Shielded NMR radio frequency coil and method of performing an NMR experiment
First Claim
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1. A radio frequency coil for use in NMR measurements, comprising:
- a first, inner coil section for being positioned proximate a specimen from which NMR signals are emitted and having induced therein currents in response to received NMR signals; and
a second, outer coil section connected in series with said first coil section and through which flows the currents induced by the NMR signals received from the specimen, said second coil section being positioned relative to said first coil section for at least partially canceling the magnetic field developed by said radio frequency coil in regions of space external to said radio frequency coil.
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Abstract
An RF coil for NMR experiments having a conductive path for flowing a field-cancelling current to isolate magnetically the RF coil from its environment. NMR data, particularly MRI data from a human subject, is collected with the receiver coil magnetically shielded to avoid loss of the received signal energy to the environment.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A radio frequency coil for use in NMR measurements, comprising:
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a first, inner coil section for being positioned proximate a specimen from which NMR signals are emitted and having induced therein currents in response to received NMR signals; and a second, outer coil section connected in series with said first coil section and through which flows the currents induced by the NMR signals received from the specimen, said second coil section being positioned relative to said first coil section for at least partially canceling the magnetic field developed by said radio frequency coil in regions of space external to said radio frequency coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A radio frequency coil, for receiving NMR signals to be used in magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:
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an inner winding having a spatial distribution for optimizing the sensitivity of said inner winding to NMR signals emitted by a specimen at a particular frequency; and an outer winding adjacent said inner winding and connected in series therewith, said outer winding having a spatial distribution relative to said inner winding for at least partially canceling magnetic fields developed by NMR signals flowing through the receiving coil in regions of space external to said outer winding. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An NMR apparatus comprising a magnet for developing a magnetic field, means for exciting a specimen disposed within the magnetic field of the magnet to emit NMR signals, and a receiver coil disposed proximate the specimen within the magnetic field of the magnet to receive NMR signals emitted by the specimen, the NMR apparatus further comprising:
means for reducing magnetic coupling between said receiver coil and other parts of the NMR apparatus by forming said receiver coil into an inner winding and an outer winding connected in series, and forming a conductive circuit path therethrough for carrying a current for at least partially cancelling the magnetic field developed by said receiver coil in regions of space external to said receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of performing an NMR procedure, comprising:
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providing a subject for study by NMR; irradiating the subject with radio frequency energy to evoke the emission of NMR signals from the subject; receiving the emitted NMR signals through a receiver coil positioned proximate the anatomical region of interest of the subject, said receiver coil comprising an inner winding and an outer winding connected in series; and cancelling at least part of the magnetic field developed by the receiver coil in regions of space external to said receiver coil. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of collecting magnetic resonance imaging data from a human, comprising:
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providing a human subject for which magnetic resonance imaging data is to be obtained; positioning an RF receiver coil for receiving magnetic resonance imaging signals emitted from an anatomical region of interest of the human subject, said receiver coil comprising an inner winding and an outer winding connected in series; exciting the emission of magnetic resonance imaging signals from the anatomical region of interest of the human subject, said RF receiver coil being magnetically shielded from its environment; and receiving the emitted magnetic resonance imaging signals with the RF receiver coil while maintaining the RF receiver coil magnetically shielded. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification