The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1997
Charles Lucian Dumoulin, Ballston, NY (US);
Ronald Dean Watkins, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Robert David Darrow, Scotia, NY (US);
Steven Peter Souza, Williamstown, MA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
An optical coupling is incorporated into an invasive device used in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The coupling is incorporated into the invasive device between an imaging or tracking RF coil, and the MR receiver. The optical coupling has a first transducer circuit coupled to the RF which converts between optical and electrical signals. An optical fiber is coupled to the first transducer circuit and extends out of the invasive device to medical imaging equipment. Near this equipment, a second transducer circuit converts optical signals to electrical, and electrical signals to optical, just opposite that of the first transducer circuit. The present invention thereby replaces long lead wires which can cause heating during MR imaging, and may distort an MR image.