# US 12,112,407 B2 · Image generating apparatus, image generating method and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,407 B2 - Document ID: US12112407B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/329,766 - Filed: 2021-05-25 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-03 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Kensuke Shinoda; Hideaki Kutsuna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112407B2 ## CPC - G06T 12/20: Inverse problem, i.e. transformations from projection space into object space - A61B 5/0037: {Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest} - A61B 5/004: {adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062)} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - A61B 5/704: {Tables} - G01R 33/561: by reduction of the scanning time, i.e. fast acquiring systems, e.g. using echo-planar pulse sequences - G01R 33/56325: {Cine imaging} - G06T 5/94: based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - A61B 2576/00: Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence) - A61B 2576/02: specially adapted for a particular organ or body part - G01R 33/5601: {involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent} - G06T 2207/10088: Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] - G06T 2207/30101: Blood vessel; Artery; Vein; Vascular - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract An image generating apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to successively generate Magnetic Resonance (MR) images in a plurality of temporal phases by using a first reconstruction method. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a first temporal phase before MR images in all the temporal phases during a predetermined time period are generated. The processing circuitry is configured to generate an MR image in the first temporal phase determined by the determining unit, by using a second reconstruction method having a larger processing load than the first reconstruction method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image generating apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry configured to successively generate, during a time period in which acquiring of magnetic resonance data corresponding to magnetic resonance signals emitted from a subject is being performed, a plurality of Magnetic Resonance (MR) images corresponding to different temporal phases, by a first reconstruction method, using the magnetic resonance data acquired in the time period; determine, during the time period, a temporal phase in the time period, based on the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method, the temporal phase corresponding to an MR image to be generated by a second reconstruction method having a larger processing load than the first reconstruction method; and generate, during the time period, the MR image corresponding to the determined temporal phase, by the second reconstruction method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display configured to display a screen to designate a specific temporal phase in the time period, the specific temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, during the time period, as the temporal phase, the designated specific temporal phase on the screen, based on the different MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to display a curve indicating changes of brightness corresponding to the different temporal phases in the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive, from an operator, an operation to designate the specific temporal phase on the curve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to display at least one of the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display is further configured to display a switcher to switch the temporal phase of the MR image to be displayed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to display the MR image generated by the second reconstruction method. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, during the time period, the temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, based on changes of brightness corresponding to the different temporal phases in the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, during the time period, the temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, based on changes of brightness corresponding to temporal phases in an aorta region included in the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image generating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect the aorta region, based on the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine a first temporal phase as the temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, based on the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method; determine a second temporal phase as the temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, based on the first temporal phase; and generate a first MR image corresponding to the first temporal phase and a second MR image corresponding to the second temporal phase, by the second reconstruction method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, as the second temporal phase, a temporal phase when a time set by an operator has elapsed since the first temporal phase. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the second temporal phase before the second MR image corresponding to the second temporal phase is generated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a number of magnetic resonance data used in the second reconstruction method is larger than a number of magnetic resonance data used in the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 15 An image generating method, comprising: successively generating, by processing circuitry, during a time period in which acquiring of magnetic resonance data corresponding to magnetic resonance signals emitted from a subject is being performed, a plurality of Magnetic Resonance (MR) images corresponding to different temporal phases, by a first reconstruction method, using the magnetic resonance data acquired in the time period; determining, by the processing circuitry, during the time period, a temporal phase in the time period, based on the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method, the temporal phase corresponding to an MR image to be generated by a second reconstruction method having a larger processing load than the first reconstruction method; and generating, by the processing circuitry, during the time period, the MR image corresponding to the determined temporal phase, by the second reconstruction method. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image generating method according to claim 15, further comprising: displaying, by a display, a screen to designate a specific temporal phase in the time period, the specific temporal phase corresponding to the MR image to be generated by the second reconstruction method, wherein the determining step comprises determining, by the processing circuitry, during the time period, as the temporal phase, the designated specific temporal phase on the screen, based on the different MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image generating method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying, by a display, a curve indicating changes of brightness corresponding to the different temporal phases in the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image generating method according to claim 17, further comprising receiving, by the processing circuitry, from an operator, an operation to designate the specific temporal phase on the curve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The image generating method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying, by the display, at least one of the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having plural computer-executable commands recorded therein, the commands causing a computer to execute: successively generating, during a time period in which acquiring of magnetic resonance data corresponding to magnetic resonance signals emitted from a subject is being performed, a plurality of Magnetic Resonance (MR) images corresponding to different temporal phases, by a first reconstruction method, using the magnetic resonance data acquired in the time period; determining, during the time period, a temporal phase in the time period, based on the MR images generated by the first reconstruction method, the temporal phase corresponding to an MR image to be generated by a second reconstruction method having a larger processing load than the first reconstruction method; and generating, during the time period, the MR image corresponding to the determined temporal phase, by the second reconstruction method.