TRIGGER-ADAPTED MR DATA ACQUISITION

Abstract

In trigger-adapted MR data acquisition, a trigger from the object undergoing investigation is detected, by which a periodically repeated procedure of the object is detected. An imaging sequence is performed multiple times dependent on the trigger in order to acquire MR data. The imaging sequence includes at least one preparation pulse and a subsequent readout module, the readout module ending a first time period before an end of the procedure. The respective imaging sequence is performed only if RR≧RR(0)−(dRR−dRR(B1)), wherein dRR(B1) is a second time period, RR corresponds is a first time interval between a trigger that is currently being detected and a trigger that was detected immediately before the currently detected trigger, and RR(0) is a second time interval that corresponds to a predefined time interval between two directly succeeding triggers.

Claims

1. A method for operating a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus in order to acquire MR data from a living subject situated in the MR apparatus, said method comprising: detecting a physiological trigger from the subject in the MR apparatus and providing said trigger to a computer and, in said computer, detecting, from said trigger, a periodically repeated procedure that occurs within the subject; from said computer, operating the MR apparatus to perform an imaging sequence multiple times, with each repetition of the imaging sequence being dependent on said trigger, in order to acquire MR data from the object, said imaging sequence comprising at least one preparation pulse and a subsequent readout module; in said computer, timing an occurrence of said readout module in each of said repetitions so that said readout module ends a first time period dRR before an end of said periodically repeated procedure; and in said computer, determining a second time period dRR(B1), and operating said MR apparatus to perform said imaging sequence only when RR≧RR(0)−(dRR−dRR(B1)), wherein RR corresponds to a first time interval between a currently detected trigger and a trigger that was detected immediately before said currently detected trigger, and wherein RR(0) is a second time interval that corresponds to a predetermined time interval between two directly succeeding triggers.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein operating said MR apparatus includes radiating radio-frequency (RF) energy into the object in order to acquire said MR data, and comprising, in said computer, determining said second time period in order to maintain an average RF output of said MR apparatus below a predetermined maximum value during a respective repetition of said imaging sequence.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, if it is determined in said computer that RR is not greater than or equal RR(0)−dRR−dRR(B1)), then, from said computer, lengthening a time interval in said imaging sequence between an end of the readout module and a beginning of the preparation pulse.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, if it is determined in said computer that RR is not greater than or equal RR(0)−dRR−dRR(B1)), then, from said computer, lengthening a time interval in said imaging sequence between an end of the preparation pulse and a beginning of the readout module.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising using said trigger to detect, as said periodically repeated procedure, a procedure selected from the group consisting of the heartbeat of the subject and the respiration of the subject.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said MR apparatus from said computer with said preparation pulse configured as a pulse selected from the group consisting of a blood suppression pulse, a radio-frequency pulse that suppresses components having a short T2 time, a fat saturation pulse, an inversion pulse, and a saturation pulse.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein operating said MR apparatus includes radiating radio-frequency (RF) energy into the object in order to acquire said MR data, and wherein said method comprises: in said computer, simulating performance of said imaging sequence, in order to produce a simulated imaging sequence, and, from said simulated imaging sequence, determining whether performing said imaging sequence would cause an average RF output of said MR apparatus to exceed a predetermined maximum value; and if it is determined from the simulated imaging sequence that said average RF output of said MR apparatus exceeds said predetermined value, modifying said imaging sequence to lengthen at least one of a time interval between an end of the readout module and a beginning of the preparation pulse, and a time interval between an end of the preparation pulse and a beginning of the readout module.

8. A magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising: an MR data acquisition scanner; a processor configured to receive a physiological trigger from a subject in the MR scanner, said computer being configured to detect, from said trigger, a periodically repeated procedure that occurs within the subject; said computer being configured to operate the MR apparatus to perform an imaging sequence multiple times, with each repetition of the imaging sequence being dependent on said trigger, in order to acquire MR data from the object, said imaging sequence comprising at least one preparation pulse and a subsequent readout module; said computer being configured to time an occurrence of said readout module in each of said repetitions so that said readout module ends a first time period dRR before an end of said periodically repeated procedure; and said computer being configured to determine a second time period dRR(B1), and operate said MR apparatus to perform said imaging sequence only when RR≧RR(0)−(dRR−dRR(B1)), wherein RR corresponds to a first time interval between a currently detected trigger and a trigger that was detected immediately before said currently detected trigger, and wherein RR(0) is a second time interval that corresponds to a predetermined time interval between two directly succeeding triggers.

