Computer-implemented method of building a database of pulse sequences for magnetic resonance imaging, and a method of performing magnetic resonance imaging using such a database

US10976395B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · FR
• INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE EN INFORMATIQUE ET EN AUTOMATIQUE (INRIA) · FR

Inventors

• Raphael Tomi-Tricot · Les Ulis, FR
• Bertrand Thirion · Les Ulis, FR
• Vincent GRAS · Gif-sur-Yvette, FR
• Alexis Amadon · Château-Thierry, FR
• Nicolas Boulant · Niort, FR
• Alexandre Vignaud · Paris, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 2, 2019
• Grant date: Apr 13, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/5608
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of building a database of pulse sequences for parallel-transmission magnetic resonance imaging, includes a) for each of a plurality of subjects, determining an optimal sequence for the subject; b) for each subject, computing the values of the or of a different cost or merit function obtained by playing the optimal sequences for all the subjects; c) aggregating the subjects into a plurality of clusters using a clustering algorithm taking the values, or functions thereof, as metrics; d) for each cluster, determining an averaged optimal sequence for the cluster; e) receiving, as input, a set of features characterizing an imaging subject, comprising at least a morphological feature of the subject; f) associating the subject to one pulse sequence of the database based on the set of features using the computer-implemented classifier algorithm; and g) performing magnetic resonance imaging using the pulse sequence. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for carrying out steps e)-g) of such a method is also provided.