Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Detailed Action
Overview
This is a first action on the merit (FAOM) on this instant application in which claims 1-16 are pending. Claims 1 and 9 are independent and claims 2-8 and 10-16 are dependent.
Independent claim 1 is directed to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. The claimed MRI apparatus is described to be comprising an imaging unit and a controller. The imaging unit can be understood to practically comprise all known MRI devices. However, a “calibration range setting unit” ——described in the claim (claim 1) as a feature of the controller ——is a specific feature where the potential claimed invention likely resides. Examiner’s search was concentrated in this particular area of MRI art. Before searching, the Examiner had to comprehend a meaning of the term, “a calibration range setting unit” which is described in the claim to set a “range of a calibration imaging” using a “main imaging range”, and the claim further states the “main imaging range” is “set in advance”. It appears that the “calibration range setting unit” is described by other terms that are also not readily understood. Therefore, the Examiner had to find a guidance for intended meaning of the terms in the originally filed specification and drawings.
From the drawings and specification, it appears that “main imaging range” is an area, item No. 501 in instant Fig. 5, shown to be a central region, commonly known in the art as field of view (FoV) of the claimed MRI apparatus and this area 501 should be equated to the claimed “main imaging range” according to the naming system in the specification. The use of word, “range” appears to mean a region, an area or a volume. Therefore, “main imaging range” (i.e., 501) can be understood to mean a nominal field view (FoV) in the prior art. The claim also mentions that the “main imaging range [is] set in advance” and in the prior art a FoV is set in advance, for example, typical FoV is set by a physical structure of the MRI apparatus when the MRI apparatus is made/manufactured in the factory. The FoV comprises a spatial region, within an MRI apparatus, where a main magnetic field or static magnetic field is understood to be uniform/homogeneous.
A calibration range can be equated to a calibration region (502, see instant Fig. 5).
According to instant drawings, “calibration range setting unit” (223, see instant Fig. 2) sets a region 502 in the instant Fig. 5 by using the “main imaging range”.
The claim (claim 1) further limits its scope by adding that setting of the calibration range not only depends on the “main imaging range” but also on “spatial information” other than the “main imaging range”. The “spatial information” other than the “main imaging range” (FoV) can be a position of a patient placed in the MRI apparatus.
Based on the above understanding, Examiner’s searches are performed. Examiner’s search discovered a US patent publication, namely, US-2013/0307541-A1 which appears to meet features of independent claim 1. Therefore, the application is being rejected at this first action on the merits (FAOM), see detailed item matchings below.
Rejection under 35 USC §102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. §102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Paul (US-2013/0307541-A1).
Claim No
Claim feature
Prior art
Paul (US-2013/0307541-A1)
1
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
Paul discloses a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus as claimed, see item 101 in Fig. 2 in Paul.
an imaging unit that performs main imaging of collecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal, which is generated from a subject placed in a static magnetic field space, to acquire an image of the subject, and calibration imaging of collecting calibration data required for the main imaging; and
The MRI apparatus (101) in Paul meets this feature as it has an imaging unit that performs MRI imaging of a subject (patient 105, 106) as claimed.
a controller that controls an operation of the imaging unit,
The MRI apparatus (101) in Paul includes a controller (168, 115, 117, 120 and 121) that controls the imaging unit.
wherein the controller includes a calibration range setting unit that sets a range of the calibration imaging, and the calibration range setting unit sets a calibration range by using a main imaging range set in advance and spatial information other than the main imaging range.
The controller (168, 115, 117, 120 and 121) includes a calibration range setting unit as it discloses selecting a “calibration area” adapted1 to include an object-specific view, besides the [main] FoV, see para [0017] and also see Fig. 1, in Paul.
Main imaging range of the claim can be equated to FoV of the MRI apparatus (101) and a spatial information, other than the main imaging range (FoV), can be equated to the object specific field of view such as FoV2 or FoV3 for example.
2
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calibration range setting unit uses any one or more of a static magnetic field uniform range, a gradient magnetic field range, a transmission and reception sensitivity range, gantry spatial information, or a subject range as the spatial information other than the main imaging range.
Claim 2 is met by Paul as Paul can be understood include one of the many parameters/variables mentioned in this claim in selecting a calibration range (calibration area).
