Rapid specific absorption rate estimation in magnetic resonance medical imaging
AssigneeSiemens Healthineers AG
InventorsBoris Mailhe, Daniel Niederlöhner, Daniel Rinck, David Grodzki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For estimating SAR in MR scanning, a value for a SAR metric is determined from patient measurements, such as a depth camera image of the outer surface of a patient. A machine-learned model is used in the determination, such as for segmenting different tissue types with different electric field characteristics and/or estimating a SAR characteristic from tissue maps. Rather than time consuming calculations to model the patient and/or estimate SAR from patient information, the machine-learned model is used to estimate patient-specific SAR from the measurements of the patient more rapidly and accurately.
Claims20
A method of estimating specific absorption rate (SAR) in magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, the method comprising:
- capturing, with a sensor, surface data representing an outer surface of a patient;
- generating a segmentation of tissues internal to the patient from the surface data, the segmentation generated by a first machine-learned model in response to input of the surface data;
- estimating a SAR characteristic by a second machine-learned model in response to input of the segmentation of the tissues;
- determining a value for a SAR metric from the SAR characteristic;
- and
- performing the MR scanning of the patient when the value of the SAR metric is within a safety threshold.
A method of estimating specific absorption rate (SAR) in magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, the method comprising:
- capturing, with a sensor, surface data representing an outer surface of a patient;
- determining a value for a SAR metric from the surface data, the determining using a machine-learned model;
- and
- performing the MR scanning of the patient when the value of the SAR metric is within a safety threshold.
A system for estimating specific absorption rate (SAR) in magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, the system comprising:
- a MR scanner configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) pulses into a patient;
- a camera configured to capture an outer surface of the patient;
- an image processor configured to determine a value for a SAR metric for the RF pulses from the outer surface using a machine-learned model;
- and
- a display configured to display the value for the SAR metric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.