Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition setting unit, a scan performing unit and a blood flow image generating unit. The imaging condition setting unit sets a sequence accompanying application of a motion probing gradient pulse as an imaging condition. The scan performing unit performs an imaging scan according to the sequence. The blood flow image generating unit generates a blood flow image based on data acquired by the imaging scan.

1 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
 an imaging condition setting unit configured to set an MRI data acquisition sequence accompanying application of a motion probing gradient (MPG) pulse as an imaging condition;   a scan performing unit configured to perform an MRI data acquisition scan after application of the MPG according to the set sequence; and   a blood flow image generating unit configured to generate a blood flow image based on MRI data acquired by the MRI scan.   
     
     
         2 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 the imaging condition setting unit is configured to set an imaging condition using an MRI data acquisition sequence that is independent from blood travel direction in a target blood vessel. 
 
     
     
         3 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 2 ,
 wherein said imaging condition setting unit is configured to set the imaging condition by using one of (a) a balanced SSFP sequence and (b) a PROPELLER type.   
     
     
         4 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the imaging condition setting unit is configured to set an MRI data acquisition preparation sequence with an imaging condition for applying plural motion probing gradient (MPG) pulses, each MPG pulse having a mutually different intensity and to acquire MRI data using each different MPG pulse intensity, said MRI apparatus further comprising:
 a preparation scan performing unit configured to perform a preparation scan according to the set preparation sequence; and 
 a reference blood flow image generating unit configured to generate blood flow images for a reference based on MRI data corresponding to each MPG pulse intensity, the MRI data for the reference being acquired by the preparation scan. 
 
     
     
         5 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein
 said scan performing unit is configured to perform an MRI scan using an MRI data acquisition sequence accompanying application of an MPG pulse having an intensity based on blood flow images for the reference.   
     
     
         6 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said imaging condition setting unit is configured to set MRI data acquisition timing as an imaging condition for acquiring data near the center of k-space during a systole and during a diastole in a heart beat cycle; 
 said scan performing unit is configured to perform an MRI scan according to the set imaging condition; and 
 said blood flow image generating unit is configured to generate a blood flow image based on compiled MRI data acquired during the systole and during the diastole. 
 
     
     
         7 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said imaging condition setting unit is configured to be able to change intensities of the MPG pulse in three directions of (1) a gradient magnetic field direction for slice encoding, (2) a gradient magnetic field direction for phase encoding and (3) a gradient magnetic field direction for readout. 
 
     
     
         8 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said imaging condition setting unit is configured to be able to set intensities of the MPG pulse in three directions of (1) a gradient magnetic field direction for slice encoding, (2) a gradient magnetic field direction for phase encoding and (3) a gradient magnetic field direction for readout in accordance with blood travel direction of a target blood vessel. 
 
     
     
         9 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said imaging condition setting unit is configured to set the imaging condition for a scroll acquisition of the MRI data. 
 
     
     
         10 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply the MPG pulse between an excitation pulse and a recovery pulse. 
 
     
     
         11 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply another pulse between the MPG pulse and the MRI scan. 
 
     
     
         12 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 11  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply a fat saturation pulse as said another pulse. 
 
     
     
         13 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
 an imaging condition setting unit configured to set an MRI data acquisition sequence accompanying application of a flow encode pulse as an imaging condition:   a scan performing unit configured to perform an MRI scan after application of the flow encode pulse, according to the set sequence; and   a blood flow image generating unit configured to generate a non-contrast-enhanced blood flow image based on data acquired by the MRI scan.   
     
     
         14 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply the flow encode pulse between an excitation pulse and a recovery pulse. 
 
     
     
         15 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 14  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply another pulse between the flow encode pulse and the imaging scan. 
 
     
     
         16 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein:
 the scan performing unit is configured to apply a fat saturation pulse as said another pulse. 
 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising:
 an imaging condition setting unit configured to set an MRI data acquisition sequence accompanying application of a motion probing gradient (MPG) pulse as an imaging condition;   a scan performing unit configured to perform an MRI data acquisition scan after application of the MPG according to the set sequence; and   a blood flow image generating unit configured to generate a blood flow image based on MRI data acquired by the MRI scan.   
     
     
         18 . A magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 17  comprising:
 the imaging condition setting unit is configured to set an imaging condition using an MRI data acquisition sequence that is independent from blood travel direction in a target blood vessel. 
 
     
     
         19 . A magnetic resonance imaging as in  claim 17  wherein the imaging condition setting unit is configured to set an MRI data acquisition preparation sequence with an imaging condition for applying plural motion probing gradient (MPG) pulses, each MPG pulse having a mutually different intensity and to acquire MRI data using each different MPG pulse intensity, said MRI apparatus further comprising:
 a preparation scan performing unit configured to perform a preparation scan according to the set preparation sequence; and 
 a reference blood flow image generating unit configured to generate blood flow images for a reference based on MRI data corresponding to each MPG pulse intensity, the MRI data for the reference being acquired by the preparation scan. 
 
     
     
         20 . A magnetic resonance imaging method as in  claim 17  comprising:
 said imaging condition setting unit is configured to set MRI data acquisition timing as an imaging condition for acquiring data near the center of k-space during a systole and during a diastole in a heart beat cycle; 
 said scan performing unit is configured to perform an MRI scan according to the set imaging condition; and 
 said blood flow image generating unit is configured to generate a blood flow image based on compiled MRI data acquired during the systole and during the diastole. 
 
     
     
         21 . A magnetic resonance imaging method comprising:
 an imaging condition setting unit configured to set an MRI data acquisition sequence accompanying application of a flow encode pulse as an imaging condition:   a scan performing unit configured to perform an MRI scan after application of the flow encode pulse, according to the set sequence; and   a blood flow image generating unit configured to generate a non-contrast-enhanced blood flow image based on data acquired by the MRI scan.