WO2018038396A1 - Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for correcting, on the basis of a reference boundary tracked with respect to a chest wall area of a reference cross-sectional image, a boundary of a chest wall area of at least one of remaining cross-sectional images, and a control method therefor. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to one embodiment comprises: a display for displaying at least one of a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object obtained on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal; and an image processing unit for determining a chest wall area according to a brightness value in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images and tracking a boundary of the chest wall area from a feature point of the determined chest wall area, wherein the image processing unit may correct, on the basis of a tracked reference boundary of a reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images, the tracked boundary of at least one of remaining cross-sectional images.

Description

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device and Control Method

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for obtaining a cross-sectional image of an object based on a magnetic resonance signal, and a control method thereof.

In general, a medical imaging apparatus is an apparatus that provides an image by acquiring patient information. Medical imaging apparatuses include X-ray apparatus, ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, computed tomography apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and the like.

Among these, magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses occupy an important position in the field of diagnosis using medical imaging because imaging conditions are relatively free, and excellent contrast in soft tissue and various diagnostic information images are provided.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an image of the density and physicochemical characteristics of nuclear nuclei by using nuclear magnetic field and non-electromagnetic radiation, RF, which is harmless to the human body, causing nuclear magnetic resonance.

Since the magnetic resonance image includes the anatomical cross-sectional information of the object, the doctor may determine the state of an organ or malignant tissue existing inside the object through the magnetic resonance image. In particular, research on magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses that can clearly distinguish organs and malignant tissues and increase the accuracy of diagnosis is being actively conducted.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for modifying a boundary of at least one chest wall region of the remaining cross-sectional images based on a reference boundary tracked with respect to the chest wall region of the reference cross-sectional image and a control method thereof.

According to an embodiment, an MRI apparatus may include an output unit configured to display at least one of a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object acquired based on a magnetic resonance signal; And an image processor configured to determine a chest wall region according to a brightness value in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images, and to track a boundary of the chest wall region from the determined characteristic point of the chest wall region. The image processing unit may modify the tracked boundary of at least one of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the tracked reference boundary of the reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images.

The image processor may determine whether the tracked boundary is corrected based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary.

The image processor may modify the tracked boundary when a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary exceeds a predetermined reference range.

The image processor may determine a modification start point of the tracked boundary based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary.

In addition, the image processor may track the boundary of the chest wall from the determined start point of correction.

In addition, an input unit for receiving a command for modifying the tracked reference boundary from the outside; It may include.

The image processor may modify the tracked boundary of at least one of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the reference boundary modified by the command.

The output unit may display the at least one cross-sectional image and the tracked boundary together.

According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic resonance apparatus may include an output unit configured to display at least one of a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object acquired based on a magnetic resonance signal; And an input unit configured to receive a boundary display command for determining whether to display a chest wall boundary determined according to a brightness value in the displayed cross-sectional image. The output unit may display a boundary of the chest wall region on the displayed cross-sectional image according to the input boundary display command.

The input unit may receive an uninterested region non-display command for determining whether to display an uninterested region divided by a boundary of the chest wall region, and the output unit may be displayed according to the input uninterested region non-display command. The uninterested region may not be displayed on the cross-sectional image.

The input unit may receive a boundary correction command for correcting a boundary of the chest wall region, and the output unit may modify and display a boundary of the displayed cross-sectional image according to the input boundary correction command.

The input unit may receive a first boundary correction command for setting the boundary line, and the output unit may modify the boundary line set according to the input first boundary correction command to the boundary of the displayed cross-sectional image.

The input unit may receive a second boundary correction command for selecting a correction point on the boundary, and the output unit may connect the selected correction point according to the input second correction command to connect the boundary of the displayed cross-sectional image. Can be modified.

In a method of controlling a magnetic resonance apparatus according to an embodiment, the control method of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for obtaining a plurality of cross-sectional images of the object based on the magnetic resonance signal, the chest wall according to the brightness value in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images Determining a region and tracking a boundary of the chest wall region from the determined points of the chest wall region; Modifying the at least one tracked boundary of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the tracked reference boundary of the reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images; It may include.

