Apparatuses and methods for removing caps, such as NMR rotor caps. The apparatuses and methods may permit caps to be removed in a manner that minimizes damage to equipment and instruments. Microwave waveguides that may include an elongated waveguide, a spline horn, and a slotted waveguide. Analytical instruments that include the waveguides.

A coupling device is provided for coupling microwave radiation from a first microwave structure, in particular a microwave waveguide, into a second microwave structure, in particular a microwave resonant cavity, wherein the first and second microwave structures share a common wall, through an iris opening in said wall in front of which the coupling device is positioned on the side of the first microwave structure, in particular wherein the coupling device is of a basically cylindrical shape, characterized in that the coupling device comprises N electrically conducting conductor loops, with N≥3, preferably 3≤N≤20, that the conductor loops are arranged coaxially in an array along a z-axis, and that axially neighboring conductor loops are separated by a dielectric. The inventive coupling device allows for a larger coupling coefficient, and in particular allows for a larger dynamic range.

A coupling device is provided for coupling microwave radiation from a first microwave structure, in particular a microwave waveguide, into a second microwave structure, in particular a microwave resonant cavity, wherein the first and second microwave structures share a common wall, through an iris opening in said wall in front of which the coupling device is positioned on the side of the first microwave structure, in particular wherein the coupling device is of a basically cylindrical shape, characterized in that the coupling device comprises N electrically conducting conductor loops, with N≥3, preferably 3≤N≤20, that the conductor loops are arranged coaxially in an array along a z-axis, and that axially neighboring conductor loops are separated by a dielectric. The inventive coupling device allows for a larger coupling coefficient, and in particular allows for a larger dynamic range.

The exemplary system and method facilitate excitation of RF magnetic fields in ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MRI) systems (e.g., MRI/NMR system) using a slotted waveguide array (SWGA) as an exciter coil. The exemplary exciter coil, in some embodiments, is configurable to provide RF magnetic field B.sub.1.sup.+ with high field-uniformity, with high efficiency, with excellent circular polarization, with negligible axial z-component, with arbitrary large field of view, and with exceptional possibilities for field-optimizations via RF shimming.

The exemplary system and method facilitate excitation of RF magnetic fields in ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MRI) systems (e.g., MRI/NMR system) using a slotted waveguide array (SWGA) as an exciter coil. The exemplary exciter coil, in some embodiments, is configurable to provide RF magnetic field B.sub.1.sup.+ with high field-uniformity, with high efficiency, with excellent circular polarization, with negligible axial z-component, with arbitrary large field of view, and with exceptional possibilities for field-optimizations via RF shimming.

The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) shield device (124) for a magnetic resonance (MR) examination system (110), whereby the RF shield device (124) comprises a first shield (250) and a second shield (252), the first shield (250) and the second shield (252) are arranged with a common center axis (118), the first shield (250) has a shield structure (254) different from a shield structure (254) of the second shield (252), and the first shield (250) and the second shield (252) are designed in accordance with different modes of operation of a RF coil device (140). The present invention also provides a radio frequency (RF) coil device (140) for a magnetic resonance (MR) examination system (110), whereby the RF coil device (140) comprises a first coil (200) and in a second coil (202), the first coil (200) and the second coil (202) are provided as birdcage coils, the first coil (200) and the second coil (202) are arranged with a common center axis (118), the first coil (200) and the second coil (202) have rungs (204), which are arranged non-parallel to the center axis (118) of the RF coil device (140), the first coil (200) has a coil structure (210) different from a coil structure (210) of the second coil (202), and the first coil (200) and the second coil (202) are switchable to be active for different modes of operation. The present invention further provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110), comprising such a RF coil device (140) and/or such a RF shield device (124).

Insertable imaging devices, and methods of use thereof in minimally invasive medical procedures, are described. In some embodiments, insertable imaging devices are described that can be introduced and removed from an access port without disturbing or risking damage to internal tissue. In some embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an access port, thereby allowing imaging of internal tissues within the vicinity of the access port, while, for example, enabling manipulation of surgical tools in the surgical field of interest. In other embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an imaging sleeve that is insertable into an access port. Several example embodiments described herein provide imaging devices for performing imaging within an access port, where the imaging may be based one or more imaging modalities that may include, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical imaging such as hyperspectral imaging and optical coherence tomography, and electrically conductive measurements.

Microwave resonance cavities and associated methods and apparatus are described. In one example, a cavity (100) comprises a first and a second input port (102, 104) for inputting microwave radiation at a first and a second frequency respectively. The microwave radiation at the first frequency may be to excite a sample in the cavity whereas the microwave radiation at the second frequency may be to interrogate a sample in the cavity for analysis. The cavity has dimensions such that it resonates at both the first and the second frequency.

Microwave resonance cavities and associated methods and apparatus are described. In one example, a cavity (100) comprises a first and a second input port (102, 104) for inputting microwave radiation at a first and a second frequency respectively. The microwave radiation at the first frequency may be to excite a sample in the cavity whereas the microwave radiation at the second frequency may be to interrogate a sample in the cavity for analysis. The cavity has dimensions such that it resonates at both the first and the second frequency.

A ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement system is disclosed with a plurality of “m” RF probes and one or more magnetic assemblies to enable a perpendicular-to-plane or in-plane magnetic field (H.sub.ap) to be applied simultaneously with a sequence of microwave frequencies (f.sub.R) at a plurality of “m” test locations on a magnetic film formed on a whole wafer under test (WUT). A FMR condition occurs in the magnetic film (stack of unpatterned layers or patterned structure) for each pair of (H.sub.ap, f.sub.R) values. RF input signals are distributed to the RF probes using RF power distribution or routing devices. RF output signals are transmitted through or reflected from the magnetic film to a plurality of “n” RF diodes where 1≤n≤m, and converted to voltage signals which a controller uses to determine effective anisotropy field, linewidth, damping coefficient, and/or inhomogeneous broadening at the predetermined test locations.