JP7721264B2 - Medical information processing device and medical information processing method - Google Patents

Description

The embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings relate to a medical information processing device and a medical information processing method.

When imaging a subject, parameters related to imaging are input based on the examination order and the condition of the subject. For example, when imaging a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, multiple images are often obtained using multiple imaging sequences, and various parameters must be set.
Because parameters are interrelated, if the interrelationships between parameters are complex, there is no guarantee that the parameter settings will be optimal. Also, the user interface is often inconsistent, and depending on the order in which parameters are set, it may not be possible to enter the same conditions as parameters set previously, requiring trial and error to find the optimal value.

WO2013-165888 US Patent Application Publication No. 2012-84541

One of the problems that the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings aim to solve is to be able to set optimal parameters while reducing the user's effort.
However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings are not limited to the above problems. Problems corresponding to the effects of the configurations shown in the embodiments described below can also be positioned as other problems.

The medical image processing device according to this embodiment includes a reception unit and an optimization unit. The reception unit receives user-desired settings for one or more parameters among multiple parameters related to imaging. The optimization unit sets the user-desired settings as constraints or objective functions, and optimizes the multiple parameters by performing optimization processing using the objective function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a medical image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an MRI apparatus as an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the medical image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a method for designing constraint equations relating to parameters according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the medical image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a first example of display relating to parameters in a pin state. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of display relating to parameters in a pin state. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example of display relating to parameters in a pin state. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a recommendation list.

The medical information processing device and medical information processing method according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts with the same reference numerals perform similar operations, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

A medical image processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The medical information processing device 1 according to this embodiment includes a memory 11, an input interface 12, a communication interface 13, a display 14, and a processing circuitry 15. The memory 11, the input interface 12, the communication interface 13, the display 14, and the processing circuitry 15 are communicably connected to each other via, for example, a bus.

Memory 11 is a storage device such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or integrated circuit storage device that stores various information. Memory 11 may also be a drive device that reads and writes various information from and to portable storage media such as a CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, or flash memory. Memory 11 does not necessarily have to be realized by a single storage device. For example, memory 11 may be realized by multiple storage devices. Memory 11 may also be located in another computer connected to the medical information processing device 1 via a network.

Memory 11 stores the medical information processing program according to this embodiment. This program may be pre-stored in memory 11, for example. It may also be stored in a non-transitory storage medium and distributed, and then read from the non-transitory storage medium and installed in memory 11.

The input interface 12 accepts various input operations from the user, converts the accepted input operations into electrical signals, and outputs them to the processing circuit 15. The input interface 12 according to this embodiment is connected to input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, trackball, switch, button, joystick, touchpad, and touch panel, where instructions are input by touching the operation surface. Furthermore, the input devices connected to the input interface 12 may also be input devices provided on another computer connected via a network, etc.

The communication interface 13 communicates data with the hospital information system, radiology department information system, medical image management system (PACS: Picture Archiving and Communication System), etc. The communication interface 13 communicates data in accordance with, for example, a known, pre-set standard. For example, communication is performed with the hospital information system and radiology department information system in accordance with HL7. For example, communication is performed with the medical image management system in accordance with DICOM.

The display 14 displays various information in accordance with instructions from the processing circuit 15. The display 14 may also display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like for accepting various operations from the user. Any display may be used as appropriate, such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an LED display, or a plasma display.
The medical information processing apparatus 1 may not include the display 14 and the GUI may be displayed on an external display, or the GUI may be displayed via a projector or the like.

The processing circuitry 15 is a processor that functions as the core of the medical information processing device 1. The processing circuitry 15 includes a reception function 151, an optimization function 152, a determination function 153, and a display control function 154.

The reception function 151 allows the processing circuit 15 to receive user-desired settings for one or more parameters among a plurality of parameters related to imaging.
The optimization function 152 allows the processing circuitry 15 to set the user's desired settings as constraint conditions or objective functions, and to perform optimization processing using the objective functions, thereby optimizing multiple parameters.
The processing circuit 15 uses the determination function 153 to determine whether or not a solution exists in the optimization of the objective function in the optimization process.
The display control function 154 allows the processing circuitry 15 to control the display of the user interface, such as displaying parameters to which the user has given a desired setting on the user interface in a manner that distinguishes them from other parameters.