The modifying of the tracked boundary may include determining whether to modify the tracked boundary based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary.

The modifying of the tracked boundary may include correcting the tracked boundary when a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary exceeds a predetermined reference range.

The modifying the tracked boundary may further include determining a modification start point of the tracked boundary based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary; It may include.

In addition, modifying the tracked boundary may include tracking the boundary of the chest wall from the determined starting point of modification; It may further include.

In addition, receiving a command for modifying the tracked reference boundary from the outside; It may further include.

In addition, the modifying the tracked boundary may modify the tracked boundary of at least one of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the reference boundary modified by the command.

The method may further include displaying at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images based on a boundary of the chest wall region; It may further include.

In the displaying of at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images, the boundary of the chest wall region may be displayed together on the displayed cross-sectional image.

The displaying of at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images may display an uninterested region divided by a boundary of the chest wall region among the displayed cross-sectional images.

According to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, the boundary of at least one chest wall region of the remaining cross-sectional images may be easily modified by modifying a boundary of the chest wall region of the reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images. .

Through this, it is possible to easily distinguish the uninterested region including the heart divided by the chest wall region, thereby increasing the diagnostic accuracy of the breast present in the region of interest.

1 is a schematic diagram of an MRI system.

2 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a dynamic contrast enhanced breast image, according to an exemplary embodiment.

3 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a boundary between a dynamic contrast enhanced breast image and a chest wall region according to an exemplary embodiment.

4A and 4B are diagrams for describing a method of tracking a boundary of a chest wall region by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

5 is a diagram illustrating a boundary between a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object and a chest wall area according to an exemplary embodiment.

6A and 6B illustrate diagrams for describing a method of correcting, by an image processor, a boundary of a chest wall region of a remaining section image based on a reference boundary of a reference section image.

7A and 7B are diagrams for describing a method of displaying a cross-sectional image of an output unit according to various embodiments.

8 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a setting UI according to an exemplary embodiment.

9 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a selected correction point, according to an exemplary embodiment.

10A and 10B illustrate an example in which an output unit displays a boundary line based on a selected correction point, according to various embodiments.

11A to 11C are diagrams for describing a method of displaying a cross-sectional image of an output unit according to various embodiments.

12 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment.

13 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, according to another exemplary embodiment.

The present specification clarifies the scope of the present invention, describes the principles of the present invention, and discloses embodiments so that those skilled in the art can carry out the present invention. The disclosed embodiments can be implemented in various forms.

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The present specification does not describe all elements of the embodiments, and overlaps between general contents or embodiments in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. As used herein, the term 'part' may be implemented in software or hardware. Depending on the embodiments, a plurality of 'parts' may be embodied as one unit or one' It is also possible for a subsection to include a plurality of elements.

In the present specification, an 'object' is an object to be photographed, and may include a person, an animal, or a part thereof. For example, the subject may comprise part of the body (organ or organ; organ) or phantom or the like.

Hereinafter, the working principle and the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of an MRI system.

The MRI system may acquire a magnetic resonance (MR) signal and reconstruct the acquired magnetic resonance signal into an image. The magnetic resonance signal may refer to an RF signal radiated from the object.

In an MRI system, a main magnet forms a static magnetic field, and the magnetic dipole moment direction of a specific atomic nucleus of an object located in the static field may be aligned in the direction of the static field. The gradient magnetic field coil may apply an inclination signal to the static magnetic field to form a gradient magnetic field to induce a resonance frequency for each part of the object.

The RF coil may irradiate an RF signal according to a resonance frequency of an area where an image acquisition is desired. In addition, as the gradient coil is formed, the RF coil may receive magnetic resonance signals of different resonance frequencies emitted from various parts of the object. Through this step, the MRI system acquires an image from the magnetic resonance signal using an image reconstruction technique.

To this end, referring to FIG. 1, the MRI system 1 may include an operating unit 10, a controller 30, and a scanner 50. Here, the controller 30 may be independently implemented as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the controller 30 may be divided into a plurality of components and included in each component of the MRI system 1. Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail.

