Method of analysing medical images
Inventors
Robson, Matthew • Smith, Alex • Carolina, Fernandes
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12567497-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of analysing MRI images is described. The method comprising the steps of: acquiring a first medical MR image, and a second medical MR image, of a subject at the same nominal magnetic field strength; analysing the first and second MR images to determine a wT1 map from the first and second images; applying a field strength correction based on modification of the nominal field strength used for the first and second MR image acquisitions, and an iron correction to correct for differences in the iron concentration from a normal level using a T2*map, to the wT1 map from the first and second images to generate a corrected wT1 map; using the corrected wT1 map to determine simulated signals for a subject with normal iron levels, and fitting the simulated signals to a standard cT1 to determine a standard cT1 image for the subject.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of analysing MR images by acquiring a first medical MR image and a second medical MR image of a subject at the same nominal magnetic field strength. The first and second MR images are analysed to determine a water T1 (wT1) map, and a field strength correction and an iron correction are applied to the wT1 map to generate a corrected wT1 map.
The field strength correction is based on modification of the nominal magnetic field strength used for the first and second MR image acquisitions, and the iron correction corrects for differences in iron concentration from a normal level using an effective T2 (T2*) map. The corrected wT1 map is then used to determine simulated signals for a subject with normal iron levels.
The simulated signals are fitted to a standard corrected T1 (cT1) map to determine a standard cT1 image for the subject. Embodiments include alternative acquisition approaches, including non-mOLLI acquisition, composite-image datasets, and forward Bloch simulation followed by fitting or calibration to match MOLLI-derived cT1.
Claims Coverage
The supplied material supports one independent claim, clm-00001, with three inventive features. It defines a multi-stage analysis that derives a water T1 (wT1) map from two MR images at the same nominal field strength, applies field strength correction and iron correction using an effective T2 (T2*) map, and uses the corrected wT1 map to simulate normal-iron signals and fit to a standard corrected T1 (cT1) map to determine a standard cT1 image.
Two MR acquisitions at the same nominal magnetic field strength to derive a water T1 map
acquiring a first medical MR image, and a second medical MR image, of a subject at the same nominal magnetic field strength; analysing the first and second MR images to determine a water T1 (wT1) map
Field strength and iron correction using an effective T2* map to generate a corrected wT1 map
applying a field strength correction, based on modification of the nominal magnetic field strength used for the first and second MR image acquisitions, and an iron correction to correct for differences in the iron concentration from a normal level using an effective T2 (T2*) map, to the wT1 map
Simulating normal-iron signals and fitting to a standard cT1 map to determine a standard cT1 image
using the corrected wT1 map to determine simulated signals for a subject with normal iron levels, and fitting the simulated signals to a standard corrected T1 (cT1) map to determine a standard cT1 image for the subject
Claim coverage centers on clm-00001’s pipeline: two MR images at the same nominal magnetic field strength are used to determine a wT1 map; the wT1 map is corrected using field-strength modification and an iron correction based on an effective T2 (T2*) map; and the corrected wT1 map is used to simulate normal-iron signals and fit to a standard corrected T1 (cT1) map to generate a standard cT1 image.
Stated Advantages
Standardization of synthetic standard corrected T1 (cT1) image generation is addressed across acquisition conditions, motivated by MOLLI/LiverMultiScan standardization and cross-scanner/sequence robustness.
Documented Applications
Analysing MR images to generate a synthetic standard corrected T1 (cT1) image from two medical MR images via determination of a water T1 (wT1) map, field strength correction, iron correction, normal-iron signal simulation, and fitting to a standard cT1 map.
Determining composite-image datasets from first and second MR image datasets, including using a complex-conjugate-based composite MR image equation involving SA and SB, as part of the synthetic standard cT1 generation workflow.
Forward Bloch simulation followed by fitting or calibration to match MOLLI-derived cT1, as part of the analysis workflow.
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