Method and apparatus for high-gain magnetic resonance imaging

• US 20080169811A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tursiop Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Tursiop Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Viswanathan, Raju R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,679,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34007 Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34046 Volume type coils, e.g. bird-cage coils; Quadrature bird-cage coils; Circularly polarised coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34076 Birdcage coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/341 comprising surface coils

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratios (SNR). Radio Frequency transmitting and/or Radio Frequency receiving elements include carbon nanotube material, a ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. The shapes of the receiving and transmitting elements can be linear, curvilinear, or coiled. The carbon nanotube material can be layered. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, preferred embodiments have smaller static magnetic field strengths with imaging quality comparable to known field systems, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost. Other preferred embodiments provide enhanced imaging with known MRI static magnetic field strengths.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging system having an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, the system comprising:

a magnet system for providing a static magnetic field; and

at least one RF receiving coil assembly, the RF receiving coil assembly including;

at least one electrical conducting element consisting essentially of layered carbon nanotube material; and

RF receiving circuitry having a high quality factor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical conducting element in the RF receiving coil assembly has a substantially straight geometry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical conducting element in the RF receiving coil assembly has a substantially curvilinear geometry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet system for providing a static magnetic field provides a magnetic field strength of between 0.02 Tesla and 10.00 Tesla.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one RF receiving coil assembly has between 0.5 and 10 complete windings of electrical conducting material consisting essentially of layered carbon nanotube material.

6. An RF receiving coil assembly for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the RF receiving coil assembly comprising:

at least one electrical conducting element consisting essentially of layered carbon nanotube material; and

RF receiving circuitry having a high quality factor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the electrical conducting element in the RF receiving coil assembly has a substantially straight geometry.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the electrical conducting element in the RF receiving coil assembly has a curvilinear geometry.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one RF receiving coil has between 0.5 and 10 complete windings of electrical conducting material consisting essentially of layered carbon nanotube material.

10. A magnetic resonance imaging system having an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, the system comprising:

a magnet system for providing a static magnetic field; and

at least one RF receiving coil assembly, the RF receiving coil assembly including;

at least one electrical conducting element consisting essentially of carbon nanotube material, the conducting element being characterized by one of;

a substantially straight geometry;

a substantially curvilinear geometry;

and a coil geometry with between 0.5 and 10 complete windings; and

RF receiving circuitry having a high quality factor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the magnet system for providing a static magnetic field provides a magnetic field strength of between 0.02 Tesla and 10.00 Tesla.

12. An RF receiving coil assembly for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the RF receiving coil assembly comprising:

at least one electrical conducting element consisting essentially of carbon nanotube material, the conducting element being characterized by one of;

a substantially straight geometry;

a substantially curvilinear geometry; and

a coil geometry with between 0.5 and 10 complete windings.