The scanner 50 may be embodied in a shape (eg, a bore shape) in which an object may be inserted, so that the internal space is empty. Static and gradient magnetic fields are formed in the internal space of the scanner 50, and RF signals may be irradiated.

The scanner 50 may include a static magnetic field forming unit 51, a gradient magnetic field forming unit 52, an RF coil unit 53, a table unit 55, and a display unit 56. The static field forming unit 51 may form a static field for aligning the directions of the magnetic dipole moments of the nuclei included in the object in the direction of the static field. The static field forming unit 51 may be implemented as a permanent magnet or a superconducting magnet using a cooling coil.

The gradient magnetic field forming unit 52 may be connected to the control unit 30. Inclination is applied to the static magnetic field according to the control signal received from the controller 30 to form a gradient magnetic field. The gradient magnetic field forming unit 52 includes X, Y, and Z coils that form gradient magnetic fields in the X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions that are orthogonal to each other, and photographed to induce resonance frequencies differently for each part of the object. The tilt signal can be generated according to the position.

The RF coil unit 53 may be connected to the control unit 30 to irradiate an RF signal to the object according to the control signal received from the control unit 30 and receive a magnetic resonance signal emitted from the object. The RF coil unit 53 may stop transmitting the RF signal after receiving the RF signal having the same frequency as the frequency of the precession toward the atomic nucleus that performs the precession and receiving the magnetic resonance signal emitted from the object. .

The RF coil unit 53 is implemented as a transmitting RF coil for generating electromagnetic waves having a radio frequency corresponding to the type of atomic nucleus and a receiving RF coil for receiving electromagnetic waves radiated from the atomic nucleus, respectively, or having a transmission / reception function together. May be implemented as an RF transmit / receive coil. In addition, in addition to the RF coil unit 53, a separate coil may be mounted on the object. For example, a head coil, a spine coil, a torso coil, a knee coil, or the like may be used as a separate coil according to a photographing part or a mounting part.

The display unit 56 may be provided outside and / or inside the scanner 50. The display unit 56 may be controlled by the controller 30 to provide information related to medical image capturing to a user or an object.

In addition, the scanner 50 may be provided with an object monitoring information acquisition unit for obtaining and delivering monitoring information on the state of the object. For example, the object monitoring information acquisition unit (not shown) may include a camera (not shown) for photographing the movement and position of the object, a respiratory meter (not shown) for measuring breathing of the object, and an electrocardiogram for measuring the object. The monitoring information about the object may be obtained from the ECG measuring device (not shown) or the body temperature measuring device (not shown) for measuring the body temperature of the object and transferred to the controller 30. Accordingly, the controller 30 may control the operation of the scanner 50 by using the monitoring information about the object. Hereinafter, the controller 30 will be described.

The controller 30 may control the overall operation of the scanner 50.

The controller 30 may control a sequence of signals formed in the scanner 50. The controller 30 may control the gradient magnetic field forming unit 52 and the RF coil unit 53 according to a pulse sequence received from the operating unit 10 or a designed pulse sequence.

The pulse sequence includes all the information necessary for controlling the gradient magnetic field forming unit 52 and the RF coil unit 53, for example, the intensity of a pulse signal applied to the gradient magnetic field forming unit 52. , Application duration, application timing, and the like.

The controller 30 may include a waveform generator (not shown) for generating a gradient waveform, that is, a current pulse according to a pulse sequence, and a gradient amplifier (not shown) for amplifying the generated current pulse and transferring the gradient to the gradient magnetic field forming unit 52. By controlling, the gradient magnetic field formation of the gradient magnetic field forming unit 52 can be controlled.

The controller 30 may control the operation of the RF coil unit 53. For example, the controller 30 may supply an RF pulse of a resonance frequency to the RF coil unit 53 to irradiate an RF signal, and receive a magnetic resonance signal received by the RF coil unit 53. In this case, the controller 30 may control the operation of a switch (for example, a T / R switch) capable of adjusting a transmission / reception direction through a control signal, and adjust the irradiation of the RF signal and the reception of the magnetic resonance signal according to the operation mode. .

