Patent Application
20200319285
This patent application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 19167028.0, filed Apr. 3, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure generally relate to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Various examples specifically relate to using MRI fingerprinting protocols and associated detection of patient motion. Various examples relate to quantitative MRI.
Using quantitative MRI, it is possible to determine absolute values of physical observables of the patient. Examples include T1 and T2 relaxation times. In the clinical routine, quantitative MRI is rarely used. Rather, MRI protocols that are widespread in clinical routine, often rely on a relative contrast for the associated MRI images. For example, different tissue types will appear in the MRI images having a different contrast (sometimes also referred to as weighting). Then, the clinical expert can perform diagnostics based on expert knowledge.
One reason for quantitative MRI not experiencing widespread application in clinical routine is that the associated MRI imaging time, i.e. the time required to acquire the MRI signals using the MRI protocol, is comparably long. To alleviate this drawback, it has been proposed to use MRI fingerprinting protocols for acquiring the MRI signals. See, e.g. Ma, Dan, et al. “Magnetic resonance fingerprinting.” Nature 495.7440 (2013): 187. MRI fingerprinting generally relies on a matching of a time evolution of acquired MRI signals with reference MRI signals obtained from a pre-prepared database. This matching can be implemented voxel-by-voxel. The pre-prepared database is sometimes referred to as dictionary. For example, the dictionary can be populated using simulations. For example, the simulations can be subject to different T1 or T2 relaxation times, tissue types, etc. Then, based on said matching, it is possible to quantitatively determine the T1 or T2 relaxation times. For example, the best matching reference MRI signal may be assumed to adequately describe the acquired MRI signals.
It has been observed that patient motion during the acquisition of the MRI signals using the MRI fingerprinting protocol can have an impact on a quality of the MRI images obtained based on the acquired MRI signals. For example, false-positives in the matching may result in incorrect qualitative determination of the T1 or T2 relaxation times.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments.
The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements, features and components that are identical, functionally identical and have the same effect are—insofar as is not stated otherwise—respectively provided with the same reference character.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the disclosure.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an advanced technique of performing MRI, in particular MRI using MRI fingerprinting protocols. More specifically, for performing techniques of determining patient motion when performing MRI.
A method of performing MRI according to an exemplary embodiment includes applying an MRI fingerprinting protocol to acquire MRI signals defining one or more MRI images. The method also includes acquiring a time series of non-MRI images of a body part of a patient, while applying the MRI fingerprinting protocol. Further, the method includes determining a motion of the patient based on object shifts in the time series of non-MRI images.
A computer program or a computer-program product or a computer-readable storage medium includes program code. The program code can be executed by at least one processor. Upon the at least one processor executing the program code, the at least one processor performs a method of performing MRI. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes applying an MRI fingerprinting protocol to acquire MRI signals defining one or more MRI images. The method also includes acquiring a time series of non-MRI images of a body part of a patient, while applying the MRI fingerprinting protocol. Further, the method includes determining a motion of the patient based on object shifts in the time series of non-MRI images.
An MRI device is configured to apply an MRI fingerprinting protocol to acquire MRI signals defining one or more MRI images. The MRI device is also configured to acquire a time series of non-MRI images of a body part of a patient, while applying the MRI fingerprinting protocol. Further, the MRI device is configured to determine a motion of the patient based on object shifts in the time series of non-MRI images.
A method of performing MRI includes acquiring MRI signals using an MRI protocol. The method also includes determining an image domain difference map based on a subset of the acquired MRI signals and further based on a reference MRI image of the MRI protocol. The method further includes determining a motion of a patient based on the image domain difference map.
A computer program or a computer-program product or a computer-readable storage medium includes program code. The program code can be executed by at least one processor. Upon the at least one processor executing the program code, the at least one processor performs a method of performing MRI. This method includes acquiring MRI signals using an MRI protocol. The method also includes determining an image domain difference map based on a subset of the acquired MRI signals and further based on a reference MRI image of the MRI protocol. The method further includes determining a motion of a patient based on the image domain difference map.
An MRI device according to an exemplary embodiment is configured to acquire MRI signals using an MRI protocol. The MRI device is also configured to determine an image domain difference map based on a subset of the acquired MRI signals and further based on a reference MRI image of the MRI protocol. The MRI device is further configured to determine a motion of a patient based on the image domain difference map.
