JPH0648603U - Magnetic resonance imaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To make the troublesome operation of inputting settings for shooting conditions extremely easy. In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for inputting an imaging condition and performing imaging in accordance with the imaging condition, storage means for storing the imaging condition in each imaging, and each imaging condition stored in the storage means A means for reading out one of the image pickup conditions and performing image pickup under the read image pickup condition is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that inputs an imaging condition and performs imaging in accordance with the imaging condition.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A magnetic resonance imaging device (also called an MRI device if necessary) uses the so-called magnetic resonance phenomenon to measure the nuclear spin density distribution, relaxation time, etc. at the examination site of the subject, and The cross section of the subject is displayed as an image.

In such an MRI apparatus, the operator has to set a desired imaging condition out of various imaging conditions in advance when imaging. This is because it is necessary to specify the region to be imaged, specify the type of image to be obtained, or emphasize the image. Here, the imaging conditions include, for example, sequence, echo time, repetition time, imaging field of view, slice cross section, slice thickness, number of slices, slice interval and number of additions.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having such a configuration has a problem that a new imaging condition has to be input and set for each different imaging. For this reason, the operator has to grasp the imaging conditions suitable for the part and the situation and make the setting, and thus the operation is troublesome and time-consuming. In addition, the restraint time for the subject becomes longer accordingly.

Therefore, the present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of simplifying a troublesome operation of inputting condition setting. To provide.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve such an object, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention stores the imaging conditions for each imaging in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which inputs the imaging conditions and performs imaging in accordance with the imaging conditions. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a storage means for storing data, and a means for reading out one of the imaging conditions stored in the storage means and taking an image under the read imaging condition.

[0007]

[Action]

 In the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured as described above, in particular, the imaging conditions for each imaging are stored in the storage means (memory), and one of the stored imaging conditions is read out as necessary. Then, the image is picked up under the one shooting condition.

That is, the imaging conditions used in the past are retrieved from the storage means, and the same imaging conditions are used as they are. For this reason, the operator is much less required to set a new shooting condition each time shooting is performed. Therefore, the troublesome operation of inputting the setting of the photographing condition can be extremely simplified.

[0009]

【Example】

 FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus shown in the figure is roughly classified into a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a sequencer 12, a transmission system 13, a static magnetic field generating magnet 14, a reception system 15, and a signal processing system 16. It consists of

The central processing unit (CPU) 11 controls each of the sequencer 12, the transmission system 13, the reception system 15, and the signal processing system 16 according to a predetermined program. The sequencer 12 operates based on a control command from the central processing unit 11 and sends various commands necessary for collecting data of a tomographic image of the subject 6 to the transmission system 13 and the gradient magnetic field generation system of the magnetostatic field generation magnet 14. 21 and the receiving system 15.

The transmission system 13 has a high-frequency oscillator 17, a modulator 18, and an irradiation coil 20 as a high-frequency coil. The high-frequency pulse from the high-frequency oscillator 17 is amplitude-modulated by the modulator 18 according to a command from the sequencer 12. The amplitude-modulated high-frequency pulse is amplified by the high-frequency amplifier 19 and supplied to the irradiation coil 20, so that the subject 6 is irradiated with a predetermined pulsed electromagnetic wave.

The static magnetic field generating magnet 14 is configured to generate a uniform static magnetic field around the subject 6 in an arbitrary direction. Inside the static magnetic field generating magnet 14, in addition to the irradiation coil 20, a gradient magnetic field coil 21 for generating a gradient magnetic field and a receiving coil 2 of the receiving system 15 are arranged. The gradient magnetic field generation system 21 includes a gradient magnetic field coil 21 having a configuration capable of independently applying a gradient magnetic field in mutually orthogonal Cartesian coordinate axis directions, a gradient magnetic field power supply 22 that supplies a current to the gradient magnetic field coil 21, and a gradient magnetic field power supply 22. The sequencer 12 controls the magnetic field power supply 22.

The receiving system 15 includes a receiving coil 2 as a high frequency coil, a receiving circuit 23 connected to the receiving coil 2, a quadrature phase detector 24, and an A / D converter 25. . When the receiving coil 2 detects the NMR signal from the subject 6, the signal is converted into a digital amount via the receiving circuit 23, the quadrature phase detector 24, and the A / D converter 25, and the command from the sequencer 12 is used. The quadrature detector 24 converts the sampled data into two series of collected data at a timing and sends the collected data to the central processing unit 11.

