US 5,512,827 A · Scan control platform-based interactive image plane prescription for MRI

Abstract

A newly acquired MR image of an imaging subject is displayed on a display device. An operator interactively manipulates the imaging plane during imaging, by using a button, a rocker switch, a knob, and a trackball. The button enables or disables interactive scan-plane control. The rocker switch chooses between "translate", and "rotate" modes. In "translate" mode, the knob pushes the imaging plane deeper or shallower relative to the most recently displayed image, while the trackball slides the plane sideways and/or up and down. In "rotate" mode, the knob spins the imaging plane about the center of the most recently displayed image without changing the tilt of the plane, while the trackball tumbles or tilts the imaging plane. Colored icons displayed over the image change location, size, and/or shape to indicate the direction and extent of the translation or rotation. When motion of the knob or trackball ceases, or an acquire image button is pressed, the icon reassumes its default size, shape, and location, and the location and orientation information is transformed and provided to a pulse sequencer of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. The pulse sequencer controls an RF transmitter and gradient amplifiers to cause an MR image of the subject at an imaging plane to be acquired. The new imaging-plane location is then used for all subsequent images, until another change is made.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of producing magnetic resonance (MR) images of a subject in an MR imaging device in an interactive fashion, comprising the steps of:

a) acquiring a current MR image of said subject at an imaging plane centered at (x,y,z) and oriented at angles (.theta.,.phi.,.kappa.) with respect to I.sub.x,I.sub.y,I.sub.z axes of a global coordinate system fixed with respect to the MR Imaging device;
b) displaying the current image on a monitor;
c) enabling imaging plane prescription by interaction with a scan control platform;
d) interacting with the scan control platform, to select either a `translate mode` or a `rotate mode`;
e) actuating a 1-dimensional (1D) input device of the scan control platform to select an input .gamma.;
f) converting input .gamma. into a translation offset .increment.z when the scan control platform is in the translate mode, and into a rotation offset .increment..kappa. when the scan control platform is in the rotate mode, all offsets indicating a location and orientation of a proposed imaging plane relative to the current imaging plane;
g) actuating a 2-dimensional (2D) input device of the scan control platform to select inputs (.alpha.,.beta.);
h) converting inputs (.alpha.,.beta.) into translation offsets (.increment.x,.increment.y) when the scan control platform is in the translate mode, and rotation offsets (.increment..theta.,.increment..phi.) when the scan control platform is in the rotate mode;
i) transforming the offsets to transformed coordinates relative to the global coordinate system;
j) passing the transformed coordinates to said MR imaging device;
k) acquiring a new MR image with the transformed coordinates;
and
l) displaying the newly acquired MR image as the current image.

10 more elements

A method of producing magnetic resonance (MR) images wherein a 1-dimensional (1D) input device and a 2-dimensional (2D) input device of a scan control platform are used to control imaging plane location and orientation selection, comprising the steps of:

a) displaying a current image acquired at a current imaging plane having a predetermined location and orientation;
b) selecting a "translate mode" on said scan control platform enabling translation of a proposed imaging plane;
i. actuating said 1D input device to provide an input .gamma. causing a proposed imaging plane to move deeper and shallower relative to the current imaging plane by a translation offset .increment.z, proportional to input .gamma., when said scan control platform is in the translate mode;
ii. actuating said 2D input device to provide inputs (.alpha.,.beta.) causing a proposed imaging plane to move sideways and up/down within the current imaging plane by translation offsets (.increment.x,.increment.y) proportional to inputs (.alpha.,.beta.), when said scan control platform is in the translate mode;
c) selecting a "rotate mode" on said rocker switch enabling rotation of the proposed imaging plane;
i. actuating said 1D input device to provide an input .gamma. causing a proposed imaging plane to rotate about the z axis relative to the current imaging plane by a rotation offset .increment..kappa. proportional to input .gamma., when said scan control platform is in the rotate mode;
ii. actuating said 2D input device to provide inputs (.alpha.,.beta.) causing a proposed imaging plane to tumble relative to the current imaging plane by rotation offsets (.increment..theta.,.increment..phi.), respectively, proportional to inputs (.alpha.,.beta.), when said scan control platform is in the rotate mode;
d) transforming the offsets to transformed coordinates relative to the global coordinate system;
e) passing the transformed coordinates to said MR imaging device;
f) acquiring a new MR image with the transformed coordinates;
and
g) displaying the newly acquired MR image as the current image.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Scan control platform-based interactive image plane prescription for MRI

Life of this patent

Scan control platform-based interactive image plane prescription for MRI

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10