It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below may be used not only in the respective combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Aspects of the present disclosure generally provide for a plurality of circuits or other electrical devices. All references to the circuits and other electrical devices and the functionality provided by each are not intended to be limited to encompassing only what is illustrated and described herein. While particular labels may be assigned to the various circuits or other electrical devices disclosed, such labels are not intended to limit the scope of operation for the circuits and the other electrical devices. Such circuits and other electrical devices may be combined with each other and/or separated in any manner based on the particular type of electrical implementation that is desired. It is recognized that any circuit or other electrical device disclosed herein may include any number of microcontrollers, a graphics processor unit (GPU), integrated circuits, memory devices (e.g. FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or other suitable variants thereof), and software which co-act with one another to perform operation(s) disclosed herein. In addition, any one or more of the electrical devices may be configured to execute a program code that is embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium programmed to perform any number of the functions as disclosed.
In the following, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following description of embodiments is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described hereinafter or by the drawings, which are taken to be illustrative only.
The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.
Hereinafter, techniques of MRI described. MRI may be employed to obtain raw MRI measurement data of a magnetization of nuclear spins of a sample region of the patient (MRI signals). The sample region defines a field of view. The MRI signals are typically defined in k-space. Based on the MRI signals, MRI images in image domain can be determined.
According to various examples, a quantitative MRI protocol may be employed. Hence, the MRI images may have a contrast that allows to determine, in absolute numbers, a physical observable such as T1 relaxation time, T2 relaxation time, tissue type contribution (e.g. water content, fat content), etc. MRI images obtained by applying a quantitative MRI protocol are sometimes referred to as parametric maps.
According to various examples, the MRI signals are acquired by applying an MRI fingerprinting protocol. Here, the k-space of a slice is sampled multiple times. From iteration to iteration, one or more acquisition parameters are re-configured. For example, an orientation of a k-space trajectory along which the k-space is sampled could be re-configured. The iterative sampling yields multiple MRI signals. The MRI signals are iteratively acquired, i.e. one after another/time-multiplexed. The iterative re-configuration of the one or more acquisition parameters helps to obtain a characteristic fingerprint of the response of the nuclear spins of the sample region. Then, it is possible to implement a matching of the acquired MRI signals with reference MRI signals of a dictionary; this allows to reconstruct an MRI image in image domain. The matching could be implemented voxel-by-voxel. Typically, to speed up the acquisition, each iteration undersamples the k-space. This means that—for a given field-of-view or resolution—the number of k-space samples is insufficient to reconstruct the entire image without undersampling artifacts. For example, an echo—e.g. defining a given MR signal—may include a number of samples along a k-space trajectory that is insufficient to reconstruct the MR image at the given FOV and spatial resolution without aliasing.
According to various embodiment, it is possible to determine motion of the patient (patient motion) during the acquisition of the MRI signals using the MRI fingerprinting protocol. Based on the patient motion, one or more countermeasures may be taken.
Such techniques are based on the finding that, in contrast to the well-known patient motion artifacts in conventional non-quantitative MRI protocols such as visible image distortions, quantitative MRI results may be affected by motion in a subtler way: values in the parametric maps can be corrupted without obvious hints in the appearance of the maps.
This effect may be further emphasized when applying a quantitative fingerprinting MRI protocol. For example, it has been found that 2-D quantitative fingerprinting MRI protocols are particularly sensitive to through-plane patient motion (as opposed to in-plane patient motion perpendicular to a slice selection direction, e.g. rotation). Examples of through-plane motion generally include rigid shifts or tilts. The same also holds for strong 2-D in-plane and 3-D motion, in case that e.g. B1+ and B1− affect the signals strong enough.
Hereinafter, techniques are described that facilitate detecting patient motion in particular through-plane patient motion. The techniques described herein do not require MRI-based navigator scans. This makes the techniques simple and fast.