The functions 151-154 do not necessarily have to be realized by a single processing circuit. A processing circuit may be configured by combining multiple independent processors, and each processor may execute a program to realize each of the functions 151-154. Alternatively, each of the functions 151-154 may be stored as a program in memory 11 or the like, and the processing circuit 15 may execute the program to realize the function corresponding to the program.

In the following, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is assumed as the medical image diagnostic device that is the target of the optimization process of imaging-related parameters by the medical information processing device 1 according to this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other medical image diagnostic devices that receive imaging-related parameters and perform imaging, such as an X-ray computed tomography (CT) device, a positron emission tomography (PET) device, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) device, a PET/CT device, a PET/MRI device, a SPECT/CT device, a PET/MRI device, or an ultrasound diagnostic device, may also be used.
For example, in the case of an X-ray CT device, imaging parameters include tube voltage, tube current, tube rotation speed, slice thickness, helical pitch, reconstruction function, etc. The medical information processing device 1 may perform optimization processing for these parameters.

An MRI apparatus, which is an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus, will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG.
2 , the MRI apparatus 2 includes a static magnetic field magnet 101, a gradient magnetic field coil 103, a gradient magnetic field power supply 105, a bed 107, a bed control circuit 109, a transmission circuit 113, a transmission coil 115, a reception coil 117, a reception circuit 119, a sequence control circuit 121, a bus 123, an interface 125, a display 127, a storage device 129, and a processing circuit 131. Note that the MRI apparatus 2 may include a hollow cylindrical shim coil between the static magnetic field magnet 101 and the gradient magnetic field coil 103.

The medical information processing device 1 according to this embodiment may be included in a console, workstation, or the like, or may be included in a medical image diagnostic device (MRI device 2). Below, we will explain an example in which the functions of the medical information processing device 1 are realized by the configuration of the MRI device 2, such as the interface 125, display 127, storage device 129, and processing circuitry 131. However, this is not limiting; a device that realizes the medical information processing device 1 according to this embodiment may be connected to a general-purpose MRI device, and the processing of the medical information processing device 1 may be executed.

The static magnetic field magnet 101 is a magnet formed in a hollow, approximately cylindrical shape. Note that the static magnetic field magnet 101 is not limited to an approximately cylindrical shape, and may also be configured in an open shape. The static magnetic field magnet 101 generates a uniform static magnetic field in the internal space. In this embodiment, the static magnetic field magnet 101 is assumed to be a superconducting magnet using a superconducting coil.

The gradient magnetic field coil 103 is a coil formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The gradient magnetic field coil 103 is placed inside the static magnetic field magnet 101. The gradient magnetic field coil 103 is formed by combining three coils corresponding to the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. The Z-axis direction is the same direction as the static magnetic field. The Y-axis direction is the vertical direction, and the X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Z and Y axes. The three coils in the gradient magnetic field coil 103 receive individual current supplies from the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, and generate gradient magnetic fields whose magnetic field strength changes along the X, Y, and Z axes.

The gradient magnetic fields of the X, Y, and Z axes generated by the gradient coil 103 form, for example, a frequency encoding gradient magnetic field (also called a readout gradient magnetic field), a phase encoding gradient magnetic field, and a slice selection gradient magnetic field. The frequency encoding gradient magnetic field is used to change the frequency of the MR signal according to spatial position. The phase encoding gradient magnetic field is used to change the phase of the MR signal according to spatial position. The slice selection gradient magnetic field is used to determine the imaging cross-section.

The gradient magnetic field power supply 105 is a power supply device that supplies current to the gradient magnetic field coil 103 under the control of the sequence control circuit 121.

The bed 107 is a device equipped with a tabletop 1071 on which the subject P is placed. Under the control of a bed control circuit 109, the bed 107 inserts the tabletop 1071 on which the subject P is placed into the bore 111. The bed 107 is installed in the examination room in which the MRI apparatus 2 is installed, for example, so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the central axis of the static magnetic field magnet 101.

The bed control circuit 109 is a circuit that controls the bed 107, and drives the bed 107 in response to instructions from the operator via the interface 125, thereby moving the tabletop 1071 longitudinally and vertically.

The transmit coil 115 is an RF coil placed inside the gradient magnetic field coil 103. The transmit coil 115 receives RF (Radio Frequency) pulses from the transmit circuit 113 and generates transmit RF waves corresponding to a high-frequency magnetic field. The transmit coil 115 is, for example, a whole-body coil. The whole-body coil may also be used as a transmit/receive coil. A cylindrical RF shield is installed between the whole-body coil and the gradient magnetic field coil 103 to magnetically separate these coils.

