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:
Jul. 14, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2008
Jian Jun Du, Shenzhen, CN;
Ludwig Kreischer, Dormitz, DE;
Jian Zhong LI, Shenzhen, CN;
Jian Hua Pei, Shenzhen, CN;
Jian Jun Du, Shenzhen, CN;
Ludwig Kreischer, Dormitz, DE;
Jian Zhong Li, Shenzhen, CN;
Jian Hua Pei, Shenzhen, CN;
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
The present invention discloses a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for scanning a spine, comprising a body coil for emitting signals, a patient table within the body coil and a spine coil for receiving signals, wherein said spine coil is fixed within said body coil and disposed under said patient table. Said patient table is movable within said body coil by slide rails fitted at the two sides thereof, so as to reduce the length of said spine coil. The cross section of said patient table is in an arched shape, and the cross section of said spine coil is in an arched shape which matches that of said patient table. By using the apparatus of the present invention, since the spine coil is disposed underneath the board of the patient table, the design and production of the board of the patient table are simplified, the number of radio frequency choke coils and radio frequency element units is reduced and so are the costs; also, the space for the patient is increased, so the patient's comfort is improved; and furthermore, the repeated plugging and unplugging of the spine coil, as in the prior art, are avoided so as to reduce the probability of damaging the coil.