Conformable head or body coil assembly for magnetic imaging apparatus

• US 4,791,372 A
• Filed: 08/17/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Resonex Technology Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Resonex, Inc.
• Inventors: Parish, David M., Kirk, Gregory L., Mewborne, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stewart J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M.
• Application Number:
  US07/086,368
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 324/318, 324/322, 324/307, 324/309, 128/653
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34084 implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/341 comprising surface coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/343 of slotted-tube or loop-gap type

Abstract

A pickup coil for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes a single thin metal copper sheet which is covered with cloth-like material with the interior of the two ends of the coil being covered with VELCRO-type connective material so that they adhere together. Thus, this provides a conforming fit to various specimens of varying diameters and configurations. The two ends of the coil are held by and inserted in a capacitive tuning unit which compensates for the resistive loading caused by the specimen and also for implementing the needed resonance condition.

Claims

1. A head or body coil assembly having a predetermined magnetic axis for picking up free induction decay or spin-echo signals from a test specimen produced in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

inductive pickup coil means for substantially surrounding said test specimen including a thin, flexible, unitary, continuous band of conductive material substantially entirely covered with a flexible protective material, said band having a pair of ends with their facing interiors provided with mutually adhering surfaces which, when fastened together, provide a conforming fit of said band around specimens of varying diameter and configuration, said band being substantially cylindrical in configuration and having a central axis substantially coincident with said magnetic axis, said adhered ends forming an effective capacitor.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 including capacitive tuning means, located in close proximity to said coil means into which said ends are inserted and held to form a low resistance contact, for compensating for the resistive loading caused by said specimen.

3. An assembly as in claim 1 where said mutually adhering surfaces consist of hook and loop type connection means.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 where said protective material is cloth.

5. An assembly as in claim 1 including means for uniformly spacing said band from said specimen.

6. An assembly as in claim 1 where said adhered ends include clip means for insuring such adhering.

7. An assembly as in claim 1 where said band has a width along said central axis to minimize loading consistent with a desired imaging field of view.