Under the control of the sequence control circuit 121, the transmission circuit 113 supplies an RF pulse (corresponding to the Larmor frequency, etc.) to the transmission coil 115.

The receiving coil 117 is an RF coil placed inside the gradient magnetic field coil 103. The receiving coil 117 receives MR signals emitted from the subject P by the radio frequency magnetic field. The receiving coil 117 outputs the received MR signals to the receiving circuit 119. The receiving coil 117 is, for example, a coil array having one or more, typically multiple, coil elements. The receiving coil 117 is, for example, a phased array coil.

Under the control of the sequence control circuit 121, the receiving circuit 119 generates a digital MR signal, which is digitized complex data, based on the MR signal output from the receiving coil 117. Specifically, the receiving circuit 119 performs various signal processing on the MR signal output from the receiving coil 117, and then performs analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion on the data that has undergone various signal processing. The receiving circuit 119 samples the A/D converted data. As a result, the receiving circuit 119 generates a digital MR signal (hereinafter referred to as MR data). The receiving circuit 119 outputs the generated MR data to the sequence control circuit 121.

The sequence control circuit 121 controls the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, transmission circuitry 113, reception circuitry 119, etc. in accordance with the examination protocol output from the processing circuitry 131 to perform imaging of the subject P. The examination protocol has various pulse sequences (also called imaging sequences) according to the examination. The examination protocol defines the magnitude of the current supplied to the gradient magnetic field coil 103 by the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, the timing at which the gradient magnetic field power supply 105 supplies the current to the gradient magnetic field coil 103, the magnitude of the RF pulse supplied to the transmission coil 115 by the transmission circuitry 113, the timing at which the RF pulse is supplied to the transmission coil 115 by the transmission circuitry 113, and the timing at which the MR signal is received by the reception coil 117.

The bus 123 is a transmission path for transmitting data between the interface 125, the display 127, the storage device 129, and the processing circuit 131. Various biosignal measuring devices, external storage devices, various modalities, etc. may be connected to the bus 123 as appropriate via a network, etc. For example, an electrocardiograph (not shown) is connected to the bus as a biosignal measuring device.

The interface 125 has circuits that accept various instructions and information input from the operator. The interface 125 has circuits related to input devices such as a pointing device such as a mouse, or a keyboard. Note that the circuits included in the interface 125 are not limited to circuits related to physical operating components such as a mouse and keyboard. For example, the interface 125 may have an electrical signal processing circuit that receives electrical signals corresponding to input operations from an external input device provided separately from the MRI apparatus 2, and outputs the received electrical signals to various circuits.

Under the control of the system control function 1311 in the processing circuitry 131, the display 127 displays various magnetic resonance images (MR images) generated by the image generation function 1313, various information related to imaging and image processing, and the like. The display 127 is, for example, a CRT display, liquid crystal display, organic EL display, LED display, plasma display, or any other display, monitor, or other display device known in the art.

The storage device 129 stores MR data filled into k-space via the image generation function 1313, image data generated by the image generation function 1313, etc. The storage device 129 stores various examination protocols, imaging conditions including multiple imaging parameters that define the examination protocols, etc. The storage device 129 stores programs corresponding to the various functions executed by the processing circuitry 131. The storage device 129 is, for example, a RAM, a semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory, a HDD, an SSD, an optical disk, etc. The storage device 129 may also be a drive that reads and writes various information from and to portable storage media such as a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or a flash memory.

The processing circuitry 131 has hardware resources such as a processor, ROM, RAM, and other memories (not shown), and provides overall control of the MRI apparatus 2. The processing circuitry 131 includes a system control function 1311, an image generation function 1313, a reception function 151, an optimization function 152, a determination function 153, and a display control function 154.

The various functions of processing circuitry 131 are stored in storage device 129 in the form of programs executable by a computer. Processing circuitry 131 is a processor that reads out the programs corresponding to these various functions from storage device 129 and executes them to realize the functions corresponding to each program. In other words, once each program has been read out, processing circuitry 131 has the multiple functions shown in processing circuit 15 in Figure 1.

Note that while Figure 2 illustrates the implementation of these various functions by a single processing circuit 131, the processing circuit 131 may also be configured by combining multiple independent processors, with each processor executing a program to implement the functions. In other words, each of the above functions may be configured as a program and a single processing circuit may execute each program, or specific functions may be implemented in a dedicated, independent program execution circuit.

