Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Medical Systems (cleveland), Inc.

Robert Gauss

Gordon D DeMeester

Michael Andrew Morich

Zhiyong Zhai

Wayne R Dannels

Michael Burl

David Leslie Foxall

Eddy Y Wong

John Carlon

Kevin Nieman

Eddy Yu Ping Wong

Chun Jiang Xiao

A magnetic resonance coil comprises a first set of coil elements () operatively connectable with a transmit channel () to couple with a transmit region of sensitivity for a selected load at a magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla, and a second set of coil elements () operatively connectable with a receive channel () to couple with a receive region of sensitivity for the selected load at the magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla. The first set of coil elements is arranged proximate to but not surrounding the transmit region of sensitivity, and the second set of coil elements is arranged proximate to but not surrounding the receive region of sensitivity. The first set of coil elements and the second set of coil elements having at least one coil element () not in common. The first and second sets of coil elements define transmit and receive regions of sensitivity for the selected load at the magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla that are substantially similar.

Transmit/receive coil for ultra-high field MRI

A radio frequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy includes a plurality of generally parallel conductive members () surrounding a region of interest (). One or more end members () are disposed generally transverse to the plurality of parallel conductive members. A generally cylindrical radio frequency shield () surrounds the plurality of generally parallel conductive members. Switchable circuitry (') selectably has: (i) a first switched configuration () in which the conductive members are operatively connected with the one or more end members; and (ii) a second switched configuration () in which the conductive members are operatively connected with the radio frequency shield. The radio frequency coil operates in a birdcage resonance mode in the first switched configuration and operates in a TEM resonance mode in the second switched configuration.

RF volume coil with selectable field of view

When scanning a patient to generate an image thereof, radio frequency (RF) coil modules are scalably coupled to each other using a plurality of clips to form flat or polygonal coil arrays that are placed on or around the patient or a portion thereof. A user assesses the volume to be imaged, identifies a coil array configuration of suitable size and shape and employs clips of one or more pre-determined angles to construct the identified coil array configuration, which is placed on or about the volume. Coil modules are coupled to a preamplifier interface box (PIB), which provides preamplified coil signal(s) to a patient imaging device, such as an MRI scanner. Small arrays are constructible to accommodate pediatric patients and/or smaller animals. Modules are hermetically sealed, can be sanitized between uses, and discarded at end-of-life. In one aspect, the modular coil array, clips, and PIB are maintained in an isolated contamination zone, separate from the patient imaging device.

Integrated system of MRI RF loop coils plus spacing fixtures with biocontainment uses

A radio frequency coil includes an operative radio frequency circuit (') and a trap radio frequency circuit (&#x2032;). The operative radio frequency circuit is tuned to a magnetic resonance frequency and is spatially configured to at least one of generate magnetic resonance in or receive magnetic resonance from a spatial region of interest. The trap radio frequency circuit is tuned to block a selected frequency and is disposed with the operative radio frequency circuit. The trap radio frequency circuit includes at least a generally linear transmission line () having a first end (&#x2032;) at which the operative radio frequency circuit and the trap radio frequency circuit are coupled together and a second end () at which the generally linear transmission line is terminated with a termination impedance ().

RF traps for radio frequency coils used in MRI

A tunable radio frequency birdcage coil ( ) has an improved tuning range for use with a magnetic resonance apparatus. The coil includes a pair of end ring conductors ( ) which are connected by a plurality of spaced leg conductors (L , L , . . ., L ) to form a generally cylindrical volume. Both the end rings and the leg conductors contain reactive elements, preferably capacitors (C , C , . . ., C ). The radio frequency coil also includes a pair of tuning rings ( ) for tuning the reactive elements (C , C , . . ., C ), which each include a non-conductive support cylinder ( ) and a plurality of tuning bands ( and ) which extend axially along the outer surface of the support cylinder ( ). The tuning rings ( ) are rotated or translated with respect to the leg conductors (L , L , . . ., L ) in order to vary capacitance and inductance of the coil ( ) to tune the ( ) coil to the desired resonant frequency.

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Aurora, OH, United States of America

Robert Gauss