Method and device for optimization of a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance imaging system

A pulse sequence optimization unit that determines a pulse sequence for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising:

• a computerized processor having an input configured to receive a plan gradient pulse train, said plan gradient pulse train being configured to control a gradient system of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with chronological matching to a radio-frequency (RF) pulse train to control an RF transmission system of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, said plan gradient pulse train comprising an optimization segment;
• said computerized processor comprising a pulse modification unit configured to determine a plan gradient moment of the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train;
• said pulse modification unit being configured to automatically determine a real gradient pulse train for the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train, which is actually executable by said gradient system, by
• (a) determining a real gradient moment for said real gradient pulse train,
• (b) determining an error gradient moment difference between the real gradient moment and plan gradient moment, and
• (c) modifying said real gradient pulse train by optimizing a magnitude of said gradient moment difference;
• and
• said computerized processor being configured to make said real gradient pulse train, comprising said optimization segment with the optimized magnitude of the gradient moment difference, available in electronic form at an output of said computerized processor in a format for controlling said gradient system.

A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit comprising a radio frequency (RF) transmission system and a gradient system;
• a computerized processor configured to receive therein a plan gradient pulse train, said plan gradient pulse train being configured to control the gradient system of the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with chronological matching to a radio-frequency (RF) pulse train to control the RF transmission system of the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, said plan gradient pulse train comprising an optimization segment;
• said computerized processor being configured to determine a plan gradient moment of the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train;
• said computerized processor being configured to automatically determine a real gradient pulse train for the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train, which is actually executable by said gradient system, by
• (a) determining a real gradient moment for said real gradient pulse train,
• (b) determining an error gradient moment difference between the real gradient moment and plan gradient moment, and
• (c) modifying said real gradient pulse train by optimizing a magnitude of said gradient moment difference;
• and
• said computerized processor being configured to make said real gradient pulse train, comprising said optimization segment with the optimized magnitude of the gradient moment difference, available in electronic form at an output of said computerized processor in a format for controlling said gradient system.

A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a computerized processor of a magnetic resonance apparatus, said magnetic resonance apparatus having a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit comprising a radio-frequency (RF) transmission system and a gradient system, and said programming instructions causing said computerized processor to:

• receive a plan gradient pulse train, said plan gradient pulse train being configured to control a gradient system of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with chronological matching to a radio-frequency (RF) pulse train to control an RF transmission system of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, said plan gradient pulse train comprising an optimization segment;
• determine a plan gradient moment of the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train;
• determine a real gradient pulse train for the optimization segment of the plan gradient pulse train, which is actually executable by said gradient system, by
• (a) determining a real gradient moment for said real gradient pulse train,
• (b) determining an error gradient moment difference between the real gradient moment and plan gradient moment, and
• (c) modifying said real gradient pulse train by optimizing a magnitude of said gradient moment difference;
• and
• make said real gradient pulse train, comprising said optimization segment with the optimized magnitude of the gradient moment difference, available in electronic form at an output of said computerized processor in a format for controlling said gradient system.