The term "processor" used in the above explanation refers to circuits such as a CPU, GPU, or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device (e.g., simple programmable logic device (SPLD), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and field programmable gate array (FPGA)).

The processor realizes various functions by reading and executing programs stored in the storage device 129. Note that instead of storing programs in the storage device 129, the programs may be configured to be directly embedded in the processor's circuitry. In this case, the processor realizes its functions by reading and executing the programs embedded in the circuitry. Note that the bed control circuit 109, transmission circuit 113, reception circuit 119, sequence control circuit 121, etc. are also similarly configured from electronic circuits such as the above-mentioned processor.

The processing circuitry 131 controls the MRI apparatus 2 using the system control function 1311. Specifically, the processing circuitry 131 reads out the system control program stored in the storage device 129, expands it in memory, and controls each circuit of the MRI apparatus 2 in accordance with the expanded system control program. For example, the processing circuitry 131 reads out an examination protocol from the storage device 129 using the system control function 1311 based on the imaging conditions input by the operator via the interface 125. The processing circuitry 131 may also generate the examination protocol based on the imaging conditions. The processing circuitry 131 transmits the examination protocol to the sequence control circuit 121 and controls imaging of the subject P.

The processing circuitry 131 uses the system control function 1311 to apply excitation pulses and gradient magnetic fields in accordance with the excitation pulse sequence. After executing the excitation pulse sequence using the system control function 1311, the processing circuitry 131 collects MR signals from the subject P in accordance with a data collection sequence, which is a pulse sequence for collecting various types of data, and generates MR data.

The processing circuitry 131 uses the image generation function 1313 to fill MR data along the readout direction of k-space in accordance with the strength of the readout gradient magnetic field. The processing circuitry 131 generates an MR image by performing a Fourier transform on the MR data filled in k-space. For example, the processing circuitry 131 can generate an absolute value (magnitude) image from complex MR data. The processing circuitry 131 can also generate a phase image using the real and imaginary part data of the complex MR data. The processing circuitry 131 outputs MR images such as absolute value images and phase images to the display 127 or storage device 129.

Next, a first operation example of the medical image processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S301, the processing circuit 15 receives, via the reception function 151, a setting desired by the user from among a plurality of parameters related to imaging. The setting of one or more parameters input by the user may be a fixed value, or may specify a range of values, such as "5 to 20." The fixed value may specify a minimum or maximum value. Furthermore, the parameter input by the user may specify the minimum or maximum possible value among the conditions under which imaging can be performed in combination with other parameters, such as the minimum or maximum possible value. In this case, the specification may be made using the words "Min" and "Max."

In step S302, the processing circuitry 15 fixes the parameter settings desired by the user that have been input by the user using the optimization function 152. Note that in this embodiment, "fixing the settings" means that the setting values are not automatically changed due to the influence of fluctuations in other parameters, and is also called a "pin state."
The processing circuit 15 displays the pinned parameters in a manner that distinguishes them from other parameters using the display control function 154. A specific display method will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S303, the processing circuitry 15 sets the parameter settings fixed by the processing in step S302 as constraint conditions or objective functions using the optimization function 152. For example, if the parameter settings are fixed values, a constraint expression related to the parameter is set as a constraint condition. If the parameter settings are specified as a minimum or maximum possible value, an objective function related to the parameter is set.
In step S304, the processing circuitry 15 executes optimization processing using the objective function through the optimization function 152. The optimization processing, for example, finds an optimal solution that minimizes the objective function when the parameter settings are the minimum possible values under constraint conditions that express time constraints on the imaging sequence in the MRI apparatus 2 using constraint equations, and finds an optimal solution that maximizes the objective function when the parameter settings are the maximum possible values. A specific example of the optimization processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

In step S305, the processing circuitry 15 determines whether or not there is no solution in the optimization process of the objective function using the determination function 153. If there is no solution, the process proceeds to step S306, and if there is no solution, that is, if there is at least one solution, the process proceeds to step S307.
In step S306, the processing circuitry 15 displays a message to the user via the display control function 154 indicating that the parameter settings desired by the user are not sufficient for imaging and that the parameter settings are not possible. For example, a message such as "Desired parameters cannot be set" may be displayed on the user interface.
In step S307, since the parameter settings desired by the user are satisfied and the other parameter settings are also optimized, the processing circuitry 15 uses the display control function 154 to present the optimal solution from among the one or more solutions to the user. For example, a message such as "Desired value can be set" indicating that the user's desired settings are possible may be displayed on the user interface, and other parameters determined by the optimization process may also be displayed. In other words, the optimal values for the settings of each of the multiple parameters required for imaging can be presented to the user.

