Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Koninklijle Philips N.v.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Peter Vernickel

Christoph G Leussler

Oliver Lips

Christian Findeklee

Ingo Schmale

Peter Mazurkewitz

Ulrich Wolfgang Katscher

Ingmar Graesslin

Bernhard Gleich

Daniel Wirtz

Steffen Weiss

Peter Boernert

Christoph Günther Leussler

Sascha Krueger

Tim Nielsen

Jürgen Erwin Rahmer

Kai-Michael Luedeke

Johan Samuel Van Den Brink

Peter Forthmann

Falk Uhlemann

Jochen Keupp

Klaus Erhard

Claas Bontus

Frank Bergner

Joachim Schmidt

Cecilia Possanzini

Christopher Günther Leussler

Marius Hanft

Christian Findeklkee

Christian Findelkee

Nikolas David Schnellbächer

An imaging system (MIS), optionally a medical imaging system, with wireless communication capability and related method. The imaging system comprises a gantry (RG) rotatable around a rotation axis. The gantry includes a detector device (D) capable of recording, in plural spatial positions, measurement data in relation to a subject (such as a patient) (PAT) to be imaged. The system also includes a radio transmitter (TX) for generating a directed radio beam propagatable along a propagation axis to transmit the measurement data to a radio receiver (RX). The radio transmitter (TX) is arranged at the rotatable gantry and is operable so that the propagation direction intersects the rotation axis in a location that is situated away from the rotatable gantry.

Wireless CT data transmission

The invention relates to the field of magnetic resonance, and in particular to determining a location of an error in a supply or signal line. Due to the rugged environment for MR systems in hospitals supply or signal lines of MR systems are error prone. For serviceability and part replacement it is important to locate the error in the supply or signal line or to identify the subunit of the supply or signal line in which the error occurred. The basic idea of the invention is to use an additional impedance, that is coupled to the supply or signal line of the MR system in the region of interconnection for locating the error in the supply or signal line. The additional impedance provides a reference impedance value. By measuring the impedance and comparing the measured impedance to the reference impedance value, the error in the supply or signal line can be located. In one embodiment the additional impedance is realized as additional capacitance and provided as a capacitor.

Locating an error in a supply or signal line of a magnetic resonance system

For a radio frequency (RF) receiver system () for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a solution for compensating residual coupling of RF receive coil elements () in the radio frequency (RF) receiver () system shall be created. This is achieved by a radio frequency (RF) receiver system for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, the RF receiver system () comprising at least two simultaneously used RF receive coil elements (), wherein the RF receive coil element () comprises a signal generator () for providing a compensation signal and an excitation path (), wherein the excitation path () is configured to couple the compensation signal into the RF receive coil element (), for reducing residual coupling in the RF receiver system () by means of the compensation signal coupled into the RF receive coil element (). The present invention also refers to a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for active decoupling of a radio frequency (RF) receiver system () of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method as described in the claims.

Radio frequency (RF) receiver system with active decoupling

For a radio frequency (RF) receiver system a solution for a safe operation of the radio frequency (RF) receiver system in magnetic resonance imaging shall be ensured. This is achieved by a radio frequency (RF) receiver system for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system the RF receiver system, wherein the RF receiver system comprises at least one RF receive coil with at least one detune circuit (). The detune circuit () comprises at least a pair of crossed diodes (D, D) with an interface, wherein the interface is configured to measure an electrical current in the detune circuit () to determine the proper function of the PIN diodes (D, D) by measuring the detune direct current for a first detune voltage polarity and for a second reversed detune voltage polarity. The present invention also provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a method for ensuring a safe radio frequency (RF) receiver system operation in magnetic resonance imaging, a software package for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, a software package for upgrading a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system and a computer program product.

Radio frequency receiver with detection of a malfunction of a detune circuit

A method of setting an RF operating frequency of an MRI system () uses a first reference frequency signal, obtained from a geo-satellite positioning system, as a stable long term frequency reference. A second frequency source () is calibrated using the first frequency reference signal and the second frequency reference source () is then used as the master clock for the MRI system (), for setting the RF operating frequency.

Magnetic resonance imaging system and method using frequency calibration based on a signal from a geo-satellite positioning system

The invention also refers to a flexible coil element for a flexible coil array, for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The invention also refers to a flexible coil array, for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, for indicating a loading state of a flexible coil element being positioned on at least one inductive element. The invention also refers to a method for indicating a loading state of a flexible coil element being positioned on at least one inductive element. The flexible coil element is comprised by a flexible coil array, wherein the flexible coil array comprises at least one flexible coil element. Furthermore, the invention refers to a software package comprising instructions for carrying out the method steps.

Indication of a loading state of a flexible coil element

The invention relates to the field of magnetic resonance, and in particular to determining a location of an error in a supply or signal line (). Due to the rugged environment for MR systems () in hospitals supply or signal lines () of MR systems () are error prone. For serviceability and part replacement it is important to locate the error in the supply or signal line () or to identify the subunit () of the supply or signal line () in which the error occurred. The basic idea of the invention is to use an additional impedance (), that is coupled to the supply or signal line () of the MR system () in the region of interconnection () for locating the error in the supply or signal line (). The additional impedance provides a reference impedance value. By measuring the impedance and comparing the measured impedance to the reference impedance value, the error in the supply or signal line () can be located. In one embodiment the additional impedance () is realized as additional capacitance and provided as a capacitor ().

The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: a subject support () configured for moving a subject between a loading position () and an imaging position (); a receive magnetic resonance imaging coil () configured for being placed on the subject; and a light detection system () comprising at least one ambient light sensor for measuring light data (). The light detection system is any one of the following: mounted to the main magnet such that the light data is measured from the imaging zone and mounted to the receive magnetic resonance imaging coil. The execution of the machine executable () instructions by a processor () cause the processor to: move () the subject support from the loading position to the imaging position; acquire () the light data using the at least one ambient light sensor when the subject support is in the imaging position; determine () if the receive magnetic resonance imaging coil is positioned for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data using the light data; and provide () a signal () if the receive magnetic resonance imaging coil is positioned for acquiring the magnetic resonance imaging data.

Automated detection of receive coil location

The present invention is directed to a RF transmit system () for a magnetic resonance examination system where it is intended to provide a solution for the problem of rapidly switching between operation modes of different peak power requirements at good power efficiencies. For this purpose the RF transmit system () comprises at least one RF channel () wherein the RF channel () has an RF amplifier (), at least two power supply devices () wherein each of the power supply devices () is configured to supply a voltage to the amplifier (). The RF transmit system () further comprises a DC switch () configured to switch the voltage supplied to the amplifier () between the power supply devices () and a controller () configured to switch the voltage based on sensor data.

RF transmit system with switchable power supply device

The present disclosure relates to a method for configuring a radio frequency, RF, transmit assembly () for a magnetic resonance imaging system () for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject within an imaging zone using an RF pulse sequence, the RF transmit assembly () comprising an RF amplifier () and a transmit coil (), wherein the RF transmit assembly () is configurable with a set of configuration parameters. The method comprises: providing () operating conditions of the RF transmit assembly, the operating conditions being indicative of at least: a property of the RF pulse sequence and a measurable parameter that influences the RF pulse sequence property when operating the RF transmit assembly using the RF pulse sequence; using () a predefined machine learning model for determining, for the operating conditions, at least part of the set of configuration parameters and associated values; configuring () the RF transmit assembly () in accordance with the determined configuration parameters and associated values.

Method for configuring a RF transmit assembly

A multi-channel RF transmit system () especially for use in a magnetic resonance examination system comprising, a plurality of RF channels () wherein each of the RF channels () has an RF amplifier. The multi-channel RF transmit system () further comprises a power supply device () configured to supply power to the amplifiers (), a first capacitor bank (), wherein the first capacitor bank () is connected to the power supply device () and connected to a first RF amplifier (), a second capacitor bank (), wherein the second capacitor bank () is connected to the power supply device () and connected to a second RF amplifier () and a third capacitor bank () also connected to the power supply device (). The third capacitor bank () is connected to a DC switch (), wherein the DC switch () is configured to switch the power supplied by the third capacitor bank () to the first amplifier () or the second amplifier (). Therefore, a multi-channel RF transmit system () is disclosed where parts of the total available capabilities of discrete stored energy can be directed to one or the other RF amplifier channel () leading to a more effective and cost saving design of the DC power supply chain.

Multi-channel RF transmit system

The invention relates to a shim iron () for use with an magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus (), wherein the shim iron () is comprised of a stack of shim plates (), wherein at least two of the shim plates () comprise slits, the slits forming a respective slit pattern of the slit shim plates (), and wherein the slit patterns, when viewed from the same viewing direction, are comprised of at least two different slit patterns which may not be brought into congruent coverage with each other. In this way, a shim iron () is provided which does not heat up to high temperatures due to eddy currents.

Shim irons for a magnetic resonance apparatus

The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system () comprising a main magnet () for generating a main magnetic field within an imaging zone (). The magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises an RF coil () for acquiring magnetic resonance data () from the imaging zone, wherein the RF coil comprises multiple RF ports (). The RF coil comprises a switch unit () for at least one of the multiple RF ports to individually couple or uncouple the at least one of of the multiple RF ports from the RF coil. The magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises a radio-frequency system () for supplying radio-frequency power to each of the multiple RF ports and an RF matching detection system () for measuring impedance matching data () between the radio-frequency system and the RF coil. Execution of the machine executable instructions causes a processor controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to measure () the impedance matching data using the RF matching detection system; determine () switch unit control instructions () using the impedance matching data, wherein the switch control instructions contain commands that control the at least one of the multiple RF ports to couple or decouple to impedance match the radio-frequency system to the RF coil; and control () the switch unit of the at least one of the multiple RF ports with the switch unit control instructions.

Impedance matching using multiple ports

The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system () comprising a radio frequency system () configured for acquiring magnetic resonance data () from an imaging zone (). The radio frequency system is configured for sending and receiving radio frequency signals to acquire the magnetic resonance data, wherein the radio frequency system comprises: an elliptical transmission coil () configured for generating a B1+ excitation field within the imaging zone; and an active B1 shim coil () configured for being placed within the imaging zone, wherein the radio frequency system is configured for suppling radio frequency power to the active B1 shim coil during the generation of the B1+ excitation field by the elliptical transmission coil, wherein the B1 shim coil is configured for shimming the B1+ excitation field within the imaging zone.

Active b1+ shimming of transmission coils

The present invention is directed to a system comprising a body coil () for magnetic resonance imaging and an RF amplifier connected to the body coil () for feeding the body coil () with an RF signal, wherein the body coil () comprises two different ports () for feeding the RF signal into the body coil (), the body coil () is provided with a switch for selectively activating only one single port () for feeding the RF signal to the body coil () at a time, and the two ports () are located at different locations of the body coil () such that the dependence of the reflected part of the RF signal fed into the body coil () from the weight of the examination object () to which the body coil () is applied is different for the two ports (). In this way, a possibility for adapting a MRI measurement to different load situations due to different weights of an examination object () in an easy and efficient way is provided, thereby providing the possibility for impedance matching of the body coil by selecting the appropriate driven port.

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Hamburg, Germany

Peter Vernickel