University of Alberta

Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich

Alberta Health Services

Unversität Zürich

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (eth) and Universität Zürich

Universität Zürich Prorektorat Forschung Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule

Nicola De Zanche

Justin G Pollock

Ashwin K Iyer

Klass Prüssmann

Christoph Barmet

David Brunner

Jürg Froehlich

Klaas Prüssmann

Jurek Nordmeyer-Massner

Peter S Allen

Klaas PRÜSSMANN

Jürg Fröhlich

A metamaterial liner for an MRI bore. The metamaterial liner may cover only a portion of the MRI bore, allowing travelling wave excitations within the lined portion. By restricting the waves to the lined portion, improved signal to noise ratio may be provided. The lined length may be adjustable, for example by forming the metamaterial liner of removable annular segments. A method is provided of adjusting the length of the lined portion by removing metamaterial segments. The segments may be included in interchangeable modules. The MRI liner is suitable for any magnetic field strength, and in particular may provide improved signal to noise at reduced technical difficulty at magnetic field strengths between conventional field strengths suitable for a birdcage coil and conventional travelling wave field strengths.

MRI metamaterial liner

A liner for a bore of a waveguide is provided. The liner as an aperture passing through it and is formed of a metamaterial that has a relative electrical permittivity that is negative and near zero. When the liner is installed in the waveguide, it lowers the cutoff frequency of the waveguide while allowing the waveguide to remain hollow. This liner can be used in the bore of an MRI machine to lower the cutoff frequency of the bore of the MRI machine to allow the MRI machine to operate using waves having a lower frequency that if the liner was not used.

Metamaterial liners for high-field-strength traveling-wave magnetic resonance imaging

A method for acquiring an image or spectrum of a subject or object residing within the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprises the steps of: executing a predetermined pulse sequence for applying gradient magnetic fields and for coupling in electromagnetic excitation pulses to induce nuclear magnetic resonance within the subject or object; detecting an electromagnetic signal resulting from said magnetic resonance; and constructing at least one image or magnetic resonance spectrum of said subject or object from said detected electromagnetic signal. According to the invention, said coupling in of the electromagnetic excitation pulse and/or said detecting of the electromagnetic signal are carried out substantially by means of travelling electromagnetic waves.

Travelling-wave nuclear magnetic resonance method

A magnetic field probe comprises a sample that exhibits magnetic resonance at an operating frequency, an electrically conductive structure surrounding the sample for receiving a magnetic resonance signal therefrom, and a solid jacket encasing the sample and the conductive structure. The jacket is made of a hardened two-component epoxy system containing a paramagnetic dopant dissolved therein, with the concentration of the dopant being chosen such that the jacket has a magnetic susceptibility that is substantially identical to the magnetic susceptibility of the conductive structure.

Magnetic field probe and method for manufacturing the same

A coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging comprises a sheet () of flexible and stretchable dielectric material and at least one electrically conducting coil () for receiving and/or emitting a radio frequency signal. The coil is attached to and extends along a face of the flexible sheet. At least part of the coil is made of a ribbon shaped braided conductor () that is arranged in substantially flat contact with the face.

Coil assembly and multiple coil arrangement for magnetic resonance imaging

A shielded birdcage-type radiofrequency (RF) resonance coil having a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to a Cassinian oval. The placement of longitudinal conducting elements in the former of the coil is determined numerically by conformal mapping of the equally distributed positions of the conductors in a circular coil onto a Cassinian oval.

Nuclear magnetic resonance birdcage coil with Cassinian oval former

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Nicola De Zanche