# US 2014/0194730 A1 · 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 2014/0194730 A1 - Document ID: US20140194730A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/203,841 - Filed: 2014-03-11 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-11 - Assignees: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Applicants: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Tsutomu HOSHINO; Mitsue MIYAZAKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194730A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots} - A61B 5/0044: {for the heart} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - G01R 33/56366: {Perfusion imaging} - A61B 5/7285: {for synchronizing or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal} - 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 A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a sequence controller and a data processor. The sequence controller executes a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods to acquire magnetic resonance signals. The data processor generates multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising: a sequence controller configured to execute a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods to acquire magnetic resonance signals to obtain cardiac information; and a data processor configured to generate multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The MRI apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple types of labeling methods include at least two methods from a first method in which a labeling pulse is applied without a region being selected, a second method in which a labeling pulse which is applied with a region being selected and a labeling pulse which is applied without a region being selected are applied almost simultaneously; a third method in which a labeling pulse is applied to a selected region, and a fourth method in which no labeling pulse is applied. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The MRI apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sequence controller executes a pulse sequence using a combination of the multiple types of labeling methods to acquire magnetic resonance signals corresponding to multiple types of volume data or multiple types of multi-slice data in one breath-hold period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The MRI apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sequence controller acquires magnetic resonance signals while changing, in each breath-hold time, a waiting time after application of a labeling pulse until acquisition of magnetic resonance signals is started. ### Claim 5 An image processing apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store magnetic resonance signals that are acquired by executing a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods; and a data processor configured to generate multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals and configured to generate a subtraction image by performing a subtraction operation between the multiple types of labeled images. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data processor generates a subtraction image by performing a subtraction operation using complex numbers between the multiple types of labeled images. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the multiple types of labeling methods are a first method in which a labeling pulse is applied without a region being selected and a second method in which a labeling pulse which is applied with a region being selected and a labeling pulse which is applied without a region being selected are applied almost simultaneously, and the data processor performs a subtraction operation using complex numbers between a labeled image acquired using the first method and a labeled image acquired using the second method and performs a reverse operation on an absolute value image acquired by performing the subtraction operation to show, in high signal values, pixels for a region where no blood exists. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the multiple types of labeling methods are a first method in which a labeling pulse is applied without a region being selected, a second method in which a labeling pulse which is applied with a region being selected and a labeling pulse which is applied without a region being selected are applied almost simultaneously, and a third method in which a labeling pulse is applied to a selected region, and the data processor masks a first absolute value image with a second absolute value image, the first absolute value image being acquired by performing the subtraction operation using complex numbers between a labeled image acquired using the first method and a labeled image acquired using the second method, the second absolute-value image being acquired by performing the subtraction operation using complex numbers between the labeled image acquired using the first method and a labeled image acquired using the third method. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the magnetic resonance signals are acquired while changing a waiting time after application of a labeling pulse until acquisition of magnetic resonance signals is started, and the data processor generates a subtraction image for each waiting time by performing a subtraction operation between multiple types of labeled images corresponding to the same waiting time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic resonance signals are acquired for heart, and the data processor generates a myocardium perfusion image as the subtraction image for each waiting time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data processor projects a signal value of the subtraction image along a waiting time direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data processor generates a display image obtained by a superposition of or a composition of the labeled image and the processed image on which image processing including the subtraction operation has been performed. ### Claim 13 An image processing apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store magnetic resonance signals that are acquired by executing a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods; and a data processor configured to generate multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals and configured to perform an analysis using the multiple types of labeled images. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic resonance signals are acquired while changing a waiting time after application of labeling pulse until acquisition of magnetic resonance signals is started, and the data processor generates a subtraction image for each waiting time by performing a subtraction operation between multiple types of labeled images corresponding to the same waiting time and analyzes the signal intensity of generated time-series subtraction image group. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic resonance signals are acquired for heart, and the data processor analyzes the signal intensity of the subtraction image group to calculate a transit time of blood entering myocardium of the heart. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the data processor plots the result of analyzing the signal intensity of the subtraction image group and displays the plot on a display unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the data processor uses the multiple types of labeled images to perform multiple types of analysis appropriate for the respective labeled images.