Operating method for a computer to determine optimized control sequences for an imaging medical system

Abstract

A computer receives information about a measurement sequence to be implemented by a medical imaging system. The computer determines at least one group of preliminary control sequences for power control devices of the medical imaging system so that the power control devices are caused to control (activate) image-influencing emission devices of the imaging medical system corresponding to the determined control sequences, and (insofar as it concerns the control of the image-influencing emission devices) with the measurement sequence to be implemented. The computer determines a load state curve for each group of preliminary control sequences using a model of at least the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices for these devices using the respective initial load state and the respective control sequence of the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices. The computer checks for each group whether each load state curve determined for this group remains below a load limit. The computer outputs as final control sequences the preliminary control sequences of one of the groups whose determined load state curves remain below the load limit.

1 . An operating method for a computer that operates a medical imaging system, comprising the steps of:
 importing information into a computer describing a measurement sequence to be implemented by a medical imaging system that comprises a plurality of power control devices that respectively control a plurality of image-influencing emission devices;   in said computer, automatically determining at least one group of preliminary control sequences respectively for said power control devices, each preliminary control sequence causing the power control device for which that preliminary control sequence is determined to control the image-influencing emission device controlled by that power control device in accordance with the preliminary control sequence to cause said plurality of image-influencing emission devices, in combination, to implement said measurement sequence;   in said computer, for each group of preliminary control sequences, automatically determining a load state curve using a model of the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices and using an initial load state and the respective preliminary control sequences;   in said computer, automatically checking, for each group of preliminary control sequences, whether the load state curve determined therefor remains below a load limit; and   in said computer, determining control sequences as being a preliminary control sequence in said group that has a load state curve below said load limit, and emitting said final control sequences as an output from said computer respectively to said power control devices.   
     
     
         2 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said medical imaging system comprises a. plurality of power supply devices that respectively supply power to the plurality of power control devices, and wherein said method comprises:
 in said computer, determining said preliminary control sequences for each group to cause the respective power supply devices for the power control devices in that group to supply power to the power control devices in that group with a power required by said power control devices according to the preliminary control sequence;   in said computer, also basing said model on operation of the respective power supply devices for the power control devices in each group; and   in said computer, determining said load state curve for the power supply devices for each group using said model with the initial load state being for the respective power supply devices.   
     
     
         3 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said computer determines said load state curves to represent respective temperatures of the power supply devices, the power control devices and the image-influencing emission devices in said model. 
     
     
         4 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising in said computer, generating said preliminary control sequences as maximum possible control sequences. 
     
     
         5 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 4  comprising, in said computer, initially determining said load state curves for a group having control sequences as control sequences representing maximum possible control sequences and checking whether each load state curve remains below the respective load limit, and emitting the maximum possible control sequences as said final control sequences if said load state curves for the maximum power control sequences remain below said load limit. 
     
     
         6 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said computer determines said load state curves as representing respective temperatures of said power control devices and said image-influencing emission devices in said model. 
     
     
         7 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said computer determines at least one of said load state curves by starting with an initial load state curve and iteratively adding a load thereto dependent on respective momentary control states in said power control devices and said image-influencing emission devices in said model, and by iteratively subtracting unloading independently of said momentary control state. 
     
     
         8 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 7  comprising, in said computer, determining said control sequence as a plurality of successive partial sequences that are substantially identical with each other and, in said computer, determining one load sum caused by each of said partial sequences and using said load sum to determine the corresponding load state curve. 
     
     
         9 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 8  comprising, in said computer, for a first of said partial sequences, determining a partial state curve that results up to an end of said first of said partial sequences. 
     
     
         10 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 9  comprising, in said computer, adapting said partial sequences if a maximum of said partial state curve for said first of said partial sequences is larger than said load limit. 
     
     
         11 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 9  comprising, in said computer, determining an intermediate state that results at said end of said first of said partial sequences and beyond said end of said first of said partial sequences and, said intermediate state including features that take effect only if said intermediate state is larger than said initial load state. 
     
