Multiple quadrature surface coil system for simultaneous imaging in magnetic resonance systems
First Claim
1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
- a main magnetic field means for generating a temporally constant magnetic field through an examination region;
a gradient field means for selectively causing gradient magnetic fields across the examination region;
a resonance excitation means for transmitting radio frequency signals into the examination region to excite selected dipoles within the examination region to resonate;
a quadrature multiple coil array disposed within the examination region for simultaneously receiving radio frequency resonance signals in quadrature, from the resonating dipoles, the quadrature multiple coil array including;
a first quadrature coil pair including a first perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the first quadrature coil pair from a first subregion of the examination region and a first parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components parallel to the first quadrature coil pair from said first subregion of the examination region;
a second quadrature coil pair including a second perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the second coil pair from a second subregion of the examination region and a second parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components from said second subregion which are parallel to the second coil pair, the first and second subregions being partially overlapping;
at least two receiver means connected with the first and second quadrature coil pairs for demodulating magnetic resonance signals therefrom;
an image reconstruction means for constructing signals from the first receiver means into an image representation;
a display means for converting the image representations into human readable displays.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A quadrature multiple coil array (30) includes a plurality of quadrature coil pairs (501, 502, . . . , 50n). Each coil pair includes a loop coil (50) or other coil which is sensitive to radio frequency signal components that are perpendicular to the coil and a flat Helmholtz coil (54) or other coil which is sensitive to radio frequency components parallel to the plane of the coil. The coils of each of the quadrature coil pairs are overlapped (56) by an amount which minimizes coupling between the coils. This enables resonance signals to be picked-up concurrently in quadrature by each of the quadrature pairs and be demodulated by a corresponding series of receivers (321, 322, . . . , 32n). The data from the overlapping regions to which each quadrature pair is sensitive are reconstructed (36) into image representations (38). The image representations are aligned either automatically (40) or by the operator and displayed on a video monitor (44). The overlapping quadrature pairs can be arranged along a planar substrate or along curved substrates which conform to contours of the anatomy of the subject.
65 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
-
a main magnetic field means for generating a temporally constant magnetic field through an examination region; a gradient field means for selectively causing gradient magnetic fields across the examination region; a resonance excitation means for transmitting radio frequency signals into the examination region to excite selected dipoles within the examination region to resonate; a quadrature multiple coil array disposed within the examination region for simultaneously receiving radio frequency resonance signals in quadrature, from the resonating dipoles, the quadrature multiple coil array including; a first quadrature coil pair including a first perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the first quadrature coil pair from a first subregion of the examination region and a first parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components parallel to the first quadrature coil pair from said first subregion of the examination region; a second quadrature coil pair including a second perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the second coil pair from a second subregion of the examination region and a second parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components from said second subregion which are parallel to the second coil pair, the first and second subregions being partially overlapping; at least two receiver means connected with the first and second quadrature coil pairs for demodulating magnetic resonance signals therefrom; an image reconstruction means for constructing signals from the first receiver means into an image representation; a display means for converting the image representations into human readable displays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
-
a main magnetic field means for generating a temporally constant magnetic field through an examination region; a gradient field means for selectively causing gradient magnetic fields across the examination region; a resonance excitation means for transmitting radio frequency signals into the examination region to excite selected dipoles within the examination region to resonate; a quadrature phased array coil assembly for simultaneously receiving resonance signals in quadrature from connected subregions of the examination region; at least two receiver means connected with the quadrature phased array coil assembly for demodulating magnetic resonance signals therefrom; an image reconstruction means for constructing signals from the receiver means into an image representation; a display means for converting the image representations into human readable displays. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. A quadrature multiple coil array for placement within a bore of a magnetic resonance system for at least receiving radio frequency resonance signals from the resonating nuclei in an examination region, the quadrature multiple coil array comprising:
-
a first quadrature coil pair including a first perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the first quadrature coil pair from a first subregion of the examination region and a first parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components parallel to the first quadrature coil pair form the first subregion of the examination region; a second quadrature coil pair including a second perpendicular component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components perpendicular to the second coil pair from a second subregion of the examination region and a second parallel component sensitive coil sensitive to resonance signal components from the second subregion which are parallel to the second coil pair, the first and second subregions being partially overlapping. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A quadrature multiple coil array comprising:
-
a plurality of first linear coils which are sensitive to magnetic resonance signal components in a first direction, the plurality of first linear coils being disposed (1) to have minimum mutual inductance therebetween and (2) to view a continuum of subregions of a region of interest; a plurality of second linear coils which are sensitive to magnetic resonance signal components that are in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the plurality of second linear coils being disposed (1) to have minimum mutual inductance, (2) to have minimum coupling to the first linear coils, and (3) to view the the continuum of subregions of the region of interest such that resonance signals emanating from the continuum of subregions are received in quadrature.
-
Specification