JP2650585B2 - MR imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing imaging using an NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) phenomenon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Patients (subjects) using an MR imaging apparatus
Usually, after a patient is set in a gantry, coil tuning or system adjustment is performed, and then simple imaging for imaging positioning is performed. When the positioning image is obtained, imaging parameters for obtaining an original image are input, and a slice plane is set based on the previous positioning image. Thereafter, the imaging of the set slice plane with the above parameters is automatically performed, and the image of the slice plane is reconstructed.

By the way, in an inspection performed using this MR imaging apparatus, several types of images having different positions and directions of the slice plane or different contrasts are often obtained. Therefore, you need to repeat the above steps several times,
The inspection ends only after all of several types of images have been captured based on the procedure. In particular,
During a test that lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour, the operator performs the above operation every 5 to 10 minutes. Also, when performing this operation, the operator must always keep in mind where the inspection is going and what to do next.

[0004]

Therefore, the conventional MR imaging apparatus has a problem that a great burden is imposed on an operator. That is, the examination by the MR imaging apparatus is often performed about 10 persons a day, or about 8 hours in a time, so that it is necessary for the operator to maintain the concentration of attention during that time, and the operator is only mentally exhausted. Operation error. In addition, there is a problem that a beginner does not know what procedure is generally used for the inspection.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention is easy to operate.
The M has been improved to reduce the mental burden on the operator, reduce input errors, and make it easier for beginners to operate.
It is an object to provide an R imaging device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an MR imaging apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A storage unit in which information on an inspection procedure and an imaging parameter is stored in advance, an input unit for inputting at least an imaging region , and an inspection based on a combination of various imagings by accessing the storage unit according to the input imaging region. Means for obtaining an optimal imaging parameter for each of the imaging procedures, automatically performing imaging according to the inspection procedure and the imaging parameters, and displaying the inspection procedure and displaying the progress of imaging. It is characterized by having.

[0007]

When an operator inputs an imaging part using an input means, a storage means in which information on an inspection procedure and imaging parameters is stored in advance is accessed, and an inspection procedure based on a combination of various imagings and an optimum imaging procedure for each imaging are accessed. Imaging parameters are obtained, and imaging is automatically performed according to the inspection procedure and the imaging parameters.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor required for the operator to use the experience and knowledge to consider an examination procedure according to an imaging part and an imaging disease and to find an optimal parameter for each imaging.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an MR imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the main magnet 1
Is for generating a static magnetic field, and a gradient magnetic field is applied by the gradient coil 2 so as to overlap the static magnetic field. The space to which the static magnetic field and the gradient magnetic field are applied is an examination space in which the subject 3 is arranged. The subject 3 is provided with an RF coil 4 for irradiating the subject 3 with an excitation RF pulse and receiving an NMR signal generated in the subject 3.

A gradient magnetic field power supply 5 is connected to the gradient magnetic field coil 2 to supply power for generating a gradient magnetic field. The RF coil 4 is supplied with an amplitude-modulated RF pulse from the transmission circuit 8. That is, the carrier wave from the signal generator 7 is amplitude-modulated by the modulation wave having a predetermined waveform in the transmission circuit 8 and sent to the RF coil 4.

The echo signal from the subject 3 received by the RF coil 4 is sent to a receiving circuit 10 via a preamplifier 9, and the signal from the signal generator 7 is used as a reference signal for phase detection of the received signal. The detected signal is sampled by the A / D converter 11, converted into digital data, and taken into the computer 6.

The computer 6 controls the waveform and amplitude of the modulated wave of the excitation RF pulse in the transmission circuit 8, determines the frequency and phase of the signal generator 7, and determines the sampling timing of the A / D converter 11. Also, the gradient magnetic field power supply 5 is controlled to arbitrarily program the timing, waveform, intensity, etc. of the gradient magnetic field pulse. Further, processing such as reconstructing an image from the collected digital data is performed. The image display device 12 connected to the computer 6 displays a reconstructed image and the like.

The computer 6 is connected to a monitor device 13 for displaying an inspection procedure and the like.
A coordinate input device such as a mouse or a trackball for inputting coordinates related to a display image of the image display device 12 and an input device 14 such as a keyboard device for inputting numerical values and the like are connected. Further, an inspection procedure memory 15 in which data relating to the inspection procedure is stored and an imaging parameter memory 16 in which imaging parameters are stored are also connected to the computer 6.