3
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calibration range setting unit estimates a signal generation range in which the nuclear magnetic resonance signal is generated, by using the spatial information other than the main imaging range, and sets the calibration range by using the signal generation range.
Claim 3 is met by Paul as it can be understood that Paul images a specific area of the patient which requires signal generation from the specific area of the patient indicated by FoV2, FoV3, left foot or right foot of the patient.
4
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spatial information other than the main imaging range includes at least one of a subject range, a static magnetic field uniform range, a gradient magnetic field range, a transmission and reception sensitivity range, or a gantry spatial information, and the calibration range setting unit estimates the signal generation range by using the subject range and the other spatial information.
Claim 4 is met by Paul, see para [0017] in Paul where FoV2 and FoV3 are described to be connected to left foot or right foot of the patient which represents a subject range or area.
5
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calibration range setting unit sets the calibration range such that a signal fill rate, which is a proportion of the signal generation range occupying the calibration range, is maximized.
Claim 5 is understood to be met by Paul as it performs sequence calibration in a particular area that involves FoV, Fov2 and FoV3. The intention in Paul includes optimizing signal strength (SNR) for signals generated by the subject or part thereof occupying the areas such as FOV, FoV2, FoV3.
6
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calibration range setting unit sets the calibration range by excluding a portion of the main imaging range that does not overlap the subject range, in a case in which a center of the main imaging range and a center of the subject range deviate from each other.
Claim 6 is met by Paul as it isolates specific areas FoV, FoV2, FoV3 for calibration of pulse sequence. Specific areas FoV2, FoV3 may or may not include a center of the main imaging range FoV.
7
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit performs a plurality of times of main imaging by setting different main imaging ranges, and the controller determines, after one main imaging, whether or not a calibration range of calibration imaging performed for the one main imaging is applicable to calibration imaging for next main imaging, and does not perform the calibration imaging for the next main imaging in a case in which the calibration range is applicable.
Claim 7 depends from claim 1 which has been shown to be met by Paul. Claim 7 does not add any new invention as this is a usual trial and error approach typically performed in the process of experimentation to obtain an acceptable calibration of the apparatus. Claim 7 is deemed within the scope of Paul as it optimizes a shimming of the magnetic field.
8
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a UI unit that displays the calibration range set by the calibration range setting unit and receives a change of the calibration range.
Paul meets claim 8 as it discloses a UI unit (120) which is used to select FoV, FoV2 and FoV3 etc.
9
A calibration method of collecting, before main imaging of acquiring an image of a subject, calibration data required for the main imaging, the calibration method comprising: a step of setting a calibration range, wherein, in the step of setting the calibration range, the calibration range is set by combining a main imaging range set in advance and spatial information other than the main imaging range.
Method steps of claim 9 are met by operation of Paul as applied to claim 1 above.
10-16
Method steps of each of claims 10-16 are met by operation of Paul as applied to claims 2-8 respectively, see above.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to G.M. HYDER whose telephone number is (571)270-3896. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9 AM- 5 PM.
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G.M. HYDER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2852
/G.M. A HYDER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
1 [0017] FIG. 1 shows a simplified, cross-sectional schematic view of the local coil 106 (e.g., foot coil) in an MRT bore 103. The local coil 106 is disposed on a patient couch 104 on one foot FL of a pair of feet FR, FL of a patient in an image measurement area or other field of view area FoV of an MRT device. FIG. 1 also shows exemplary field map sequence calibration areas automatically matched in position and/or size to the area under examination (e.g., for the foot FL). For example, the field map sequence calibration areas correspond in size with or include a field of view area FoV2, FoV3 for an object under examination. Before an image of the area under examination is recorded with the MRT device, an adjustment measurement of a magnetic field (e.g., B0 and/or B1) is performed. Based on the results of the adjustment measurement, in a field map sequence calibration area adapted to the object under examination (e.g., the foot FL) in accordance with an examination object-specific field of view area FoV2 or FoV3, a field map (e.g., a magnetic field distribution map) of the field of view area FoV2 or FoV3 is determined. For example, the field map sequence calibration region may be adapted in position and/or size to the object under examination. The field map sequence calibration region may also be adapted in resolution to the size of the field of view area FoV2 or FoV3. A shim correction of a magnetic field (B0 and/or B1) is undertaken at least in the field of view area FoV2 or FoV3 based on the field map.