Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, frames of section image data including a heart are acquired from an object by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Spatial positional information of a reference section of the heart is calculated based on the frames of section image data. A reference section image of the heart is displayed and positioning of an imaging part for diagnostic imaging is set using the displayed reference section image of the heart. Diagnostic imaging as defined by the set positioning information is then performed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
 a static magnetic field generator, gradient magnetic field coils, at least one radio frequency coil and a control system including at least one computer coupled to control said gradient magnetic field coils and said at least one radio frequency coil,   said control system being configured to   (a) acquire initial scout MRI volume image data including a heart;   (b) generate reference cross section images having respectively different directions of the heart based on the acquired initial scout MRI volume image data;   (c) concurrently display at least some of said reference cross section images;   (d) set a selected reference cross section image for subsequent imaging based on at least one of the displayed reference cross section images; and   (e) acquire diagnostic MRI data for the set reference cross section image.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said control system is further configured to calculate and display a spatial-positional location of pre-determined anatomical features in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said spatial-positional location of predetermined anatomical features is calculated as vector information. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said control system is further configured to locate and display the spatial-positional location of selected anatomical features in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images based, at least in part, on pre-stored anatomical knowledge data. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein said spatial-positional location of selected anatomical features is calculated as vector information. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said reference cross section images are displayed as thumbnail images. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said control system is further configured to automatically add information identifying the selected reference section image to the respectively corresponding acquired diagnostic MRI data for subsequent use as sorting information for the acquired diagnostic MRI data. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said control system is further configured to accept manual operator input to adjust the selected reference section image so as to define a different reference section to be used for acquiring said diagnostic MRI data. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said control system is further configured to calculate and display the spatial-positional location of anatomical features in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images, said anatomical features including at least one of an apex cordis, a mitral valve, a long axis and an center of a left ventricle of a heart. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said volume image data including a heart is acquired by a single shot magnetic resonance imaging sequence synchronized with an electrocardiogram. 
     
     
         11 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising:
 using an MRI system including a static magnetic field generator, gradient magnetic field coils, at least one radio frequency coil and a control system including at least one computer coupled to control said gradient magnetic field coils and said at least one radio frequency coil to
 (a) acquire initial scout MRI volume image data including a heart; 
 (b) generate reference cross section images having respectively different directions of the heart based on the acquired initial scout MRI volume image data; 
 (c) concurrently display at least some of said reference cross section images; 
 (d) set a selected reference cross section image for subsequent imaging based on at least one of the displayed reference cross section images; and 
 (e) acquire diagnostic MRI data for the set reference cross section image. 
   
     
     
         12 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  further comprising calculating and displaying a spatial-positional location of pre-determined anatomical features in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 12  wherein said spatial-positional location of predetermined anatomical features is calculated as vector information. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein a spatial-positional location of selected anatomical features are located and displayed in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images based, at least in part, on pre-stored anatomical knowledge data. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 14  wherein said spatial-positional location of selected anatomical features is calculated as vector information. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein said reference cross section images are displayed as thumbnail images. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein information identifying the selected reference section image is automatically added to the respectively corresponding acquired diagnostic MRI data for subsequent use as sorting information for the acquired diagnostic MRI data. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein manual operator input is used to adjust the selected reference section image so as to define a different reference section to be used for acquiring said MRI data. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein a spatial-positional location of anatomical features is calculated and displayed in at least some of the displayed reference cross section images, said anatomical features including at least one of an apex cordis, a mitral valve, a long axis and an center of a left ventricle of a heart. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 11  wherein said volume image data including a heart is acquired by a single shot magnetic resonance imaging sequence synchronized with an electrocardiogram.