Abstract: Provided is a technology capable of reducing a load during a training process and an application process of a CNN, and performing effective ringing correction in accordance with a sampling pattern. An aspect of the present invention provides an MRI apparatus including, as a ringing correction unit, a CNN for each sampling pattern. The CNN is trained by using a correct answer image in which rectangular or rectangular parallelepiped ringing in has not occurred and a plurality of processed pattern images. In the application of the CNN, measurement data is reconstructed at a desired reconstruction matrix size by performing zero-filling on the measurement data, and then a CNN corresponding to the sampling pattern of the measurement data is selected and applied to perform the ringing correction in a real space.

Abstract: Provided is a technology capable of effectively obtaining a ringing correction effect even for a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image with a simple CNN configuration. A CNN that has been trained to perform ringing correction for a direction of a dimension lower than a dimension of an image that is a correction target is prepared, and the CNN is applied in multiple stages to perform the ringing correction. For training the CNN, an image captured by increasing a measurement matrix size in one or two directions need only be used, thereby reducing an imaging time for acquiring training data and a burden of data processing, and enabling handling of images of various dimensions.

Abstract: A ringing correction unit that performs Gibbs ringing correction on an image reconstructed at a reconstruction matrix size having a predetermined matrix ratio to a matrix size of measurement data is prepared, and in image reconstruction, first, reconstruction is performed at the reconstruction matrix size in which the matrix size of the measurement data and the reconstruction matrix size have the predetermined matrix ratio, to obtain an intermediate reconstructed image. The ringing correction is performed on the intermediate reconstructed image by the ringing correction unit, and then the intermediate reconstructed image is transformed into k-space data and reconstructed at a final image reconstruction matrix size.

Abstract: Provided is a technology of ensuring data consistency between an image after a CNN is applied and an image before the CNN is applied with a simple CNN configuration in a case in which Gibbs ringing in an MR image is corrected by using the CNN. An MRI apparatus includes a ringing correction unit that performs ringing correction by using a CNN, in which the ringing correction unit performs a Fourier transform on an image after the CNN is applied to restore the image to k-space data, combines a region of the k-space data corresponding to a measurement matrix region of the image before the CNN is applied with the measurement data of the image before the CNN is applied to obtain k-space data in which the measurement matrix region is replaced with the measurement data of the image before the CNN is applied. An inverse Fourier transform is performed on the k-space data to obtain a final image.

Abstract: A camera image of a subject placed on a table for subject transport of an imaging apparatus is acquired, and the camera image is used to present an optimal disposition of equipment to be mounted on the subject from the viewpoint of image quality. Next, a camera image of the subject on which the equipment is mounted is used to determine/predict safety, such as whether or not there is a collision or entanglement between the mounted equipment or the like and a structure of the imaging apparatus or the like, and whether or not a clearance with a bore can be maintained even after the mounting, and a result is presented to an operator.

Abstract: Image quality can be improved and acceleration can be achieved, by optimizing sampling in a blade type radial measurement using an MRI apparatus. In a case of performing a blade type radial measurement in which a k-space is radially sampled by varying an angle of a blade configured with a plurality of parallel sampling lines, interline intervals between the plurality of parallel sampling lines are set to uneven intervals for at least one of a plurality of the blades having different angles. The sampling using uneven intervals can be evaluated, and line intervals can also be adjusted based on an evaluation result.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes a measurement point determination unit that determines each measurement point of three-dimensional k-space data. In a case where a kx direction of a three-dimensional k-space is set as a readout direction, for a plurality of measurement points on a ky-kz plane, the measurement point determination unit adjusts a first condition that an angle of a straight line connecting the measurement points and a center of the plane changes with a golden angle (?) and a distance (r) from a center point of the plane monotonically increases, and determines the measurement point to satisfy a second condition that a change in a position of the measurement point is to be non-periodicity.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, an operation method of an image processing apparatus, a program, and a medical image processing system, in which denoising processing corresponding to a preference of a user is realized. An image processing apparatus acquires user identification information, acquires a first imaging condition, acquires a first image to which the first imaging condition is applied, executes denoising processing on the first image by applying a first denoising strength, to generate a first denoised image, acquires, from among second signal-to-noise ratios corresponding to a plurality of second imaging conditions, a second signal-to-noise ratio corresponding to a second imaging condition that is identical to or close to the first imaging condition, as a first signal-to-noise ratio, and sets a denoising strength based on the first signal-to-noise ratio, as the first denoising strength.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic resonance imaging system and an operation method of a magnetic resonance imaging system that generate a reconstructed image with an improved signal-to-noise ratio. A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a processor, and a memory. The processor uses the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to perform a plurality of imaging operations on the same slice of a subject in accordance with an imaging sequence, collects pieces of measurement data indicating nuclear magnetic resonance signals in correspondence with the plurality of imaging operations, acquires a common solution to be used in a case of generating a single final image in a real space from the pieces of measurement data collected in the plurality of imaging operations, and generates the final image by using the pieces of measurement data collected in the plurality of imaging operations and the common solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique capable of effectively and appropriately removing noise from various kinds of images including noise and artifacts and images in which a noise pattern changes due to a difference in imaging conditions. Based on a noise removal technique using AI, noise characteristics including artifacts are analyzed for each image, the image is classified based on an analysis result, an optimal neural network for a noise processing is applied for each classification, and the noise and the artifacts are reduced.

