Magnetic resonance imaging antennas with spiral coils and imaging methods employing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an antenna including a first spiral coil having an axis, having radial directions orthogonal to said axis and including a plurality of turns of progressively varying radial extent, an innermost one of said turns defining an aperture surrounding said axis;
(b) juxtaposing said first spiral coil with the body of a subject so that a part of the body extends through said aperture, and the turns of said first spiral coil encircle said part of said subject'"'"'s body whereby the turns of said first spiral coil having progressively larger radial extent are disposed at progressively greater distances from the surface of the encircled body part;
(c) extending nuclear magnetic resonance in the body of said subject;
(d) receiving magnetic resonance signals from said subject by means of said antenna; and
,(e) reconstructing an image of at least a portion of said body part of said subject from said received resonance signals.
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Abstract
An antenna structure for magnetic resonance imaging includes a plurality of spiral wound, generally planar coils spaced axially from one another. The plural coils may be mounted on a rigid frame in the desired relative positions and the subject may be inserted in the space defined by the frame. Alternatively, the individual coils can be separately supported on the subject, as by mounting the coils to the subject. Desirably, a part of the subject'"'"'s body extends through central apertures in one or more of the coils.
68 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an antenna including a first spiral coil having an axis, having radial directions orthogonal to said axis and including a plurality of turns of progressively varying radial extent, an innermost one of said turns defining an aperture surrounding said axis; (b) juxtaposing said first spiral coil with the body of a subject so that a part of the body extends through said aperture, and the turns of said first spiral coil encircle said part of said subject'"'"'s body whereby the turns of said first spiral coil having progressively larger radial extent are disposed at progressively greater distances from the surface of the encircled body part; (c) extending nuclear magnetic resonance in the body of said subject; (d) receiving magnetic resonance signals from said subject by means of said antenna; and
,(e) reconstructing an image of at least a portion of said body part of said subject from said received resonance signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A receiving antenna for a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
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(a) a first spiral coil having an axis, radial directions transverse to said axis, an aperture adjacent the axis and a plurality of turns of progressively varying radial extent encircling the aperture; (b) means adapted for positioning said first spiral coil adjacent a part of the body of a subject to be imaged so that the body part extends through the aperture and turns of said first spiral coil encircle the body part whereby turns having progressively larger radial extent will be disposed at progressively greater distances from the encircled part; and
,(c) means for providing and electrical connections from said first spiral coil to a radio receiver. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification