JP2012055396A - Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and selecting method of surface coil - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique making it easy to select a surface coil up and passed/coil mode by extracting a part from all surface coil/coil modes usable in the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus using an inside reference when a user sets an optional surface coil/surface coil mode when photographing by the MRI apparatus.SOLUTION: The technique is characterized by offering only certain usable surface coil/coil modes to the user based on the inside reference from all surface coil/coil modes usable in the MRI apparatus when the user sets the optional surface coil/coil mode.

Description

  The present invention measures nuclear magnetic resonance (hereinafter referred to as “NMR”) signals from hydrogen, phosphorus, etc. in a subject, and images nuclear density distribution, relaxation time distribution, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to a surface coil / surface coil mode selection method.

  The MRI system measures NMR signals generated by the spins of the subject, especially the tissues of the human body, and visualizes the form and function of the head, abdomen, limbs, etc. in two or three dimensions. It is a device to do. In imaging, the NMR signal is given different phase encoding depending on the gradient magnetic field and is frequency-encoded to be measured as time series data. The measured NMR signal is reconstructed into an image by two-dimensional or three-dimensional Fourier transform.

In such imaging by the MRI apparatus, a more accurate image is acquired by using an optimal surface coil for each imaging target region. Therefore, the structure of the surface coil / coil mode is different for each part to be imaged, and a plurality of surface coil / coil modes can be used.
As automatic recognition and setting of the surface coil / coil mode used for photographing, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a method of using an accompanying number of the surface coil being connected is used.

  When the user sets an arbitrary surface coil / coil mode for automatic setting, setting from a list of surface coil / coil modes that can be set is required. However, the burden on the user at the time of arbitrary setting is increasing due to the increase and complexity of the number of surface coils.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-257938 JP-A-6-201809

  When the user arbitrarily sets the surface coil / coil mode used for imaging, the user selects from a list of surface coil / coil modes that can be used in the MRI apparatus. As the imaging conditions become more complex, the surface coil / coil mode increases, and the burden on the user is increased in selecting a desired surface coil / coil mode from the list of surface coil / coil modes.

  Therefore, when the user sets an arbitrary surface coil / surface coil mode, the present invention extracts a part of the entire surface coil / coil mode that can be used in the MRI apparatus using an internal reference, and the surface coil / coil mode is selected. The purpose is to facilitate selection.

  In order to achieve the above object, the outline of typical ones of the present invention will be briefly described as follows.

  Static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field space, irradiation means for irradiating a subject placed in the static magnetic field space with high frequency, gradient magnetic field generating means for applying a gradient magnetic field superimposed on the static magnetic field space, and static magnetic field An outer cover covering the generating means and the gradient magnetic field generating means, a receiving means for receiving a nuclear magnetic resonance signal emitted from the subject, a control means for controlling the operation of the receiving means, and a display for displaying information used for the control means In the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising the means and the information holding means for holding the information, the receiving means is configured to receive the receiving coil arranged on the imaging space side for imaging the subject inside the exterior cover, the imaging target, and the imaging condition. Corresponding relationship between a surface coil satisfying a predetermined criterion stored in the information holding means and a coil mode that defines the operation of the surface coil. Based on the above, a selection means for selecting a coil mode satisfying a predetermined judgment criterion with a smaller number than all the coil modes from all the coil modes usable in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and the coil selected by the selection means A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having display means for displaying a mode.

  Alternatively, a static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field space, an irradiation means for irradiating a subject placed in the static magnetic field space with a high frequency, a gradient magnetic field generating means for applying a gradient magnetic field superimposed on the static magnetic field space, An outer cover that covers the static magnetic field generating means and the gradient magnetic field generating means, a receiving coil arranged on the imaging space side that images the subject inside the outer cover, and a surface coil that can be detached according to the imaging target and imaging conditions A receiving means for receiving a nuclear magnetic resonance signal provided from the subject, a control means for controlling the operation of the receiving means, a display means for displaying information used for the control means, and an information holding means for holding information; A method for selecting a surface coil in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a surface coil that satisfies a predetermined criterion stored in an information holding means; and a coil module that defines an operation of the surface coil. A selection step of selecting a coil mode satisfying a predetermined criterion of a smaller number than all the coil modes from all the coil modes usable in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus based on a correspondence table indicating a correspondence relationship with the And a display step for displaying the coil mode selected in the selection step.

