A magnetic resonance tomography system that includes a transmitter for generating an excitation signal and a body coil for emitting the excitation signal, and a method for operation of the magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The magnetic resonance tomography system has a patient tunnel, in which the body coil is arranged. The magnetic resonance tomography system also has a first transmission interference suppression antenna that is arranged between the body coil and an opening in the patient tunnel. The first transmission interference suppression antenna is configured to provide a spatial transmission characteristic that may be compared with the body coil.

The present disclosure relates to an insert system for performing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The insert system can be reversibly installed to an existing system, such that PET functionality can be introduced into the existing system without the need to significantly modify the existing system. The present disclosure also relates to a multi-modality imaging system capable for conducting both PET imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The PET and MRI imaging can be performed simultaneously or sequentially, while the performance of neither imaging modality is compromised for the operation of the other imaging modality.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coil comprising a current-control circuit. A conductive trace forms a coil inductor and comprises a first trace segment and a second trace segment separated by the current-control circuit, which comprises a first reactive element and a circuit branch. The first reactive element is electrically coupled from the first trace segment to the second trace segment, and the circuit branch is electrically coupled in parallel with the first reactive element. The circuit branch comprises a second reactive element and a sub-circuit branch electrically coupled in parallel. The sub-circuit branch comprises a third reactive element and an electronic switch (e.g., a PIN diode) electrically coupled in series. The first reactive element and the third reactive element are one of capacitive and inductive, and the second reactive element is another one of capacitive and inductive.

A method of designing a coil array for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system based on eigenmode analysis of a scattering matrix associated with the coil array is provided. The method includes determining a normalized reflected power generated by coils in the coil array in response to excitation thereof via at least one excitation signal, and adjusting one or more parameters of at least one of the coils so as to minimize the normalized reflected power.

A radio frequency coil is disclosed that is suitable for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The radio frequency coil comprises first and second conductive loops connected electrically to each other by a plurality of conductive rungs. The conductive rungs each include a section that is relatively thin that will result in less attenuation to a radiation beam than other thicker sections of the rungs. Insulating regions are also disposed in areas of the radio frequency coil that are bound by adjacent rungs and the conductive loops. Portions of the insulating regions can be configured to provide a substantially similar amount of attenuation to the radiation beam as the relatively thin sections of the conductive rungs.

A pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The pediatric MRI system includes a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to image a portion of a patient. The pediatric MRI system also includes a cryo-cooling mechanism operatively coupled to the RF coil. The cryo-cooling mechanism is configured to maintain a temperature of the RF coil within a prescribed temperature range.

A magnetic resonance coil and a magnetic resonance imaging system using the same are provided. The magnetic resonance coil may include an antenna, an amplifier, and a protective circuit. The antenna may be configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal emitted from an object. The antenna may not resonate with the RF signal. The amplifier operably coupled to the antenna configured to amplify the RF signal. The protective circuit may be configured to protect the antenna and the amplifier.

A system is described for emitting a radiofrequency field for a magnetic resonance imaging device, including a volumetric antenna that emits a radiofrequency field, a device for homogenizing the radiofrequency field arranged between said volume antenna and a part of the body to be imaged. The device may include a first continuous metal track with an overall length of approximately 0.5 to approximately 1.5 times said wavelength of the radio frequency field. The first metallic track may occupy a surface with a largest dimension ranging between approximately 5% and approximately 15% of said wavelength of the radio frequency field. The first metal track is arranged in a pattern including a plane of symmetry that is normal to the electrical component of the radio frequency field, so as to give the device an electric dipole property including a natural frequency strictly greater than the frequency of the radio frequency field.

A magnetic resonance imaging system (100) comprising a main magnet (104) for generating a main magnetic field within an imaging zone (108); a radio frequency, RF, antenna (114), comprising an RF input terminal (300) and an RF output terminal (302); an RF system for supplying radio-frequency power to the RF input terminal (300) to energize the antenna (114), the antenna (114) being further adapted for picking up magnetic resonance signals (144) from the imaging zone (108); a data acquisition system (126) for receiving the magnetic resonance signals (144) from the RF output terminal (302); wherein the RF input terminal (300) is in galvanic connection to the antenna (114) and the RF output terminal (302) is inductively coupled to the antenna (114).

In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: an RF coil configured to apply a radio frequency (RF) signal of a Larmor frequency of a spin species in an object; and an amplifying apparatus configured to amplify the RF signal and supply the amplified RF signal to an output that is connectable to a load (80) that includes at least the RF coil and the object, wherein: the amplifying apparatus includes two amplification circuits provided in parallel and an impedance transformation circuit; and the impedance transformation circuit is provided between the load and an output terminal of one of the two amplification circuits such that a polarity of reactance as viewed from an output terminal of one of the two amplification circuits toward the load is opposite to a polarity of reactance as viewed from an output terminal of another of the two amplification circuits toward the load.