Patent ID: 7639008
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: an applying unit that applies an imaging sequence of gradient magnetic fields and radio-frequency pulses to a patient placed within a static magnetic field; a radio-frequency coil having a plurality of coil elements each of which detects magnetic resonance signals emitted from the patient during said imaging sequence depending on the application of the gradient magnetic fields and the radio-frequency pulses; a plurality of receivers each of which receives magnetic resonance signals and processes the received magnetic resonance signals; a signal selecting circuit that combines magnetic resonance signals from the plurality of coil elements and inputs a combined magnetic resonance signal to each of the plurality of receivers, the signal selecting circuit having a plurality of composite combination modes for the magnetic resonance signals; an image sequence controlling unit that (a) switches among a plurality of combination modes during a single said imaging sequence, and (b) collects the magnetic resonance signals for each combination mode; and an abnormality identifying unit that, based on said collected magnetic resonance signals, identifies an abnormality in at least any of (a) the combination mode, (b) the coil element, (c) the receiver, and (d) a combining unit combining the magnetic resonance signals.