Fonar Corporation

Jan V Votruba

Raymond V Damadian

Charles A Green

Rajendra K Shenoy

Mark J Gelbien

Gregory I Eydelman

Jevan Damadian

Gordon T Danby

William H Wahl

Terry Morrone

Lawrence A Minkoff

Arto Cinoglu

Anthony J Giambalvo

Jay S Dworkin

Michael Votruba

Guo Ping Zhang

George R Morris

An apparatus is provided for generating focused radio frequency. The apparatus may include multiple coils, and the multiple coils can be actuated so as to generate focused energy at a focal location within the body of a subject such as a human or non-human animal while minimizing heating at the skin of the subject. A first central coil and a second central coil that are placed adjacent to each other. The apparatus also comprises a first focusing coil and a second focusing coil. The first central coil and the second central coil are placed between the first focusing coil and the second focusing coil. The first focusing coil and the second focusing coil generate a radio frequency field that is 180 degrees out of phase from a radio frequency field generated by the first central coil and the second central coil.

Localized RF heating

Methods and apparatus for performing magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed. In one embodiment coil antennas for use with a horizontal field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus are placed in proximity to the scanning region to obtain magnetic resonance images. In accordance with another aspect of the invention the coil antennas are arranged so as to provide zero mutual inductance between the coils so as to increase the sensitivity of the measurement. Additional embodiments include quadrature coil antennas including two antennas, each having their vector fields substantially perpendicular to each other and to a static magnetic field. Methods for using the disclosed antennas in acquiring magnet resonance scans is also disclosed.

Coils for horizontal field magnetic resonance imaging

An antenna for magnetic resonance imaging. The antenna preferably comprises a base, a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is mounted to the base and oriented to form an opening for receiving a foot of a patient such that the first coil extends around the foot along a lengthwise direction and defines a first coil vector that is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. The second coil is preferably mounted to the base and oriented to extend along a widthwise direction of the foot and preferably defines a second coil vector that is parallel to the length wise direction of the foot.

Quadrature foot coil antenna for magnetic resonance imaging

Apparatus, system and method for immobilizing a patient's head during imaging. The apparatus includes two substantially C-shaped members that are pivotably mounted to each other. One C-shaped member includes at least one adjustable positioning rod for securing the patient's head during imaging. The apparatus is attached to a magnet resonance imaging apparatus to form a system. The system is used for imaging a patient whose head and neck is immobilized by the apparatus.

Head and neck immobilization in magnetic resonance imaging

A fixture such as a local receiver coil is secured to the patient support of a magnetic resonance imaging system so that the fixture remains in position relative to the support even when the support is in a vertical orientation. The positioning apparatus is arranged to allow adjustment of the fixture position, but to limit such adjustment so that the fixture cannot interfere with the poles or other elements defining the patient-receiving gap of the magnet during movement of the patient support.

Magnetic resonance imaging with adjustable fixture apparatus

An antenna assembly for magnet resonance imaging comprising a housing having an inner surface, an outer surface and defining an inner annular space, the inner surface being adapted to receive a shoulder of a patient. The antenna assembly further includes a pair of coils housed within the inner annular space of the housing and arranged to form a phased array antenna for receiving resonance signals.

Phased array shoulder coil

A vibration assisted needle device is disclosed for use in medical procedures such as needle aspiration biopsies. Reciprocation of the needle, such as a biopsy needle, eases the advance of the needle through tissue, penetration of the site of interest and the collection of sample at a site of interest. The device comprises a housing defining a chamber, a needle support external to the chamber for supporting a needle and a mechanism in the chamber for causing reciprocatory motion of the needle support. The needle support is preferably external to the housing. A syringe support may be connected to the housing for supporting a syringe. The reciprocatory mechanism may comprise means for converting rotational motion into reciprocating motion, such as a bearing or a rotor with a circumferential, angled groove on its surface, coupled to the needle support. The bearing or the rotor may be driven by a rotational motor, preferably located outside of the housing, or by a hydraulically driven turbine within the housing. Alternatively, the reciprocatory mechanism means may comprise a stationary solenoid and a movable solenoid for being coupled to the needle. Preferably, a second stationary solenoid is provided and the moving solenoid is between the two stationary solenoids. Energization of the stationary solenoid or solenoids by an alternating current for example, and energization of the movable solenoid by a direct current, or vice versa, attracts and repulses the movable solenoid, causing reciprocation of the needle. Methods and systems using the vibration assisted needle device are also disclosed.

