Method for generating a gating signal for an MRI system using an ultrasonic detector

Abstract

An MRI system includes an ultrasonic detector system that includes an ultrasonic transducer placed to detect movement of selected anatomic structure in a patient. The transducer signal is analyzed to produce a gating signal which is used by the MRI system to trigger data acquisition.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: 
 a pulse generator to direct the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform an imaging pulse sequence to acquire magnetic resonance image data including data which is representative of the center of k-space and data which is representative of the periphery of k-space;    an image processor to generate a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the patient using the magnetic resonance image data;    an acoustic transducer to irradiate an anatomic structure in the patient using ultrasonic energy;    a receiver to measure ultrasonic energy reflected by the anatomic structure and to generate echo signals in response thereto;    a signal analyzer, coupled to the receiver, to produce a plurality of gating signals using the echo signals, including: 
 a first gating signal in response to a first motion of the anatomic structure, and  
 a second gating signal in response to a second motion of the anatomic structure; and  
   wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system, in response to the first gating signal, acquires a first set of data, and in response to the second gating signal acquires a second set of data.    
   
   
       35 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of  claim 34  wherein one of the plurality of gating signals initiates data acquisition of the imaging sequence by the magnetic resonance imaging system.  
   
   
       36 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of  claim 34  further including: 
 a display system, coupled to the receiver, to convert the echo signals to ultrasonic image data and visually display an image of the anatomic structure; and    an operator input to permit a range gate to be positioned on the image of the anatomic structure wherein the range gate indicates an area of interest of the anatomic structure.    
   
   
       37 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of  claim 34  wherein the signal analyzer includes a Doppler processor to determine a velocity of the first motion of the anatomic structure.  
   
   
       38 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of  claim 34  wherein the signal analyzer includes a Doppler processor to determine a velocity of the first and second motions of the anatomic structure.  
   
   
       39 . A method of imaging a patient using magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising: 
 irradiating an anatomic structure in the patient with acoustic energy;    measuring echo signals wherein the echo signals are reflections of acoustic energy from the anatomic structure;    analyzing the echo signals to detect motion of the anatomic structure;    generating a plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the anatomic structure, including: 
 a first gating signal in response to a first predetermined motion of the anatomic structure, and  
 a second gating signal in response to a second predetermined motion of the anatomic structure;  
   collecting first image data of a magnetic resonance imaging sequence in response to the first gating signal; and    collecting second image data of the magnetic resonance imaging sequence in response to the second gating signal.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the first image data is collected only while the first gating signal is present and the second image data is image data is collected only while the second gating signal is present.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  further including displaying an ultrasonic image of the anatomic structure using the echo signals.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  further including: 
 converting the echo signals into ultrasonic image data; and    visually displaying an image of the anatomic structure using the ultrasonic image data.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  further including indicating an area of interest of the anatomic structure by positioning a range gate on the image of the anatomic structure.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the first image data is image data which is representative of the center of k-space.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 39  further including generating the plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the heart of the patient.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 39  further including generating the plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the diaphragm of the patient.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 39  further including generating a magnetic resonance image using the first image data and the second image data.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 39  wherein one of the plurality of gating signals initiates collection of image data of an imaging sequence and wherein the imaging sequence includes collecting the first and second image data.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 39  wherein generating a plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the anatomic structure includes generating a plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the diaphragm of the patient.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 39  wherein generating a plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the anatomic structure includes generating a plurality of gating signals in response to detecting the motion of the heart of the patient.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 39  the first image data is collected only while the first gating signal is present.