University of Pennsylvania

Medrad, Inc.

Other

Herbert Y Kressel

Robert E Lenkinski

Mitchell D Schnall

Edward J Rhinehart

Howard M Pollack

George J Misic

Yutaka Imai

Thomas R Welch

Theodore C Claiborne

An insertable pickup probe and interface network for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The pickup probe in the preferred embodiment is for use in imaging the male prostate and comprises an elongated shaft supporting a patient interface balloon at its distal end which contains a RF receiving coil. The interface balloon comprises an inflatable inner balloon enclosed by a flexible outer balloon. The receiving coil is positioned between the inner and outer balloons and placed intimately adjacent the region of interest by inflating the inner balloon to expand outwardly against the outer balloon. In addition, a non-stretchable planar material is provided on the surface on the inner balloon adjacent the receiving coil for ensuring that the receiving coil is placed adjacent the region of interest. The inner balloon is inflated by an inflator cuff connected to the shaft and communicated to the inner balloon by a first lumen in the shaft. The receiving coil is electrically connected to an interconnecting cable which is connected to the proximal end of the shaft and communicated to the receiving coil by a second lumen in the shaft. The interface network receives the interconnecting cable of the pickup probe and includes impedance matching means, tuning means, and decoupling means for interfacing the probe with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. In addition, the interface includes an electronic circuit for automatically adjusting the control voltage of a varactor diode in a Pi network which comprises the tuning means.

Intracavity probe and interface device for MRI imaging and spectroscopy

Flexible, conforming surface coils for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging are disclosed. The coils comprise a flexible outer body with antennas disposed within the body. The coils closely adopt the contours and shapes of the particular part of the patient's body under observation and provide considerable comfort. Since the coils closely conform to the patient, detection of artifacts and aliasing is minimized thus providing highly resolved images of the area of the patient that is being examined. The coils are readily utilized with preexisting NMR magnets and support equipment thereby allowing efficient and cost effective NMR imaging.

Flexible surface coils for use in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

An insertable pickup probe and interface network for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The pickup probe in the preferred embodiment is for use in imaging the male prostate and comprises an elongated shaft supporting a patient interface balloon at its distal end which contains a RF receiving coil. The interface balloon comprises an inflatabe inner balloon enclosed by a flexible outer balloon. The receiving coil is positioned between the inner and outer balloons and placed intimately adjacent the region of interest by inflating the inner balloon to expand outwardly against the outer balloon. In addition, a non-stretchable planar material is provided on the surface on the inner balloon adjacent the receiving coil for ensuring that the receiving coil is placed adjacent the region of interest. The inner balloon is inflated by an inflator cuff connected to the shaft and communicated to the inner balloon by a first lumen in the shaft. The receiving coil is electrically connected to an interconnecting cable which is connected to the proximal end of the shaft and communicated to the receiving coil by a second lumen in the shaft. An interface network is also provided which receives the interconnecting cable of the pickup probe and includes impedance matching means, tuning means, and decoupling means for interfacing the probe with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. In addition, the interface includes an electronic circuit for automatically adjusting the control voltage of a varactor diode in a Pi network which comprises the tuning means.

An insertable intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of an area of interest in a body cavity particularly the colon, has an elongate shaft with a handle at its proximal end and an inflatable balloon structure at its distal end. The balloon structure has an outer balloon containing a loop-type pickup coil for connection to an interfacing network. The coil is sandwiched between two internal separately inflatable balloons, and when the probe is inserted, the coil can be optimally positioned relative to the area of interest by controlled differential inflation of the balloons. The probe also has an insertable rod-like mandrel for providing twisting orbital-type movement of the balloon structure on the shaft, by rotation of the mandrel, useful to steer the probe along curves or bends in the body cavity when it is being inserted. In a modified form of the probe, the mandrel can be used to rotate the coil and the internal balloons as a unit within the outer balloon for optimal in situ angular positioning of the coil.

Growing community of inventors

Wynnewood, PA, United States of America

Herbert Y Kressel