Magnetic resonance system and method for operating the same
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a magnetic resonance system and operating method, antenna elements in an antenna array are disposed around an examination volume, and each antenna element has a separate transmission channel and reception channel associated therewith. The magnetic resonance apparatus is operated to obtain magnetic resonance signals, from which amplitude and phase information are derived for the individual antenna elements, and this information is used to subsequently operate the antenna elements in the array to emit RF energy with a predetermined phase and amplitude so as to generate focused RF energy for hyperthermic treatment. The magnetic resonance apparatus can also be used to obtain magnetic resonance signals in intervals which during which the hyperthermic treatment is interrupted, from which the temperature of the region being treated can be ascertained.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1-13. -13. (Cancelled)
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14. A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
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a basic field magnet that generates a basic magnetic field in an examination volume;
at least one gradient coil that generates at least one gradient magnetic field in the examination volume;
a plurality of radio-frequency antennas disposed in an array around the examination volume for radiating RF energy into, and receiving RF energy from, the examination volume;
a plurality of separate transmission channels respectively connected to the plurality of RF antennas;
a plurality of separate reception channels respectively connected to the plurality of RF antennas; and
a control unit connected to said at least one gradient coil and to said plurality of RF antennas for operating said at least one gradient coil and said plurality of RF antennas to acquire magnetic resonance signals having an amplitude and a phase, from the subject, said control unit determining, for each antenna in said plurality of RF antennas, the amplitude and the phase of the magnetic resonance signal received by that antenna, and said control unit activating the antennas in said plurality of RF antennas independently of each other to emit RF energy of a prescribed phase and amplitude into examination volume to generate an RF field focused in the examination volume for hyperthermic treatment of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising the steps of:
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operating a basic field magnet, at least one gradient coil, and an RF antenna array comprised of a plurality of antenna elements, to radiate RF energy into, and to receive resulting magnetic resonance signals from, a body region of a patient disposed in an examination volume, said magnetic resonance signals containing location-dependent amplitude and phase information;
from said location-dependent amplitude and phase information, determining, for each antenna element in the antenna array, an amplitude and a phase required for emitting RF energy from that antenna element to produce focused RF energy from the array into the body region; and
operating the individual antenna elements of the antenna array respectively with the determined and amplitude and phase to emit said focused RF energy for a hyperthermia treatment in the body region. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification