System and method of user guidance in magnetic resonance imaging including operating curve feedback and multi-dimensional parameter optimization

The present invention relates to the magnetic resonance arts, and more particularly to user interfaces for clinical imaging systems. The invention is particularly suitable for user interfacing with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus in a clinical setting, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the invention will also find application in conjunction with other MRI applications, other medical imaging methods and apparatus, in medical technologist training, and the like. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus () operator guidance system () calculates monitor parameters and limit values for selectable parameters. The monitor values are displayed () along with a sub-set of the selectable parameters () and the limit values therefor. A curve is plotted (), comprising one of a desirability factor, a monitor parameter, and a selectable parameter as a function of a domain comprising at least one selectable parameter. Optionally, the desirability factor () is optimized () by adjusting at least one selectable parameter in accordance with a pre-defined mathematical optimization algorithm whereby the at least one selectable parameter is optimized. In another aspect, a data repository () stores independent parameter value sets and associated images. Selected contents of the data repository are displayed (), and a stored imaging session is selected () based on the displayed contents. Initial values for the selectable parameters corresponding to the stored selected imaging session are retrieved () from the data repository ().