General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Ricardo Becerra

Eddy Benjamin Boskamp

Robert Steven Stormont

Ceylan Celil Guclu

Bijay Shah

Robert Michael Vavrek

Masahiro Fujimoto

Zhentian Xie

Paul Douglas Haig

Xiaoming Lou

John Francis Prendergast, Sr

David Leo McDaniel

Timothy John Havens

Chang Lyong Kim

Anton Max Linz

Stephen Randolph Elgin, Ii

Timothy William Skloss

Michael P Edwards

Jim L Malaney

A radio frequency (RF) body coil includes a first end ring, a second end ring, a plurality of rungs connected between the first and second end rings, at least one shim holder coupled to the first end ring, and a RF shim configured to be at least partially inserted within the shim holder, the RF shim being repositionable within the shim holder to vary an operational frequency of the RF body coil. A magnetic resonance imaging system and a method of tuning the RF body coil are also described.

Radio frequncy (RF) body coil and method for tuning an RF body coil for magnetic resonance imaging

A radio frequency (RF) birdcage coil includes a first distributed capacitance end ring, a second distributed capacitance end ring, and a plurality of rungs connected between the first and second end rings, wherein at least one of the first and second distributed capacitance end rings includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, a first plurality of conductors formed on the first side, a second plurality of conductors formed on the second side, and an insulating material deposited on the first side such that the insulating material substantially covers the first plurality of conductors.

Distributed capacitance radio frequncy (RF) coil and magnetic resonance imaging system including the same

An MRI apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, an RF coil assembly having at least a first port and a second port, an RF transceiver system having a pulse module and configured to transmit RF signals to the first port and the second port, and a computer programmed to drive the RF coil assembly in quadrature through the at least first port and the second port, measure a Bfield using at least one flux probe at two or more angular orientations within the RF coil assembly, and characterize and optimize performance of the MRI system based on the measurements of the Bfield.

Method and apparatus for characterizing and optimizing an RF coil in a magnetic resonance imaging system

A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques.

System and apparatus for detecting gamma rays in a PET/MRI scanner

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes one or more magnetic shield coils positioned asymmetrically in the casing and also positioned in close proximity to one of two apertures of an inner bore of the MRI system. In those embodiments, the position of the one or more magnetic shield coils provides an asymmetric magnetic stray field during operation of the MRI system, which in turn allows operation of electronic medical diagnostic equipment or electronic medical monitoring equipment in close proximity to the MRI.

Systems, methods and apparatus of a magnetic resonance imaging system to produce a stray field suitable for interventional use

A system and method for mimicking a human brain for MR imaging at various magnetic field strengths is disclosed. A phantom is constructed of a structure having a number of sections. A first section contains a mixture of nickel chloride, agarose gel powder, potassium sorbate, deuterium oxide, and water such that the T1, T2, and proton density values of the first section mimic white matter of the human brain. A second section contains different amounts of the same components such that the T1, T2, and proton density values of the second section mimic gray matter of the human brain. As such, when the phantom is scanned in an MR imaging machine, an optimized flip angle for T1-weighted imaging to improve contrast between white matter and gray matter of the human brain that takes into account proton density differences therebetween can be determined.

Apparatus to simulate MR properties of human brain for MR applications evaluation

The present invention provides for a method for using a silicon dioxide (SiO) material that is equally effective in improving magnetic field homogeneity during MR imaging. The present invention further provides for using silicon dioxide in its granular state. The granular silicon dioxide can then be poured inside a flexible container and the flexible container can be formed to fit any contour of the body.

Method and apparatus for enhanced fat saturation during MRI

A method and apparatus are disclosed for combining the respective readout signals for a loop and butterfly coil pair of a quadrature phased array used for magnetic resonance imaging. The technique used to combine the signals introduces a 180 degree phase shift, or multiple thereof, to the loop coil signal, thereby allowing the loop coil signal to be decoupled from other loop coil signals by a low input impedance preamplifier in series with the signal.

Method and apparatus for decoupling quadrature phased array coils

A feedback circuit is provided for reducing the input impedance of a preamplifier circuit, such as for use with a sensing coil in an imaging system. The feedback circuit permits adjustment of the input impedance by balancing inductive and capacitive components of a feedback control circuit. The imaginary component of the input impedance may be adjusted independently of the real component, to provide a substantially zero input impedance, while allowing adjustment of the stability of the system. The circuitry may function in conjunction with a reactance matching circuit to reduce cross-talk in multiple sensing coil arrangements.

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Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Ricardo Becerra