Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Daniel Wirtz

Christoph G Leussler

Sascha Krueger

Steffen Weiss

Oliver Lips

Peter Mazurkewitz

Bernd R David

Peter Vernickel

Thomas Erik Amthor

Julien Senegas

Falk Uhlemann

Ronaldus Frederik Johannes Holthuizen

Gereon Vogtmeier

Vincent Jeanne

Tim Nielsen

Bernhard Gleich

Ulrich Wolfgang Katscher

Peter Koken

Michael Gunter Helle

Christian Findeklee

Hubert Cecile Francois Martens

Peter Forthmann

Ingo Schmale

Joerg Sabczynski

Rajendra Singh Sisodia

Christian Stehning

Michel Gerardus Pardoel

Christoph Günther Leussler

Aaldert Jan Elevelt

Sunil Kumar Vuppala

Gerrit Maria Kersten

Thirukumaran Thangaraj Kanagasabapathi

Clemens Bos

Elizabeth Anne Moore

Thirukamaran Thangaraj Kanagasabapathi

Celilia Possanzini

Marco Hubertus Johannes Nijenhuis

The invention may improve image quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The invention is directed to a coil arrangement () for magnetic resonance imaging. It comprises a base structure having a variable shape, an RF coil arranged on or in the base structure, an actuator means at least partially extending along the base structure such that the base structure is deformable along and/or about at least one axis, a position detecting means adapted to detect a current position of at least a portion of the subject to be examined relative to the RF coil, and control means coupled to the position detecting means and the actuator means, wherein the control means is adapted to adjust the shape of the base structure to maintain a contact of an outer surface of the base structure () and/or the RF coil () with the at least portion of the subject by driving the actuator means in response to a detected change of the current position relative to a previous position. The invention is further directed to a (MRI) system, a method for positioning an RF coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system relative to a subject to be examined, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Coil arrangement for magnetic resonance imaging system

The invention provides for a medical instrument () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (). The medical instrument further comprises a subject support () with a support surface () configured for supporting at least a portion of the subject within an imaging zone (). The subject support comprises a radar array () embedded below the support surface. The medical instrument further comprises a radar system () for acquiring a radar signal () from the subject. The medical instrument further comprises a motion detection system () configured for acquiring a movement signal (). Execution of machine executable instructions () causes a processor () to: continuously () receive the radar signal; continuously () receive the movement signal; continuously () calculate a combined motion signal () from the radar system and the movement signal; and control () the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data, wherein the acquisition of the magnetic resonance imaging data is controlled using the combined motion signal.

Motion tracking in magnetic resonance imaging using RADAR and a motion detection system

Embodiments of the present application provide a radio frequency head coil (), RE head coil. The RE head coil () comprises a coil former () comprising at least a first leg and a second leg arranged at a distance from each other to define a space there between, the coil former () being at least sectionally flexible and having at least one first fastening portion () arranged adjacent to the space (), and a respiratory mask () comprising a gas outlet () and at least one second fastening portion (), wherein in an operable condition in which the RE head coil () is adapted to be arranged at least in sections around a head of a patient (S) and in which the second fastening portion () is adapted to be fastened to the first fastening portion (), the gas outlet () is disposed within the space ().

Radio frequency head coil with respiratory mask

The invention provides for a medical instrument () comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system. The medical instrument comprises: a radio frequency system () configured for sending and receiving radio frequency signals to acquire magnetic resonance imaging data (). The radio frequency system is configured for connecting to a magnetic resonance imaging antenna (). The medical instrument further comprises a subject support () configured for supporting at least a portion of a subject () in an imaging zone () of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The subject support comprises an antenna connector () configured for connecting to the magnetic resonance imaging antenna. The radiofrequency system is configured for connecting to the magnetic resonance imaging antenna via the antenna connector. The subject support comprises a remotely controllable actuator () configured for translating the antenna connector to a connector position () along a path (). The medical instrument further comprises a memory () comprising machine executable instructions (). The medical instrument further comprises a processor () for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system. Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: receive () the connector position (); and control () the remotely controllable actuator to move the antenna connector along the path to the connector position ().

Automatic positioning of antenna connectors for magnetic resonance imaging

The invention provides for a medical apparatus () comprising an optical imaging system () configured for acquiring a series of optical images () descriptive of cardiac motion of a subject (). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory () for storing machine executable instructions (). The medical apparatus further comprises a processor () for controlling the medical apparatus. Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to repeatedly: acquire () a series of images using the optical imaging system, wherein the series of images are acquired at a rate of at least 10 frames per second; and derive () a cardiac motion signal () from the series of images, wherein the cardiac motion signal is derived by tracking motion of at least a group of pixels within the series of images.

Cardiac motion signal derived from optical images

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

A respiratory monitoring device comprises: a light source () arranged to generate a projected shadow (S) of an imaging subject (P) positioned for imaging by an imaging device (); a video camera () arranged to acquire video of the projected shadow; and an electronic processor () programmed to extract a position of an edge of the projected shadow as a function of time from the acquired video. In some embodiments, the light source is arranged to project the shadow onto a bore wall () of the imaging device, and the video camera is arranged to acquire video of the projected shadow on the bore wall. The electronic processor may be programmed to extract the position of the edge (E) as a one-dimensional function of time () based on the position of the edge in each frame of the acquired video and time stamps of the video frames.

