PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which makes the positioning of an imaging area simpler and more efficient when imaging an identical subject two or more times at intervals.SOLUTION: This magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises a detecting section, a re-detecting section, and a bed controlling section. The detecting section transmits a radio frequency pulse, receives a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from a marker attached to a subject, where the resonant strength per unit volume is larger than that of the other areas of the subject in an imaging space, and detects and stores the markers position as an original position based on the received nuclear magnetic resonance signal. When the subject is put in the imaging space again after once moved out of it following the detection of the original position, the re-detecting section transmits a radio frequency pulse, receives a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the marker, and detects and stores the markers position as a re-detected position. The bed controlling section moves the bed which the subject lies on toward the direction closer to the original position after detecting the re-detected position.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】時間を空けて同一被検体を複数回撮像する場合に、撮像領域の設定を簡略化または効率化する。【解決手段】一実施形態では、MRI装置は、検出部と、再検出部と、寝台制御部とを備える。検出部は、RFパルスを送信し、単位体積当たりから発信される磁気共鳴信号が被検体よりも強いと共に被検体に固定されたマーカから磁気共鳴信号を受信し、磁気共鳴信号に基づいてマーカの位置を前回位置として検出および記憶する。再検出部は、前回位置の検出後に被検体が撮像空間の外に出されてから、被検体が撮像空間内に再挿入された場合、RFパルスを送信し、マーカから磁気共鳴信号を受信して、磁気共鳴信号に基づいてマーカの位置を再検出位置として検出および記憶する。寝台制御部は、再検出位置の検出後において、前回位置と再検出位置とが近づく方向に、被検体が乗せられた寝台を移動させる。【選択図】 図14