Abstract: Provided is an MRI apparatus that supports re-setting of an imaging condition for preventing occurrence of aliasing in a phase encoding direction. A region in which an aliasing signal causing aliasing occurs is estimated by using a FOV set at the beginning and a positioning image, a range of the FOV to be changed or a weighting amount of each channel of a reception coil is calculated based on an estimation result, and an imaging condition is changed. Thereafter, a main scan is executed, and in a case where a weight of the reception coil is changed, channel combination is performed using the changed weight.

Abstract: Provided is an image in which noise and artifacts, which pose a problem in intraoperative MRI, are reduced and a decrease in sharpness due to noise reduction for a tissue or a site, for which high visibility is required, is suppressed. In a case of generating and presenting a third MR image by using a first MR image acquired by an MRI apparatus and a second MR image obtained by performing processing of reducing noise and artifacts with respect to the first MR image, a difference for each pixel between the first MR image and the second MR image is taken, and a weighting value for each pixel is calculated using a generated difference image. The weighting value is used to combine the first MR image and the second MR image through weighted averaging for each pixel, and the combined image is presented.

Abstract: Provided is a noise-reduced image in which noise and artifacts, which pose a problem in intraoperative MRI, are reduced for each pixel in a manner desired by a user and a preference of the user for a tissue or a site that the user wants to observe is reflected. In a case of generating and presenting a third medical image by using a first medical image acquired by an MRI apparatus and a second medical image obtained by performing processing of reducing noise and artifacts with respect to the first medical image, a difference for each pixel between the first medical image and the second medical image is taken, a weighting value for each pixel is calculated using a generated difference image, and a user's change for weighting is received. The finally decided-on weighting value is used to combine the first medical image and the second medical image through weighted averaging for each pixel, and the combined image is presented.

Abstract: For a complex image to be complexly added, appropriate phase correction is executed by a simple method to prevent occurrence of an artifact in a signal region and to reduce noise in a background region. Two or more types of smoothing processing with different smoothing degrees are executed on a phase image of the complex image to obtain two or more types of smoothed phase images having different smoothing degrees. A weight for each of these smoothed phase images is calculated based on a signal value (SNR) of an intensity image, and addition is performed by a weight for each signal value to obtain a smoothed phase image for correction. After a phase of the complex image is corrected using the smoothed phase image, a phase-corrected complex image is complexly added. As a result, phase correction equivalent to phase correction in which a smoothing degree is weakened in the signal region and a smoothing degree is strengthened in the background region is realized.

Abstract: The present invention is to perform appropriate noise reduction processing on an image having different signal levels or noise levels depending on an imaging condition or a reconstruction condition. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the invention includes: a measurement unit that receives a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated in a subject by a receiving coil; an image reconstruction unit that processes the nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the receiving coil and reconstructs an image of the subject; an SNR spatial distribution calculation unit that calculates spatial distribution of a signal-to-noise ratio of the image using spatial distribution of a noise level and spatial distribution of the signal of the image; and a noise reduction unit that reduces noise from the image based on the spatial distribution of the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: Distortion generated in an image is effectively corrected in imaging using an EPI sequence such as DWI without extending an imaging time. After one excitation RF pulse of EPI is applied, a navigator scan in which the polarity of the phase encoding is opposite to that of the main scan is performed continuously to the main scan, and the distortion of the image by using the navigator scan data obtained by the navigator scan is corrected. In a case of multi-shot, phase information obtained from the navigator scan data for each shot is used to perform phase correction and multi-shot reconstruction on the main scan data of each shot.

Abstract: Provided is a means of easily presenting conditions for obtaining an image quality desired by a user, and this achieves savings in time and effort required for repetitive adjustment of the image quality. A medical image processing apparatus comprises a reception unit configured to receive image quality data reflecting a user's desire for an image quality of a medical image, a feature value calculation unit configured to calculate an image feature value with respect to the image quality data, and a parameter presentation unit configured to use a database associating adjustment parameters related to the image quality with the image feature value, to determine and present the adjustment parameters suitable for the image quality data received by the reception unit.

Abstract: An automatic clipping technique capable of satisfactorily extracting blood vessels to be extracted is provided. A specific tissue extraction mask image which is created by extracting a specific tissue (for example, a brain) from a three-dimensional image acquired by magnetic resonance angiography and a blood vessel extraction mask image which is created by extracting a blood vessel from an area (a blood vessel search area) which is determined using a preset landmark position and the specific tissue extraction mask image are integrated to create an integrated mask. By applying the integrated mask to the three-dimensional image, a blood vessel is clipped from the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An imaging unit of an MRI apparatus performs imaging of a positioning image of a subject including a spine; a first imaging that images a cross section including the spine and extending along a longitudinal direction of the spine; and a second imaging that images a cross section in a direction of traversing the spine. An automatic cross-section position setting unit detects a specific tissue of the spine using a scout image or an image including the spine acquired in the first imaging step, performs a matching process between the detected specific tissue of the spine and a spine model, and calculates an imaging cross-section position of the second imaging based upon a specific tissue position of the spine specified by matching, thereby performing automatic setting.

Abstract: For a complex image to be complexly added, appropriate phase correction is executed by a simple method to prevent occurrence of an artifact in a signal region and to reduce noise in a background region. Two or more types of smoothing processing with different smoothing degrees are executed on a phase image of the complex image to obtain two or more types of smoothed phase images having different smoothing degrees. A weight for each of these smoothed phase images is calculated based on a signal value (SNR) of an intensity image, and addition is performed by a weight for each signal value to obtain a smoothed phase image for correction. After a phase of the complex image is corrected using the smoothed phase image, a phase-corrected complex image is complexly added. As a result, phase correction equivalent to phase correction in which a smoothing degree is weakened in the signal region and a smoothing degree is strengthened in the background region is realized.