Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, setting supporting apparatus, and setting supporting method

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

• a gantry having an opening into which a subject is inserted, a magnetostatic field magnet which generates a magnetostatic field space, and a gradient coil which generates a gradient magnetic field;
• a bed which inserts a top board on which the subject is mounted into the opening;
• an RF coil disposed on a surface of the subject or near the subject;
• an image capturing unit which acquires an image of the subject including the RF coil;
• a support information generating unit which generates a setting image showing a positional relation between the subject and the RF coil on the basis of information acquired by the image capturing unit in order to support a setting of the RF coil to the subject;
• and
• a display unit which displays the setting image.

A setting supporting apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which applies a uniform magnetostatic field to a subject, applies a high frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence, and detects a magnetic resonance signal from the subject by an RF coil to acquire an image, the setting supporting apparatus comprising:

• an image capturing unit which acquires an image of the subject including the RF coil;
• a support information generating unit which generates a setting image showing a positional relation between the subject and the RF coil on the basis of information acquired by the image capturing unit in order to support a setting of the RF coil to the subject;
• and
• a display unit which displays the setting image.

A method of supporting a setting of an RF coil to a subject in magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• capturing an image of the subject mounted on a top board of a bed and an RF coil disposed on a surface of the subject or near the subject;
• generating a setting image showing a positional relation between the subject and the RF coil on the basis of information acquired by the image capturing in order to support the setting of the RF coil to the subject;
• and
• displaying the setting image.

A method of supporting a setting of an RF coil to a subject in magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• capturing an image of the subject mounted on a top board of a bed and an RF coil disposed on a surface of the subject or near the subject;
• generating a setting image showing a positional relation between the subject and the RF coil on the basis of information acquired by the image capturing in order to support the setting of the RF coil to the subject;
• generating support information for supporting a setting of the subject on the top board;
• and
• displaying the support information together with the setting image.