The controller 30 may control the movement of the table unit 55 in which the object is located. Before the photographing is performed, the controller 30 may move the table 55 in advance in accordance with the photographed portion of the object.

The controller 30 may control the display 56. For example, the controller 30 may control on / off of the display 56 or a screen displayed through the display 56 through a control signal.

The controller 30 may include an algorithm for controlling the operation of components in the MRI system 1, a memory for storing data in a program form (not shown), and a processor for performing the above-described operations using data stored in the memory ( Not shown). In this case, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented in a single chip.

The operating unit 10 may control the overall operation of the MRI system 1. The operating unit 10 may include an image processor 11, an input unit 12, and an output unit 13.

The image processor 11 may store the MR signals received from the controller 30 using a memory, and generate image data of the object from the stored MR signals by applying an image reconstruction technique using the image processor. Can be.

For example, the image processor 11 may reconstruct various images through the image processor when the k-space data is completed by filling digital data in k-space (eg, also referred to as Fourier space or frequency space) of the memory. The technique can be applied (eg, by inverse Fourier transform of k-spatial data) to reconstruct k-spatial data into image data.

In addition, various signal processings applied by the image processor 11 to the magnetic resonance signal may be performed in parallel. For example, a plurality of magnetic resonance signals received by the multi-channel RF coil may be signal-processed in parallel to restore the image data. The image processor 11 may store the restored image data in a memory or the controller 30 may store the restored image data in an external server through the communication unit 60.

The input unit 12 may receive a control command regarding the overall operation of the MRI system 1 from the user. For example, the input unit 12 may receive object information, parameter information, scan conditions, information about a pulse sequence, and the like from a user. The input unit 12 may be implemented as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a voice recognition unit, a gesture recognition unit, a touch screen, or the like.

The output unit 13 may output image data generated by the image processor 11. In addition, the output unit 13 may output a user interface (UI) configured to allow a user to receive a control command regarding the MRI system 1. The output unit 13 may be implemented as a speaker, a printer, a display, or the like.

In FIG. 1, the operating unit 10 and the control unit 30 are illustrated as separate objects from each other, but as described above, may be included together in one device. In addition, processes performed by each of the operating unit 10 and the control unit 30 may be performed in another object. For example, the image processor 11 may convert the magnetic resonance signal received by the controller 30 into a digital signal, or the controller 30 may directly convert the magnetic resonance signal.

The MRI system 1 includes a communication unit 60, and through the communication unit 60, an external device (not shown) (eg, a server, a medical device, a portable device (smartphone, tablet PC, wearable device, etc.)). Can be connected with

The communication unit 60 may include one or more components that enable communication with an external device, for example, at least one of a short range communication module (not shown), a wired communication module 61, and a wireless communication module 62. It may include.

The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may acquire a cross-sectional image for diagnosing malignant tissue such as a tumor present in the breast. In particular, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may provide a dynamic contrast-enhanced breast image with contrast enhancement to clarify the distinction between the mammary gland and the tumor in the breast.

2 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a dynamic contrast enhanced breast image, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a boundary between a dynamic contrast enhanced breast image and a chest wall region according to an embodiment. Figure is an illustration.

Information obtained based on breast volume of dynamic contrast-enhanced breast imaging, e.g. Background Enhancement to Breast Volume, Parenchyma Volume to Breast Volume, etc. It can be used to predict the likelihood. In addition, in the dynamic contrast enhanced breast image, the tumor region has a higher brightness value than that of general tissue, and thus, the presence of the tumor may be confirmed.

In this case, the dynamic contrast-enhanced breast image displays not only the tumor in the breast but also the heart, which is the inner periphery of the breast, so that it is necessary to clearly distinguish between the tumor and the heart for accurate tumor diagnosis.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that tumor A is present in the breast and heart B is present inside the breast. In addition, it can be seen that chest wall C is located between tumor A and heart B. Therefore, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment may divide and display the region where the tumor A and the heart B are located by tracking the boundary of the chest wall C. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the output unit 13 may display the boundary of the chest wall region by placing the boundary line L on the boundary of the chest wall C. FIG. Through this, the heart B is located inside the border line L, and the tumor A may be located outside the border line L. As a result, the user can perform tumor diagnosis only on the outside of the boundary line L, thereby increasing the accuracy of the diagnosis.