By performing the operations shown in the flowchart in Figure 3, an optimal solution can be obtained based on the parameter settings entered by the user, making it possible to achieve global optimization of parameter setting values even when multiple parameters are intricately interrelated. Furthermore, once a global optimum is achieved, it can be mathematically guaranteed that it is the optimal solution.

In the example of Figure 3, it is assumed that the optimization process is executed after the user inputs all desired parameters. However, the optimization function 152 may cause the processing circuit 15 to execute the above-mentioned optimization process each time a parameter to be pinned is input. As a result of the optimization process for setting one pinned parameter, values or value ranges are set for other parameters under constraints, making it possible to extract other parameters whose values cannot be freely set, i.e., cannot be set to a pinned state. Therefore, if there are other parameters that cannot be set to a pinned state, the display control function 154 causes the processing circuit 15 to perform processing such that the other parameters cannot be input, for example by graying them out, thereby presenting the user with parameters that cannot be pinned. Meanwhile, the user can easily determine whether the desired setting can be input for a parameter.

Next, a specific example of the optimization process in steps S303 and S304 will be described.
In this embodiment, in addition to constraint equations representing constraint conditions related to parameters of the imaging sequence, parameter setting values input by a user are set as constraint equations or objective functions, and an optimization process is performed by finding an optimal solution to the objective function under the constraint conditions using linear programming employing a predetermined algorithm. The algorithm employed may be any algorithm generally used in linear programming, such as the simplex method or the interior point method.
For the sake of convenience, in this embodiment, a case where linear programming is used will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and methods used in other optimization problems, such as nonlinear programming such as quadratic programming, may also be applied.

For example, if the parameter setting entered by the user is a fixed value, it is treated as a constraint equation in linear programming. Specifically, if the user enters "TE = 50" as the setting for the parameter TE (echo time), this can be treated as a constraint equation as is. Furthermore, if the parameter setting entered by the user is a specification such as "minimum value" or "maximum value," it is treated as an objective function in linear programming. Specifically, if the user enters "TE = Min" as the setting for the parameter TE, the parameter TE becomes the target to be optimized, so an objective function for the parameter TE is set, this objective function is minimized, and the optimal solution that minimizes the objective function is found. This makes it possible to find the minimum value of the parameter TE.

Next, an example of a method for designing constraint equations relating to parameters will be described with reference to FIG.
4 is a pulse sequence diagram for spin echo imaging, showing, from the top to bottom, the strengths of RF pulses and echo signals, and the strengths and timings of the magnetic field gradients for the slice selection gradient field (G _SS ), phase encoding gradient field (G _PE ), and readout gradient field (G _RO ).

TE is the time from the center of the excitation RF pulse 41 (also called the 90-degree pulse 41) to the center of the echo signal. Furthermore, the refocusing period 43 between the 90-degree pulse 41 and the refocusing pulse 42 (also called the 180-degree pulse 42) is TE/2, and the refocusing period 44 between the 180-degree pulse 42 and the echo signal is TE/2. Therefore, the minimum period required as TE in spin echo imaging, i.e., the time constraint, can be designed as the constraint equation (1).

In actual imaging, in addition to the definition of TE above, a period α (α is an integer greater than or equal to 0) is required from the start of application of the excitation pulse to the center of the excitation pulse. When taking into account the timing of when the excitation pulse application starts, simply add the period α to the left side.

Furthermore, the refocusing period 43 and the refocusing period 44 cannot be shortened by more than the sum of half the application time 45 (also called RF interval 45) of the 90-degree pulse 41 and half the application time 46 (also called RF interval 46) of the 180-degree pulse 41. Therefore, the constraint equation (2) can be designed.

Furthermore, a constraint equation for TE can also be defined by the application time of the gradient magnetic field. For example, a constraint equation such as equation (3) can be designed for each application time of the slice selection gradient magnetic field (G _SS ), the phase encoding gradient magnetic field (G _PE ), and the readout gradient magnetic field (G _RO ) in spin echo imaging.

