Apparatus, systems, and methods for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging

• US 6,628,980 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Original Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Inventors: Karmarkar, Parag, Zerhouni, Elias, Lardo, Albert C., Atalar, Ergin, Bottomley, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, HIEU T
• Application Number:
  US09/817,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 600/423, 600/410, 600/411, 600/425, 600/426, 600/429, 324/318, 324/319, 324/322
• US Class Current: 600/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/34007 Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system
• 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

Abstract

The apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention provide for MRI sleeves, probes, and combinations thereof adapted for insertion into a subject, in order to internally image regions of the subject.

Claims

1. An apparatus for imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

a substantially tubular member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between said distal and said proximal end; and

a detector coil for imaging, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);

wherein said tubular member is moveable between at least two states relative to said detector coil, such that in said first state said detector coil is positioned within said lumen and in said second state said detector coil is extended beyond said lumen to permit imaging.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil includes at least one of a loop expandable coil, a quadrature loop expandable coil, or a loopless expandable coil.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil in said second state is expanded.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil in said first state is dimensionally different from said detector coil in said second state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil is placed in a subject in said first state and detects magnetic resonance in said subject in said second state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil is dimensionally adapted for insertion into and advancement through a catheter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector coil can image in said first state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a body lumen obstruction device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an interface system having a tuning/matching circuit and a decoupling circuit, said interface system interposed between said detector coil and an MRI imaging system.

10. A system for imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

means for placing a first and a second detector coil internal to a subject and adjacent to an area for imaging; and

means for moving said first detector coil relative to said second detector coil so that the coils in combination detect magnetic resonance.

11. An apparatus for internally imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

a first substantially tubular member having a distal and a proximal end and an interior and exterior surface; and

a detector coil attached to said tubular member for internally imaging, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said detector coil is attached in proximity to said distal end of said first tubular member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said detector coil is on said exterior surface of said first tubular member.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said detector coil is embedded within said first tubular member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an electrical transmission member for electrically connecting said detector coil to an MRI scanner.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said electrical transmission member is on said exterior surface of said first tubular member.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said electrical transmission member is a coaxial cable.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said coaxial cable is embedded within said first tubular member and comprises a first braid and a second braid.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a third braid.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said electrical transmission member is a triaxial cable.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a second substantially tubular member placed co-axially with said first substantially tubular member.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second substantially tubular member is slideably related to said first substantially tubular member.

23. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said detector coil includes at least one of a loop coil, a quadrature loop coil, a loopless coil, a loop expandable coil, a quadrature loop expandable coil, or a loopless expandable coil.

24. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first substantially tubular member is dimensionally adapted for insertion into a body.

25. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first substantially tubular member is dimensionally adapted for passage of medical devices therein.

26. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said detector coil resides on a flexible circuit board.

27. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said detector coil comprises a solenoid.

28. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a probe adapted for passage within a lumen within said interior surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, said probe including a probe detector coil.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said probe detector coil includes at least one of a loop coil, a quadrature loop coil, a loopless coil, a loop expandable coil, a quadrature loop expandable coil, or a loopless expandable coil.

31. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an attachment point disposed at said distal end to affix said tubular member to an attached device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said attached device includes a medical device.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said attached device is permanently affixed to said tubular member.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said attached device is temporarily affixed to said tubular member.

35. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a connector hub disposed at said proximal end.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said connector hub includes strain relief.

37. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an interface system having a tuning/matching circuit and a decoupling circuit, said interface system interposed between said detector coil and an MRI imaging system.

38. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of said exterior surface and said interior surface is coated with a lubricious material.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said lubricious material includes at least one of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, or silicone.

40. An apparatus for internally imaging using MRI comprising:

a detector coil for internally imaging using MRI; and

a trigger mechanism in communication with said detector coil;

wherein activation of said trigger mechanism causes said detector coil to change from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said trigger mechanism comprises a pull wire.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said detector coil in said collapsed state is dimensionally different from said detector coil in said expanded state.

43. A system for imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

a first detector coil for internally detecting magnetic resonance;

a second detector coil for internally detecting magnetic resonance; and

a controller for using said first detector coil in combination with said second detector coil for detecting magnetic resonance in an area to be imaged.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said controller is a computer.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein said controller uses said first detector coil in parallel with said second detector coil.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein said controller can select to image using said first detector coil independently of said second detector coil.

47. The system of claim 43 further comprising a third detector coil externally detecting magnetic resonance.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein said controller creates a combined image from an image generated by said first detector coil and an image generated by said second detector coil.

49. A method for imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

placing a first and a second detector coil internal to a subject and adjacent to an area for imaging;

generating magnetic resonance in said area; and

moving said first detector coil relative to said second detector coil so that the coils in combination detect said magnetic resonance.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of placing, at least one of said first detector coil and said second detector coil can detect said magnetic resonance.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein during the step of placing, magnetic resonance is generated.