Interactive MRI scan control using an in-bore scan control device
AssigneeGeneral ElectricCompany
InventorsRobert David Darrow, Charles Lucian Dumoulin, Christopher Judson Hardy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A scan control device located in the bore of an MRI system magnet includes tracking coils and a display. Location and alignment of the scan control device is tracked by the MRI system using signals acquired from the tracking coils. These signals are also used to update the scan parameters such that the scan plane of the image acquired by the MRI system is controlled by the scan control device location and orientation. The image is produced on the display to provide an attending physician with interactive control of the image from the magnet bore.
Claims21
An MRI system comprising:
- a magnet system for producing a polarizing magnetic field in a magnet bore;
- a scan control device including a display mounted therein, the scan control device being moveable within the magnet bore and being manipulatable to aim at a subject when said subject is located in the magnet bore;
- a set of tracking coils mounted to the scan control device;
- a pulse generator for controlling operation of the MRI system to perform an imaging pulse sequence in accordance with a set of scan parameters and for controlling operation of the MRI system to acquire NMR tracking signals from the set of tracking coils;
- a locator system for calculating location and orientation of the scan control device from the acquired NMR tracking signals and producing updated scan parameters for the pulse generator;
- and
- image reconstruction means for receiving NMR imaging signals produced by the imaging pulse sequence and reconstructing an image of the subject;
- wherein the location of the image is determined by the updated scan parameters produced by the locator system.
A method for performing an MRI scan with an MRI system having a magnet system for producing a polarizing magnetic field in a magnet bore, comprising the steps of:
- a) performing an imaging pulse sequence in accordance with a set of scan parameters to acquire NMR imaging data;
- b) reconstructing an image using the acquired imaging data;
- c) displaying the image on a display mounted on a scan control device;
- d) changing a selected scan parameter using the scan control device;
- e) updating the imaging pulse sequence;
- and,
- f) repeating steps a), b), c) and d).
A method for performing an MRI scan of a subject with an MRI system having a magnet system for producing a polarizing magnetic field in a magnet bore, comprising the steps of:
- a) performing an imaging pulse sequence in accordance with a set of scan parameters to acquire NMR imaging data;
- b) reconstructing an image using the acquired imaging data;
- c) displaying the image on a display mounted on a moveable hand-held scan control device;
- d) moving the scan control device relative to the subject and within the magnet bore;
- and,
- e) updating the image on the display responsive to the moving step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.