  That is, when the user sets an arbitrary surface coil / coil mode, a part of the entire surface coil / coil mode that can be used in the MRI apparatus is extracted based on the internal standard and presented to the user. And

  According to the MRI apparatus of the present invention, when the user arbitrarily sets the surface coil / coil mode used for imaging, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil mode is displayed. Can be selected.

1 is a perspective view of the overall basic configuration of an MRI apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of a process in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of a process in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of coil rearrangement in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of a process in 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of the process in 5th Embodiment. The figure which shows the flow of a process in 6th Embodiment. The figure which shows the kind of site | part corresponding surface coil and coil mode.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the MRI apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiments of the invention, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted.

First, an overall outline of an example of an MRI apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of an MRI apparatus according to the present invention. This MRI apparatus uses a NMR phenomenon to obtain a tomographic image of a subject. As shown in FIG. 1, the MRI apparatus includes a static magnetic field generation system 2, a gradient magnetic field generation system 3, a transmission system 5, A reception system 6, a signal processing system 7, a sequencer 4, and a central processing unit (CPU) 8 are provided.

  The static magnetic field generation system 2 includes static magnetic field generation means, and the gradient magnetic field generation system 3 includes gradient magnetic field generation means. The static magnetic field generating means and the gradient magnetic field generating means are covered with a gantry exterior cover (not shown).

  The static magnetic field generation system 2 generates a uniform static magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the body axis in the space around the subject 1 if the vertical magnetic field method is used, and in the direction of the body axis if the horizontal magnetic field method is used. Thus, a permanent magnet type, normal conducting type or superconducting type static magnetic field generating source is arranged around the subject 1.

  The gradient magnetic field generation system 3 includes a gradient magnetic field coil 9 wound in the three-axis directions of X, Y, and Z, which is a coordinate system (stationary coordinate system) of the MRI apparatus, and a gradient magnetic field power source 10 that drives each gradient magnetic field coil. The gradient magnetic fields Gx, Gy, Gz are applied in the three axial directions of X, Y, Z by driving the gradient magnetic field power supply 10 of each coil in accordance with a command from the sequencer 4 described later. At the time of imaging, a slice direction gradient magnetic field pulse (Gs) is applied in a direction orthogonal to the slice plane (imaging cross section) to set a slice plane for the subject 1, and the remaining two orthogonal to the slice plane and orthogonal to each other. A phase encoding direction gradient magnetic field pulse (Gp) and a frequency encoding direction gradient magnetic field pulse (Gf) are applied in one direction, and position information in each direction is encoded in the echo signal.

  The sequencer 4 is a control unit that repeatedly applies a high-frequency magnetic field pulse (hereinafter referred to as “RF pulse”) and a gradient magnetic field pulse in a predetermined pulse sequence, and operates under the control of the CPU 8 to collect tomographic image data of the subject 1. Various commands necessary for the transmission are sent to the transmission system 5, the gradient magnetic field generation system 3, and the reception system 6.

  The transmission system 5 irradiates the subject 1 with RF pulses in order to cause nuclear magnetic resonance to occur in the nuclear spins of the atoms constituting the living tissue of the subject 1, and includes a high-frequency oscillator 11, a modulator 12, and a high-frequency amplifier. 13 and a high frequency coil (transmission coil) 14a on the transmission side. The high-frequency pulse output from the high-frequency oscillator 11 is amplitude-modulated by the modulator 12 at a timing according to a command from the sequencer 4, and the amplitude-modulated high-frequency pulse is amplified by the high-frequency amplifier 13 and then placed close to the subject 1. By supplying to the high frequency coil 14a, the subject 1 is irradiated with the RF pulse.

