Abstract:
A subject is disposed in an imaging region ( 10 ) of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. An operator submits a series of user preferences to the apparatus. A gradient optimizer ( 82 ) generates a gradient waveform that is optimal for the imaging procedure based on the user submitted specifications and the apparatus hardware specifications. The optimizer ( 82 ) accesses a memory that stores ideal gradient waveform models. The model that best fits the user specifications is selected and digitized ( 84 ). The digitized waveform is then convolved ( 86 ) with a band-limited kernel ( 88 ) that represents a frequency spectrum ( 89 ) of a gradient amplifier ( 28 ), producing a gradient waveform ( 90 ) that is smooth and does not exceed the capabilities of the amplifier. This optimized waveform is used in an imaging process including a collected data reconstruction portion of the process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the diagnostic imaging arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging gradient waveforms and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to other types of waveform generation and is not limited to the aforementioned application. 
     In magnetic resonance imaging, a uniform main magnetic field is created through an examination region in which a subject to be examined is disposed. With open magnetic resonance systems, the main magnetic field is vertical, perpendicular to the subject. With classical bore systems, the main magnetic field is along the head to foot horizontal axis of a prone subject. A series of radio frequency (RF) pulses and magnetic field gradients are applied to the examination region to excite and manipulate magnetic resonances. Gradient magnetic fields are conventionally applied to encode spatial position and other information in the excited resonance. 
     The gradient fields are applied during an imaging sequence and typically treated mathematically as trapezoidal waveforms. Ideally, read gradient waveforms have a steep leading ramp which instantaneously transitions to a constant value for data sampling. After sampling, the gradient ramps steeply back to zero or to another value. As a practical matter, it is difficult to design a continuous waveform with sharp corners. Typically, these ideal waveforms are approximated by using sinusoidal waveforms with high frequency components to simulate corners. To generate such waveform corners, high voltages at high frequencies are needed. Equipment needed to generate such waveforms adds to system complexity and expense. Such waveform generation also increases the probability of gradient spiking, degrading the quality of the output image. 
     As stated before, it is difficult to construct a corner, i.e., a point whose derivative is undefined, out of a continuous waveform. Such waveforms have characteristic overshoots that oscillate to the desired value. Graphically, this manifests in a squiggle where a sharp corner should be. Typically, data is taken only during the portion of the waveform that is constant. This is done to avoid artifacts due to information being placed in incorrect regions of k-space. Such a data collection scheme is inefficient, as it is not utilizing the whole time frame of gradient activity. 
     The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus that overcomes the above referenced problems and others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is given. A main magnet assembly produces a main magnetic field in an imaging region. An RF assembly excites and manipulates magnetic resonance. Gradient amplifiers drive gradient coils which spatially encode the magnetic resonance. A gradient optimizer optimizes gradient waveforms based on user input and hardware specifications. A reconstruction processor reconstructs received resonance. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of magnetic resonance imaging is given. An imaging sequence is selected in which an RF pulse, a read gradient pulse, and at least one other gradient pulse are included. The read gradient is sampled and convolved with a band limited kernel matched to the gradient/amplifier system frequency response spectrum. The sequence is applied to generate magnetic resonance data, and the data is reconstructed into an image representation. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of diagnostic imaging is given. A subject is disposed in a main magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus. An optimum gradient waveform is constructed and used in an imaging process where magnetic resonance is excited and received. The magnetic resonance is reconstructed and converted into an image representation. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a gradient optimizer is given. The gradient optimizer includes a model archive, a kernel generator, a spectrum memory, and a convolution circuit. 
     According to a more limited aspect of the present invention, the gradient optimizer can be utilized in new or pre-existing magnetic resonance systems. 
     One advantage of the present invention is the efficient reading of imaging data. 
     Another advantage is that it minimizes gradient spiking. 
     Another advantage is that it is backwardly compatible to existing systems. 
     Another advantage is improved gradient waveform fidelity for arbitrary types of k-space trajectories. 
     Another advantage is that it requires less computation for the design of the pulsed waveform (equivalently polygonal k-space trajectory). 
     Another advantage is the elimination of analog low-pass filters, reducing delay and increasing performance. 
     Another advantage is the elimination of numerical errors arising from interpolation, integration, and/or differentiation of sampled waveforms. 
     Yet another advantage is the efficiency of storing and transmitting the compact pulsed waveform representation. 