The _GSS application period 47 (90-degree pulse) on the left side of equation (3) is the sum of a first period from the timing of the center of the 90-degree pulse 41 until (RF interval 45)/2 has elapsed, and a second time during which a slice selection gradient magnetic field _GSS of the opposite direction is applied to rephase the phase after the first period has elapsed. _{The GSS} application period 48 (180-degree pulse) is the application time of the slice selection gradient magnetic field _GSS for the 180-degree pulse 42. _{The GRO} application period 49 is the application time of the readout gradient magnetic field _GRO for collecting echo signals.

In this way, optimization processing can be performed by designing multiple constraint equations for the spin echo imaging method based on, for example, time constraints, and finding an optimal solution that minimizes or maximizes the objective function for the parameters to be optimized while satisfying the constraint conditions based on the multiple constraint equations.
When designing constraint equations, parameters that are inequality constraints that do not contain equality signs can be transformed into equality constraints by introducing slack variables or the like to create constraint equations.

Requirements such as the time from turning off the RF pulse to collecting the signal, SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), dB/dt, and the state of the internal coil, i.e., requirements arising from the device (hardware), may also be designed as constraint equations. For example, when parameters for which a nonlinear solution is expected, such as SAR and the state of the internal coil, are quadratic equations, linear programming may be applied by expressing them as linear equations using other variables, or nonlinear programming may be used. Parameters related to SAR, dB/dt, and the state of the internal coil are also parameters to be optimized by the optimization function 152, and may be set as objective functions.

Next, a second operation example of the medical image processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The above-mentioned setting is assumed to be a specific value, but there are also cases where the user wants to know the range of values that can be set instead of a specific value. Therefore, in the second operation example, it is assumed that the range of values that can be set as a parameter is sought.

In step S501, the processing circuitry 15 sets the parameters input by the user in step S301 as the objective function using the optimization function 152. Here, to obtain a settable range, the user need only specify the type of parameter, rather than setting a fixed value, minimum value, or maximum value.
In step S502, the optimization function 152 of the processing circuit 15 minimizes the objective function using an optimization method.

In step S503, the processing circuitry 15 determines whether or not there is no solution when the objective function is minimized using the determination function 153. If there is no solution, the process proceeds to step S306, where the user is notified that the parameter setting is an impossible combination. On the other hand, if there is no solution, that is, if there is one or more solutions, the process proceeds to step S504.
In step S504, the optimization function 152 of the processing circuitry 15 maximizes the objective function using an optimization technique.
In step S505, the display control function 154 causes the processing circuit 15 to present a range of values with the optimal value (i.e., minimum value) found in step S502 as the lower limit and the optimal value (i.e., maximum value) found in step S504 as the upper limit.

In this way, by presenting the range of values that can be set for parameters, users can enter parameter values that can be captured, reducing the effort of having to redo settings and shortening the time from setting to capturing images.

Next, a first display example of a parameter in a pin state by the display control function 154 will be described with reference to FIG.
6 is a parameter list in which parameters 61, setting values 62, and pins 63 are associated with each other, and is displayed on a user interface by, for example, the display control function 154. The parameter list shown in FIG. 6 shows the parameters that were pinned in step S302 and other parameters.
In the following, an example in which the parameters are displayed in a table format is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this and the parameters may be displayed appropriately in accordance with the display format of the user interface used in the MRI apparatus.

Here, the setting value 62 displays the value entered by the user and the value entered by default based on past imaging history, etc. Parameter settings entered by the user are displayed with a circle mark "O" in the pin 63 item. Specifically, parameter 61 "TE (msec)," setting value 62 "Min," and pin 63 "O" are associated with each other. As shown in Figure 6, by looking at the pin 63 item, it is easy to determine which parameter setting value is the value entered by the user and which is the value the user desires (is particular about).

Next, a second display example relating to parameters in a pin state will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in Fig. 7, it is also possible to display marks in other items without providing an item for the pin 63. For example, a pin mark 71 may be displayed in the field for the setting value 62 input by the user. This allows the user to easily determine whether the value is what they want, similar to the case of Fig. 6.