  The receiving system 6 detects an echo signal (NMR signal) emitted by nuclear magnetic resonance of nuclear spins constituting the biological tissue of the subject 1, and receives a high-frequency coil (receiving coil) 14b and a signal amplifier 15 on the receiving side. And a quadrature phase detector 16 and an A / D converter 17. The receiving coil is disposed inside the exterior cover of the gantry, that is, on the imaging space side where the subject 1 is imaged. After the NMR signal of the response of the subject 1 induced by the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the high frequency coil 14a on the transmission side is detected by the high frequency coil 14b arranged close to the subject 1, and amplified by the signal amplifier 15, The quadrature phase detector 16 divides the signal into two orthogonal signals at a timing according to a command from the sequencer 4, and each signal is converted into a digital quantity by the A / D converter 17 and sent to the signal processing system 7.

  The signal processing system 7 performs various data processing and display and storage of processing results. The signal processing system 7 includes an external storage device such as an optical disk 19 and a magnetic disk 18 and a display 20 including a CRT. Is input to the CPU 8, the CPU 8 executes processing such as signal processing and image reconstruction, and displays the tomographic image of the subject 1 as a result on the display 20, and also the magnetic disk 18 of the external storage device. Record in etc.

  The operation unit 25 is used to input various control information of the MRI apparatus and control information of processing performed by the signal processing system 7 and includes a trackball or mouse 23 and a keyboard 24. The operation unit 25 is disposed close to the display 20, and the operator controls various processes of the MRI apparatus interactively through the operation unit 25 while looking at the display 20.

  In FIG. 1, the high-frequency coil 14a and the gradient magnetic field coil 9 on the transmission side face the subject 1 in the static magnetic field space of the static magnetic field generation system 2 in which the subject 1 is inserted in the vertical magnetic field method. If the horizontal magnetic field method is used, the subject 1 is installed so as to surround it. The high-frequency coil 14b on the receiving side is installed so as to face or surround the subject 1.

At present, the radionuclide to be imaged by the MRI apparatus is a hydrogen nucleus (proton) which is a main constituent material of the subject as widely used clinically. Information on the spatial distribution of the proton density and the spatial distribution of the relaxation time of the excited state is imaged, thereby imaging the form or function of the human head, abdomen, limbs, etc. two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally.
<First Embodiment>
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
When the user starts selecting the surface coil / coil mode to be used for imaging, the system determines a single or multiple surface coils connected to the MRI apparatus. Here, the system refers to a processing system including the CPU 8 shown in FIG.
Further, the meaning of the “coil mode” used here is not particularly different from the term normally used in the technical field of the present application, but means the following. A surface coil is attached as an attachment to the MRI apparatus. The surface coil has a structure capable of receiving a relatively wide range of signals to correspond to a plurality of imaging parts, but is used when receiving a specific part of the plurality of parts with particularly high sensitivity. This surface coil switches the switch so that only the coil region corresponding to the target site is turned on and the other regions are turned off. In this way, the internal setting for switching to an appropriate coil according to the target site is referred to as a coil mode.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a part, a surface coil corresponding to the part, and a coil mode set corresponding to each surface coil. It is necessary to obtain a more accurate image by using an optimal surface coil corresponding to each imaging target region. For example, when imaging the head as a part, first, the surface coil (1) is selected according to FIG. Next, a coil mode capable of acquiring a more accurate image from a plurality of coil modes, for example, mode A2, is determined.

  After determining the connection state, the system creates a user presentation list of surface coils / coil modes that can be used in the current connection state and presents it to the user. The user selects the surface coil / coil mode used for imaging from the presented list.

  FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing in the first embodiment. First, selection of the surface coil / coil mode is started in the CPU 8 based on the data stored in the signal processing system 7 shown in FIG. 1 (201). Next, a user presentation list is created (202). Upon creation, the surface coil connection state is confirmed (202a), and then a surface coil / coil mode list is created based on the confirmed connection state (202b). Next, the surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (203). The user selects a surface coil / coil mode used for imaging from a list presented on the display 20 screen (204).