9. A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a control computer of magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus, and said programming instructions causing said control computer to: detect a physiological trigger from the subject in the MR scanner, and detect, from said trigger, a periodically repeated procedure that occurs within the subject; operate the MR apparatus to perform an imaging sequence multiple times, with each repetition of the imaging sequence being dependent on said trigger, in order to acquire MR data from the object, said imaging sequence comprising at least one preparation pulse and a subsequent readout module; time an occurrence of said readout module in each of said repetitions so that said readout module ends a first time period dRR before an end of said periodically repeated procedure; and determine a second time period dRR(B1), and operate said MR apparatus to perform said imaging sequence only when RR≧RR(0)−(dRR−dRR(B1)), wherein RR corresponds to a first time interval between a currently detected trigger and a trigger that was detected immediately before said currently detected trigger, and wherein RR(0) is a second time interval that corresponds to a predetermined time interval between two directly succeeding triggers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an imaging sequence according to the invention, together with an ECG.

[0033] FIGS. 3 to 5 show particular situations in the MR data acquisition.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus 5 according to the invention (a magnetic resonance imaging tomography apparatus). The MR data acquisition scanner of the apparatus 5 has a basic field magnet 1 that generates a strong basic magnetic field that is constant over time, for the polarization or alignment of nuclear spins in an area being investigated in an object O, such as an anatomy to be investigated of a human body, who is examined in the scanner while lying on a platform 23. The high level of homogeneity of the basic magnetic field that is required for measurement of the magnetic resonance signals is defined in a typically spherical measurement volume M, in which the volume that is to be investigated of the human body is arranged. To aid the homogeneity requirements, and in particular to eliminate factors that are invariable over time, so-called shim plates made of ferromagnetic material are mounted at a suitable location in the scanner. Factors that are variable over time are eliminated by shim coils 2.

[0036] Inserted into the basic field magnet 1 is a cylindrical gradient field system 3, which has three sub-windings. Each sub-winding is supplied with current by an amplifier, in order to generate a linear gradient field (which is also variable over time) in the respective directions of a Cartesian coordinate system. Here, the first sub-winding of the gradient field system 3 generates a gradient G.sub.x in the x-direction, the second sub-winding generates a gradient G.sub.y in the y-direction and the third sub-winding generates a gradient G.sub.z in the z-direction. Each amplifier includes a digital-to-analog converter that is controlled by a sequence controller 18 for generating gradient pulses at the correct time.

[0037] Within the gradient field system 3 there is one or more radio-frequency antennas 4, which convert the radio-frequency pulses that are emitted by a radio-frequency power amplifier into an alternating magnetic field for the purpose of exciting nuclei of the object O so as to give their nuclear spins a magnetization that deflects the excited spins from the alignment produced by the basic magnetic field. Each radio-frequency antenna 4 has one or more RF emitting coils and one or more RF receiving coils in the form of an annular arrangement, preferably a linear or matrix-type arrangement, of component coils. The alternating field from the excited nuclear spins, typically nuclear spin echo signals caused by a pulse sequence composed of one or more radio-frequency pulses and one or more gradient pulses, is converted into a voltage (measurement signal) by the RF receiving coils of the respective radio-frequency antenna 4, and this voltage is applied via an amplifier 7 to a radio-frequency receiving channel 8 of a radio-frequency system 22. The radio-frequency system 22, which is part of a control computer 10 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 5, furthermore includes a transmitting channel 9 in which the radio-frequency pulses for exciting the nuclear magnetic resonance are generated. The respective radio-frequency pulses are represented digitally as a sequence of complex numbers, on the basis of a pulse sequence predefined by the system processor 20, in the sequence controller 18. This numerical sequence is supplied as a real part and an imaginary part via respective inputs 12 to a digital-to-analog converter in the radio-frequency system 22, and from there to a transmitting channel 9. In the transmitting channel 9, the pulse sequences are modulated to a radio-frequency carrier signal, the basic frequency of which corresponds to the resonant frequency of the nuclear spins in the measurement volume.

