Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Medical Systems (Cleveland), Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Philips Medical Systems, Inc.

C Michael Steckner

Gordon D DeMeester

Jarmo Ruohonen

Christopher K Anand

James A Halamek

Robert K Carlson

An open MRI or other diagnostic imaging system (A) generates a three-dimensional diagnostic image representation, which is stored in an MRI image memory ( ). A laser scanner or other surface imaging system (B) generates a volumetric surface image representation that is stored in a surface image memory ( ). Typically, the volume and surface images are misaligned and the magnetic resonance image may have predictable distortions. An image correlating system (C) determines offset, scaling, rotational, and non-linear corrections to the magnetic resonance image representation, which are implemented by an image correction processor ( ). The corrected magnetic resonance image representation and the surface image representation are combined ( ) and stored in a superimposed image memory ( ). A video processor ( ) generates image representations from selected portions of the superimposed image representation for display on a human-readable monitor ( ).

External patient contouring

A three-dimensional fast spin echo (FSE) scan is performed by stepping ( ) through a plurality of phase encode k-space views from a computed view list ( ). The view list is computed such that (i) magnetic resonance echoes having a selected image contrast are encoded in the center of k-space, (ii) adjacent data lines in k-space have similar contrast, and (iii) common planes of data lines in k-space are completed at regular intervals. As each data line is read, it is Fourier transformed ( ) and stored ( ) within a fast-access memory ( ). Once a plane of data lines is acquired, it is Fourier transformed ( ) along a second direction using a plurality of parallel processors ( ). The twice-transformed data is stored ( ) in conventional memory ( ). Once all of the phase encode views on the view list are acquired, a final Fourier transform ( ) along a third direction is performed ( ), rendering a volumetric image representation. The method of data acquisition uses fewer memory buffers and takes less time than conventional methods.

Time and memory optimized method of acquiring and reconstructing multi-shot 3D MRI data

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Richmond Heights, OH, United States of America

C Michael Steckner