  According to the present invention, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil modes are displayed, that is, the number of coil modes is reduced to a smaller number than a large number of all coil modes. The user can easily select a desired surface coil from all surface coil / coil modes.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to confirm deficiencies in connection configuration and imaging conditions from the displayed list of surface coils / coil modes.
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The difference from the first embodiment is that the internal holding information is acquired based on the imaging region when creating the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user.

Hereinafter, only different portions will be described, and description of the same portions will be omitted.
A list of surface coils and coil modes mainly used in each imaging region is held inside. The holding is performed in the storage device of the processing system 7. For example, a magnetic disk 18 or the like is used for holding. When the user starts selecting the surface coil / coil mode used for imaging, the system determines the imaging region. The system acquires a list of surface coils and coil modes corresponding to the corresponding imaging region from the internal holding information and presents it to the user.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow in the second embodiment.
First, selection of the surface coil / coil mode is started in the CPU 8 based on the data stored in the signal processing system 7 shown in FIG. 1 (301). Next, a user presentation list is created (302). In preparation, an imaging region is determined (302a). Subsequently, a surface coil / coil mode list is created based on the determined imaging region (302b). At this time, a surface coil / coil mode list is created based on the surface coil / coil mode list corresponding to the imaging region held on the magnetic disk 18 (302c).

  Next, the surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (303). The user selects the surface coil / coil mode to be used for imaging from the list presented on the display 20 screen (304).

According to the present invention, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil mode is displayed, so that the user can easily select a desired surface coil from all the surface coil / coil modes that can be used in the MRI apparatus. I can do it.
<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The difference from the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that when the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user is rearranged, rearrangement is performed using the position in charge of measurement of the surface coil / coil mode and the imaging position. It is. Hereinafter, only different portions will be described, and description of the same portions will be omitted.

  The system keeps a correspondence table of surface coil / coil mode and imaging target part inside. The holding is performed in the storage device of the processing system 7. For example, a magnetic disk 18 or the like is used for holding. After creating the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user, the system obtains the measurement site in charge of the surface coil / coil mode in the user presentation list from the internal holding information. Considering the imaging position, the surface coil / coil mode is rearranged based on the measurement site in charge.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing in the third embodiment.
First, the selection of the surface coil / coil mode is started in the CPU 8 based on the data stored in the signal processing system 7 shown in FIG. 1 (401). Next, a user presentation list is created (402). Next, the user presentation list is rearranged (403). In preparation, a measurement position corresponding to the surface coil / coil mode in the list is acquired (403a). Subsequently, the surface coil mode is rearranged with reference to the acquired measurement position and imaging body position (403b). At that time, based on the surface coil / coil mode held on the magnetic disk 18 and the measurement position correspondence table (403c), the corresponding measurement position is acquired. Next, a surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (404). The user selects a surface coil / coil mode used for imaging from a list presented on the display 20 screen (405).

  FIG. 5 shows an example of rearrangement.

  The user presentation list shown in the process flow 402 of FIG. 4 is indicated by reference numeral 501 in FIG. The correspondence table indicated by 403c in FIG. Using the correspondence table 503, the coil and the measurement position are associated (502), and an associated list is created based on the association (504).

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, when the subject 1 is transported to the imaging region, when the subject 1 is transported from the head of the subject (head position), the subject 1 is transported from the toes of the subject first. It is assumed that this is done (foot position). For example, in the case of head position, a user presentation list indicated by 506 is displayed.
Alternatively, in the case of a foot position, a user presentation list indicated by 507 is displayed.