The signal processing system 16 has an external storage device such as a magnetic disk 26 and an optical disk 27, and a display 28 such as a CRT. When data from the receiving system 15 is input to the central processing unit 11. The central processing unit 11 executes processing such as signal processing and image reconstruction, displays a desired sectional image of the subject 6 as a result on the display 28, and records it on the magnetic disk 26 or the like of the external storage device. It is supposed to be done.

The sequencer 12 stores, for example, a pulse sequence called a spin echo method shown in FIG. In the figure, first, a high frequency magnetic field is applied for excitation. The irradiation power is set so that macroscopically observed atomic spins are tilted 90 ° on a plane perpendicular to the static magnetic field (90 ° pulse). Since each spin starts rotating at its own speed, a phase difference occurs between the spins over time. Here, when a high-frequency magnetic field (180 ° pulse) having a power that tilts the spin 180 ° is applied again, each spin is inverted and the phase difference converges to form an echo signal. This time is called an echo time (Te). Furthermore, for the purpose of adding two-dimensional position information within the slice plane, a read-out gradient magnetic field is applied during echo signal detection, and an encode gradient magnetic field is applied during two high-frequency magnetic field irradiation times. This encoding gradient magnetic field is gradually changed to detect echo signals repeatedly (this repetition time is referred to as Tr), and finally a two-dimensional Fourier transform process is applied to all detected signal data to obtain a tomographic image. You can

The above-described spin echo method is merely an example as an imaging sequence, and there are various imaging sequences by other methods, which are arbitrarily selected by setting the imaging conditions. There is. Even in the imaging sequence thus specified, the imaging conditions can be changed by setting the echo time, repetition time, and the like.

Next, such photographing condition setting will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, focusing on the operation of the CPU 11.

Step 1. First, the operator inputs a desired imaging sequence or imaging condition in protocol setting.

Step 2. Next, when starting the imaging, the imaging sequence and the previous imaging conditions stored in the memory 29 based on the imaging region or the imaging cross section and Step 1. Either of the imaging conditions set in step 1 can be selected, and for example, a cancel switch (not shown) is pressed or not.

Step 3. When the cancel switch is not pressed, the above-mentioned protocol setting conditions are satisfied.

Step 4. When the cancel switch is pressed, the photographing is performed by setting the previous condition stored in the memory 29 according to the instruction of the CPU 11.

Step 5. Step 1. This is the case when the protocol setting is not performed.

Step 6. By pressing the cancel switch, the target of the photographing condition selected is reversed by the instruction of the CPU 11.

Step 7. If the cancel switch is not pressed, the previous shooting condition stored in the memory 29 is set by a command from the CPU 11.

Step 8. When the switch is pressed, the protocol setting conditions will be set.

Step 9. This is a case in which the operator simply sets an arbitrary shooting condition on the operation panel and picks up an image without setting the protocol.

Step 10. Positioning imaging is performed before starting imaging of the same cross section in the same sequence (when positioning imaging is not performed, the same as in FIG. 1).

Step 11. When the main imaging is performed using the positioning image, the setting condition by the previous panel input is canceled once by the positioning imaging, and the protocol setting condition is set.

Step 12. By inputting a cancel switch or the like, the protocol setting condition or the previous setting condition can be selected, and step 13. When the switch is pushed, the previous setting condition stored in the memory 29 is set by the instruction of the CPU 11.

Step 14. If the switch is not pressed, the protocol setting condition is set.

According to the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured as in the above-described embodiment, the photographing condition in each photographing is stored in the storage means (memory), and one of the stored photographing conditions is stored. The photographing conditions are read out as necessary, and the photographing is performed under the one photographing condition.

That is, the imaging conditions used in the past are retrieved from the storage means and the same imaging conditions are used as they are. For this reason, the operator is significantly less required to set new shooting conditions each time shooting is performed. Therefore, the troublesome operation of inputting the setting of the photographing condition can be extremely simplified.

In addition to the embodiments described above, in the present invention, by setting a desired imaging sequence, the imaging conditions of the past several times are read from the memory 29 and displayed on the display 28, and the conditions are displayed. It is needless to say that the photographing condition may be input by selecting, for example, by inputting a number.

In addition, by setting a desired sequence, the CPU 11 determines a shooting condition that is frequently used, reads out a plurality of conditions, displays them on the display 28, and selects them by inputting a number in the same manner as described above. It goes without saying that the photographing condition may be input according to the above.

[0035]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention can extremely simplify the troublesome operation of inputting the setting of imaging conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation of an embodiment of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sequence of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU 12 Sequencer 28 Display 29 Memory

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for inputting an imaging condition and performing imaging in accordance with the imaging condition, a storage unit for storing the imaging condition in each imaging, and each storage unit stored in the storage unit. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a means for reading one of the imaging conditions and performing imaging under the read imaging conditions.