Background technology
Along with the development of medical skill, (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI) equipment becomes a kind of a kind of visual plant that detects serious disease, wants disease to NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging day by day.Medical image by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging acquisition body interior organ can provide valuable information for the doctor determines patient's the state of an illness.
Usually, NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging has two kinds of important function formation methods: one is diffusion-weighted imaging (Diffusion Weighted Imaging, DWI), another be dynamic Enhanced Imaging (Dynamic Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, DCE).The accurate degree of these two kinds of medical images that formation method obtains becomes the important indicator of estimating NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging.
DWI or DCE with the human liver are example, and the main cause accurately that influences liver DWI and DCE is derived from people's breathing.When the people breathed, liver can move along with breathing occurrence positions.The displacement meeting of liver in imaging process causes serious pseudo-shadow, thereby makes imaging results have than mistake.
Be example with liver DWI acquisition technique, in the prior art, liver DWI acquisition technique comprises free breathing technique (free-breath), single hold one's breath technology (Single-shot), respiratory gating technology (respiratory-gated) and breathe airmanship (navigator) etc.
Freely breathe DWI tangible movable information is obviously arranged.DWI can at utmost reduce the influence of moving though single is held one's breath, and shortcomings such as signal noise ratio (snr) of image is low, the scanning bed thickness is thicker are arranged, and a lot of patient often has by a small margin respiratory movement in the later stage of holding one's breath, and therefore the pseudo-shadow influence of componental movement is also arranged.
Though respiration gate control DWI and breathe navigation DWI technology in diaphram motion amplitude hour images acquired, motion artifacts to a certain degree reduced, but in the acquisition time window of these two kinds of methods, liver and diaphram still have motion, and the motion artifacts situation is still severe.And, the DWI data acquisition mostly is repeatedly gathers (a plurality of NEX, number of excitations), it is not quite identical to certainly exist motion in volume between each NEX, and the nuclear magnetic resonance scanning machine is the data of repeatedly NEX collection to be averaged the back reconstruction form when reconstructed image, therefore, the image of DWI contains the information of motion artifacts.
Be example with liver DCE again.In the prior art, liver DCE acquisition time continues several minutes usually, can not realize breath-hold scans.Because the temporal resolution of DCE requires in 10 seconds (common 5 to 8 seconds), and not only there are motion artifacts in respiration gate control of the prior art and breathing airmanship, also have the narrow problem of acquisition window.And the eupnea mode of mentioning in the prior art, row is crown or sagittal plain scanning (in order to comprise diaphram, being used for the image registration of DCE date processing) tiltedly.Therefore, during image acquisition, liver is kept in motion always.
In sum, all there are motion artifacts in DWI of the prior art and DCE acquisition technique, cause image blurring at image morphology.And when handling DWI and DCE data, (more severe patient can not calculate relevant parameter for Region of Interests, parameter value substantial deviation actual value (with respect to resting state) ROI) then can to cause region of interest.
In addition, artifact eliminating methods more of the prior art also are difficult to satisfy actual needs.
Motion artifact correction of the prior art mainly contains two kinds of methods, and one is retrospective image registration method, and one is perspective motion corrective method.
To retrospective image registration method, be to use special image registration software (as 3D-slicer), according to some anatomic landmark (as blood vessel), according to rigidity or non-rigid principle, image is carried out registration, proofread and correct the motion between each acquired volume, thereby can reduce motion artifacts to a kind of method of result's influence.But clinical method commonly used is that DWI and the DCE image of having rebuild (being the image that the nuclear magnetic resonance scanning computer presents) carried out registration at present.As previously mentioned, the image itself that is used for calculating DWI and DCE parameter just contains motion artifacts information, positional fault (inter-volume variation) between the different acquisition volume can only be proofreaied and correct by traditional image registration mode, and the positional fault (intra-volume variation) in the acquired volume can not be proofreaied and correct.
To the prospective motion correction method, namely during image data with regard to correction of movement.When conventional acquisition method carried out data acquisition, the excitation pulse locus was constant, and (serial movement is as free breathing, respiration gate control and breathing navigation if motion is arranged; Or the non-navigation method of repeatedly holding one's breath), in difference constantly, the center of target layer face does not overlap with the radio-frequency (RF) excited center, so the suffered radio-frequency (RF) excited of target layer face is not quite identical, and the echo-signal intensity that obtains thus also is not quite similar.And the parameter of DWI and DCE all is to derive to calculate according to signal to get, and therefore finally causes producing error according to the various parameter values that calculated signals obtains.By above-mentioned image registration, even coupling can not be avoided the inconsistent this error that causes of signal fully, therefore will inevitably have influence on the precision of corresponding image biological marker.
As from the foregoing, even if adopted the motion artifacts school antidote of mentioning in the prior art, the precision of the DCE after the correction that obtains and DWI image still has than mistake, is unfavorable for precisely presenting of image, has big drawback.
Therefore, the image of magnetic resonance imaging method employing gained of the prior art exists the bigger technical problem of error, and the image of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system gained of the prior art also exists the bigger technical problem of error.
Summary of the invention
The image that obtains in view of magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the prior art exists the bigger technical problem of error, is necessary to provide a kind of gained image error less magnetic resonance imaging method employing.
Simultaneously, the image that obtains in view of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system in the prior art exists the bigger technical problem of error, also is necessary to provide a kind of gained image error less nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system.
Concrete technical scheme of the present invention is as follows:
The invention provides a kind of magnetic resonance imaging method employing.This magnetic resonance imaging method employing comprises step: detect whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning by navigation module; When meeting the condition of scanning, treat imaging region by scan module and scan also image data; Send the breathing prompting message, continue detection by navigation module and whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning; Carry out imaging according to these data.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, step continues to detect by navigation module whether the satisfied predetermined condition of scanning comprises: to navigation bar emission detection signal, obtain the physical location of this navigation bar; Calculate the displacement of adjacent this navigation bar that acquires for twice.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this magnetic resonance imaging method employing also comprises step: every 50 milliseconds of physical locations that obtain once this navigation bar; The displacement of continuous three these navigation bars is during less than 1 millimeter, and this scan module scans and image data this band imaging region.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, step is sent prompting message and comprised step: this prompting message comprises first prompting message and this second prompting message; This scan module this zone to be imaged of scanning and image data are sent this first prompting message during more than or equal to 6 seconds; This first prompting message sends the back more than or equal to after 1.5 seconds, sends this second prompting message; This first prompting message and this second prompting message show that by display device this first prompting message is used for reminding ventilation, and this second prompting message is used for reminding holds one's breath.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this magnetic resonance imaging method employing also comprises: following steps are carried out in circulation: navigation module detects whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning; When meeting the condition of scanning, treat imaging region by scan module and scan also image data; Send prompting message; Carry out imaging according to these data; Execution in step perhaps circulates: detect whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning by navigation module; When meeting the condition of scanning, treat imaging region by scan module and scan also image data; Send prompting message.
The present invention also provides a kind of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system.This nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: navigation module, satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning for detection of whether; Scan module is used for treating imaging region and scans also image data when meeting the condition of scanning; Prompting module is used for sending the breathing prompting message; Image-forming module is used for carrying out imaging according to these data.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this navigation module comprises: the signal transmitter unit is used for navigation bar emission detection signal; The position acquiring unit is for the physical location that obtains this navigation bar; The displacement computing unit, the displacement of be used for calculating adjacent this navigation bar that acquires for twice.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this position acquiring unit also is used for every 50 milliseconds of physical locations that obtain once this navigation bar; This navigation module also comprises the conditional judgment unit, and this conditional judgment unit is used for notifying this scan module that this band imaging region is scanned also image data during less than 1 millimeter continuous three times in the displacement of this navigation bar.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this prompting module comprises the first prompting message unit and the second prompting message unit; This first prompting message unit is used in this scan module this zone to be imaged of scanning and image data is sent this first prompting message during more than or equal to 6 seconds; This second information reminding unit is used for sending this second prompting message after this first prompting message sends afterwards more than or equal to 1.5 seconds; This prompting module is used for also this first prompting message and this second prompting message are shown by display device that this first prompting message is used for reminding ventilation, and this second prompting message is used for reminding holds one's breath.
In a specific embodiment of further optimizing, this nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system also comprises: the circulation execution module, be used for this navigation module of loop start, scan module, prompting module and image-forming module: perhaps, this circulation execution module is used for this navigation module of loop start, scan module and prompting module.
Compared to prior art, main beneficial effect of the present invention is:
Because magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention comprises step: detect whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning by navigation module; When meeting the condition of scanning, treat imaging region by scan module and scan also image data; Send the breathing prompting message, continue detection by navigation module and whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning; Carry out imaging according to these data; Make magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention can make the patient cooperate the present invention to detect according to breathing information, breathing information can remind the patient to carry out respiratory movement according to default rule, can effectively evade the error of bringing because of respiratory movement when making scanning imagery, thereby make that the imaging precision of this method is higher.
Because this nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system of the present invention comprises: navigation module, for detection of whether satisfying the predetermined condition of scanning; Scan module is used for treating imaging region and scans also image data when meeting the condition of scanning; Prompting module is used for sending the breathing prompting message; Image-forming module is used for carrying out imaging according to these data; Make magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention can make the patient cooperate the present invention to detect according to breathing information, breathing information can remind the patient to carry out respiratory movement according to default rule, can effectively evade the error of bringing because of respiratory movement when making scanning imagery, thereby make that the imaging precision of this method is higher.
The specific embodiment
In order to make purpose of the present invention, technical scheme and advantage clearer, below in conjunction with drawings and Examples, the present invention is further elaborated.Should be appreciated that specific embodiment described herein only in order to explain the present invention, is not used for limiting the present invention.
See also Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 1 is the schematic flow sheet of a preferred implementation of magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention; Fig. 2 is the module diagram of a preferred implementation of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system of the present invention.
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system 2 of the present invention comprises a navigation module 21, a scan module 22, a prompting module 23 and an image-forming module 24.This navigation module satisfies the predetermined condition of scanning for detection of whether; This scan module 22 is used for treating imaging region and scans also image data when meeting the condition of scanning; This prompting module 23 is used for sending the breathing prompting message; This image-forming module 24 is used for carrying out imaging according to these data.
Navigation sequence is based on spin echo (spin echo) work.In the slice selective gradient thing of using both direction, have only the spin of the aspect infall of this both direction just can meet again and produce echo-signal, the so-called navigation bar in the arrowband of this infall (navigator).When this navigation bar is arranged on the diaphram, just can be used for following the tracks of the motion of diaphram.The navigation signal that produces on the diaphram is through RT-Hawk(Reference:Santos JM, Wright GA, Pauly JM.Flexible real-time magnetic resonance imaging framework.Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc2004; 2:1048-1051) be sent to external computer, through obtaining the relative displacement of diaphram after handling in real time.This relative displacement meeting is fed back to the control computer system of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging at once, and adjusts sweep parameter in 50ms, to realize motion real-time tracking and correction.
This navigation module 21 namely comprises the checkout gear for emission and detection signal, and the computer system that detection signal is converted to the navigation bar relative displacement.Concrete, this navigation module comprises: the signal transmitter unit is used for navigation bar emission detection signal; The position acquiring unit is for the physical location that obtains this navigation bar; The displacement computing unit, the displacement of be used for calculating adjacent this navigation bar that acquires for twice.
This scan module 22 can be common DWI sequence scanning or DCE sequence scanning.
This prompting module 23 is generally a display device.This prompting module 23 can be used for showing ventilation information or the information of holding one's breath.Ventilation information is be used to telling that the patient should respiratory ventilation, and the information of holding one's breath is used for telling the patient to hold the breath.Also giving in the embodiment in addition, this prompting module 23 can also comprise an audio unit.In the information of holding one's breath with literal or the image demonstration ventilation information latter, can also send prompting sound, avoid the patient to slip.
This image-forming module 24 is accepted the data message that this scan module 22 transmits, and these data are converted into visual medical image according to the parameter that sets in advance etc.
Magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention comprises step:
S11, detect whether to satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning by navigation module;
At first, by the signal transmitter unit navigation bar is launched detection signal.Navigation bar is obtained by this position acquiring unit by producing echo-signal, and calculates the physical location of this navigation bar by this echo-signal.This displacement computing unit is according to the physical location of the navigation bar in time sheet in each when sampling, and the displacement of calculating adjacent twice navigation bar.That is, displacement is the absolute value of difference of the physical location of the physical location of current time navigation bar and last sampling instant navigation bar.
Generally, whenever be separated by 50 milliseconds, this signal transmitter unit, this position acquiring unit and this displacement computing unit are just carried out above-mentioned job step, with position and the displacement of implementing to obtain navigation bar.
In the preferred implementation of magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention, this predetermined condition of scanning is: the displacement of continuous three these navigation bars is less than 1 millimeter.In the another one embodiment, this predetermined condition of scanning also can for the displacement of continuous four times, five times or more times this navigation bar less than 1 millimeter, 2 millimeters or 0.8 millimeter etc.The concrete default condition of scanning can also be adjusted according to practical situation, and this default condition of scanning mainly is in order to determine regional pause motion to be imaged or basic pause motion.As long as can determine this zone to be imaged pause motion or the basic condition of pause motion, can be set at the condition of scanning that this is scheduled to.
S12, when meeting the condition of scanning, treat imaging region by scan module and scan and image data;
In the displacement of continuous three these navigation bars during less than 1 millimeter, start this scanning element and treat imaging region and scan, thereby obtain corresponding data.
Usually in order to obtain imaging data clearly, in the preferred implementation of magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention, this scan module is to being preset as 6 seconds the sweep time in this zone to be imaged.In the another one embodiment, this default sweep time also can be for more than 6 seconds.The length of concrete Preset Time can be decided according to the ability that patient's ventilation is held one's breath.For example, people's vital capacity is less, and breath holding time is shorter, then can will should locate 6 seconds default sweep time; If people's vital capacity is bigger, the ability of holding one's breath is longer, and breath holding time is longer, and each breath holding time can both surpass 10 seconds, so can be with any one numerical value that should locate the scheduled time in 6 to 10 seconds.
This scan module 22 passes to this image-generating unit 24 with these data after gathering and obtaining to be used for the data of imaging, and this this image-generating unit 24 carries out imaging according to these data, and formation can be for the medical image of doctor's reference.
This scan module 22 can be by starting DCE-3D SPGR (three-dimensional rich phase gradient echo sequence, 3dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition, 3D-SPGR) or DWI-EPI (diffusion-weighted plane echo-wave imaging, echo planar imaging diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, EPI-DWI) sequence is treated imaging region and is scanned.When scanning, the sweep parameter of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system 2 of the present invention, comprise the radio frequency transmit and receive frequency phase information (RF transmit and receive frequencies and phases) all need to adjust with respect to the numerical value among the step S11.
S13, send the breathing prompting message, and continue to detect whether satisfy the predetermined condition of scanning by navigation module;
This prompting message comprises first prompting message and this second prompting message; This scan module this zone to be imaged of scanning and image data are sent this first prompting message during more than or equal to 6 seconds; This first prompting message sends the back more than or equal to after 1.5 seconds, sends this second prompting message; This first prompting message and this second prompting message show that by display device this first prompting message is used for reminding ventilation, and this second prompting message is used for reminding holds one's breath.
Particularly, this first prompting message can be " please take a breath, time of exchanging gas is 1.5 seconds "; This second prompting message can be " please hold one's breath, breath holding time please above 6 seconds ".Simultaneously, can also comprise a timing unit on this prompting module 23, this timing unit can remind the patient how long to also have apart from ventilation by the method for countdown.As previously mentioned, when be 7 seconds, 8 seconds or 9 seconds the sweep time among the step S12, it was 7 seconds, 8 seconds or 9 seconds that the time that these promptings are held one's breath just is divided into.
Certainly, the time of people's ventilation also can set in advance, and specifically decides with the situation of patient own.