To this end, the image processor 11 of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may determine a chest wall region in the cross-sectional image of the object and track its boundary.

4A and 4B are diagrams for describing a method of tracking a boundary of a chest wall region by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

In order to check the boundary of the chest wall region, the image processor 11 may first determine the chest wall region for the cross-sectional image of the object. To this end, the image processor 11 may divide the cross-sectional image into a plurality of clusters, and perform analysis on each of the plurality of clusters. In detail, the image processor 11 may identify the chest wall region by using brightness values of the plurality of clusters. For example, the image processor 11 may check the chest wall area by comparing the brightness value of the cluster with the reference brightness value.

When the chest wall region is determined in this way, the image processor 11 may find a feature point of the chest wall region. In detail, the image processor 11 may extract the center-based feature point from the chest wall region. In FIG. 4A, PL may mean a feature point of the chest wall region.

Finally, the image processor 11 may track the boundary of the chest wall region from the feature point. Referring to FIG. 4B, the image processor 11 may track the boundary of the chest wall region to the left and the right based on the feature point. In FIG. 4B, the arrow TL may mean a tracking direction of the chest wall region. As a result, the boundary of the chest wall region can extend from the feature point.

The boundary of the chest wall region tracked through this may be displayed by the output unit 13 as shown in FIG. 3.

4A and 4B illustrate a case in which the output unit 13 displays a process of tracking the chest wall area, but the tracking process of the chest wall area is not displayed but may be performed in the image processor 11.

On the other hand, since the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 acquires a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object, the boundary of the chest wall region tracked for each of the plurality of cross-sectional images may be different from each other. In order to solve this problem, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may determine a reference boundary and modify the boundary of the remaining images based on the reference boundary.

5 is a diagram illustrating a boundary between a plurality of object cross-sectional images and a chest wall region according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example of an image processing unit configured to display the remaining cross-sectional images based on a reference boundary of a reference cross-sectional image. It is a figure for explaining the method of correct | amending the boundary of a chest wall area | region.

Referring to FIG. 5, as described above, the image processor 11 may acquire a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object according to an anatomical position. Since the process of determining the chest wall region and tracking the boundary of the determined chest wall region for each cross-sectional image is performed independently, the boundaries may be different. This can be a barrier to accurate diagnosis.

Therefore, the image processor 11 may set a reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images. In this case, the reference cross-sectional image may mean an image including a reference boundary which is a basis for correcting the boundary of the chest wall region, and may be determined by external input or internal calculation. For example, when a reference section image selection command is input from the user, the image processor 11 may set the reference section image according to the input. In contrast, the image processing unit 11 considers an anatomical position among the plurality of cross-sectional images, for example, a position within the plurality of cross-sectional images, and / or a reference cross-sectional image in consideration of accuracy of the tracked boundary among the plurality of cross-sectional images. Can be set.

When the reference cross-sectional image is set, the image processor 11 may modify the boundary of the chest wall region of the remaining images based on the boundary of the chest wall region of the reference cross-sectional image. To this end, the image processor 11 may compare the tracked boundary and the reference boundary of the cross-sectional image. In detail, the image processor 11 may correct the case where the difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary of the cross-sectional image exceeds a predetermined reference range.

At this time, the comparison of the tracked boundary and the reference boundary may be performed in a direction away from the feature point. This is because the tracking of the chest wall boundary starts from the feature point.

While performing the comparison, the image processor 11 may determine the position of the tracked boundary at which the difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary exceeds the reference range as the correction start point. Referring to FIG. 6A, the image processor 11 may compare the tracked boundary L with the reference boundary LR and determine that the PC is determined as the correction start point.

When the correction start point is determined, the image processor 11 may perform correction on a boundary portion of the tracked boundary in a direction away from the feature point from the correction start point. Referring to FIG. 6B, the image processor 11 may newly start boundary tracking of the chest wall region from the fertilization start point PC. TC refers to the boundary tracking direction of the chest wall area for fertilization, and TC can be seen to proceed similarly to the reference boundary.

