General Electric Company

Ricardo M Matias

Robert Steven Stormont

Dashen Chu

Scott Allen Lindsay

Saban Kurucay

Anthony D Defranco

Fraser R L Robb

Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight and low-cost stretchable radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductor wires, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier; and a stretchable material to which the loop portion and coupling electronics portion are attached and/or enclosed therein.

Systems for a radio frequency coil for MR imaging

Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost disposable radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, an RF coil assembly for an MRI imaging system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductor wires, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier; and a disposable material enclosing at least the loop portion, the disposable material comprising one or more of paper, plastic, and/or cloth.

A preamplifier is provided for a radio frequency (RF) receiver coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The preamplifier includes an amplifier configured to receive at least one magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the RF receiver coil and configured to generate an amplified MR signal. An input circuit is electrically connected to the amplifier. The input circuit is configured to be electrically connected to an output of the RF receiver coil for transmitting the at least one MR signal from the RF receiver coil to the amplifier. The input circuit includes an impedance transformer and a field effect transistor (FET). The FET is electrically connected between the impedance transformer and the amplifier. The FET has an FET impedance. The impedance transformer is configured to transform a source impedance of at least approximately 100 ohms. The impedance transformer is further configured to transform the FET impedance into a preamplifier input impedance of less than approximately 5 ohms.

System and method for receiving magnetic resonance (MR) signals with an FET electrically between preamplifier terminals

A method, system, and apparatus including a radio-frequency (RF) phased coil array for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus that includes a first RF coil element tuned to a first frequency and configured to receive MR signals and a second RF coil element tuned to a second frequency different than the first frequency and configured to receive MR signals.

Apparatus for tuning magnetic resonance coil elements and method of making same

A method, system, and apparatus including a magnetic resonance (MR) coil system that includes an MR coil element, a high input Pre-amplifier having a high input impedance field-effect-transistor (FET) with an impedance of one of substantially equal to 500 ohms and greater than 500 ohms, and a conductive path. The conductive path has a first end coupled to the MR coil element and a second end coupled to the high input Pre-amplifier such that the MR coil element is coupled in series with the high input Pre-amplifier. Further, the conductive path is free of a matching network intervening between the MR coil element and the high input Pre-amplifier.

Apparatus for feeding a magnetic resonance coil element and method of making same

A peripheral vascular coil array for providing images of a region of interest includes a first section including a first coil array and a second coil array in electrical communication with each other. The first and second coil arrays are disposed at opposite sides of the region of interest to produce a magnetic field in the region of interest. Each of the first and second coil arrays includes a butterfly coil and a loop coil.

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Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Ricardo M Matias