Patent classifications
G01R33/3692
MRI COMMUNICATION DEVICE
The present invention discloses an MRI communication device, which is provided with a control room communication module and a scan room communication module. The scan room communication module includes a receiver, delivering the received first audio signals to the first air tube, while the control room communication module comprises a first sound device, through which the first audio signals are amplified and broadcast. The present invention realizes free bidirectional communication for the control room and the scan room, wherein the receiver can transmit the sound messages to the operator in the control room, making it possible for the technician to manage emergencies of making sounds in the scan room; the air tube is used to transmit audio signals, ensuring the proper operation during MRI exams and preventing them from the influence of the audio signal electromagnetic field from voice calls during MRI scans.
Cable loop detection mechanism for improved MRI safety
The following relates generally to ensuring patient safety while operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. Many MRI systems operate using: fiber optic cables to carry signals, electrically conductive cables to carry other signals, and radio frequency (RF) coils to create an electromagnetic field. Typically, the electrically conductive cables and RF coils do not interact in a way that causes harm to a patient. However, certain shapes and/or lengths of cables exhibit the phenomenon of “resonance” that increases their propensity to concentrate RF currents induced by the RF coils. This may increase the temperature of the cable or other component in the MRI system leading to patient harm. The methods disclosed herein provide a solution to this by sensing a shape of the fiber optic cable and determining if the fiber optic cable will exhibit resonance. If it is determined that resonance may potentially occur, an alarm may be generated or a radio frequency amplifier may be interlocked.
Magnetic resonance receive coil with detune circuit and energy harvesting circuit
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.
Systems and devices for wireless communication through an electromagnetically shielded window
Systems and devices are provided in which an RF wireless bridge is employed to facilitate indirect transmission of communication signals between external devices located outside of an electromagnetically shielding enclosure within internal devices located within the enclosure, via the intermediate transmission of RF waves through an RF attenuating window forming a portion of the enclosure. The wireless bridge is formed from a first RF communication device located within the electromagnetically shielding enclosure, and a second RF communication device located outside of the enclosure, where the two RF communication devices are positioned with sufficient proximity such that the wireless bridge facilitates indirect communication through the RF attenuating window despite attenuation of RF energy by the RF attenuating window. In another example embodiment, the electromagnetically shielding enclosure may enclose at least a portion of the first RF communication device to reduce noise that could impact the performance of the magnetic resonance scanner.
OPTO-ISOLATOR CIRCUITRY FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPLICATIONS
The present disclosure provides techniques for using opto-isolator circuitry to control switching circuitry configured to be coupled to a radio-frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In some embodiments, opto-isolator circuitry described herein may be configured to galvanically isolate switch controllers of the MRI system from the switching circuitry and/or provide feedback across an isolation barrier. Some embodiments provide an apparatus including switching circuitry configured to be coupled to an RF coil of an MRI system and a drive circuit that includes opto-isolator circuitry configured to control the switching circuitry. Some embodiments provide an MRI system that includes an RF coil configured to, when operated, transmit and/or receive RF signals to and/or from a field of view of the MRI system, switching circuitry coupled to the RF coil, and a drive circuit that includes opto-isolator circuitry configured to control the switching circuitry.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM WITH INTERFERENCE REDUCTION
To operate a magnetic resonance tomography system, first analysis signals are received by a main receive antenna and an auxiliary receive antenna. Based thereon, a first interference source and first weighting factors are determined. Second analysis signals are received by the main receive antenna and the auxiliary receive antenna and in accordance with the first weighting factors, a combination of the second analysis signals is created. Based thereon, a second interference source is determined. Second weighting factors are determined in order to suppress the influence of the first interference source and an influence of the second interference source. A magnetic resonance signal is received during an examination phase by the main receive antenna and an interference signal by the auxiliary receive antenna. An interference-suppressed magnetic resonance signal is created as a combination of the magnetic resonance signal and the interference signals depending on the second weighting factors.
Apparatus for non-galvanic connection of MRI receive coil to MRI system using RF-over-fiber
A magnetic resonance (MR) receive device comprises a coil or coil array including at least one radiofrequency (RF) coil element wherein each RF coil element comprises a coil and a preamplifier connected to amplify an output of the RF coil element to generate an amplified RF signal. The MR receive device further includes an RF-over-Fiber module comprising an optical fiber, a photonic device optically coupled to send an optical signal into the optical fiber, and an RF modulator connected to modulate the optical signal by an MR signal comprising the amplified RF signal.
DETECTION OF UNCONNECTED MR COILS AND LOCAIZATION OF MISPLACED COILS
A system (SYS) and related method for supporting MR imaging. The system (SYS) comprises a logic (CL) to receive a measurement from RF sensors (SS1-8) arrangeable outside a bore (BR) of an MR imaging apparatus (IA). The logic processes the measurement to establish i) whether there is at least one surface RF coil present that is not electrically coupled to circuitry (SPC) of the MR imaging apparatus (IA) and/or ii) to localize at least one surface RF coil on or at a patient table (PT) of the MR imaging apparatus.
Magnetic Field Sensor and Method for Measuring a Magnetic Field
A method for measuring a magnetic field includes radiating a microwave field having a first frequency into at least one measuring location in a crystal, which comprises optically excitable color center defects at the measuring location, radiating excitation light and detecting resulting fluorescence light, applying a deformation force which results in local mechanical strain, wherein an applied first deformation force is selected such that the first frequency corresponds to a resonance frequency of the color center defects under the action of the first deformation force without the magnetic field to be measured and the detected fluorescence light becomes minimal. The method further includes placing the sensor into the magnetic field to be measured to bring about a shift in the resonance frequency and varying the applied deformation force to compensate the shift in the resonance frequency until a minimum fluorescence signal is again acquired at a second deformation force.
MRI apparatus
In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: an RF coil configured to receive a magnetic resonance signal from an object and include a first wireless antenna with horizontal polarization; a main body provided with a bore and configured to apply an RF pulse to an object, the bore being a space in which the object is placed during imaging; and at least one second wireless antenna configured to perform wireless communication between the RF coil and the main body via the first wireless antenna, one of the at least one second wireless antenna being disposed at an uppermost portion in an outer periphery of an opening edge of the bore.