SIMPLE WAY TO SCAN OR LANDMARK AT DESIRED ANATOMY
Publication Date: 2014-Mar-05
The IP.com Prior Art Database
The invention proposes a technique to identify desired scanning location or landmark. The technique includes a mechanism where patient picture taken live are used to identify first scanning location. The technique enables the technician to choose anatomy of interest from the actual picture. The technique enables the technician to change landmark at click of a button from an operator console without getting into magnet room. User identifies location to scan or landmark from picture. The location is converted to actual mechanical coordinates and sent to existing software for complete geometry computation and further processing.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention generally relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and more particularly to a simple technique for scanning to determine desired scanning location or landmark.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Landmark is a critical step in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. In present clinical scenario, landmark is executed at anatomy of interest. On the basis of initial results of study, a technologist chooses to change the anatomy of interest. The technologist changes the landmark in such cases.
One of the challenges that occur in MRI system is identification of right scanning location for the localizer scan. Initially, the conventional technique landmarks at certain anatomy of interest and approximately scans the localizer at that location. If the localizer is not correct then the technique chooses another location using graphic Rx on the localizer which was scanned. It is difficult to identify the exact anatomy of interest from localizer images.
In conventional MRI systems, in order to identify scanning locations, landmark at approximate location is identified. Localizer is then scanned with large field of view (FOV). If images are not at desired anatomy, the localizer is loaded into graphic Rx. Then, different locations are scanned. The localizer is loaded and scanning of different locations is repeated until images are acquired at desired anatomy.
Further, in conventional MRI systems, in order to perform landmark, the patient is required to move into the magnetic room first. Then, the patient is moved to the table and into the bore. New landmarks are identified. The table is moved such that landmarks are aligned at landmark position. The table is moved and technician enters into operator room. In normal clinical environment, new landmark is performed when the position or entry of patient is changed, patient is moved during the scan, or change is anatomy of interest.
In general, single study for multiple landmarks is performed. A considerable effort is done by MR technologist in executing landmark as the technologist requires entering magnetic room to perform operations using buttons on bore. The technique is also time consuming. The change in landmark includes lot of table movement which causes discomfort to the patient.
FIG. 1 depicts current workflow to scan the desired scanning location.
In conventional technique, landmark location is provided by hardware. Scanning locations are either entered explicitly by user or by user prescription on graphic Rx.
A conventional technique uses a camera for motion correction. The technique receives number of images from a first scan of a subject with a camera. The technique also receives MRI images concurrently with the scan. The number of images obtained from the first scan is correlated with MRI images. As a result, motion data is corrected. The motion corrected data is provided to the MRI system, wherein the MR...