     
         12 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 11  comprising, in said computer, if said intermediate state is larger than said initial load state, automatically determining an estimated maximum load GMB, as one of said additional features, using the relation
     GMB=AZ+N ·( ZZ−AZ )+( MZ−ZZ ),   
       wherein AZ is the initial load state, N is the number of partial sequences, ZZ is the intermediate state, and MZ is the maximum of the partial state curve and, in said computer, determining a remainder of said additional features only if said estimated maximum load GMB is greater than said load limit. 
     
     
         13 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 11  comprising, in said computer, if said unloading, that is independent of the momentary control state, is dependent on said momentary load state, implementing said additional features as determining respective partial state curves for the partial sequences beyond said first of said partial sequences. 
     
     
         14 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 11  comprising, in said computer, inserting a pause between two of said partial sequences in immediate succession, or adapting the partial sequences. 
     
     
         15 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising employing said computer as a control device for said medical imaging system, and from said computer operating as said control device, controlling operation of said medical imaging system corresponding to said final control sequences. 
     
     
         16 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising employing a magnetic resonance system as an imaging medical system that comprises gradient power amplifiers forming said power control devices and gradient coils as said image-influencing emission devices. 
     
     
         17 . An operating method as claimed in  claim 16  comprising additionally employing, in said power control devices, at least one radio-frequency power amplifier, and additionally employing, in said image-influencing emission devices, at least one radio-frequency transmission antenna supplied with power by said at least one radio-frequency power amplifier. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium encoded with programming instructions for a computer that operates a medical imaging system that comprises a plurality of power control devices that respectively control a plurality of image-influencing emission devices, said computer having information imported therein describing a measurement sequence to be implemented by said medical imaging system, said programming instructions causing said computer to:
 automatically determine at least one group of preliminary control sequences respectively for said power control devices, each preliminary control sequence causing the power control device for which that preliminary control sequence is determined to control the image-influencing emission device controlled by that power control device in accordance with the preliminary control sequence to cause said plurality of image-influencing emission devices, in combination, to implement said measurement sequence;   for each group of preliminary control sequences, automatically determine a load state curve using a model of the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices and using an initial load state and the respective preliminary control sequences;   automatically check, for each group of preliminary control sequences, whether the load state curve determined therefor remains below a load limit; and   automatically determine control sequences as being a preliminary control sequence in said group that has a load state curve below said load limit, and emitting said final control sequences as an output from said computer respectively to said power control devices.   
     
     
         19 . A computer that operates a medical imaging system that comprises a plurality of power control devices that respectively control a plurality of image-influencing emission devices, said computer having information imported therein describing a measurement sequence to be implemented by said medical imaging system, said computer being programmed to:
 automatically determine at least one group of preliminary control sequences respectively for said power control devices, each preliminary control sequence causing the power control device for which that preliminary control sequence is determined to control the image-influencing emission device controlled by that power control device in accordance with the preliminary control sequence to cause said plurality of image-influencing emission devices, in combination, to implement said measurement sequence;   for each group of preliminary control sequences, automatically determine a load state curve using a model of the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices and using an initial load state and the respective preliminary control sequences;   automatically check, for each group of preliminary control sequences, whether the load state curve determined therefor remains below a load limit; and   automatically determine control sequences as being a preliminary control sequence in said group that has a load state curve below said load limit, and emitting said final control sequences as an output from said computer respectively to said power control devices.   
     
     
         20 . A computer as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said computer is figured to operate as a control device for said medical imaging system. 
     
     
         21 . A medical imaging system comprising:
 a plurality of power control devices that respectively control a plurality of image-influencing emission devices; and   a computer having information imported therein describing a measurement sequence to be implemented by said medical imaging system, said computer being programmed to automatically determine at least one group of preliminary control sequences respectively for said power control devices, each preliminary control sequence causing the power control device for which that preliminary control sequence is determined to control the image-influencing emission device controlled by that power control device in accordance with the preliminary control sequence to cause said plurality of image-influencing emission devices, in combination, to implement said measurement sequence, for each group of preliminary control sequences, automatically determine a load state curve using a model of the image-influencing emission devices and the power control devices and using an initial load state and the respective preliminary control sequences; automatically check, for each group of preliminary control sequences, whether the load state curve determined therefor remains below a load limit; and automatically determine control sequences as being a preliminary control sequence in said group that has a load state curve below said load limit, and emitting said final control sequences as an output from said computer respectively to said power control devices.