The merit of rearranging in this way is that it is easy for the user to see and is convenient if the surface coils used in the imaging order in which the subject is imaged are arranged.
<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The difference from the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment is that when the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user is rearranged, rearrangement is performed using the frequency of use of the surface coil / coil mode. It is a point to do. Hereinafter, only different portions will be described, and description of the same portions will be omitted.
The system maintains a table that records the frequency of use of each surface coil / coil mode. After creating the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user, the system acquires the usage frequency of the surface coil / coil mode in the user presentation list from the internal holding information. Rearrange surface coil / coil mode based on frequency of use.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of processing in the fourth embodiment.
First, the selection of the surface coil / coil mode is started in the CPU 8 based on the data stored in the signal processing system 7 shown in FIG. 1 (601). Next, a user presentation list is created (602). Next, the user presentation list is rearranged (603). In preparation, the usage frequency information of the surface coil / coil mode in the list is acquired (603a). Subsequently, the surface coil modes are rearranged based on the acquired use frequency (603b). At that time, based on the surface coil / coil mode usage frequency table held on the magnetic disk 18 or the like (603c), the corresponding usage frequency information is acquired. Next, a surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (604). The user selects the surface coil / coil mode used for imaging from the list presented on the display 20 screen (605).

According to the present invention, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil mode is displayed, so that the user can easily select a desired surface coil from all the surface coil / coil modes that can be used in the MRI apparatus. I can do it.
<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The difference from the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment is that the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user is subjected to the rearrangement of the surface coil for each selected protocol. It is a point which rearranges using the usage frequency of a coil mode.
Hereinafter, only different portions will be described, and description of the same portions will be omitted.

  The system keeps a table that records the usage frequency of the surface coil / coil mode in each protocol. After creating the surface coil / coil mode list to be presented to the user, the system acquires the usage frequency in the selection protocol for the surface coil / coil mode in the user presentation list from the internal holding information. Rearrange surface coil / coil mode based on frequency of use.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of processing in the fifth embodiment.
First, selection of the surface coil / coil mode is started in the CPU 8 based on the data stored in the signal processing system 7 shown in FIG. 1 (701). Next, a user presentation list is created (702). Next, the user presentation list is rearranged (703). In preparation, the frequency-by-protocol use frequency information of the surface coil / coil mode in the list is acquired (703a). Subsequently, the surface coil modes are rearranged on the basis of the obtained frequency of use for each protocol (703b). At that time, based on the use frequency table of the surface coil / coil mode by protocol held in the magnetic disk 18 or the like (703c), the corresponding use frequency information by protocol is acquired. Next, the surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (704). The user selects a surface coil / coil mode used for imaging from the list presented on the display 20 screen (705).

According to the present invention, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil mode is displayed, so that the user can easily select a desired surface coil from all the surface coil / coil modes that can be used in the MRI apparatus. I can do it.
<Sixth Embodiment>
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The difference from the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, and the fifth embodiment is that a list is created and rearranged a plurality of times.
Hereinafter, only different portions will be described, and description of the same portions will be omitted.

The system does not limit the display coil / coil mode selection / rearrangement to a single one, but changes it as needed according to the user's operation.
Specifically, the examination region / imaging region is considered when registering the subject, the connected coil is considered when setting the coil to the apparatus, and the frequency of use in the protocol is considered when selecting the imaging protocol. However, the combination of the criteria considered with the user's action is not limited to the above example.

FIG. 8 shows the flow of processing in the sixth embodiment.
First, the user's action is determined (801). Next, based on the determined user action, the process branches to one of three steps from 802a to 802c. For example, when the step 802a is selected, a user presentation list based on the imaging region / position is created (802a), and the user presentation list is rearranged based on the imaging region / position. (803a). Next, a surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (804).

  If the step 802b is selected, a user presentation list based on the coil connection state is created (802b), and then the user presentation list is rearranged based on the coil connection state. (803b). Next, a surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (804).

  If the step 802c is selected, a user presentation list based on the used protocol is created (802c), and then the user presentation list is rearranged based on the used protocol (803c). ). Next, a surface coil / coil mode list is presented to the user on the display 20 screen (804).

