Method for using three points to define a 2D MR imaging section

An apparatus for producing an imaging plane of a structure of interest positioned in a MRI system, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a means for interactively moving in real-time through planar sections of the structure of interest;
• (b) a means for selecting in real time a first point in a planar section of said structure;
• (c) a means for selecting in real time a second point in a planar section of the structure of interest;
• (d) a means for selecting in real time a third point in a planar section of the structure of interest;
• (e) a means for determining in real time a new imaging plans containing the three selected points;
• (f) a means for determining in real time the center of the new imaging plane by finding the centroid of a triangle defined by the three points;
• (g) sending the imaging plane geometry directly and immediately to the MRI system to generate a new imaging plane of the structure of interest;
• (h) sending the new imaging plane in-plane offsets directly and immediately to the MRI system to optimally position the new imaging plane on the structure of interest relative to the selected points;
• (i) a means for determining in real time the in-plane orientation of the new imaging plane and aligning such new imaging plane for display while the MRI system is scanning;
• and
• (j) a means for displaying said new imaging plane.

A method for producing an imaging plane of a structure of interest positioned in a MRI system, the steps comprising:

• (a) interactively paging through stored images of planar sections of the structure of interest;
• (b) selecting a first point in a planar section of said structure;
• (c) selecting a second point in a planar section of the structure of interest;
• (d) selecting a third point in a planar section of the structure of interest;
• (e) determining a new imaging plane containing the three selected points;
• (f) determining the center of the new imaging plane by finding the centroid of a triangle defined by the three points;
• (g) sending the imaging plane geometry directly and rapidly to the MRI system to generate a new imaging plane of the structure of interest;
• (h) sending the new imaging plane in-plane offsets directly and rapidly to the MRI system to optimally position the new imaging plane on the structure of interest relative to the selected points;
• (i) determining the in-plane orientation of the new imaging plane and aligning such new imaging plane for display;
• (j) displaying said new imaging plane;
• and,
• (k) selecting in real time at least one additional point in a planar section of the structure of interest and determining in real time a new imaging volume containing at least the four selected points.