6A and 6B illustrate a case in which a process of correcting a chest wall region boundary is displayed through the output unit 13, but the process of correcting may be performed in the image processor 11 without being separately displayed. Can be.

As such, the image processor 11 may modify the chest wall region boundary of the remaining images based on the reference cross-sectional image of the reference cross-sectional image. Referring again to FIG. 5, the reference boundary LR of the reference cross-sectional image IR may be used to modify IU1, which is adjacent to both sides of the reference cross-sectional image IR, and the chest wall region boundary LU1, and LD1 of ID1. As a result, the chest wall area boundaries of the entire plurality of cross-sectional images may be modified in a batch. This can reduce the hassle of individual modifications to the border of the chest wall region of the cross-sectional image.

When the tracking of the chest wall area boundary for the plurality of cross-sectional images is completed, the output unit 13 may change the display method of the cross-sectional image based on the tracked boundary.

7A and 7B are diagrams for describing a method of displaying a cross-sectional image of an output unit according to various embodiments.

The output unit 13 may display the section image in various ways based on the tracked boundary. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the output unit 13 may also display the boundary of the chest wall region on the cross-sectional image. As a result, the user can omit the diagnosis of the region including the inner heart of which the boundary of the chest wall region divides, and can perform the diagnosis of the region of the breast located outside the division of the chest wall region.

In addition, the output unit 13 may display a cross-sectional image without displaying an uninterested region divided by a boundary of the chest wall region. As described above, the region including the inner heart, which the boundary of the chest wall region divides, is not an object of diagnosis, and thus may be an uninterested region. Based on this, the output unit 13 may not provide unnecessary information to the user by masking the uninterested region. FIG. 7A illustrates a case in which the output unit 13 displays a cross-sectional image in which an uninterested region is not displayed.

In addition, the output unit 13 may display a cross-sectional image without displaying a boundary between an uninterested region and a chest wall region. Referring to FIG. 7B, the output unit 13 may omit the boundary of the chest wall region together with the uninterested region.

The output unit 13 may display a setting UI (User Interface) related to the display of the section image in addition to displaying the section image.

8 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a setting UI according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the setting UI may include various setting items related to the display of the section image. For example, the setting UI includes an item X1 that the user can select whether to display a boundary line located on the boundary of the chest wall area, an item X2 that the user can select whether to perform masking of an uninterested area, and the like. It may include. The user may select a corresponding item through the input unit 12.

In addition, the setting UI may include a tool that allows a user to directly modify the boundary of the tracked chest wall area. Specifically, the setting UI is an item X3, which the user can select whether to manually modify the boundary line located on the boundary of the chest wall area, and an item that the user can select how to modify the boundary line located on the boundary of the chest wall area. X4, and item X5, which the user can select to modify the chest wall region boundary of the remaining images based on the modified boundary.

The user can choose to perform the modification of the chest wall area automatically or manually via item X3. In the case of automatic, the method may be performed according to the method described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

On the other hand, if manual is selected, the user can select a method of correcting the chest wall region via item X4. Referring to FIG. 8, item X4 is item X41 for tracking an edge area adjacent to the user's cursor movement trace, item X42 with the user's cursor movement trace as a line, item X43 for connecting the correction point selected by the user in a straight line, and the user. Can contain item X44, which connects the selected correction point to the curve.

Item X41 and item X42 may set a boundary line indicating a boundary by using a user's cursor movement trace. When the item X41 is selected, the output unit 13 may display a line tracking the edge area where the brightness value adjacent to the cursor movement trace is maximized as a boundary line. When the item X42 is selected, the output unit 13 may display the cursor movement trace itself as a boundary line.

On the other hand, item X43 and item X44 may set a boundary line indicating a boundary by using a correction point selected by the user. Hereinafter, a method of setting a boundary line using correction points will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10A, and 10B.

9 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an output unit displays a selected correction point, and FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a case in which an output unit displays a boundary line based on a selected correction point, according to various embodiments. .