Illustrated in
The MRI device 100 also includes a gradient system 140 for creating spatially-varying magnetic gradient fields (gradients) used for spatially encoding MRI data. Typically, the gradient system 140 includes at least three gradient coils 141 that are arranged orthogonal to each other and can be controlled individually. By applying gradient pulses to the gradient coils 141, it is possible to apply gradients along certain directions. The gradients can be used for slice selection (slice-selection gradients), frequency encoding (readout gradients), and phase encoding along one or more phase-encoding directions (phase-encoding gradients). Hereinafter, the slice-selection direction will be defined as being aligned along the Z-axis; the readout direction will be defined as being aligned with the X-axis; and a first phase-encoding direction as being aligned with the Y-axis. A second phase-encoding direction may be aligned with the Z-axis. The directions along which the various gradients are applied are not necessarily in parallel with the axes defined by the coils 141. Rather, it is possible that these directions are defined by a certain k-space trajectory which, in turn, can be defined by certain requirements of the respective MRI sequence and/or based on anatomic properties of the patient 101.
For preparation and/or excitation of the magnetization polarized/aligned with the DC magnetic field, RF pulses can be applied. For this, an RF coil assembly 121 is provided which is capable of applying an RF pulse such as an inversion pulse or an excitation pulse. While the inversion pulse generally inverts the direction of the longitudinal magnetization, excitation pulses can create transversal magnetization. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnet 110, RF coil assembly 121, and gradient coils 141 can collectively be referred to as an MRI scanner. In other embodiments, the scanner can include one or more additional components of the MRI device 100 or one or fewer components. For example, the scanner can also include components 130, 131, and 132. In one or more embodiments, the processor 161, memory 162, and I/O 150 collectively form a computer or controller that is configured to control the scanner.
For creating such RF pulses, an RF transmitter 131 is connected via an RF switch 130 with the coil assembly 121. Via an RF receiver 132, it is possible to detect signals of the magnetization relaxing back into the relaxation position aligned with the DC magnetic field. In particular, it is possible to detect echoes; echoes may be formed by applying one or more RF pulses (spin echo) and/or by applying one or more gradients (gradient echo). The magnetization may be inductively coupled with the coil assembly 121 for this purpose. The respectively acquired MRI signals can correspond to raw data in k-space; according to various examples, the MRI measurement data can be post-processed in order to obtain MRI images. Such post-processing can include a Fourier Transform from k-space to image space. Such post-processing can also include reconstruction to avoid aliasing where an undersampling scheme is used. Such reconstruction can employ matching with reference MRI signals obtained from a dictionary.
Generally, it would be possible to use separate coil assemblies for applying RF pulses on the one hand side and for acquiring MRI data on the other hand side (not shown in
The MRI device 100 further includes a human machine interface 150, e.g. a screen, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. By means of the human machine interface 150, a user input can be detected and output to the user can be implemented. For example, by means of the human machine interface 150, it is possible to set certain configuration parameters for the MRI sequences to be applied.
The MRI device 100 further includes a processor 161. The processor 161 may include a GPU and/or a CPU. The processor 161 may implement various control functionality with respect to the operation of the MRI device 100, e.g. based on program code loaded from a memory 162. For example, the processor 161 could implement a sequence control for time-synchronized operation of the gradient system 140, the RF transmitter 131, and the RF receiver 132. The processor 161 can also be configured to implement post-processing for reconstruction of MRI images. For example, matching with reference MRI signals from a dictionary may be employed. The processor 161 can also perform patient motion 700 detection. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor 161 is processor circuitry that is configured to perform one or more corresponding functions and/or operations of the processor 161. That is, the processor 161 can include one or more processors, one or more circuits, logic, or a combination thereof.
Details with respect to the functioning of the processor 161 are described in
In block 1011, MRI signals are acquired. The MRI signals correspond to raw measurement data. The MRI signals are typically defined in k-space. The MRI signals define MRI images in image domain. For example, a given MRI signal may correspond to an echo of the nuclear spins. Sampling may be along a k-space trajectory that is defined by gradients.
The MRI signals can be acquired using various MRI protocols. For example, the MRI signals can be acquired using an MRI fingerprinting protocol. The MRI fingerprinting protocol may be generally defined with respect to (i) acquisition in accordance with one or more acquisition parameters, and (ii) post-processing in accordance with one or more post-processing parameters.
To give a few examples, the one or more acquisition parameters may include: type, shape, amplitude, timing, repetition rate of RF excitation pulses; type, shape, amplitude, timing, repetition rate of inversion pulses; type, amplitude, timing, shape of gradients; readout intervals; k-space trajectory (sometimes also referred to as sampling scheme); undersampling factor (sometimes also referred to acceleration factor); slice selection; 3-D imaging properties; etc.
