Transmitter device for a magnetic resonance scanner

• US 10,338,169 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Heid, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney E
• Application Number:
  US15/054,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20160252593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 324322
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3607 RF waveform generators, e.g. frequency generators, amplitude-, frequency- or phase modulators or shifters, pulse programmers, digital to analog converters for the RF signal, means for filtering or attenuating of the RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3614 RF power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3628 Tuning/matching of the transmit/receive coil

Abstract

A transmitter device for a magnetic resonance scanner includes a transmitter that is arranged in spatial proximity of a transmission coil that is connected thereto. The transmitter is embodied as a high-frequency power source that is connected directly to the transmission coil.

Claims

1. A transmitter device for a magnetic resonance scanner, the transmitter device comprising:

a transmitter that is arranged in spatial proximity to a transmission coil, the transmission coil being connected to the transmitter,

wherein the transmitter is configured as a high-frequency power source that is connected directly to the transmission coil,

wherein the high-frequency power source comprises a voltage source and a discrete λ

/4 transformer,

wherein the voltage source comprises a clocked switching voltage source with a plurality of switching elements, the voltage source being fed from an alternating voltage source during operation of the transmitter device, and

wherein the plurality of switching elements of the clocked switching voltage source are controlled in a digital synchronous fashion during the operation of the transmitter device, as a result of which amplitude modulation is produced based on a timing pattern of actuation of the plurality of switching elements and a frequency of a switching clock.

2. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the discrete λ

/4 transformer comprises a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, a λ

/4 line, or a T element.

3. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the direct connection of the transmission coil and the high-frequency power source is implemented via a non-homogeneous transmission line.

4. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the transmission coil comprises an inductor and a capacitor that is connected in series therewith, and

wherein the inductor and the capacitor are adjusted in a series-resonant fashion.

5. A transmitter device for a magnetic resonance scanner, the transmitter device comprising:

a transmitter that is arranged in spatial proximity to a transmission coil, the transmission coil being connected to the transmitter,

wherein the transmitter is configured as a high-frequency power source that is connected directly to the transmission coil,

wherein the high-frequency power source comprises a voltage source and a discrete λ

/4 transformer, and

wherein during operation of the transmitter device, a current that flows through the transmission coil is kept constant in that when a reactance of the transmission coil changes owing to detuning, resistive loading, or a combination thereof, a feed voltage of the voltage source is varied.

6. The transmitter device of claim 5, wherein the discrete λ

/4 transformer comprises a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, a λ

/4 line, or a T element.

7. The transmitter device of claim 5, wherein the direct connection of the transmission coil and the high-frequency power source is implemented via a non-homogeneous transmission line.

8. The transmitter device of claim 5, wherein the transmission coil comprises an inductor and a capacitor that is connected in series therewith, and

wherein the inductor and the capacitor are adjusted in a series-resonant fashion.