Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Lambertus De Vries

Marinus Johannes Adrianus Maria Van Helvoort

Johannes Den Boef

Marc Paul Saes

Filips Van Liere

Achim Hilgers

Dagnachew Birru

Eberhard Waffenschmidt

Cornelis Leonardus Gerardus Ham

Derk Reefman

Robert Paul Kleihorst

Bjoern Weissler

Henricus Gerardus Roeven

Marinus J A M Van Helvoort

Jeff Bennett

Rodney Housen

Pieter Gerrit Blanden

Johannes Hendrik Den Boef

Marcellus Hendricus Marinus Waltherus Melters

Volkmar Schulz

Arne Reykowski

Kai-Michael Luedeke

The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a main magnet () adapted for generating a main magnetic field; at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit () for acquiring magnetic resonance signals in a receiver coil radio frequency band () from an examined object (); means () for inductively (wirelessly) supplying electric power to an electric component of the apparatus, wherein the electric component is adapted to be powered by inductively supplied electric power, wherein the power transfer frequency () and the higher-harmonics () of the power transfer frequency () for inductively supplying the electric power are located outside the receiver coil radio frequency band ().

Inductively powered electric component of an MRI apparatus

The invention relates to a RF reception antenna device () for receiving MR signals in a MR imaging system. The device () comprises a RF resonant circuit including a RF reception antenna () for picking up the MR signals, and a RF amplifier () connected at its input to the RF resonant circuit for amplifying the picked up MR signals. The invention proposes to make provision for a detection circuit () configured to derive a switching signal from an output signal of the RF amplifier (). A switching circuit () is responsive to the switching signal, wherein the switching circuit () is configured to switch the RF resonant circuit between a resonant mode and a non-resonant (i.e. detuned) mode.

Detunable RF reception antenna device

A method and an arrangement for uni- or bidirectional wireless communication of signals or data especially in a reflective environment like a MR imaging system, between at least one first transmitter and/or receiver unit (; T/R) and at least one second transmitter and/or receiver unit (; T/R) is disclosed. The reliability and availability of the communication link especially in a highly reflective environment is improved especially by using spread spectrum technology and ultra wide band carrier frequencies.

Method and arrangement for wireless communication of signals in a MR system

The invention relates to a device () for magnetic resonance imaging of a body () placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field comprising a main magnet () for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone. In order to provide an MR device () which is arranged to allow for massive parallel imaging without extensive cabling between the individual receiving coils and the back end electronics, the invention proposes to make provision for a plurality of receiving units () placed in or near the examination zone, which receiving units () each comprise a receiving antenna () for receiving MR signals from the body, a digitizing means () for sampling the received MR signals and for transforming the signal samples into digital signals, and a transmitter () for transmitting the digital signals to a central processing unit (). Further, the device () comprises synchronization means () for synchronizing the operation of the individual digitizing means () of the receiving units ().

RF receive coil assembly with individual digitizers and means for synchronization thereof

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Lambertus De Vries