For example, the one or more acquisition parameters may define a steady-state free-precession (SSFP) with a spiral k-space trajectory, undersampling factor 48, field of view 300 mm, resolution 1.2 mm, slice thickness 5 mm. See, e.g. Jiang Y. et al, MR fingerprinting using fast imaging with steady state precession (FISP) with spiral readout. MRM 2015; and Chung S. et al., Rapid B1+ mapping using a preconditioning RF pulse with TurboFLASH readout, MRM 2010; and Pfeuffer, J. et al, Mitigation of Spiral Undersampling Artifacts in Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) by Adapted Interleaf Reordering. ISMRM 2017
To give a few examples of the one or more post-processing parameters: dictionary content, i.e. reference MRI signals; metric for matching MRI signals and reference MRI signals; etc. For example, the one or more post-processing parameters can facilitate quantitative MRI.
At block 1012, patient motion 700 detection is performed. The patient motion 700 is determined based on measurement data. As a general rule, various options are available for implementing block 1012. Details with regard to these options will be explained in connection with
Based on executing block 1012, it becomes possible to better understand potential impacts of the patient motion 700 on the MRI signals and, hence, on the quality of the associated MRI images. For example, significant patient motion 700 can lead to reduced quality of the associated MRI images. In connection with quantitative MRI, the patient motion 700 could lead to inaccuracies in the determined values of the associated physical observables.
In some exemplary embodiments, it may be desirable to execute block 1013. One or more countermeasures can be performed if patient motion 700 is determined to have taken place. The countermeasures can generally help to avoid inaccuracies in the interpretation of the content of the MRI images due to artifacts caused by the patient motion 700. The countermeasures can sometimes help to increase the quality of the MRI images in case patient motion 700 is determined to have taken place.
As illustrated in
Similarly, as illustrated in
Further details regarding one or more countermeasures that can be taken as part of block 1013 are illustrated in connection with
In block 1021, a prospective motion 700 compensation takes place. In block 1021, a re-configuration of one or more acquisition parameters of the MRI fingerprinting protocol is performed, while applying the MRI fingerprinting protocol and, in particular, during the acquisition of the MRI fingerprinting protocol. This is done based on the determined patient motion 700. The re-configuration of the one or more acquisition parameters counteracts the motion 700 of the patient. In other words, the impact of the patient motion 700 is reduced, by appropriately adjusting the one or more acquisition parameters of the MRI fingerprinting protocol. To give a few examples, it would be possible to re-configure values of at least one or more of the following acquisition parameters: pulse timing of excitation pulses; excitation slice width; and excitation slice orientation of the MRI fingerprinting protocol.
In further detail, it would be possible to re-configure values defining RF pulses and gradients in such a manner that one and the same region of the patient 101 is sampled, irrespective of the patient motion 700. Thereby, the slice position remains constant relative to the patient (albeit varying along Z-axis defined with respect to the MRI device 100). Thereby, in view of the post-processing of the MRI fingerprinting protocol, it can be ensured that the nuclear spins experience the same RF pulses and gradients that have also formed the basis of the simulation used to obtain the associated reference MRI signals of the dictionary. The possibility of nuclear spins that have already been prepared by RF pulses and gradients move out of the slice being sampled and the further possibility of “fresh”, unprepared nuclear spins moving into the slice being sampled is thereby mitigated. Such techniques can thus facilitate an auto-tracking of slices in view of patient motion 700.
In block 1022, it is possible that, based on the determined patient motion 700, the MRI images are labelled accordingly. Hence, information tags may be associated with the MRI images. The tags can be indicative of whether the respective MRI images include or not include motion artifacts associated with the patient motion 700. In some exemplary embodiments, it would be possible to label the overall MRI images. In other exemplary embodiments, it would be possible to label one or more regions in the one or more MRI images. Sometimes, it can be possible to identify particular regions in the MRI images that are likely to include the motion artifacts based on the determining of the patient motion 700. For instance, an expert can consider such labels when analyzing the MRI images. To further assist the expert, it would be possible to redact one or more regions that are affected by motion artifacts.
In block 1023, an—at least partial—re-acquisition of MRI signals can be implemented. MRI signals that are impacted by patient motion 700 can thereby be re-acquired, to avoid and impact of the patient motion 700 on the quality of the MRI images.