In the another one embodiment, after step S12 executes, execution in step S11 when reminding ventilation, that is, step S11 and step S12 alternately carry out.Remind step and the step S11 of ventilation to carry out simultaneously, just step S13 comprises prompting ventilation and step S11.This place is for convenience of description, in different embodiments, also can will remind ventilation and step S11 described separately.
S14, carry out imaging according to these data.
When step S12 is finished, can handle by the data that 24 pairs of scan modules of image-forming module 22 are gathered, these data are converted to medical image.Common, in different practical applications, the data that each one scan obtains can only form a subdivision of a complete medical image.That is to say that the scanning of a common body interior organ need scan repeatedly just can be finished, scanning each time only is a part at this internal.Therefore, in the another one embodiment, as carrying out medical imaging to whole organ or to a bigger zone, can only scan a zonule in view of each scanning simultaneously, then magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention need repeatedly scan.Concrete, be that a bigger Region Segmentation is several or dozens of zonule, whenever one of them zone of single pass of holding one's breath, hold one's breath and repeatedly finish the scanning of these a plurality of zonules, the data of this a plurality of zonules scanning are gathered to image-forming module, this image-forming module is handled according to these a plurality of data, finally obtains needed medical image.
In sum, magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention and system are by adopting step ventilation and the method for holding one's breath, by the guiding that the patient is taken a breath and holds one's breath, by the linear navigation Sequence Detection hold one's breath the back diaphram displacement, hold one's breath and its diaphram does not have when motion substantially and the patient is scanned obtained data the patient, each scanning back prompting patient takes a breath and holds one's breath, and scans afterwards next time again; Finally carry out imaging by the data of scanning gained.Therefore, with respect to prior art, the pseudo-shadow problem that causes because breathe the internal's motion that causes can effectively be eliminated by magnetic resonance imaging method employing of the present invention and system, thereby makes that the precision that finally obtains medical image is higher.
Those skilled in the art should understand that embodiments of the invention can be provided as method, system, also can be computer program.When being computer program, by loading the computer program that can embody method of the present invention, can transfer NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)-imaging equipment and move according to method of the present invention, thereby realize various purposes described in the invention, solve corresponding technical problem, realize technique effect.
Therefore, the present invention can adopt complete hardware embodiment, complete software implementation example or in conjunction with the form of the embodiment of software and hardware aspect.And the present invention can adopt the form of the computer program of implementing in one or more computer-usable storage medium (including but not limited to disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory etc.) that wherein include computer usable program code.
The present invention is that reference is described according to flow chart and/or the block diagram of method, terminal (system) and the computer program of the embodiment of the invention.Should understand can be by the flow process in each flow process in computer program instructions realization flow figure and/or the block diagram and/or square frame and flow chart and/or the block diagram and/or the combination of square frame.Can provide these computer program instructions to the processor of general purpose computer, special-purpose computer, Embedded Processor or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, make the instruction of carrying out by the processor of computer or other programmable data processing device produce to be used for the device of the function that is implemented in flow process of flow chart or a plurality of flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or a plurality of square frame appointments.
These computer program instructions also can be stored in energy vectoring computer or the computer-readable memory of other programmable data processing device with ad hoc fashion work, make the instruction that is stored in this computer-readable memory produce the manufacture that comprises command device, this command device is implemented in the function of appointment in flow process of flow chart or a plurality of flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or a plurality of square frame.
These computer program instructions also can be loaded on computer or other programmable data processing device, make and carry out the sequence of operations step producing computer implemented processing at computer or other programmable devices, thereby be provided for being implemented in the step of the function of appointment in flow process of flow chart or a plurality of flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or a plurality of square frame in the instruction that computer or other programmable devices are carried out.
It should be noted that, above embodiment is only unrestricted in order to technical scheme of the present invention to be described, although with reference to preferred embodiment the present invention is had been described in detail, those of ordinary skill in the art is to be understood that, can make amendment or be equal to replacement technical scheme of the present invention, and not breaking away from the spirit and scope of technical solution of the present invention, it all should be encompassed in the middle of the claim scope of the present invention.