Patent ID: 8570041

Claim:
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to execute a calibration scan for acquiring calibration data used to correct image data of a subject, to execute a first imaging scan using a first scan range for acquiring the image data of the subject, and to receive magnetic resonance signals using combinations of coil elements selected out of a plurality of coil elements, said magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a calibration scan condition determining device configured to: determine a second scan range for use in the calibration scan, based on a wherein the second scan range includes the first scan range; and determine a first combination of coil elements used to receive magnetic resonance signals in the first scan range as a combination of coil elements used in the calibration scan, wherein during the calibration scan, magnetic resonance signals in the second scan range are received using the first combination of coil elements; and a calibration data calculation device configured to calculate the calibration data based on the magnetic resonance signals received in the second scan range, wherein said calibration scan condition determining device is further configured to determine whether the following conditions will be satisfied when a second imaging scan is executed: (1) the first combination of the coil elements used when the calibration scan is executed is identical to a second combination of coil elements used when the second imaging scan is executed, (2) an orientation and a posture of the subject taken when the calibration scan is executed is the same as an orientation and a posture of the subject taken when the second imaging scan is executed, and (3) the second scan range taken when the calibration scan is executed includes a third scan range taken when the second imaging scan is executed, wherein when said calibration scan condition determining device determines that all of the conditions (1) through (3) are satisfied, the second imaging scan is executed and a second set of image data acquired by the second imaging scan is corrected using the calibration data calculated by said calibration data calculation device.