G01R33/3628

AUTOMATED IMPEDANCE ADJUSTMENT OF A MULTICHANNEL RF COIL ASSEMBLY
20170371012 · 2017-12-28 ·

The present invention provides a multichannel radio frequency (RF) receive/transmit system (200) for use in an magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110), comprising a RF coil array (202) with multiple RF coil elements (204) for emission and reception of RF signals, whereby each RF coil element (204) is provided with tuning means (206), and a tuning/matching circuit (208) for comparing forward power provided to at least one of the RF coil elements (204) with reflected power at the respective RF coil element (204) of the at least one of the RF coil elements (204), and for tuning the at least one of the RF coil elements (204) based on a comparison of the forward power and the reflected power at least one of the RF coil elements (204). The present invention further provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) comprising the above multichannel RF receive/transmit system (200). Still further, the present invention further provides methods for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using the above MR imaging system (110).

Method and remotely adjustable reactive and resistive electrical elements

Apparatus and method that includes providing a variable-parameter electrical component in a high-field environment and based on an electrical signal, automatically moving a movable portion of the electrical component in relation to another portion of the electrical component to vary at least one of its parameters. In some embodiments, the moving uses a mechanical movement device (e.g., a linear positioner, rotary motor, or pump). In some embodiments of the method, the electrical component has a variable inductance, capacitance, and/or resistance. Some embodiments include using a computer that controls the moving of the movable portion of the electrical component in order to vary an electrical parameter of the electrical component. Some embodiments include using a feedback signal to provide feedback control in order to adjust and/or maintain the electrical parameter. Some embodiments include a non-magnetic positioner connected to an electrical component configured to have its RLC parameters varied by the positioner.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOCAL COIL FOR PERCUTANEOUS MRT-GUIDED NEEDLE INTERVENTION

A local coil for percutaneous MRT-guided minimally invasive intervention is provided. The local coil has a central antenna coil having an opening for passing through an instrument. A first plurality of first peripheral antenna coils surround the central antenna coil on an outer circumference. The local coil is configured to be arranged flat on a body surface of a patient.

Compact hybrid orthogonal signal generator for MRI front-end

The disclosure relates to a hybrid orthogonal signal generator, a coil transmission front-end device, an RF coil system, and an MRI system. The hybrid orthogonal signal generator has an input end for receiving an RF signal, generates a hybrid orthogonal excitation signal on the basis of the RF signal, and provides the hybrid orthogonal excitation signal by means of an output end of the hybrid orthogonal signal generator, and comprises: a first conductor, arranged in a plane and being arc-shaped; and a second conductor having mutual inductance with the first conductor, the second conductor being connected between the input end and output end, wherein the first conductor and second conductor are parallel and arranged as mirror images of each other. The hybrid orthogonal signal generator has a compact size and is suitable for providing hybrid orthogonal excitation signals for an MRI system with a low field strength.

MR antenna with compensation for variable distance to shield

A whole-body coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device includes one or more compensation capacitors between a high-frequency antenna and an RF shield. The one or more compensation capacitors each have variable capacitance caused by a variation in a distance of the RF shield to the high-frequency antenna.

WIRELESS DETECTION COIL SYSTEM
20170307700 · 2017-10-26 ·

In certain embodiments, a coil circuitry component may be configured to detect RF signals from excited spins of at least a region of an organism, where the coil circuitry component comprises a RF detection coil and a detuning circuit for detuning the RF detection coil. A coil signal detection component may be configured to extract at least some of the RF signals detected by the coil circuitry component and to convert the extracted RF signals from analog signal to digital signals. An excitation estimation component may be configured to estimate the excitation pulses from an excitation source and to generate a control timing signal from the estimated excitation pulses to set a state of the detuning circuit. A wireless communication component may be configured to wirelessly transmit the converted RF signals, the estimated excitation pulses, and the control timing signal to an external computer system.

Magnetic Resonance Signal Detection Module

A pair of detection coils, one coil provided on each side of a sample container across the width of the sample container. The detection coil is made of a superconductor and has an electric circuit pattern capable of detecting a magnetic resonance signal from a sample. The detection coil includes a lateral component intersectional to a static magnetic field H.sub.0 and having a part disposed at a position spaced away from a detection region, as compared to the remaining part.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-PART BODY COIL

A method and apparatus for receiving (RX) radio-frequency (RF) signals suitable for MRI and/or MRS from a plurality of MRI “coil elements” (antennae), each contained in one or a plurality of body-coil parts, wherein the body-coil parts are easily assemble-able into a body-coil assembly (e.g., in some embodiments, a cylindrical body-coil assembly) with shield elements that are overlapped and/or concentric, and wherein the body-coil assembly is readily disassemble-able for easier shipping, and wherein the body-coil parts are optionally usable individually as transmit (TX) and/or receive (RX) coil elements for MRI. In some embodiments, the system provides for repeatable assembly and disassembly for ease of maintenance (such as frequency tuning and impedance matching) such that the body-coil assembly can be fully assembled and tested, then taken apart for less costly and easier shipping (with reduced risk of damage) and then reassembled at the destination for operation in an MRI system.

ADJUSTING OF RADIOFREQUECY ARRAY USING A CAMERA SYSTEM

A radio frequency (RF) system comprises an RF-array of antenna elements, a regulating arrangement to tune the antenna elements' impedances and a camera system to acquire image information of the RF-array. An analysis module is provided to derive operational settings such as resonant tuning settings, decoupling and impedance matchings of the antenna elements' impedances from the image information. The image information also represents the actual impedances and resonant properties of the RF-array. From the image information appropriate impedance settings can be derived that are the tuning parameters to render the RF-array resonant.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HAND-HELD NQR-BASED IN-FIELD SCREENING OF SUBSTANCES

An exemplary integrated nuclear quadrupole resonance-based detection system comprises a front-end device having a hand-held form factor, wherein the front-end device is configured to scan a sample in or near a sample coil using inbuild electronics and acquire a nuclear quadrupole resonance measurement. The system further includes a swappable sample coil that is attached to an opening at a face of the front-end device and is tuned to a resonant frequency of the sample; and a swappable impedance matching network that is attached to the opening at the face of the front-end device and is configured to tune the resonant frequency of the sample coil. The inbuild electronics comprises a wireless transfer module that is configured to communicate the acquired nuclear quadrupole resonance measurement with a back-end device of the integrated nuclear quadrupole resonance-based detection system. Other systems and methods are also provided.