MR-apparatus having a transmission-measuring coil for high frequencies

• US 4,707,662 A
• Filed: 07/05/1985
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kemner, Rudolf, Van Heelsbergen, Teunis R., Kalmijn, Hilco T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/752,281
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 324/318, 324/307, 324/300, 324/322, 324/309, 128/653, 335/299, 333/33, 361/287, 361/277
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34061 Helmholtz coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34069 Saddle coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3628 Tuning/matching of the transmit/receive coil

Abstract

For increasing the sensitivity of an MR apparatus when measuring comparatively high frequencies, the radio frequency excitation measurement coil (10, 30) is divided into two individual symmetrically drivable and readable coil halves (32, 34), respectively. The mutual connection of central connections of the coil halves can be realized by means of a balun (54) but for this purpose any other symmetrical form of coupling, for example using a strip-line transformer (70) or suitably dimensioned coaxial cables (60, 62) may alternatively be used.

Claims

1. An MR apparatus having a magnet system for generating a uniform, principal magnetic field in a measurement space, means for generating, in said measurement space, a spatially uniform radio-frequency alternating field and means for detecing an MR signal generated in an object under examination disposed in said measurement space, said generating means including a pair of radio-frequency coils which are spaced from each other so as to accommodate said object to be examined therebetween, each coil of said pair being comprised of at least two sections connected so as to form a loop and each section having a connection point, and means for coupling said connection point of each of said sections to a radio-frequency supply source.

2. An MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection points of said at least two coil sections of each coil are connected by a λ

/2 delay line.

3. An MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a strip-line transformer, said coil sections being connected to said supply source through said strip-line transformer by coaxial cables of the same length.

4. An MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a tuning circuit and coaxial cables which connect respective ones of said coil sections to said supply source.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one of said coaxial cables forms part of said tuning circuit.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one end of said at least one coaxial cable has an inner conductor and an outer conductor portion which is axially movable relative to said inner conductor so as to form an adjustable capacitor.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes coils which serve to detect an MR signal after said radio frequency field is generated.