Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Koninklike Philips N.v.

Marius Johannes Van Meel

Paul Augustinus Peter Kaufholz

Willem Christiaan Constantijn Furster

Peter Van Der Meulen

Johan Michiel Den Harder

Rudolf Theodoor Springorum

Vincent Paul Quinten Van Wijk

A method for an automatic or semi-automatic detection whether an MR examination of a person () is approved with a predetermined MR system () includes the following steps: Step: providing information whether and which contra-indication for such an MR examination is present for this person () (S); Step: providing information about a location of a cause () of the contra-indication within the person () (S); Step: determining a position of this cause () during the MR examination of the person with respect to at least one magnetic field coil () (S); Step: determining at least one characteristic parameter of the magnetic field generated by the coil () at the position of the cause () during the MR examination (S); and Step: automatically checking whether the MR examination is approved for the combination of the determined cause () of the contra-indication and the determined characteristic parameter of the magnetic field at the location of the cause () (S).

Method and safety module for an automatic or semi-automatic detection whether an MR examination of a person is approved with a predetermined MR system

A magnetic resonance examination system is provided with a graphical user interface and an (software) analysis module. The analysis module is configured to analyze examination information, notably a selected examination protocol, for actions to be taken by the operator, such as connecting auxiliary equipment or radio frequency receiver coils to the magnetic resonance examination system. The analysis module supplies the actions to be taken to the (graphical) user interface at the proper instant before or during carrying-out the examination protocol. In this way the operator is guided and supported in the performance of the selected examination protocol. This improves the efficiency of workflow in performing one or more selected protocols. Preferably, the graphical user interface is provided inside the examination room and may be mounted on the gantry.

Magnetic resonance examination system with a user interface

A method and apparatus for parallel MR imaging include the steps of: &#x2014;subjecting a portion of a body () to a first imaging sequence () of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein first MR signals () are acquired via at least two RF coils having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume, &#x2014;deriving the spatial sensitivity profiles of the at least two RF coils from the acquired first MR signals, &#x2014;subjecting the portion of the body to a second imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein second MR signals are acquired by parallel acquisition via the at least two RF coils with sub-sampling of k-space, and&#x2014;reconstructing a MR image from the acquired second MR signals and from the spatial sensitivity profiles of the at least two RF coils. A type and/or parameters of the first imaging sequence are selected automatically depending on the presence of a metal implant in the body. The selection of the type of the first imaging sequence is made between a gradient echo sequence, if no metal implants are present, and a spin echo sequence or a stimulated echo sequence, if a metal implant is present.

Metal resistant MR imaging

A magnetic resonance imaging system () includes an angle indicator module (), and a display device (). The angle indicator module () adds at least one visual indicator () to an image () depicting a magic angle () orientation relative to a static magnetic Bfield () and the image (), the image () reconstructed from magnetic resonance data received in the Bfield (). The display device () displays () the image with the visual indicator. A magic angle is an angle of arccos (1/&#x221a;3) relative to the static magnetic Bfield (). Moreover, the visual indicator may indicate the likelihood of a magic angle artifact to the operator.

Growing community of inventors

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Marius Johannes Van Meel