Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Christoph Günther Leussler

Oliver Lips

Christian Findeklee

Steffen Weiss

Peter Vernickel

Ingo Schmale

Jan Hendrik Wuelbern

Julien Senegas

Peter Mazurkewitz

Rajendra Singh Sisodia

Mark Thomas Johnson

Tim Nielsen

Daniel Wirtz

Peter Börnert

Marieke Van Dooren

Ingmar Gräβlin

Peter Venickel

For a radio frequency (RF) receiver system () for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a solution for compensating residual coupling of RF receive coil elements () in the radio frequency (RF) receiver () 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 () comprising at least two simultaneously used RF receive coil elements (), wherein the RF receive coil element () comprises a signal generator () for providing a compensation signal and an excitation path (), wherein the excitation path () is configured to couple the compensation signal into the RF receive coil element (), for reducing residual coupling in the RF receiver system () by means of the compensation signal coupled into the RF receive coil element (). The present invention also refers to a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for active decoupling of a radio frequency (RF) receiver system () 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.

Radio frequency (RF) receiver system with active decoupling

There is provided a method of determining a scan sequence for magnetic resonance imaging—MRI. The method comprises: receiving an indication of one or more selected imaging parameters for the MRI; and based on the selected imaging parameters, determining the scan sequence usable by an MRI apparatus to perform the MRI, wherein determining the scan sequence comprises configuring the scan sequence to modulate gradient noise arising from the MRI apparatus during the MRI to deliver a first audible signal to the patient, wherein the first audible signal is configured to perform auditory stimulation of slow wave activity in the patient.

Controlling gradient noise in magnetic resonance imaging

According to the invention, a cable harness () for a magnetic resonance system is provided, wherein the cable harness () is adapted for being connected to a feeding point of a magnetic resonance radiofrequency coil device () on one end and for being connected to an input-output unit () for connecting the magnetic resonance radiofrequency coil device () with a control and analysis unit of the magnetic resonance system on the other end, wherein the cable harness () comprises at least one transmission line () for connecting the feeding point with the input-output unit () and multiple radiofrequency chokes () which are arranged within the cable harness (). In this way, a bulky resonant RF traps can be avoided while still the B1-excitation field of the MR system can be compensated for and coupling to local nearby coils can be reduced.

Cable harness with multiple RF chokes and magnetic resonance system

The present invention relates to patient positioning. In order to improve patient positioning during a scan, an autonomous motion positioner is proposed using a critical range, which may correspond to maximum corrections achievable by the scanner hardware and the maximum tolerable image distortions. The critical range is determined based on one or more machine settings of the medical imaging system. As the machine setting(s) may vary in a given imaging exam, the critical range may dynamically change in response to a change of the machine setting in the given imaging exam. External sensors may measure, via a feedback loop, the deviation from the start position, i.e. the imaging pose position. If patient motion is too large and the motion parameter (e.g. translation and/or rotation) exceeds the determined critical range, then the scan process may be stopped. The autonomous scanner may hold in an idle mode. During that mode, the patient may be guided to retake its original position via a feedback system. A control loop may calculate critical range deviation and the scan process may be continued, if the motion parameter is less than the determined critical range. Accordingly, uncorrectable motion artefacts due to large body movements may be avoided. The motion positioner may be suitable for systems, such as MR, MR-LINAC, computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET).

Repositioning method

A system (SYS) and related method for supporting MR imaging. The system (SYS) comprises a logic (CL) to receive a measurement from RF sensors (SS-) 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.

Detection of unconnected MR coils and localization of misplaced coils

A method of setting an RF operating frequency of an MRI system () uses a first reference frequency signal, obtained from a geo-satellite positioning system, as a stable long term frequency reference. A second frequency source () is calibrated using the first frequency reference signal and the second frequency reference source () is then used as the master clock for the MRI system (), for setting the RF operating frequency.

Magnetic resonance imaging system and method using frequency calibration based on a signal from a geo-satellite positioning system

A magnetic resonance examination system with an examination zone () and comprising a camera () and non-metallic mirror (), in particular within the examination zone (), arranging an optical pathway () between a portion of the examination zone (), via the non-metallic mirror (), and the camera (). The camera can obtain image information from that portion even if the direct line of sight () is blocked. The non-metallic mirror is a dielectric mirror having a macroscopically grated base.

