to conduct, on a subject, first imaging, and second imaging that is subsequent to the first imaging; and processing circuitry configured to generate a first magnetic resonance image based on the first imaging conducted by the sequence control circuitry; set an imaging condition with regard to the second imaging; estimate, based on the first magnetic resonance image and the set imaging condition, information about an image quality in a case in which the second imaging is conducted, cause a display to display the first magnetic resonance image and superimpose the estimated information on the displayed first magnetic resonance image, receive, from an operator, a designation operation on the first magnetic resonance image, change a setting of the imaging condition related to the second imaging based on the designation operation; and generate a second magnetic resonance image based on the second imaging conducted by the sequence control circuitry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate distribution information about non-uniformity of a static magnetic field as the estimated information about the image quality, present, on the display, the estimated distribution information about non-uniformity of the static magnetic field, by superimposing the estimated distribution information on the displayed first magnetic resonance image, receive, from the operator, designation of a region of interest for shimming, calculate a value for shimming based on the designation of the region of interest, and change the setting of the imaging condition for the second imaging such that the calculated value is applied. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to generate, from image data, a cross-section image that includes a predetermined region of interest in a predetermined cross-section, estimate the information based on the generated cross-section image and the imaging condition, and present the information on the display, by superimposing the information on the image data or the cross-section image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image data is any of a locator image that indicates information on a target to be imaged, an image that indicates sensitivity distribution of a receiver coil, and a shimming image that indicates magnetic field distribution of a static magnetic field or a high-frequency magnetic field. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate, based on the cross-section image and an imaging range of the second imaging, information about folding from outside an imaging range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about a magnetic field intensity in an imaging range based on the cross-section image and a shimming adjustment value of a static magnetic field or a high-frequency magnetic field. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about a folded image prior to unfolding based on the cross-section image and a reduction factor of parallel imaging. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about g-factor based on the cross-section image and a reduction factor of parallel imaging. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about a distribution of sensitivity of a receiver coil based on the cross-section image and an imaging range of the second imaging. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about a position of a receiver coil that is used for the second imaging, based on the cross-section image and information as to whether each of a plurality of elements of the receiver coil is used. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate an image after magnetic-field distortion compensation based on the cross-section image and information on an imaging range of each of a plurality of elements of a receiver coil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to estimate information about a distance from a center of a magnetic field based on the cross-section image and information on an imaging range of each element of a receiver coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive a correction input for the information from a user, while the correction input is received, present the information on the display, by superimposing the information on the cross-section image, and hide the information while the correction input is not received. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein after a correction input for the information is received from a user and reception of the correction input is completed, the processing circuitry is further configured to present the information on the display, by superimposing the information on the cross-section image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to make a determination by comparing a value that indicates the information to a predetermined threshold, and present on the display, based on a result of the determination, the information, by superimposing the information on the cross-section image.