Referring to FIG. 9, when the item X43 or X44 is selected, the user can select the modification start point PC at the position where the modification is to be started on the tracked boundary. Then, the user can select the location where the boundary line is to pass through as the correction point PU. 9 illustrates a case where PU1 and PU2 are selected as correction points.

When item X43 is selected, as shown in FIG. 10A, the output unit 13 may set a boundary line by connecting the correction points PU1 and PU2 in a straight line from the modification start point PC. On the other hand, when item X44 is selected, as shown in FIG. 10B, the output unit 13 may set a boundary line by connecting the correction points PU1 and PU2 in a curve from the modification start point PC.

The image processor 11 may modify the boundary of the chest wall region to the position of the boundary line thus set. When the boundary of the chest wall region is modified, the user may input a command to collectively modify the chest wall region boundary of the remaining cross-sectional image based on the modified boundary.

In detail, when item X5 is selected, the image processor 11 may correct the tracked boundary by comparing the modified boundary with the tracked chest wall area boundary of the remaining images. As a result, the user may check the modified chest wall region boundary for the remaining images by modifying the boundary of one cross-sectional image.

So far, the case where the output unit 13 displays the cross-sectional image in one direction and the chest wall area boundary thereof has been described. However, it may be possible for the output unit 13 to display cross-sectional images of various directions and boundaries of chest wall regions.

11A to 11C are diagrams for describing a method of displaying a cross-sectional image of an output unit according to various embodiments.

The output unit 13 may simultaneously display cross-sectional images of various directions based on the x, y, and z directions, and display chest wall area boundaries with respect to each cross-sectional image. Referring to FIG. 11A, the output unit 13 may display a cross-sectional image I1 in the z-direction, a cross-sectional image I2 in the x-direction, a dynamic mapping image I3 having color mapping to the cross-sectional image, and a three-dimensional image I4 of the object. Can be. In addition, the output unit 13 may guide the diagnosis of the user by displaying the tracked boundary of the chest wall area on the images I1, I2, I3, and I4, respectively.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the output unit 13 may mask the uninterested region while displaying the boundary between the images I1, I2, I3, and I4 and the chest wall region. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 11C, the output unit 13 may display only the images I1, I2, I3, and I4, and may omit the display of the boundary of the chest wall region and the uninterested region.

In this way, the user may be provided with various images that display or not display the boundary of the chest wall region and the uninterested region with respect to the desired image in the desired direction.

12 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment.

First, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may acquire a magnetic resonance signal from an object. (800) Specifically, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 irradiates an RF signal to an object located in a scanner and, as a result of the irradiation, The magnetic resonance signal generated by can be received.

Next, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may acquire a plurality of cross-sectional images of the object based on the acquired magnetic resonance signal. (810) The magnetic resonance signal obtained from the object has anatomical information inside the object. Therefore, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may generate a cross-sectional image of the inside cross section of the object using the same.

After obtaining a plurality of cross-sectional images, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may determine a chest wall region based on brightness values of pixels in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images. In operation 820, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 The image processor 11 may divide each of the plurality of cross-sectional images into a plurality of clusters, and determine a chest wall area by comparing the brightness value of the divided cluster with a reference brightness value.

When the chest wall region is determined, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may track the boundary of the chest wall region from the determined feature of the chest wall region (830). The resonance imaging apparatus 1 may track the boundary of the chest wall region in a direction away from the determined feature point.

Finally, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may modify the tracked boundary of the remaining cross-sectional image based on the tracked reference boundary of the reference cross-sectional image among the plurality of cross-sectional images. The image includes a reference boundary that is the basis for correcting the boundary of the chest wall region, and may be determined by external input or internal calculation.

Through this, the chest wall area boundaries of the entire plurality of cross-sectional images may be collectively modified by one criterion without additional input.

13 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, according to another exemplary embodiment.

First, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may acquire a magnetic resonance signal from an object. In operation 900, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 irradiates an RF signal to an object located in a scanner and, as a result of irradiation, The magnetic resonance signal generated by can be received.