Note that the examples shown in Figures 6 and 7 are not limiting; for example, the font color and/or size of at least one of the parameter 61 and the setting value 62 may be changed, or the font may be highlighted, such as in bold or blinking. Furthermore, a character string or symbol such as "(edited)" may be added to the parameter 61 column to indicate that the parameter has been set to a pinned state. In other words, any display format is acceptable as long as it is possible to determine whether the setting value 62 of the parameter 61 is in a pinned state.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when multiple types of parameters are displayed on the parameter setting screen on the user interface, parameters that have been pinned by user input may be displayed in a list in a separate window.
Furthermore, when imaging is performed after the parameters have been optimized as described above and an MR image is reconstructed based on the collected MR signals, the processing circuit 15 may, using the display control function 154, highlight the parameters that were in a pin state when displaying the imaging parameters on the display screen (preview screen, etc.) of the reconstructed MR image.

Next, a third display example relating to pinned parameters will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a parameter list displayed on the user interface, similar to Figs. 6 and 7.
When an image is captured with an optimal value set for a parameter that is in a pin state by the display control function 154, the processing circuit 15 may display that the parameter was in a pin state in the previous image capture when displaying the parameter list for the next image capture.

The upper part of FIG. 8 is a list of parameters used during the previous shooting. Referring to the item for pin 63, it can be seen that the parameter "TE" and the parameter "Pre-Pulse" were in a pin state.
Here, the user may change the parameter setting value by clicking or unpinning the parameter on the user interface. Specifically, for example, if the user wants to unpin the parameter 61 "TE," the user clicks or touches the pin 63 field for the parameter 61 "TE" with the mouse. This allows the pin to be unpinned, as shown in the lower part of Figure 8.
On the other hand, if the user wishes to pin the parameter 61 "TR," he or she can click or touch the column 81 for the pin 63 of the parameter 61 "TR" with the mouse. This allows the value set in the previous image capture to be set as the pin state. The processing circuit 15 may be able to switch the pin state on and off using the display control function 154.

In addition, the display control function 154 may cause the processing circuit 15 to refer to the parameters specified as the pin state, and after the parameter optimization process for the imaging sequence has been performed, present a list of recommended setting values (hereinafter also referred to as a recommendation list) for parameters other than the pin state parameters.

An example of a recommendation list presentation will be described with reference to FIG.
When a user inputs a desired setting for a parameter and executes an optimization process, optimal values for other parameters based on the optimal solution are also obtained. Here, the optimization function 152 allows the processing circuitry 15 to generate multiple recommendation lists by fixing the optimal value of the parameter related to the user's desired setting while selecting a combination of suboptimal values that can be taken for the other parameters. The display control function 154 allows the processing circuitry 15 to display the multiple recommendation lists based on priority.

Specifically, assume that an optimization process is executed to minimize the parameter TE as an objective function using the parameter TR "500" representing the pin state as a constraint equation, and that an optimal solution for the parameter TE is obtained. For example, as a recommendation list, a recommendation list 91 including the minimum value "20" of the parameter TE and optimal values of other parameters is displayed first, and then a recommendation list 92 including a suboptimal value of the parameter TE, for example, "25", and optimal values of the other parameters is displayed next. The example of Figure 9 assumes that multiple recommendation lists are displayed in an overlapping manner, and the next recommendation list can be displayed by clicking or flicking, but multiple recommendation lists may also be displayed in parallel.
In addition, the priority of the display order may be, for example, a recommendation list showing a combination of parameters previously or most recently set by the user may be displayed preferentially, or a recommendation list that optimizes parameters that are most affected by the parameter in the pin state may be displayed preferentially.

According to the present embodiment described above, the settings of one or more parameters desired by the user are accepted, the settings are set as constraints or objective functions, and an optimization process is performed using the objective function. This makes it possible to set optimal values in relation to multiple parameters while satisfying the conditions desired by the user. This allows optimal parameters to be set while reducing the user's effort.

At least one of the embodiments described above allows optimal parameters to be set while reducing the user's effort.

In addition, each function according to the embodiments can be realized by installing a program that executes the relevant processing on a computer such as a workstation and expanding the program in memory. In this case, the program that enables a computer to execute the relevant method can also be stored and distributed on a storage medium such as a magnetic disk (such as a hard disk), optical disk (such as a CD-ROM, DVD, or Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), or semiconductor memory.

