Development of High-speed Communication Platform – Real-time Platform

Haruki Nakamura

Previously, it has been challenging to control scan information in a timely manner because communication methods were subject to delays between software and hardware.
However, with the introduction of Canon’s Real-time Platform, a high-speed communications platform for controlling changes in real time has been developed. This new hardware adopts a high-spec computer called Real Time Manager (RTM) for the Real-time Platform to facilitate realtime communication control. In addition, an intelligent algorithm was developed to operate the RTM efficiently. As a result, RTM is now able to aggregate all information related to scanning and read changes during scanning, making it possible to adjust sequences in a timely manner. There are two main benefits of Real-time Platform.

The first is image quality improvement. The real-time control improves the correction accuracy. Sufficient image quality for diagnosis can be ensured even if breathing is unstable, particularly when scanning respiratory-gated DWI.
In addition, the stability of the control clock used to receive MR signals has been improved by 33 times compared to conventional. Large clock fluctuations lead to fluctuations in the signal phase, resulting in negative effects such as image fluctuations and decrease in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). By improving the stability of the clock, these negative effects are reduced, contributing to image quality improvement.
The second key benefit is reconstruction speed enhancement. The data communication speed between bases is 10 times faster and the data processing speed of the reconstruction engine is five times faster. In addition, the reconstruction software for Real-time Platform is optimized. In total, reconstruction speed is enhanced by up to 42% on 2D sequences.
Real-time Platform focuses on expanding out features. It can handle developments with changing frequencies, such as various magnetic field strengths and multiple nuclei imaging. It can also support modern high-speed communications because it is constructed with highly versatile hardware. Moreover, we are considering applying this technology to research-oriented functions, like Pulseq.

With the advantage of ease of expansion, we will continue to develop products that will help improve the quality of MRI examinations, such as improving serviceability, enhancing image quality by improving various correction accuracy, and applying Real-time Platform to pulse sequences. //