EXTERNAL MRI IMAGING COIL ASSEMBLIES AND MRI-GUIDED INTERVENTIONAL SYSTEMS UTILIZING SAME

• US 20090079431A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Original Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, David, Keidl, Christopher, Piferi, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00911 for fields applied by a magnetic resonance imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3407 including a base for support on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3409 including needle or instrument drives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/101 Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/254 being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/103 Cranial plugs for access to brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 : involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 : Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 : with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 : Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 : Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 : Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/286 : involving passive visualization of interventional instruments, i.e. making the instrument visible as part of the normal MR process
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/287 : involving active visualization of interventional instruments, e.g. using active tracking RF coils or coils for intentionally creating magnetic field inhomogeneities
• 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 33/3415 : comprising arrays of sub-coils , i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels

Abstract

An MRI imaging coil assembly includes a primary external MRI imaging coil and a secondary external MRI imaging coil positioned proximate to the primary MRI imaging coil. The primary imaging coil has a plurality of spaced-apart RF coils and is configured to surround at least a portion of a patient. The secondary imaging coil has at least one RF coil and cooperates with the primary imaging coil to provide MRI signals to an MRI scanner. The secondary imaging coil can be movably positioned relative to the primary imaging coil. The secondary imaging coil can be movably secured to the primary imaging coil or to a patient support surface.

Claims

1. An MRI imaging coil assembly, comprising:

a primary external MRI imaging coil having a plurality of spaced-apart RF coils and configured to surround at least a portion of a patient; and

a secondary external MRI imaging coil having at least one RF coil positioned proximate to the primary MRI imaging coil;

wherein the primary and secondary imaging coils cooperate to provide MRI signals to an MRI scanner.

2. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein an image produced by the MRI imaging coil assembly has no greater than one-hundred percent (100%) difference in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across a volume thereof.

3. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has an open-face, substantially U-shaped configuration.

4. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil extends longitudinally to define a first direction, and wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is movably positioned relative to the primary MRI imaging coil along the first direction and/or along a second direction transverse to the first direction.

5. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is movably secured to the primary MRI imaging coil.

6. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil has an arcuate configuration.

7. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil has a planar configuration.

8. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary MRI imaging coils are telescopically adjustable relative to each other.

9. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has an open-face, substantially U-shaped configuration with spaced-apart leg portions having free ends that extend upwardly, and wherein the secondary imaging coil has an arcuate configuration and extends from one primary imaging coil leg portion to the other leg portion.

10. An MRI-guided interventional system, comprising:

a patient support surface;

a head support assembly attached to the patient support surface for immobilizing the head of a patient during an MRI-guided procedure;

a targeting frame configured to be secured to the skull of a patient, wherein the frame includes a cooperating targeting cannula that is configured to guide placement of an interventional device in vivo; and

an MRI imaging coil assembly, comprising;

a primary external MRI imaging coil positioned proximate to the head support assembly and configured to surround at least a portion of the head of the patient, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has a plurality of spaced-apart RF coils; and

a secondary external MRI imaging coil positioned proximate to the primary MRI imaging coil, and having at least one RF coil;

wherein the primary and secondary imaging coils cooperate to provide MRI signals to an MRI scanner.

11. The MRI imaging coil assembly of claim 10, wherein an image produced by the MRI imaging coil assembly has no greater than one-hundred percent (100%) difference in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across a volume thereof.

12. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has an open-face, substantially U-shaped configuration.

13. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil extends longitudinally to define a first direction, and wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is movably positioned relative to the primary MRI imaging coil along the first direction and/or along a second direction transverse to the first direction.

14. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is movably secured to the primary MRI imaging coil.

15. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is movably secured to the patient support surface.

16. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is secured to the targeting frame.

17. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil is focused to an interventional device.

18. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil has an arcuate configuration.

19. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the secondary MRI imaging coil has a planar configuration.

20. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the primary and secondary MRI imaging coils are telescopically adjustable relative to each other.

21. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the head support assembly comprises:

a pair of elongated arms extending outwardly from the patient support surface in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship; and

a pair of head engagement rods, wherein each rod is adjustably associated with a respective arm, and wherein the rods are configured to engage a patient'"'"'s head positioned between the arms.

22. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 10, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil is movable relative to the head support assembly in one or more directions.

23. The MRI-guided interventional system of claim 21, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has an open-face, substantially U-shaped configuration with spaced-apart leg portions having free ends, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil is positioned between the head support assembly arms such that the leg portion free ends extend upwardly.

24. An MRI-guided interventional system, comprising:

a patient support surface;

a head support assembly attached to the patient support surface for immobilizing the head of a patient during an MRI-guided procedure;

a targeting frame configured to be secured to the skull a patient, wherein the frame includes a cooperating targeting cannula that is configured to guide placement of an interventional device in vivo; and

an MRI imaging coil assembly, comprising;

a primary external MRI imaging coil positioned proximate to the head support assembly and configured to surround at least a portion of the head of a patient, wherein the primary MRI imaging coil has a plurality of spaced-apart RF coils; and

a pair of secondary external MRI imaging coils movably positioned proximate to the primary MRI imaging coil, each secondary MRI imaging coil having at least one RF coil.