Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

John Carlon

Wayne R Dannels

Thomas Chmielewski

Michael Burl

Dee H Wu

David Leslie Foxall

Mark Douglas Herold

Robert Gauss

Benjamin R Stern

Laura M Reden

Ted Alan Bremenour

Chun Jiang Xiao

Described herein is an approach to determine a deflection of a portion of an imaging system tabletop located at iso-center utilizing a tabletop deflection determiner with a least a first portion located on a rotating gantry portion of the imaging system. In one non-limiting instance, an imaging system includes a rotating gantry portion () with an aperture defining an examination region, a tabletop () that supports a subject or object in the examination region, wherein the tabletop cantilevers into and deflects in the examination region, and a tabletop deflection determiner () that determines a deflection of the tabletop in the examination region, wherein a first portion () of the tabletop deflection determiner is located on the rotating gantry portion.

Imaging system subject support

When scanning a patient to generate an image thereof, radio frequency (RF) coil modules are scalably coupled to each other using a plurality of clips to form flat or polygonal coil arrays that are placed on or around the patient or a portion thereof. A user assesses the volume to be imaged, identifies a coil array configuration of suitable size and shape and employs clips of one or more pre-determined angles to construct the identified coil array configuration, which is placed on or about the volume. Coil modules are coupled to a preamplifier interface box (PIB), which provides preamplified coil signal(s) to a patient imaging device, such as an MRI scanner. Small arrays are constructible to accommodate pediatric patients and/or smaller animals. Modules are hermetically sealed, can be sanitized between uses, and discarded at end-of-life. In one aspect, the modular coil array, clips, and PIB are maintained in an isolated contamination zone, separate from the patient imaging device.

Integrated system of MRI RF loop coils plus spacing fixtures with biocontainment uses

A split-top RF coil is provided. The split-top RF coil includes a first housing () having a first RF coil portion () disposed therein and a second housing () having a second RF coil portion () disposed therein. A plurality of slides () disposed on at least one of the housings and a plurality of slide tracks () are disposed the housing opposite the slides for receiving the slides. The first and second housings are mechanically coupled via the slides and slide tracks. The RF coil also includes a plurality of electric connector pins () disposed on at least one of the housings and a plurality of pin receivers () disposed on the housing opposite the pins for receiving the conductor pins. Electric connections between the first and second coil RF coil portions are made via the pins and receivers.

Connection system for split-top RF coils

An RF coil construction ( ) includes removable, relocatable, and/or detachable sections ( ) that are inherently decoupled. The sections can be relocated, removed, or exchanged with sections having different coil sizes or coil configurations, allowing the coil configuration to be tailored to a desired imaging procedure and region of the brain. The coil construction provides space for stimulation devices and adjusting patient access and comfort. Since the operator can select coil removal or placement to reduce the amount of data outside the region of interest, the coil construction can also reduce scanning and reconstruction time, reduce artifacts, and provide increased temporal resolution and image throughput.

MRI RF coil systems having detachable, relocatable, and or interchangeable sections and MRI imaging systems and methods employing the same

An endocavity RF coil assembly for an MRI apparatus includes a reusable probe ( ). The reusable probe has a sealed hollow outer housing or cover having a closed distal end and an open proximate end ( ). The distal end is formed to fit into a cavity of a subject being examined. An active RF coil element ( ) is connected with a circuit board located within the outer housing. The housing includes a plurality of ABS plastic pieces ( ) that have mating surfaces that are surface treated to break polymer chains at the surface. An epoxy ( ) bonds to the polymer chain ends to connect the pieces. An over-molded form ( ) is connected to the proximate end ( ) of the outer cover or housing. The over-molded form ( ) is arranged such that it seals the proximate end ( ) of the outer cover ( ) closed. In order to make the coil assembly more assuredly sterilizable, the epoxy completely fills the seams and optionally forms a projection bead ( ) in order to smooth over and assure crevice free junctions. Crevices can shelter microbes from liquid and gaseous sterilants jeopardizing assurance that the sterilization process killed all the microbes.

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Madison, OH, United States of America

John Carlon