As a general rule, it would be possible to check whether the motion exceeds a threshold. Then, for strong motion, the acquiring of the MRI signals defining a given slice of multiple slices of the one or more MRI images can be aborted. In block 1023 it would be possible to implement a re-acquisition of the MRI signals that define the given slice. Instead of such re-acquisition, it would also be possible to acquire the MRI signals that define a further slice of the multiple slices different from the given slice.
Aborting acquisition can relate to not finishing the k-space trajectory for a given slice and discarding any acquired samples.
As a general rule, various trigger criteria are conceivable for implementing the re-acquisition of the MRI signals. To give a few examples, it would be possible to monitor for a time lag (i.e. distance in time domain) between (i) determining of the patient motion 700; and (ii) and a possible re-configuration of one or more acquisition parameters in a prospective motion compensation. For instance, it would be possible to determine the time lag between the point in time of executing block 1012 in
A further trigger criterion relates to a further comparison between the time lag between the (i) determining of the patient motion 700, and (ii) a repetition rate of pulses or echoes of the MRI fingerprinting protocol. In other words, this time lag is compared with the speed of the acquisition by the MRI fingerprinting protocol. For example, the multiple iterations of the MRI fingerprinting protocol can have a duration that is associated with the repetition rate of pulses or echoes. For example, the time lag to implement prospective motion correction is significantly longer than the typical speed/progress of the acquisition defined by the MRI fingerprinting protocol, then the prospective motion correction can be limited in its effectiveness, because it cannot compensate for a significant fraction of the impact of the patient motion 700. The re-configuration of one or more acquisition parameters of the MRI fingerprinting protocol cannot be applied in a timely manner. In such a scenario, can be desirable to re-acquire at least some of the MRI signals.
In case at least some of the MRI signals are re-acquired as part of block 1023, then block 1021 may sometimes not need to be executed.
In the example of
By using the non-MRI images, an independent measure of the patient motion 700 is obtained, in addition to the MRI signals. Hence, it is not required to interrupt or otherwise delay the acquisition of the MRI signals using the MRI fingerprinting protocol as would be the case, e.g. when using MRI navigator signals.
As a general rule, various imaging modalities could be used to acquire the time series of the non-MRI images. For example, time-of-flight (TOF) imaging could be used, optical imaging using a multi-pixel camera could be used. Ultrasound positioning could be used.
In one example, the time series of non-MRI images comprises optical images acquired using an in-bore camera of the MRI device 100.
Then, in block 1032, the patient motion 700 is determined. This is based on object shifts of the depicted body part of the patient between different images of the time series of the non-MRI images. The object shifts describe the time-dependent replacement of the body part. For example, images could be registered pairwise. Object tracking could be implemented. Object detection could be implemented. For example, the head or a certain part of the head—e.g. the eyes—of the patient could be tracked.
In the example described by
In the example of
As a general rule, various options are available of obtaining the reference MRI image. For example, the reference MRI image may be obtained from the post-processing of the MRI fingerprinting protocol. In other words, multiple MRI signals acquired using the MRI fingerprinting protocol may be processed to obtain the reference MRI image. More specifically, the count of the multiple MRI signals used to determine the reference MRI image may be larger than the count of the MRI signals of the subset. Further, the reference MRI image may be determined based on MRI signals that are acquired over a certain time duration, the time duration being longer than a time duration of the patient motion 700. In other words, the reference MRI image may include some time domain averaging over the patient motion 700. Thus, an individual event of the patient motion 700 (e.g. the patient turning the head to the left) may not be captured in isolation in the reference MRI image; rather there is an averaging over multiple events of the patient motion 700 inherent to the reference MRI image.
As a general rule, it is not required that the reference MRI image is obtained based on all MRI signals of the acquisition of the fingerprinting MRI protocol; rather only some of the MRI signals may be used to determine the reference MRI image. This facilitates prospective motion correction, because the reference MRI image is available prior to completion of the acquisition.
Then, at block 1042, the patient motion 700 is determined based on the image domain difference map.
Details with respect to this option for determining the patient motion 700 based on the image domain difference map are explained in connection with
In
Note that in
The time duration over which the MRI signals of the subset 301 are acquired is comparably short—in particular if compared to the typical time duration of the patient motion 700. To give an example, the time duration over which the MRI signals of the subset 301 are acquired can be not longer than 1 second, optionally not longer than 800 ms. As a general rule, it would be possible to determine the subset 301 (i.e. to assign MRI signals to the subset 301) not only on the undersampling factor, as explained above, but—alternatively or additionally—based on the time duration of the patient motion 700.
