ACQUISITION OF MR DATA WITH SEQUENTIAL SELECTION OF RESONANT MODES OF THE RF COIL ASSSEMBLY
First Claim
1. Method for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a sample to be analysed, comprising:
- a step of arranging the sample in the proximity of at least one radiofrequency coil, said at least one coil being a fixed geometric configuration coil adapted to transmit radiofrequency signals adapted to excite said sample and/or detect magnetic resonance signals from the sample, the coil comprising a plurality of current elements and exhibiting a frequency response comprising a plurality of resonant modes each one associable to a respective resonant frequency depending on electrical features of the current elements, the current elements comprising at least one current element having electrical features that may be regulated based on a respective control signal;
a first step of synthesising through a control unit a first control signal and providing said signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the at least one coil takes on a first configuration such that the resonance frequency of at least a first resonant mode of the coil is tuned on a first frequency of interest;
a first step of acquiring, using the coil in transmission and/or in reception, a first magnetic resonance signal from the sample;
said method being characterised in that it comprises;
a second step of synthesising through the control unit a second control signal and providing said second signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the at least one coil takes on a second configuration such that the resonance frequency of a second resonant mode of the coil is tuned on said first resonant frequency of interest, the second resonant mode being characterised by a spatial field distribution different from a spatial distribution of the first resonant mode;
a second step of acquiring, using the coil in transmission and/or in reception, a second magnetic resonance signal from the sample,said method being therefore such as to obtain magnetic resonance data from a same sample for said same first resonant frequency of interest sequentially using resonance modes having different spatial field distributions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method (10) for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a sample (50) to be analysed through a fixed geometry configuration coil suitable for transmitting radiofrequency signals ‘suitable for exciting said sample and/or detecting magnetic resonance signals from the sample (50) is described. The coil (100) comprises a plurality of current elements (20,21,22) and exhibits a frequency response comprising a plurality of resonant modes (M1, M2, M3) each associable to a respective resonant frequency (f1,f2,f3) depending on electrical features of the current elements (20,21,22), the current elements (20,21,22) comprising at least one current element having electrical features that may be regulated based on a respective control signal (S_CV0, S_CV1, S_CV2). The method provides for synthesising the control signal such as to obtain magnetic resonance data from a same sample for a given first resonant frequency of interest sequentially using resonance modes having different spatial field distributions.
16 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Method for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a sample to be analysed, comprising:
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a step of arranging the sample in the proximity of at least one radiofrequency coil, said at least one coil being a fixed geometric configuration coil adapted to transmit radiofrequency signals adapted to excite said sample and/or detect magnetic resonance signals from the sample, the coil comprising a plurality of current elements and exhibiting a frequency response comprising a plurality of resonant modes each one associable to a respective resonant frequency depending on electrical features of the current elements, the current elements comprising at least one current element having electrical features that may be regulated based on a respective control signal; a first step of synthesising through a control unit a first control signal and providing said signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the at least one coil takes on a first configuration such that the resonance frequency of at least a first resonant mode of the coil is tuned on a first frequency of interest; a first step of acquiring, using the coil in transmission and/or in reception, a first magnetic resonance signal from the sample;
said method being characterised in that it comprises;a second step of synthesising through the control unit a second control signal and providing said second signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the at least one coil takes on a second configuration such that the resonance frequency of a second resonant mode of the coil is tuned on said first resonant frequency of interest, the second resonant mode being characterised by a spatial field distribution different from a spatial distribution of the first resonant mode; a second step of acquiring, using the coil in transmission and/or in reception, a second magnetic resonance signal from the sample, said method being therefore such as to obtain magnetic resonance data from a same sample for said same first resonant frequency of interest sequentially using resonance modes having different spatial field distributions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17)
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14. Apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a sample to be analysed, comprising:
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at least one radiofrequency coil, the coil being a fixed geometric configuration coil adapted to detect magnetic resonance signals from the sample, the coil comprising a plurality of current elements and exhibiting a frequency response comprising a plurality of resonant modes each associable to a respective resonant frequency depending on electrical features of the current elements, the current elements comprising at least one current element having electrical features that are adapted to be regulated based on a respective control signal, a control unit programmed for synthesising a first control signal and providing said signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the at least one coil takes on a first configuration such that the resonance frequency of at least a first resonant mode of the coil is tuned on a first frequency of interest, for allowing the apparatus to acquire, through the coil in said first configuration and used in transmission/reception, a first magnetic resonance signal from the sample; characterised in that said control unit is programmed for synthesising also a second control signal and providing said second signal to said at least one current element for regulating the electrical features thereof so that the coil takes on a second configuration such that the resonance frequency of a second resonant mode of the coil is tuned on said first resonant frequency of interest, to allow the apparatus to acquire, through the coil in said second configuration and used in transmission and/or in reception, a second magnetic resonance signal from the sample, the second resonant mode being characterised by a spatial field distribution different from a spatial distribution of the first resonant mode;
so as to obtain magnetic resonance data from a same sample for said same first resonant frequency of interest sequentially using resonant modes having different spatial field distributions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification