University of Nebraska

Board of Regents - Univ of Ne

Other

Randall W Jones

Fred R Davis

A surface coil system for single channel MRI reception comprising a coil system including a plurality of self-resonant, overlapping coil conductor sections arranged relative to one another and to anatomical regions of a patient such that a combination of regions form a desired larger region of interest, a control unit located remotely from the coil system and electromagnetically communicating therewith, having means for selectively electronically activating and deactivating each coil section to produce MRI output signals when activated, means for combining selected MRI output signals, and means for electrically connecting the coil system to an MRI system to transmit selected MRI signals to the MRI system.

Surface coil system for a single channel NMR receiver

A NMR conformal solenoidal coil includes a generally cylindrical parallel-wound solenoidal coil which can be oriented at any angle within the plane transverse to the static magnetic field. The cylindrical shape has been modified to conform to fit closely over hands, wrist, and feet. One end remains circular while the opposite is oval. A diagonal winding of the conductors about the generally cylindrical form are in parallel with the diagonally cut ends of the coil form, such that the coil windings are in a plane orthogonal to the transverse plane; thereby optimizing their efficiencies.

NMR conformal solenoidal coil

A NMR abdominal coil array includes four critically overlapped resonant loops fixed upon a generally 'C-shaped' (curved) coil form with an anterior housing pivotally connected and supported by a posterior form. Three of the loops are fixed to an anterior housing which is curved from a generally horizontal upper end to a generally vertical lower end, and pivotally connected to a generally vertically oriented flange forming the upper end of the posterior housing. This upper end of the posterior housing contains the remaining resonant loop. The anterior housing is pivotally connected to the posterior housing about a single horizontal axis, permitting both slight adjustment for patient size, and substantial movement for entry and exit of a patient.

NMR adjustable volume array

A NMR Quadrature Detection Array includes two generally linear arrays; one oriented in a horizontal plane and sensitive to vertically oriented changing magnetic flux, and the other oriented in a vertical plane bisecting the horizontal plane and sensitive to horizontally oriented flux changes. Each horizontal coil is electronically paired with a vertical coil such that their NMR signals are combined in a quadrature fashion before transmission to the NMR system preamplifier. The coil arrays are sized to accommodate easy positioning within the NMR system table top assembly as well as to facilitate rapid and easy patient positioning about the coil elements.

NMR quadrature detection array

A NMR liver coil includes an anterior housing supporting a plurality of NMR coils pivotally connected to a posterior housing supporting a NMR coil. The anterior housing is curved from a generally horizontal upper end to a generally vertical lower end, and pivotally connected to a generally vertically oriented flange forming the upper end of the posterior housing. The posterior housing is curved from the forward to the rearward end to conform to the curvature of a conventional NMR patient table, with the flange curving rearwardly and upwardly from the upper end of the posterior housing. The anterior housing is operably and pivotally connected to the posterior housing about a pair of pivotal axes, such that pivotal movement about a first pivotal axis will permit movement of the anterior housing from a working position with the anterior housing upper end oriented generally horizontally over the posterior housing, to an open position with the upper end of the anterior housing generally vertical. Pivotal movement about the second pivotal axis permits adjustability of the anterior housing within the working position, varying the distance between the anterior housing upper end and posterior housing to permit various patient sizes between the anterior and posterior housings.

NMR liver coil

A shoulder coil of the present invention includes a generally ring-shaped transverse housing oriented in a vertical plane with a parallel wound solenoid supported therein. Annular anterior and posterior housings are mounted diametric on said transverse housing and perpendicularly thereto, and have antenna loops supported therein. The anterior and posterior housings are preferably mounted in planes which diverge downwardly at an angle of approximately 30.degree. from parallel to one another. The transverse housing is a generally cylindrical shaped strap having opposite side edges, with the lower half of the transverse housing folded such that the side edges are abutting to form a joined edge. The anterior, posterior, and transverse housing are preferably formed of a resilient semi-flexible plastic material with the loop antennas and solenoid embedded therein such that the housings may be manipulated and formed to provide a garment-like fit on the shoulder of a patient.

NMR shoulder coil

A NMR pelvic coil includes an anterior housing with a support arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, and a posterior housing with a base arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, the two housings pivotally connected at the rearward ends of their respective support and base arms, for pivotal movement towards and away from one another. The anterior and posterior housings each support a plurality of NMR coils, and are curved from side edge to side edge towards one another to closely conform to the patient anatomy as well as the curvature of the patient table. An adjustment bar is pivotally connected to the base arm and extends upwardly and through an aperture in the support arm, and includes teeth thereon so as to selectively engage the support arm to hold the anterior housing in the desired position relative to the posterior housing.

Growing community of inventors

Elkhorn, NE, United States of America

Randall W Jones