The memory 15 stores in advance an optimal examination procedure corresponding to an imaging part and an imaging disease.
For example, when the imaging site is the lumbar spine and the disease is a herniated disc, the memory 15 stores the inspection procedure for five imagings as shown in FIG. That is,
In “Imaging 1”, a pilot scan is performed on the coronal plane, in “Imaging 2”, a T1-weighted image is imaged on the sagittal plane by the spin echo method, and the sagittal plane should be manually set. In the "imaging 4", the T1 emphasis field echo method of the multi-angle transversal plane requiring manual setting is performed in "imaging 4", and in the "imaging 5", the multi-angle T2 emphasis field echo method is performed. An inspection procedure of performing the inspection is stored.

On the other hand, the memory 16 includes an imaging sequence such as a spin echo method or a field echo method, an imaging region, a slice surface such as a coronal surface or a sagittal surface, and whether the image is a T1-weighted image or a T2-weighted image. Each time, the imaging parameters are stored such that the optimal parameters are read out.

Therefore, when setting the patient in the gantry, the operator uses the input device 14 to input the imaging site and the imaging disease. Then, the computer 6 reads out the optimal inspection procedure from the inspection procedure memory 15 according to the input. For example, when the imaging part is input as the lumbar spine and the disease is disc herniation, the above-described examination procedure is read from the memory 15, and the imaging parameters for each imaging are read from the memory 16 accordingly. Then, the computer 6 displays the inspection procedure on the monitor device 13 sequentially or in a list format, and sequentially performs the imaging with the optimal imaging parameters according to the procedure. When manual setting is required (“imaging 2” or “imaging 4”), automatic imaging is temporarily stopped, and an input from the operator is waited. When an operator's input is performed, the computer 6 searches for the optimal imaging parameter in response to the input and automatically executes imaging again. The progress of the imaging is displayed by the monitor device 13.

For this reason, in this example, the operator only has to perform the operation for the patient setting and the slice plane setting for “imaging 2” and “imaging 4”, which facilitates the operation. The inspection procedure is performed by the computer 6 using the monitor device 13.
Is displayed on the monitor, so that the operator does not need to consider it, and the monitor 13 can also know the progress of the inspection.

The inspection procedure memory 15 does not store all the inspection procedures categorized according to all the imaging parts, the imaging diseases, etc., but stores each element thereof, and stores them in the computer 6. May be read out using a conditional expression or the like and combined to finally obtain an inspection procedure as shown in FIG. The same applies to the imaging parameter memory 16. The imaging parameters read from the memory 16 by the computer 6 can be combined using conditional expressions or the like. In this case, all the combinations of the imaging parameters are stored in the memory 16. Instead of storing, you will store the necessary elements of it. In the above, various combinations of imaging are used as inspection procedures.
It is memorized, not only for imaging but also for coil tuning
Imaging, signal strength optimization scan, excitation pulse adjustment, etc.
Scans according to the image or movements such as bed shift
You can also combine and store your work. this
Obtained inspection procedures and imaging parameters
Not only can it be used, but can also be modified as needed by the operator
The function may be provided to the computer 6. In addition,
The operator should set the computer 6 as described above.
The test is performed automatically as long as possible, but the condition of the patient
The operator operates the input device 14 or the like according to
The computer 6 can be configured to pause at
Wear. If so, configure it to pause immediately
You can also, after inputting the stop instruction,
It can be configured to stop when a break occurs
Wear. Not only such a pause, but also occasional
The operator operates the input device 14 or the like according to the situation or the like.
Caused computer 6 to skip part of the inspection procedure
Or change the order as appropriate
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which:

[0018]

According to the MR imaging apparatus of the present invention, the number of operations for inspection can be greatly reduced, the operator does not need to consider each time, the burden is reduced, and input errors can be prevented. Inspection can be easily performed by an inexperienced operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an MR imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing an example of an inspection procedure provided by the MR imaging apparatus of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 main magnet 2 gradient magnetic field coil 3 subject 4 RF coil 5 gradient magnetic field power supply 6 computer 7 signal generator 8 transmission circuit 9 preamplifier 10 reception circuit 11 A / D converter 12 image display device 13 monitor device 14 input device 15 inspection procedure Memory 16 Memory for imaging parameters

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for information about the test procedure and imaging parameters are stored in advance, at least
Input means for inputting an imaging part, and the input imaging part
Means for accessing the storage means according to the position to obtain an inspection procedure based on a combination of various imagings, obtaining an optimal imaging parameter for each of the imagings, and automatically performing imaging according to the inspection procedure and the imaging parameters. And a means for displaying the inspection procedure and displaying the progress of imaging.