     Still further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an MRI apparatus in accordance with the present invention, including an alternate upgrade embodiment ghosted; 
     FIG. 2 is a continuous function representation of a gradient pulse overlaying an ideal gradient pulse; 
     FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a modified waveform generation; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a typical imaging process in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, although an open MRI system is illustrated by way of example, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to bore type magnets. An imaging region  10  is defined between an upper pole assembly  12  and a lower pole assembly  14 . A pair of annular super-conducting magnets  16 ,  18  surround upper and lower pole pieces  20 ,  22  generating a temporally constant, main magnetic field B 0  through the imaging region  10 . It is to be appreciated that the open MRI apparatus may have a variety of pole pieces or, in some instances, no pole pieces at all. Optionally, a ferrous flux return path is provided between the pole assemblies remote from the imaging region  10 . 
     For imaging, magnetic field gradient coils  24 ,  26  are disposed on opposite sides of the imaging region  10  adjacent the pole pieces  20 ,  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the gradient coils are planar coil constructions which are connected by gradient amplifiers  28  to a gradient magnetic field controller  30 . The gradient amplifiers, by design, have a defined frequency response spectrum. The gradient magnetic field controller  30  causes current pulses which are applied to the gradient coils such that gradient magnetic fields are superimposed on the temporally constant and uniform field B 0  across the imaging region  10 . The gradient fields are typically generated along a longitudinal or y-axis, a vertical or z-axis and a transverse or x-axis. 
     In order to excite magnetic resonance in selected dipoles of a subject disposed in the imaging region  10 , radio frequency coils  32 ,  34  are disposed between the gradient coils  24 ,  26  and the imaging region  10 . At least one radio frequency transmitter  36 , preferably a digital transmitter, causes the radio frequency coils to transmit radio frequency B 1 , magnetic field pulses requested by a radio frequency pulse controller  38  to be transmitted into the imaging region  10 . A sequence controller  40 , under operator control, retrieves an imaging sequence from a sequence memory  42 . The sequence controller  40  provides the selected sequence information to the gradient controller  30  and the radio frequency pulse controller  38  such that radio frequency and gradient magnetic field pulses in accordance with the selected sequence are generated. 
     These RF pulses are used to induce and manipulate magnetic resonance in the subject. Resonance data is demodulated by one or more receivers  50 , preferably digital receivers. The digitized demodulated signals or data lines are reconstructed by a reconstruction processor  52  into volumetric, slice, or other image representations. Preferably, a Fourier transform or other appropriate reconstruction algorithm is utilized. The image representations are stored in a volumetric image memory  60 . A video processor  62 , under operator control, withdraws selected image data from the volume memory and formats it into appropriate data for display on a human readable display  64 , such as a video monitor, active matrix monitor, liquid crystal display, or the like. 
     The ideal gradient waveform is that of a square pulse  70  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Because instantaneous amplitude changes are not practical, the sides of the pulse are typically ramped  70 ′ to define a trapezoid. When trying to reproduce this pulse with a continuous waveform, a characteristic overshoot  72  occurs at the corner  74  where the derivative of the square pulse  70  is undefined. The instability at the corners is attributable to the gradient amplifiers having a frequency response that lacks the extremely high frequencies needed to make sharp corners. This allows data to be collected in a constant region  76  where the waveform behaves as it is intended. The actual amplitude of the gradient defines the location of the corresponding point in k-space. If data is collected during the overshoot  72 , the gradient does not have the expected amplitude and the reconstruction processor will attribute the collected data to the k-space location corresponding to the expected amplitude, resulting in misplaced data. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, a selected ideal gradient waveform  80  is digitized  82 . Preferably, the input waveform is sampled sparsely as compared to normal data sampling rates, e.g. about every 16 μs. The digitized waveform  84  (essentially a series of impulses or δ-functions) is then convolved  86  with a band-limited kernel  88  matched to a useable portion of a frequency response spectrum of the gradient amplifier  28  and the transmit coils  24 ,  26 . This yields a modified waveform  90  specifically tailored to the hardware specifications of the gradient amplifier  28 . This yields a waveform which is as close to the original waveform that the selected gradient amplifiers can produce without overshoot. To provide a safety margin, the frequency spectrum curve  88  is narrowed from the optimal theoretical spectrum for the selected amplifiers. The spectrum is optionally narrowed to avoid hardware resonance frequencies, phase distorted regions near edges of the spectrum, and the like. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a waveform is designed that allows data collection over the timespan of the whole read gradient waveform. With reference to FIG. 4, an operator enters a set of input parameters  91  that defines the type of image acquisition to be performed. Some parameters that are selected are the desired field of view, preferred k-space trajectories, the resolution of the output image(s), maximum scan time, maximum dB/dt, etc. Of course, the extent of operator control is not limited to these examples. A number of variables in addition to these could also be treated as independent and controlled by the operator. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the operator enters a set of input parameters based on the type of acquisition being performed. A gradient and sequence optimizer  92  generates a pulsed waveform (equivalently a polygonal trajectory through k-space) based on the input parameters. The optimizer  92  also calculates dependant variables including minimum repeat time, minimum echo time, readout time, sampling efficiency, etc. The calculated values are then displayed  94  to the operator, allowing the operator to interactively adjust the sequence. If the entered parameters are outside the safe operating limits, this is also signaled. When the operator is satisfied with the entered parameters, the operator submits  96  the accepted waveform to the scanner. This causes the pulsed waveform, and other parameters to be submitted to the sequence controller  40 , the sequence memory  42 , and the reconstruction processor  52 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the pulsed waveform  96  is transmitted to both the sequence controller  40 / 98  and reconstruction processor  52 / 106 . Both subsystems use the pulsed waveform, the band-limited kernel  88 , and an amplifier/gradient model  100  to define an adjusted continuous waveform which is sampled at the required hardware sampling rates. A first sampled waveform  99  is transmitted to the transmit hardware  102 . A second sampled waveform is generated internally by the reconstruction processor  52  in a step  106 , as the collected data  104  is processed. The hardware sampling rates for transmit and receive may vary independently, as required. The gradient amplifier  28  drives the gradient coils  24 ,  26  of the magnet. The RF coils  32 ,  34  transmit pulses and receive resonance echo signals generated in the patient. Resonance data is digitally sampled at the hardware sampling rate, collected  104 , and transmitted to the reconstruction system. The resonance data is then reconstructed  106  by the reconstruction processor  52 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the data transmitted to the reconstruction processor  52  is corrected before reconstruction. That is, the reconstruction processor  52  uses the pulsed waveform and the ideal model to define a continuous trajectory through k-space. The continuous trajectory and its derivatives are sampled at the hardware sampling rate and used in reconstruction. With reference to FIG. 3, the data collected under sloped side lobes  110  is not sampled linearly in k-space as the data collected under a flat center section  112  is. This data can be resampled or mapped to a constant velocity linear k-space sampling, and subsequently processed conventionally. 
     A number of advantages are recognized as a result of modifying the gradients in this manner. One is that the risk of gradient spiking is minimized. The new waveform is within the range of the capabilities of the gradient amplifier  28 , because the frequency spectrum is taken into account. Moreover, the exact form of the gradient is known, so data can be taken over the entire waveform. To this end, the modified gradient waveform is passed to the reconstruction processor  52  before imaging commences so appropriate corrections can be made during reconstruction. Further, since the gradient waveform is specifically tailored to the current machine specifications, this embodiment is compatible with existing machines as well as new ones. 
     The preferred embodiment as described produces waveforms with small high-frequency components. Generally, gradient amplifiers act as low pass filters and become unstable with a signal that has many high frequency components. By eliminating most high frequency components in the waveform design, waveform shape integrity is insured. This would not be the case if some combination of analog filtering and gradient tube inductance were relied upon to remove the components. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the representation of the waveform can be used for other gradient waveforms, for example, gradients used in conjunction with RF excitations, velocity encoding gradients, and velocity compensation gradients. Improved performance will result for any gradient whose precise shape and timing are important. 
     In another alternate embodiment, periods of constant gradient activity and repeated subwaveforms can be represented in the pulsed waveform by macros to reduce memory requirements. 
     In an alternate, gradient amplifier upgrade embodiment, as ghosted in FIG. 1, software and possibly hardware elements are added to existing systems. The software includes a gradient frequency spectrum memory  120  which holds information about the frequency spectrum of the gradient amplifier system in the form of its kernel  88 . The upgrade also adds an ideal waveform memory  122  which stores the ideal gradient waveform defining points  84 , a convolver  124 , and additional software for the gradient optimizer  92  and reconstruction processor  52 . Once the waveforms of a sequence to be implemented have been optimized, these continuous band-limited waveforms are sampled at the rate required by the existing sequence controller  40  and reconstruction subsystem  52 . The scanner functions as in the previously discussed preferred embodiment, plus module changes for compatibility with the pre-existing system. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.