While several embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Medical information processing device 2 MRI device 11 Memory 12 Input interface 13 Communication interface 14 Display 15 Processing circuit 41 Excitation RF pulse (90-degree pulse)
42 Refocusing pulse (180 degree pulse)
43, 44 Refocus period 45, 46 Application time 47, 48 G _SS application period 49 G _RO application period 61 Parameter 62 Setting value 63 Pin 71 Pin mark 81 Column 91, 92 Recommendation list 101 Static magnetic field magnet 103 Gradient magnetic field coil 105 Gradient magnetic field power supply 107 Bed 109 Bed control circuit 111 Bore 113 Transmitting circuit 115 Transmitting coil 117 Receiving coil 119 Receiving circuit 121 Sequence control circuit 123 Bus 125 Interface 127 Display 129 Storage device 151 Reception function 152 Optimization function 153 Determination function 154 Display control function 1071 Top board 1311 System control function 1313 Image generation function

Claims (12)

a reception unit that receives input of one or more imaging parameters from a user among a plurality of imaging parameters related to imaging conditions that need to be set when capturing a magnetic resonance image ;
an optimization unit that sets the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user as a constraint condition or an objective function based on the interrelationships between the plurality of imaging parameters , and performs an optimization process using the objective function, thereby optimizing other imaging parameters without changing the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user;
A medical information processing device comprising: 2. The medical information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the imaging parameters indicates specifying fixed values for the one or more imaging parameters, or setting at least one of a minimum possible value, a maximum possible value, and a range of possible values for the one or more imaging parameters. 2. The medical information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the receiving unit receives an input of a minimum value that can be taken for the one or more imaging parameters from the user, the optimization unit sets an optimal solution obtained by minimizing an objective function for the one or more imaging parameters as the minimum value that can be taken for the one or more imaging parameters. 2. The medical information processing device according to claim 1, wherein, when the receiving unit receives from the user an input of a maximum value that can be taken for the one or more imaging parameters , the optimization unit sets an optimal solution obtained by maximizing an objective function for the one or more imaging parameters as the maximum value that can be taken for the one or more imaging parameters. 2. The medical image processing device according to claim 1, wherein, when the receiving unit receives an input from the user regarding a range of values that can be taken by the one or more imaging parameters, the optimization unit sets a range having a lower limit that is an optimal solution obtained by minimizing an objective function for the one or more imaging parameters and an upper limit that is an optimal solution obtained by maximizing the objective function for the one or more imaging parameters as the range of values that can be taken by the one or more imaging parameters. 6. The medical image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the optimization unit sets constraint conditions using conditions of imaging parameters required in an imaging sequence as constraint expressions, and performs optimization processing of the objective function using linear programming or nonlinear programming. a reception unit that receives input of one or more imaging parameters from a user among a plurality of imaging parameters related to imaging conditions that need to be set when capturing a magnetic resonance image ;
a display control unit that displays the one or more imaging parameters related to the input from the user on a user interface in a manner that distinguishes them from other imaging parameters;
an optimization unit that sets the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user as a constraint condition or an objective function based on the interrelationships between the plurality of imaging parameters , and performs an optimization process using the objective function, thereby optimizing other imaging parameters without changing the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user;
A medical information processing device comprising: the optimization unit executes the optimization process every time a first imaging parameter is input by the user;
8. The medical information processing device according to claim 7, wherein, when an input from the user is applicable to the first imaging parameter, the display control unit displays the second imaging parameter that is affected by a change in the first imaging parameter in a manner indicating that the setting from the user is not accepted. The medical information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the display control unit displays recommended setting values for second imaging parameters other than the first imaging parameters when the input from the user is applicable to the first imaging parameters. 10. The medical information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit displays a list in which imaging parameters and setting values are associated when imaging is performed with settings previously input by the user, and enables the setting values of the past imaging parameters to which the settings input by the user are given to be changed. receiving input of one or more imaging parameters from a user among a plurality of imaging parameters relating to imaging conditions that need to be set when acquiring a magnetic resonance image ;
A medical information processing method, comprising: setting the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user as a constraint condition or an objective function based on the interrelationships between the plurality of imaging parameters ; and performing an optimization process using the objective function, thereby optimizing other imaging parameters without changing the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user. receiving input of one or more imaging parameters from a user among a plurality of imaging parameters relating to imaging conditions that need to be set when acquiring a magnetic resonance image ;
displaying the one or more imaging parameters related to the input from the user on a user interface in a manner distinguishable from other imaging parameters;
A medical information processing method, comprising: setting the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user as a constraint condition or an objective function based on the interrelationships between the plurality of imaging parameters ; and performing an optimization process using the objective function, thereby optimizing other imaging parameters without changing the settings of the one or more imaging parameters input by the user.