[0038] Switch-over from emitting to receiving mode is carried out by a diplexer 6. The RF emitting coils of the radio-frequency antenna(s) 4 direct radiation of the radio-frequency pulses for exciting the nuclear spins into the measurement volume M, and the resulting echo signals are scanned by the RF receiving coil(s). The accordingly obtained nuclear resonance signals are demodulated in a phase-sensitive manner in the receiving channel 8′ (first demodulator) of the radio-frequency system 22 to give an intermediate frequency, are digitalized in the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and are emitted via the output 11. This signal is demodulated again to give the frequency 0. Demodulation to the frequency 0, and separation into the real part and the imaginary part, take place downstream of the digitalization in the digital domain in a second demodulator 8. An MR image is reconstructed by an image processor 17 from the measurement data that are obtained in this way. Management of the measurement data, the image data and the control programs is performed by the system processor 20. By the provision according to the invention with control programs, the sequence controller 18 controls the generation of the respectively desired pulse sequences and the corresponding scanning of (date entry into) k-space. The sequence controller 18 controls activation of the gradients at the proper time, emission of the radio-frequency pulses having a defined phase amplitude, and reception of the magnetic resonance signals. The time base for the radio-frequency system 22 and the sequence controller 18 is provided by a synthesizer 19. The selection of corresponding control programs for generating an MR image, which are stored for example on a DVD 21, and the representation of the generated MR image are performed, at a terminal 13 that includes a keyboard 15, a mouse 16 and a screen 14.

[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates an imaging sequence according to the invention with the example of an ECG 52 as the representation of the aforementioned periodically repeating procedure of the object O, in which the trigger is detected. The imaging sequence begins at the time of the R-wave 51, which is illustrated on the left in FIG. 2, with a preparation pulse 32 of the sequence. MR data of the patient are then acquired using the readout module 33 that follows the preparation pulse 32. The readout module 33 ends a time period dRR before the second R-wave 51 (on the right in FIG. 2). The time of this second R-wave 51 also corresponds to that of the beginning of the second imaging sequence, or the beginning of the next preparation pulse 32. This situation will be described again below from other observation perspective.

[0040] Each imaging sequence, which includes the preparation pulse 32 and the succeeding readout module 33, is synchronized in dependence on the ECG of the object undergoing investigation, or patient. The respective imaging sequence typically begins at the point in time at which an R-wave 51 is detected in the ECG 52. For example, with the use of pre-measurements, a setpoint RR(0) is defined for the time interval between two R-waves 51 of the patient to be investigated. Using this setpoint value RR(0), each imaging sequence is planned such that the readout module 33 ends the time period dRR before the next R-wave 51. Because the readout module 33 in FIG. 2 also ends the time period dRR before the second R-wave 51 (on the right in FIG. 2), the time period or the actual value RR in the situation illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds precisely to the setpoint value RR(0).

[0041] In other words, using the R-waves 51, periodically repeated procedures of the object undergoing investigation are detected, so the patient's heart rate is in practice detected in each case. The time at which a (new) procedure begins and hence the time at which the previous procedure ends in each case correspond to the point in time at which an R-wave 51 is detected. In each of these procedures, when possible, an imaging sequence 32, 33 is to be performed in order to acquire MR data during the procedure (heartbeat). The above-described setpoint value RR(0) accordingly corresponds to a type of setpoint value for the duration of the respective procedure, while the actual value RR corresponds to the real duration of the respective procedure.

[0042] If the actual value RR(0) is a longer time than the setpoint value RR, the next imaging sequence begins correspondingly later, which does not present a problem. If, however, the actual value RR(0) is a shorter time than the setpoint value RR, the next imaging sequence would have to begin correspondingly earlier. This would cause the time interval between the end of the readout module 33 of the last imaging sequence and the beginning of the preparation pulse 32 of the next imaging sequence to become correspondingly shorter. This shortening would cause the average RF output of the magnetic resonance scanner to rise, since more RF pulses are generated per unit time than if the actual value RR(0) corresponds to the setpoint value RR.

[0043] So that the shortening of the actual value RR (namely, the quickening of the heart rate) can be taken into account, the time period dRR was taken into account when planning the imaging sequences. However, the invention is based on the insight that even in this case only a certain level of shortening of the actual value RR (a quicker heart rate) can be coped with without either the average RF output of the magnetic resonance scanner exceeding a predefined maximum value or too great a sacrifice having to be accepted of the quality of the acquired MR values. If, however, the above-described equation (1) is no longer fulfilled, this level of shortening of the actual value RR is exceeded. In this case, no MR data are acquired during the next procedure or heartbeat, thus no imaging sequence is performed.