Next, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may acquire a plurality of cross-sectional images of the object based on the acquired magnetic resonance signal. (910) The magnetic resonance signal obtained from the object has anatomical information inside the object. Therefore, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may generate a cross-sectional image of the inside cross section of the object using the same.

After obtaining a plurality of cross-sectional images, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may determine a chest wall region based on a brightness value of a pixel in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images. The image processor 11 may divide each of the plurality of cross-sectional images into a plurality of clusters, and determine a chest wall area by comparing the brightness value of the divided cluster with a reference brightness value.

When the chest wall region is determined, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may track the boundary of the chest wall region from the determined characteristic wall region of the chest wall region (930). The resonance imaging apparatus 1 may track the boundary of the chest wall region in a direction away from the determined feature point.

Next, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may check whether a correction command for any one of the plurality of cross-sectional images has been tracked. If the correction command is not input, the procedure is terminated.

On the other hand, if a correction command is input, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may modify the tracked boundary of the corresponding cross-sectional image according to the input. In operation 950, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 according to the user's input The tracked boundary may be modified based on the trace of the moved cursor or a correction point selected according to a user input.

Finally, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 may modify the tracked boundary of the remaining cross-sectional image based on the modified boundary. In operation 960, the modified boundary is a tracked boundary of the remaining cross-sectional image as a reference boundary. It can be a criterion to correct.

In this way, the user may modify the chest wall region boundary of one cross-sectional image, so that the chest wall region boundaries of the entire cross-sectional images may be collectively modified by one reference.

Since the above-described moving object and the method of controlling the moving object can be used in various fields such as a home or an industrial site, there is industrial applicability.

Claims (15)

An output unit configured to display at least one of a plurality of cross-sectional images of the object acquired based on the magnetic resonance signal; And An image processor configured to determine a chest wall region according to a brightness value in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images, and to track a boundary of the chest wall region from the determined characteristic point of the chest wall region; Including, The image processor, And at least one of the tracked boundaries of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the tracked reference boundaries of the reference cross-sectional images among the plurality of cross-sectional images. The method of claim 1, The image processor, The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus determines whether to modify the tracked boundary based on the difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary. The method of claim 2, The image processor, And correcting the tracked boundary when a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary exceeds a predetermined reference range. The method of claim 2, The image processor, The MRI apparatus determines a modification start point of the tracked boundary based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary. The method of claim 4, wherein The image processor, Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for tracking the boundary of the chest wall from the determined starting point of the correction. The method of claim 1, An input unit for receiving a command for modifying the tracked reference boundary from the outside; Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 6, The image processor, And at least one of the tracked boundaries of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the reference boundary modified by the command. The method of claim 1, The output unit, The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for displaying the at least one cross-sectional image and the tracked boundary together. A control method of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring a plurality of cross-sectional images of an object based on a magnetic resonance signal, Determining a chest wall region according to a brightness value in each of the plurality of cross-sectional images, and tracking a boundary of the chest wall region from a feature point of the determined chest wall region; And Modifying the tracked boundary of at least one of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the tracked reference boundary of the reference cross-sectional image of the plurality of cross-sectional images; Control method of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 9, Modifying the tracked boundary, And determining whether to modify the tracked boundary based on a difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary. The method of claim 10, Modifying the tracked boundary, And if the difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary exceeds a predetermined reference range, correcting the tracked boundary. The method of claim 10, Modifying the tracked boundary, Determining a modification start point of the tracked boundary based on the difference between the tracked boundary and the reference boundary; Including, Modifying the tracked boundary, Tracking the boundaries of the chest wall from the determined starting point of fertilization; Control method of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus further comprising. The method of claim 9, Receiving a command for modifying the tracked reference boundary from the outside; More, Modifying the tracked boundary, And controlling the tracked boundary of at least one of the remaining cross-sectional images based on the reference boundary modified by the command. The method of claim 9, Displaying at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images based on a boundary of the chest wall region; Control method of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus further comprising. The method of claim 14, Displaying at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images, The boundary of the chest wall area is displayed together on the displayed cross-sectional image, Displaying at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional images, The control method of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that does not display the uninterested region divided by the boundary of the chest wall region of the displayed cross-sectional image.

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