Acoustic gating monitor for magnetic resonance imaging system
AssigneeToshiba America MRI, Inc.
InventorHsu Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An MRI imaging system provides an audible feedback signal in the gantry room triggered by a physiological sensor on the patient. The feedback signal is a sound generated by one of the MRI gradient coils. The sensor output signal may be indicative of the patient's heartbeat, or other physiological event. The application of the sequence causes the coil to emit a sound that is associated with the sensor output signal.
Claims12
A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an MRI system having at least one coil, said method comprising:
- a. positioning a patient within the MRI system for MR imaging;
- b. coupling a sensor to the patient and provide a sensor output signal representing a physiological event in the patient;
- and
- c. applying at least one electrical pulse to the at least one coil triggered by said output signal of the sensor, and thereby emitting an audible sound from the at least one coil.
An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:
- an MRI imaging volume bounded by a static magnetic field (B0) and adapted to image a patient at least partially within the volume;
- at least one magnetic gradient coil;
- a sensor applied to detect a physiological event in the patient;
- a controller having a processor and an associated memory, said controller being operatively coupled to said at least one gradient coil and said sensor, and
- said memory storing data representative of at least one truncated test pulse sequence to be applied to said at least one gradient coil,
- wherein said controller gates the at least one truncated test pulse sequence to the gradient coil upon receipt of an output signal from said sensor.
A method for placing physiological event sensors on a patient being prepared for MRI scanning, said method comprising:
- a) placing one or more physiological event sensors on a patient;
- b) using output of the sensors, if present, to trigger an audible signal from a coil of an MRI system normally used for MRI scanning;
- and
- c) repeating a) and b) as necessary to achieve proper placement of said one or more sensors on the patient prior to performing an MRI scan of the patient.
An MRI system having a preparatory test mode for assisting a technician in placement of physiological event sensors on a patient being prepared for scanning, said system comprising:
- a programmed controller coupled to RF coils and magnetic gradient coils via associated circuits for acquiring MRI data during an MRI scan of the patient;
- and
- program memory coupled to said controller including a test truncated pulse sequence which, when active, is triggered by at least one of said physiological event sensors to activate at least one of the gradient coils and thus produce an audible sound associated with a detected physiological event, if any.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.