[0044] As long as equation (1) is fulfilled, the time interval between the end of the readout module 33 of the current procedure or heartbeat and the beginning of the succeeding procedure or heartbeat is greater than the time period dRR(B1). The time period dRR(B1) is accordingly selected in dependence on the performance of the magnetic resonance scanner such that it is as small as possible while still being sufficiently large so as to ensure that the succeeding imaging sequence can be performed without the average RF output of the magnetic resonance apparatus exceeding the predefined maximum value.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a situation in which the actual value RR is a shorter time than the setpoint value RR(0), with the result that the average RF output exceeds the predefined maximum value. In order to show this, the average RF output or B1 output 31 of the magnetic resonance apparatus over time (in each case the integral over the last 100 ms) is illustrated below the image sequence 32, 33. Since the time interval between the end of the last readout module 33 (on the left in FIG. 3) and the beginning of the preparation pulse 32 of the next imaging sequence is too short, because of the faster heart rate RR, the mean RF output 31 rises, just after the preparation pulse 32, above the predefined maximum value 44, as a result of which the measurement sequence would be terminated 41.

[0046] In FIG. 4, a similar situation to that in FIG. 3 is illustrated, in which the actual value RR is a shorter time than the setpoint value RR(0). To avoid the average RF output 31 exceeding the predefined maximum value 44, the time interval 42 between the end of the last readout module 33 (on the left in FIG. 4) and the beginning of the preparation pulse 32 of the following imaging sequence has been made larger than that in FIG. 3. As a result, although the mean RF output 31 falls by comparison with that in FIG. 3, during the readout module 33 of the following imaging sequence it rises above the predefined maximum value 44, as a result of which the measurement sequence would be terminated at 41 as in FIG. 3 (albeit later).

[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates a situation in which, similarly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the actual value RR is a shorter time than the setpoint value RR(0). To prevent the average RF output 31 from exceeding the predefined maximum value 44, the time interval 42 between the end of the last readout module 33 (on the left in FIG. 5) and the beginning of the preparation pulse 32 of the following imaging sequence, and in addition the time interval 43 between the end of the preparation pulse 32 and the following readout module 33, are each made larger than in FIG. 3. These two measures have the result that the average RF output does not exceed the predefined maximum value during performance of the following imaging sequence either.

[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment according to the invention.

[0049] In a first step S1, the imaging sequence, the time periods dRR (for example of 60 ms) and dRR(B1) (for example of 15 ms) and the setpoint value for the time interval between two succeeding triggers are determined. For a cardio MRI measurement, the setpoint value may be set for example as the mean value of a certain number of measured heartbeats, in some cases plus a safety value of 60 ms. The standardized imaging sequence is then planned such that the readout module 33 ends the time period dRR before the next trigger, a precondition of this plan being that the time interval between two succeeding triggers corresponds to the setpoint value.

[0050] When the next trigger is detected, in step S2, the actual value RR is set as the time interval between the preceding trigger and the currently detected trigger. Then, in step S3, a check is made as to whether the condition of equation (1) is met. If this is not the case (that is to say that the actual value RR is too small), the next heartbeat is not detected and the method returns to step S2.

[0051] If by contrast the condition of equation (1) is met, then a check is made in step S4 as to whether the actual value RR is greater than or equal to the setpoint value RR(0). If this is the case, the planned imaging sequence can be performed unchanged, with the result that MR data is acquired in step S6 with this sequence.

[0052] If by contrast the actual value RR is smaller than the setpoint value RR(0), either the time interval between the preparation pulse and the readout module for the next imaging sequence is lengthened, or the time interval between the readout module of the preceding imaging sequence and the preparation pulse of the next imaging sequence is lengthened. It is also possible for both time intervals to be lengthened. The corresponding changed imaging sequence is performed in step S6 in order to acquire MR data. Then, in step S7, a check is made as to whether a sufficient number of MR data points has been acquired yet. If this is the case, the method is ended, and if it is not the case, the method jumps back to step S2.

[0053] Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the Applicant to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of the Applicant's contribution to the art.