Abstract:
A magnetic resonance (MR) coil construction system includes MR coil sheets (20) comprising electrically conductive MR coil elements or MR coil element portions (22) disposed in electrically insulating sheets (26). The MR coil sheets have edges with connecting mechanisms (34. 48) configured to connect the MR coil sheets to construct an MR coil array (44).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a magnetic resonance coil device comprising a flexible array (100) with multiple magnetic resonance receive coils (440). According to the invention, a magnetic resonance coil device for a magnetic resonance system is provided, comprising an array (100) with multiple magnetic resonance receive coils (400) which are configured for receiving a magnetic resonance radiofrequency signal, and two outer layers (200, 201), wherein the magnetic resonance receive coils (400) are arranged between the outer layers (200, 201) in such a way that at least some of the magnetic resonance receive coils (400) each partly overlap with at least one other neighboring magnetic resonance receive coil (400) so that respective overlapping regions between two respective neighboring magnetic resonance receive coils (400) are formed, wherein within at least some of these overlapping regions at least one spacer (300) is arranged, respectively, and wherein at least one of the outer layers is flexible. In this way, a versatile magnetic resonance coil device for a magnetic resonance system with an array (100) of multiple magnetic resonance receive coils (400) is provided which can be easily adapted to the shape of different parts of the human body.
Abstract:
A radio frequency (RF) antenna arrangement comprising an RF antenna element and an optical back-end. The RF antenna element comprises an electrically conductive loop, an electronic pre-amplifier and a photo-electrical conversion element. The optical back-end comprising an optical power source and a photodetector. The RF antenna element and the optical back-end being optically coupled, and wherein the optical power source is optically coupled to the photo-electrical conversion element. The photo-electrical conversion element generates upon incidence of optical power from the optical power source an electrical power signal to the pre-amplifier. The photo-electrical conversion element generates optical data signals from electrical data signals picked-up by the electrically conductive loop. The photo-electrical conversion element applies the optical data signals to the photodetector.
Abstract:
A method of setting an RF operating frequency of an MRI system (1) uses a first reference frequency signal, obtained from a geo-satellite positioning system, as a stable long term frequency reference. A second frequency source (24) is calibrated using the first frequency reference signal and the second frequency reference source (24) is then used as the master clock for the MRI system (1), for setting the RF operating frequency.
Abstract:
The invention also refers to a flexible coil element for a flexible coil array, for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The invention also refers to a flexible coil array, for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, for indicating a loading state of a flexible coil element being positioned on at least one inductive element. The invention also refers to a method for indicating a loading state of a flexible coil element being positioned on at least one inductive element. The flexible coil element is comprised by a flexible coil array, wherein the flexible coil array comprises at least one flexible coil element. Furthermore, the invention refers to a software package comprising instructions for carrying out the method steps.
Abstract:
An RF-safe interventional or a non-interventional instrument is disclosed for use during an MR imaging or MR examination of an examination object (A), which instrument is made of or comprises at least one longitudinal or elongated electrically conductive element (1, 3), especially in the form of a conductor or wire or line for feeding electrical signals, or in the form of the instrument itself or a component or a part thereof, which is not provided for feeding electrical signals but nevertheless electrically conductive, wherein all such elements are subject to RF common mode currents which are induced in the element when the instrument or element is exposed to an RF/MR excitation field generated during MR imaging or MR examination by means of an MR imaging apparatus. The instrument is made RF-safe by increasing the energy A loss of an oscillator which is represented by the conductor (1, 3) by means of a damping element (4; 6) in order to prevent or limit RF heating of the examination object (A) at or surrounding the conductor (1, 3).
Abstract:
For a radio frequency (RF) receiver system a solution for a safe operation of the radio frequency (RF) receiver system in magnetic resonance imaging shall be ensured. This is achieved by a radio frequency (RF) receiver system for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system the RF receiver system, wherein the RF receiver system comprises at least one RF receive coil with at least one detune circuit (1). The detune circuit (1) comprises at least a pair of crossed diodes (D1, D2) with an interface, wherein the interface is configured to measure an electrical current in the detune circuit (1) to determine the proper function of the PIN diodes (D1, D2) by measuring the detune direct current for a first detune voltage polarity and for a second reversed detune voltage polarity. The present invention also provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for ensuring a safe radio frequency (RF) receiver system operation in magnetic resonance imaging, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a computer program product.
Abstract:
For a radio frequency (RF) receiver system (1) for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a solution for compensating residual coupling of RF receive coil elements (2) in the radio frequency (RF) receiver (1) system shall be created. This is achieved by a radio frequency (RF) receiver system for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, the RF receiver system (1) comprising at least two simultaneously used RF receive coil elements (2), wherein the RF receive coil element (2) comprises a signal generator (3) for providing a compensation signal and an excitation path (4), wherein the excitation path (4) is configured to couple the compensation signal into the RF receive coil element (2), for reducing residual coupling in the RF receiver system (1) by means of the compensation signal coupled into the RF receive coil element (2). The present invention also refers to a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for active decoupling of a radio frequency (RF) receiver system (1) of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method as described in the claims.
Abstract:
When predicting required component service in an imaging device such as a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging device (12), component parameters such as coil voltage, phase lock lost (PLL) events, etc. are sampled to monitor system components. Voltage samples are filtered according to their temporal proximity to coil plug-in and unplug events to generate a filtered data set that is analyzed by a processor (46) to determine whether to transmit a fault report. A service recommendation is received based on the transmitted report and includes a root cause diagnosis and service recommendation that is output to a user interface (50).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a magnetic resonance receive coil including a resonator for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system. The radio frequency receive coil according to the invention comprises a first conducting element of the resonator having a conductive loop wherein the received signal is induced in that loop, configured to form a primary resonant circuit tunable to at least one first resonance frequency and a second conducting element of the resonator configured to form an electric circuit electrically insulated from and reactively coupled to the primary resonant circuit, the electric circuit being adapted to detune the primary resonant circuit to at least one second resonance frequency. The second conducting element of the resonator has a conductive loop with a pair of ends connected to a preamplifier. The radio frequency receive coil further comprises an energy harvesting circuit electrically coupled in parallel over the pair of ends of the second conducting element, wherein the energy harvesting circuit is adapted for being connected to the second conducting element during transmission by a switch. A rechargeable power source is coupled to the energy harvesting circuit, wherein the rechargeable power source is adapted for being charged by the energy harvesting circuit. A switching component is circuited in parallel to the energy harvesting circuit, wherein is adapted to redirect a current as soon as the rechargeable power source is charged to a sufficient voltage. In this way, a magnetic resonance receive coil with a detune circuit and an energy harvesting circuit for energy harvesting is provided without a significant loss of detuning performance.