  According to the present invention, only a part of the usable surface coil / coil mode is displayed, so that the user can easily select a desired surface coil from all the surface coil / coil modes that can be used in the MRI apparatus. I can do it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Subject, 2 ... Static magnetic field generation system, 3 ... Gradient magnetic field generation system, 4 ... Sequencer, 5 ... Transmission system, 6 ... Reception system, 7 ... Signal processing system, 8 ... Central processing unit (CPU), 9 ... Gradient magnetic field coil, 10 Gradient magnetic field power source, 11 High frequency transmitter, 12 Modulator, 13 High frequency amplifier, 14 a High frequency coil (transmitting coil), 14 b High frequency coil (receiving coil), 15 Signal amplifier, 16 ... quadrature detector, 17 ... A / D converter, 18 ... magnetic disk, 19 ... optical disk, 20 ... display, 21 ... ROM, 22 ... RAM, 23 ... trackball or mouse, 24 ... keyboard, 52 ... table.

Claims (11)

A static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field space;
An irradiation means for irradiating a subject placed in the static magnetic field space with a high frequency;
A gradient magnetic field generating means for applying a gradient magnetic field superimposed on the static magnetic field space;
An exterior cover covering the static magnetic field generating means and the gradient magnetic field generating means;
Receiving means for receiving a nuclear magnetic resonance signal emitted from the subject;
Control means for controlling the operation of the receiving means;
Display means for displaying information used for the control means;
In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising information holding means for holding the information,
The receiving means has a receiving coil and a detachable surface coil arranged on the imaging space side for imaging the subject inside the exterior cover,
Based on a correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between the surface coil satisfying a predetermined judgment criterion stored in the information holding means and a coil mode defining the operation of the surface coil, all the usable magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses can be used. A selection means for selecting a coil mode satisfying the predetermined determination criterion, which is smaller than the total coil mode, from among the coil modes;
Display means for displaying the coil mode selected by the selection means;
A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1.
The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is a connection state between the surface coil and the receiving coil. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1.
The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is an imaging region and a measurement position of the subject. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1.
2. The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is usage frequency information of the surface coil / coil mode. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1.
2. The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined judgment criterion is use frequency information for each protocol of the surface coil / coil mode. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1.
2. A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising: a plurality of the predetermined determination criteria, wherein the plurality of predetermined determination criteria are determined based on a user's action. A static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field space; an irradiating means for irradiating a subject placed in the static magnetic field space with a high frequency; a gradient magnetic field generating means for applying a gradient magnetic field superimposed on the static magnetic field space; An outer cover that covers the static magnetic field generating means and the gradient magnetic field generating means, a receiving coil disposed on the imaging space side that images the subject inside the outer cover, and a removable surface coil are provided. Receiving means for receiving a nuclear magnetic resonance signal emitted from the specimen, control means for controlling the operation of the receiving means, display means for displaying information used for the control means, and information holding means for holding the information A method for selecting a surface coil in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
Based on a correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between the surface coil satisfying a predetermined judgment criterion stored in the information holding means and a coil mode defining the operation of the surface coil, all the usable magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses can be used. A selection step of selecting a coil mode satisfying the predetermined determination criterion in a smaller number than the all coil modes from the coil modes;
A display step for displaying the coil mode selected in the selection step;
A method for selecting a surface coil. The method for selecting a surface coil according to claim 7,
The method for selecting a surface coil, wherein the predetermined criterion is a connection state between the surface coil and the receiving coil. The method for selecting a surface coil according to claim 7,
The method for selecting a surface coil, wherein the predetermined criterion is an imaging region and a measurement position of the subject. The method for selecting a surface coil according to claim 7,
The method for selecting a surface coil, wherein the predetermined criterion is usage frequency information of the surface coil / coil mode. The method for selecting a surface coil according to claim 7,
The method for selecting a surface coil, wherein the predetermined judgment criterion is use frequency information for each protocol of the surface coil / coil mode.

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