This is based on the finding that, thereby, the MRI image 302 can be indicative of an individual event of the patient motion 700—e.g. the patient 101 turning the head. There may not be a superposition of multiple evens of the patient motion 700 included in the MRI image 302 (different to the reference MRI image 306). Thereby, it becomes possible to accurately determine the patient motion 700.
Various techniques are based on the finding that fingerprinting MRI protocols are particularly suited to such techniques. This is because the fingerprinting MRI protocols implement a fully sampled K-space relatively quickly. This allows to shorten the time duration required to acquire the MRI signals of the subset 301 that essentially fully sample the K-space. This increases the time-resolution of the patient motion detection.
Then, next, the MRI image 302 and the reference MRI image 306 are compared, to thereby obtain the image domain difference map 311. The difference map 311, in the scenario
Such comparison can be iteratively re-applied, as the acquisition of the MRI fingerprinting protocol commences. Thereby, time-localized motion 700 can be detected. For instance, as time commences, new subsets 301 can be populated with MRI signals acquired during the respective time durations.
By implementing such a comparison between the MRI image 302 and the reference MRI image 306, the image domain difference map 311 is obtained that includes differences vis-à-vis the reference MRI image 306. These differences can stem from anatomical features (e.g. different tissue) or patient motion 700/motion artifacts. Various techniques are based on the finding that the motion artifacts in the image domain difference map 311 are less localized than the anatomical features (which may be assumed to be statistically distributed). Hence, the motion 700 artifacts are expected to vary on a length scale that is longer than a length scale on which the patient features vary.
As a general rule, the patient motion 700 can be determined by identifying a baseline of the image domain difference map 311. The baseline can correspond to an image domain low-pass filter. This in particular, in the one the scenario of
Various techniques are based on the finding that patient motion 700, in particular through-plane patient motion 700, experienced in practice can be adequately described by rigid transformations. Such rigid transformations do not include skewing or stretching transformations, but rather define a global shift or rotation.
This finding of rigid through-plane patient motion 700 can be used to accurately define the baseline of the image domain difference map 311, e.g. by imposing certain constraints on the fitting process that yields the fit 355. For example, the baseline could be associated with a 2-D plane. This means that a 2-D plane could be fitted to the image domain difference map 311, to identify the baseline associated with the patient motion 700. This corresponds to a linear fit in 2-D. In the 1-D representation according to the example of
As a general rule, instead of a linear fitting (e.g. 1-D linear fit or 2-D plane fit), it would be possible to use higher order polynomial functions, to account for more complex patient motion 700.
Sometimes, and accuracy achievable by such fitting to identify the baseline of the image domain difference map 311 can be sufficient to accurately determine the patient motion 700. In other exemplary embodiments, such motion artifacts can be superimposed with other artifacts, e.g. flow artifacts resulting from nuclear spins flowing in and/or out of the slice being sampled. In particular in such scenarios it can be desirable to apply advanced analytics—going beyond the fitting procedure described above—to determine the patient motion 700 based on the image domain difference map.
For example, the patient motion 700 may in some exemplary embodiments be determined using a machine learning algorithm that obtains the image domain difference map 311 as an input. Such machine learning algorithm can be applied alternatively or additionally to a fitting procedure as explained above. The machine learning algorithm may be used to identify the baseline of the image domain difference map. In other exemplary embodiments, it may not be required to rely on the baseline of the image domain difference map as a characteristic value indicative of the patient motion 700.
The machine learning algorithm may be appropriately trained based on training data that has been annotated using expert knowledge regarding presence/absence of patient motion 700
Examples of machine learning algorithms include a convolutional neural network or another deep neural network.
Using such an analysis of the image domain difference map using the machine learning algorithm, in some exemplary embodiments multimodal sensor fusion is possible. For example, the machine learning algorithm may not only obtain the image domain difference map as an input; but it would be rather possible that the machine learning algorithm additionally obtains, e.g. the non-MRI images according to the example of
The overall measurement duration 804 of the MRI fingerprinting protocol is illustrated in
The process depicted in
As a general rule, it can be desirable to dimension the subset 301 as small as possible, but as large as necessary. This means that the time duration 801 during which MRI signals 870 included in the subset 301 are acquired is typically dimensioned as short as possible, but as long as necessary. This finding will be explained in detail next. By dimensioning the time duration 801 as short as possible, it is possible to acquire the MRI signals 870 without averaging across multiple events associated with the patient motion 700. In particular, illustrated in
In
Within this context it should be noted, that it is most important to detect the fact that motion happened at all, rather than detecting the specific point in time where the motion happened.