Detection and measurement of breathing using an optical camera and projected shadows

A contact-free method of determining biometric parameters and physiological parameters of a subject of interest () to be examined by a medical imaging modality (), comprising steps of taking () a picture by a first digital camera () including a total view of an examination table (); applying () a computer vision algorithm or an image processing algorithm to the picture for determining a biometric parameter of the subject of interest () in relation to the examination table (); taking () at least one picture with a second digital camera (), whose field of view () includes a region of the subject of interest () that is related to the at least one determined biometric parameter; using data indicative of the determined biometric parameter to identify () a subset of pixels of the at least one picture taken by the second digital camera () that define a region of interest () from which at least one physiological parameter of the subject of interest () is to be determined, taking () a plurality of pictures of the region of the subject of interest () with the second digital camera (), and applying () a computer vision algorithm or an image processing algorithm to pictures of the plurality of pictures taken by the second digital camera () for calculating the region of interest () in the pictures of the plurality of pictures for determining the physiological parameter of the subject of interest () during examination; a camera system () for determining, in a contact-free way, biometric parameters and physiological parameters of a subject of interest () to be examined by use of a medical imaging modality () and using such method; and&#x2014;a medical imaging modality () configured for acquisition of scanning data of at least a portion of a subject of interest (), the medical imaging modality () comprising such camera system.

MR fingerprinting for determining performance degradation of the MR system

The invention provides for a magnetic resonance antenna assembly () comprising one or more antenna elements (), wherein the magnetic resonance antenna assembly further comprises multiple electronic dosimeters () operable for measuring a cumulative radiation dose () of ionizing radiation () received by the magnetic resonance antenna assembly.

Magnetic resonance antenna with electronic dosimeters

The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system () comprising a radio frequency system () configured for acquiring magnetic resonance data () from an imaging zone (). The radio frequency system is configured for sending and receiving radio frequency signals to acquire the magnetic resonance data, wherein the radio frequency system comprises: an elliptical transmission coil () configured for generating a B1+ excitation field within the imaging zone; and an active B1 shim coil () configured for being placed within the imaging zone, wherein the radio frequency system is configured for suppling radio frequency power to the active B1 shim coil during the generation of the B1+ excitation field by the elliptical transmission coil, wherein the B1 shim coil is configured for shimming the B1+ excitation field within the imaging zone.

Active b1+ shimming of transmission coils

The present invention is directed to a magnetic resonance imaging system with motion detection for examination of a patient (), the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising an RF coil arrangement with an RF coil () for transmitting and/or receiving an RF signal for generating a magnetic resonance image wherein the RF coil arrangement is provided with an additional RF sensor () for transmitting an RF transmit signal which is adapted for interacting with the tissue () of the patient () allowing to sense motion signals due to motions of the patient () simultaneously to transmitting and/or receiving the RF signal for generating the magnetic resonance image. In this way movements of a patient under examination in an MRI system may be detected in an efficient and reliable way.

Magnetic resonance imaging system with RF motion detection

A magnetic resonance (MR) system () for guidance of a shaft or needle () to a target () of a subject () is provided. The system includes a user interface (). The user interface () includes a frame () positioned on a surface of the subject (). The frame () includes an opening () over an entry point of a planned trajectory for the shaft or needle (). The planned trajectory extends from the entry point to the target (). The user interface () further includes one or more visual indicators () arranged on the frame () around the opening (). The one or more visual indicators () at least one of: 1) visually indicate deviation of the shaft or needle () from the planned trajectory; and 2) visually indicate a current position of a real-time slice of real-time MR images.

Dedicated user interface for MR-guided interstitial interventions

Patient headphones () for use in a medical scanning modality, comprising a frame member (), two ear cups () that, in an operational state of the patient headphones (), are arranged to be in contact with one of the patient's ears, and a sensor system (), the sensor system () including optical emitters () that are configured for directing electromagnetic radiation to a portion of the patient's skin, and optical sensors () that are configured for receiving the electromagnetic radiation being returned from the portion of the patient's skin, and for providing an output signal that corresponds to the received electromagnetic radiation, wherein the output signal is indicative of at least one physiological parameter of the patient and serves as a basis for determining the at least one physiological parameter of the patient; &#x2014;a patient headphones system () for use in a medical scanning modality (), comprising an embodiment of such patient headphones () and a data acquisition and analysis unit () that is configured to acquire output signals of the optical sensors () and to analyze the acquired output signals by applying pre-determined criteria related to the output signals, and to provide a trigger output signal () if one of the pre-determined criteria is fulfilled; &#x2014;a medical scanning modality () that is configured for contact-free acquisition of scanning data of at least a portion of a subject of interest (), in particular a patient, comprising an embodiment of such patient headphones system (), wherein the medical imaging modality () is in particular formed as a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Patient headphones with integrated sensor system

An energy depositing therapy system (), comprising:

Real time energy depositing therapy system controlled by magnetic resonance rheology

A rheology system () includes a rheology transducer device () for introducing mechanical waves into a subject of interest (). The rheology transducer device () includes multiple transducers (), a driving device () for driving the rheology transducer device (), a sensor device () for sensing mechanical waves at the subject of interest (), and a control device () for receiving input from the sensor device () and for controlling the driving device () based on the received input from the sensor device (). An MR rheology system () includes the above rheology system () and an MR imaging system () adapted to control the rheology system (). A rheology method includes with the rheology system (), driving the rheology transducer device () to introduce mechanical waves into the subject of interest (), sensing mechanical waves at the subject of interest (), and performing feedback control.

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Hamburg, Germany

Daniel Wirtz