Monitoring system with a camera and non-metallic mirror for magnetic resonance examination system

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.

Indication of a loading state of a flexible coil element

The invention relates to a magnetic resonance coil array () of a magnetic resonance system having a distributed cable routing realized by a self-compensated radiofrequency choke (). The magnetic resonance coil array () comprises multiple magnetic resonance receive coils (), an input-output unit (), and multiple coaxial cables () interconnecting the magnetic resonance receive coils () with the input-output unit (). The coaxial cable () comprises the self-compensated radiofrequency choke (). The self-compensated radiofrequency choke () allows to replace conventional bulky resonant radiofrequency traps used in conventional magnetic resonance coil arrays and allows implementing the distributed cable routing. The self-compensated radiofrequency choke () comprises a choke housing () having a toroidal form and the coaxial cable (), wherein the coaxial cable () is wound around the choke housing () in a self-compensated winding pattern. The self-compensated winding pattern provides compensation for a B1-excitation field of a magnetic resonance system and eliminates the need for the self-compensated radiofrequency choke () to be resonant to the B1-excitation field.

Magnetic resonance coil array and self-compensated radiofrequency choke

A magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, system (), comprises MRI electronics, including a transmitting coil () for transmitting radio frequency, RF, signals and a receiving coil () for receiving RF signals; and/or a transmitting/receiving coil () for transmitting and receiving RF signals; and cables (), connecting the transmitting coil (), receiving coil () and/or transmitting/receiving coil () to other electronic elements. The MRI system () further comprises an overheating detection unit to detect potential overheating of a patient's () tissue and/or a part of the MRI system () caused by at least one part of the MRI electronics; and a distance unit (), wherein the distance unit () comprises a gas chamber (), to be arranged between the at least one part of the MRI electronics and the patient () and/or between the at least one part of the MRI electronics and the part of the MRI system () and adapted to be filled with a gas such that a distance between the patient () and the part of the MRI electronics and/or between the part of the MRI system () and the part of the MRI electronics increases when the gas chamber () is filled with the gas, wherein the gas chamber () is in a deflated state when no significant overheating is detected, and an inflation unit () to fill the gas chamber () with the gas, wherein the overheating detection unit and the distance unit () are interconnected such that the inflation unit () fills the gas chamber () with the gas to increase the distance between the patient () and the part of the MRI electronics and/or between the part of the MRI system () and the part of the MRI electronics if the overheating detection unit detects significant overheating of the patients () tissue and/or the part of the MRI system ().

Magnetic resonance imaging system with protection from overheating

A radio frequency (RF) transmit—receive coil for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes an integrated vital signs detector for the detection of vital signs of a patient within the MR imaging system. The coil includes a contactless sensor system for monitoring vital signs, which makes it easier to measure vital signs of the patient.

RF coil with integrated vital signs detector

An MR device for MR imaging includes an RF coil system. In order to enable switching to and fro between different applications in such an MR device without having to move the patient so as to position a new RF coil system, it is proposed to provide the RF coil system for the transmission and/or reception of RF signals with at least two RF coil arrays which are integrated in one coil former and have been optimized for different applications, each RF coil array comprising at least two RF coils which are decoupled from one another.

MR device provided with differently optimized RF coil arrays

The invention relates to a high-frequency system for an MR apparatus with a high-frequency coil arrangement comprising a plurality of resonator elements (), which is connected to a transmit unit (), where a respective transmit channel (1&#x2013;8) of the transmit unit () is assigned to the resonator elements (). In order to provide a high-frequency system of this kind at low cost, by means of which a high frequency field can be generated in an examination volume () with a field distribution that can be preselected flexibly and variably, the invention proposes that the transmit unit () is equipped with a plurality of high-frequency amplifiers (), the inputs of which can receive low-power transmit signals via a first controllable multiplexer/distributor network (), in which the output signals of the high-frequency amplifiers () can be distributed over the transmit channels () via a second controllable multiplexer/distributor network (). In addition, the invention relates to an MR apparatus with a high-frequency system of this kind.

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Hamburg, Germany

Christoph Günther Leussler