Because only a certain fraction of the MRI signals 870 acquired during the time duration 802 is used to determine the reference MRI image 306, it is possible to apply a prospective motion compensation for the MRI signals 870 acquired during the time duration 803. Note that there is also a time lag 890 indicated, required to determine how the one or more acquisition parameters of the MRI fingerprinting protocol are to be reconfigured. As discussed above in connection with
As a general rule, to determine the patient motion with some time resolution, it would be possible to determine multiple subsets that are shifted in time domain. For example, a sliding-window process could be used in which adjacent subsets are partially overlapping. The sliding-window process can, in particular, be used for a prospective motion compensation.
Summarizing, techniques have been described that facilitate to track corrupted MRI images obtained from MRI fingerprinting protocols. The corruption stems from substantial patient motion 700. In particular, through-plane motion 700 (e.g. nodding)—typically having a higher effect on the quality of the MRI images than in-plane motion 700 (e.g. shaking head)—can be tracked.
In some exemplary embodiments, patient motion 700 can be prospectively corrected by using an in-bore camera system with real-time feedback to re-configure one or more acquisition parameters.
Although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present disclosure includes all such equivalents and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
For illustration, various exemplary embodiments have been described with respect to identifying a 2-D plane baseline when determining the motion. In other exemplary embodiments, other types and shapes of baselines can be employed, e.g. second or higher order polynomial functions.
For further illustration, various exemplary embodiments have been described in connection with 2-D MRI protocols. Similar techniques may be applied for 3-D MRI protocols.
For still further illustration, various exemplary embodiments have been described in connection with through plane motion. Similar techniques may be employed for in-plane motion.
For further illustration, various exemplary embodiments have been described in connection with MRI fingerprinting protocols. Similar techniques may be applied to other kinds and types of MRI protocols.
Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components of physical or functional units shown in the drawings and described hereinafter may be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may be established over a wired or wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Embodiments may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuits), firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, instructions may be described herein as performing certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact results from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc. Further, any of the implementation variations may be carried out by a general purpose computer.
For the purposes of this discussion, the term “processor circuitry” shall be understood to be circuit(s), processor(s), logic, or a combination thereof. A circuit includes an analog circuit, a digital circuit, state machine logic, data processing circuit, other structural electronic hardware, or a combination thereof. A processor includes a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), central processor (CPU), application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), graphics and/or image processor, multi-core processor, or other hardware processor. The processor may be “hard-coded” with instructions to perform corresponding function(s) according to aspects described herein. Alternatively, the processor may access an internal and/or external memory to retrieve instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, perform the corresponding function(s) associated with the processor, and/or one or more functions and/or operations related to the operation of a component having the processor included therein.
In one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein, the memory is any well-known volatile and/or non-volatile memory, including, for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a magnetic storage media, an optical disc, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), and programmable read only memory (PROM). The memory can be non-removable, removable, or a combination of both.
A method of performing magnetic resonance imaging, MRI:
The method of example 1, further comprising:
The method of example 2, wherein the re-configuration of the one or more acquisition parameters counteracts the motion (700) of the patient (101).
The method of example 2 or 3, wherein the one or more acquisition parameters are selected from a group comprising: pulse timing of excitation pulses of the MRI fingerprinting protocol; excitation slide width of the MRI fingerprinting protocol; excitation slide orientation of the MRI fingerprinting protocol.
The method of any one of the preceding examples, further comprising:
The method of any one of the preceding examples, further comprising:
The method of any one of the preceding examples, further comprising:
The method of any one of the preceding examples, further comprising:
The method of any one of the preceding examples, wherein the time series of non-MRI images (900) comprises optical images acquired using an in-bore camera of an MRI device configured to apply the MRI fingerprinting protocol.
The method of any one of the preceding examples, wherein the motion (700) comprises through-plane motion (700).
An MRI device (100), configured to:
A computer program comprising program code that can be executed by at least one processor, wherein executing the program code causes the at least one processor to execute the method according to example 1.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19167028.0 | Apr 2019 | EP | regional |