Method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure

A vibration assisted needle device is disclosed for use in medical procedures, such as needle aspiration biopsies. Reciprocation of the needle, such as a biopsy needle, eases the advance of the needle through tissue, penetration of the site of interest and the collection of sample at a site of interest. The device comprises a housing defining a chamber, a needle support external to the chamber for supporting a needle and a mechanism in the chamber for causing reciprocatory motion of the needle support. The needle support is preferably external to the housing. A syringe support may be connected to the housing for supporting a syringe. The reciprocatory mechanism may comprise means for converting rotational motion into reciprocating motion, such as a bearing or a rotor with a circumferential, angled groove on its surface, coupled to the needle support. The bearing or the rotor may be driven by a rotational motor, preferably located outside of the housing, or by a hydraulically driven turbine within the housing. Alternatively, the reciprocatory mechanism means may comprise a stationary solenoid and a movable solenoid for being coupled to the needle. Preferably, a second stationary solenoid is provided and the moving solenoid is between the two stationary solenoids. Energization of the stationary solenoid or solenoids by an alternating current, for example, and energization of the movable solenoid by a direct current, or vice a versa, attracts and repulses the movable solenoid, causing reciprocation of the needle. Methods and systems using the vibration assisted needle device are also disclosed.

Vibration assisted needle device

In magnetic resonance imaging (&ldquo;MRI&rdquo;), RF power is applied to a region of interest within the patient by a local antenna disposed adjacent the region of interest. The local antenna is excited by RF signals sent through free space from a principal antenna mounted to the primary field magnet of the MRI system. The principal antenna includes one or more loops mounted so that the plane of the loop is transverse to the pole pieces of the magnet frame and so that the plane of the loop is transverse to adjacent metallic portions of the frame. The loops are aligned with openings in the frame so that a patient is advanced into a frame through the loop. The loops do not substantially obstruct axis to the subject receiving space.

Magnetic resonance imaging excitation and reception methods and apparatus

An RF antenna includes an input terminal for receiving an RF signal, a supporting element, an electrically conductive coil on the supporting element and disposed to receive the RF signal from the input terminal, and an RF shield formed of an electrically conductive material and disposed under the coil and further including contacts for connection to a ground electrical potential. The antenna generates a circularly polarized RF field. A method of generating an RF field includes generating an RF signal, providing the RF signal to an electrically conductive coil disposed on a magnet core and separated from the magnet core by a supporting element, shielding the electrically conductive coil using an electrically conductive material, and connecting the RF shield to a ground electrical potential so as to provide a current return for the RF signal through the RF shield. The supporting element may be a cross-shaped plastic spacer, which may include a first segment and a second segment, such that a first electrically conductive coil is disposed on the first segment to receive a first RF signal, and a second electrically conductive coil is disposed on the second segment to receive a second RF signal.

Apparatus and method of generating an RF field

An antenna system for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has an active coil connected between a transmitter or receiver and ground and also has an isolated loop coil which is not conductively connected to ground. The isolated loop coil preferably overlies the electrically conductive pole surface of the field magnet. The isolated loop coil is inductively coupled to the active coil. The assembly has relatively low parasitic capacitance to ground and hence can be tuned to the resonant frequencies required for high field strength imaging.

Composite MRI antenna with reduced stray capacitance

In magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI'), RF power is applied to a region of interest within the patient by a local antenna disposed adjacent the region of interest. The local antenna is excited by RF signals sent through free space from a principal antenna mounted to the primary field magnet of the MRI system. The principal antenna includes one or more loops mounted so that the plane of the loop is transverse to the pole pieces of the magnet frame and so that the plane of the loop is transverse to adjacent metallic portions of the frame. The loops are aligned with openings in the frame so that a patient is advanced into a frame through the loop. The loops do not substantially obstruct axis to the subject receiving space.

Methods and apparatus for kinematic studies of the movable joints of the body using magnetic resonance imaging. The apparatus controls the position of movable joints at a multiplicity of predetermined positions, enabling the controlled movement of the joints to each of the predetermined positions. It also includes a device which automatically sequences the movement of a movable joint to each position among the multiplicity of predetermined positions, and the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data at each of these positions. These features enhance the clinical utility of kinematic studies of movable joint functionality by magnetic resonance imaging.

Multipositional MRI for kinematic studies of movable joints

An electromechanical switch for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus is constructed of non-magnetic materials and includes a pivotable solenoid operative for moving a contact in response to forces created by interaction between passing through the electromagnet and the primary or static field of the MRI imaging magnet. The switch can be used to disconnect the RF receiver of the MRI apparatus from the receiving antenna during transmission of RF excitation signals.

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Port Jefferson Station, NY, United States of America

Jan V Votruba