Method and apparatus to embed and retrieve attribute information in magnetic resonance imaging coils
First Claim
1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
- a patient couch which selectively positions a patient relative to an examination region;
an imaging coil disposed adjacent a region of interest which at least receives magnetic resonance signals emanating from the patient;
a processor which controls an imaging event and processes received magnetic resonance signals from the imaging coil into an image representation;
a plug and socket assembly having a proximal component and a distal component relative to the imaging coil, the plug and socket assembly selectively connecting the imaging coil and the processor; and
a memory device affixed to the proximal component of the plug and socket assembly which stores a plurality of attributes associated with the imaging coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a patient couch (10) which selectively positions a patient relative to an examination region (14). An imaging coil (B) is disposed adjacent to a region of interest for receiving magnetic resonance signals emanating from the patient. A processor (48) both controls the imaging event and processes received signals from the imaging coil. A plug and socket assembly (24, 26) having a proximal component and a distal component relative to the imaging coil provides selective electrical connectivity between the imaging coil (B) and the processor (48). A non-volatile memory device (86), such as a 1-WIRE™ EEPROM, is affixed to the proximal component of the plug and socket assembly (24, 26) for storing a variety attributes associated with the imaging coil. The memory device is most conveniently mounted to a coaxial connector (110).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
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a patient couch which selectively positions a patient relative to an examination region;
an imaging coil disposed adjacent a region of interest which at least receives magnetic resonance signals emanating from the patient;
a processor which controls an imaging event and processes received magnetic resonance signals from the imaging coil into an image representation;
a plug and socket assembly having a proximal component and a distal component relative to the imaging coil, the plug and socket assembly selectively connecting the imaging coil and the processor; and
a memory device affixed to the proximal component of the plug and socket assembly which stores a plurality of attributes associated with the imaging coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
a substantially non-conductive housing having a plurality of channels defined within;
at least one connector disposed within selected ones of the plurality of channels;
a selected number of data leads, each affixed at one end to one of the connectors, and affixed at an opposite end to the imaging coil; and
,an electrically conductive connector disposed within an additional one of the plurality of channels, wherein the additional connector is in electrical communication with the memory device.
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3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the distal component comprises:
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a substantially non-conductive housing adapted to engage with the housing of the proximal component;
mating connectors disposed within channels in the housing, the connectors adapted to cooperate with the connectors of the proximal component providing a selective data path between the proximal component and the distal component; and
,an electrical lead in electrical communication with a data pin on the memory device when the proximal and distal components are engaged.
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4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a programmable read only memory internally configured to store a coil name.
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5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the programmable read only memory comprises exactly one data and power pin and a ground pin.
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6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data attributes associated with the imaging coil comprise coil bias patterns for selected modes of coil operation.
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7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein plug and socket assembly includes a plurality of co-axial connectors, the memory device being connected with one of the coaxial connectors.
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8. A method of manufacturing a magnetic resonance imaging coil comprising:
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connecting a memory device capable of storing a plurality of coil attributes to the magnetic resonance imaging coil;
storing a plurality of coil attributes associated with the magnetic resonance imaging coil in the memory device; and
,disposing the memory device in a coil-side mating element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
electrically connecting a ground pin from the memory device to a shield of a coaxial connector disposed in the coil-side mating element, a path to ground being selectively established via an associated shield of a coaxial connector in an MR-system-side mating element.
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10. The method of manufacturing as set forth in claim 9, wherein the disposing step further comprises:
positioning a data pin from the memory element within a center element of a coil-side coaxial connector, a data path being selectively established via an associated data lead in the MR-system-side coaxial connector.
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11. A method of manufactunng a magnetic resonance imaging coil comprising:
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embedding a memory device in a magnetic resonance imaging coil assembly, the memory device capable of storing a plurality of coil attribute;
loading a coil name into a determined location in the memory device; and
,loading representative currents and voltages for channels supported by the magnetic resonance imaging coil into determined locations in the memory device.
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12. A magnetic resonance imaging coil for selective operable connection to a magnetic resonance scanner, the imaging coil comprising;
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a radio frequency antenna for at least receiving RF signals;
a memory device for storing a plurality of attributes associated with the radio frequency antenna, the memory device located in a coil-side mating element having a plurality of connectors in signal communication with the radio frequency antenna and a coaxial connector connected with the memory device, the coil-side mating element being adapted for selective mechanical and data association with a corresponding mating element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A magnetic resonance imaging coil comprising:
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a localized coil including;
conductive windings forming a radio frequency coil, a dielectric former supporting the conductive windings, and a plug in data communication with the conductive windings;
and, a memory device located on the localized coil, the memory device storing attributes comprising representative modes, associated bias patterns and valid receive signal patterns associated with the magnetic resonance imaging coil.
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Specification