Interface for coupling an array of coils to a magnetic resonance imaging system

• US 6,888,351 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Watral, J. Michael, Reichel, Michael, Belt, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shrivastav, Brij B.
• Application Number:
  US10/610,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 324/318, 324/319, 324/322, 324/309, 324/307, 324/300, 324/321, 600/410
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3415 comprising arrays of sub-coils , i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels

Abstract

A coil interface is capable of coupling an array of coils to a magnetic resonance (MR) system. The MR system is equipped with a predetermined number of receivers. The coil interface includes a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports, and an interface circuit disposed therebetween. The plurality of input ports is used to couple the interface circuit to the coils of the array. The plurality of output ports is used to couple the interface circuit to the receivers of the MR system. The interface circuit is used to selectively interconnect at least two of the input ports to at least one of the output ports, thereby allowing the array of coils to be selectively operated in any one of a plurality of operational modes.

Claims

1. A coil interface for coupling an array of N coils to a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said MR system equipped with M inputs, said coil interface comprising:

(a) N input ports for coupling to said N coils of said array;

(b) M output ports for coupling to said M inputs of said MR system; and

(c) an interface circuit for selectively interconnecting said N input ports to said M output ports so that said array of N coils can be selectively operated in a plurality of operational modes, with at least one of said operational modes permitting phased array acquisition.

2. The coil interface of claim 1 wherein said array of N coils is an array of surface coils.

3. The coil interface of claim 2 wherein said surface coils of said array are capable of being deployed for imaging a vasculature of a patient.

4. The coil interface of claim 3 wherein said array of surface coils include coils adapted for positioning against at least one of a posterior surface and an anterior surface of said patient.

5. The coil interface of claim 4 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

6. The coil interface of claim 5 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

7. The coil interface of claim 5 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

8. The coil interface of claim 5 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

9. The coil interface of claim 1 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

10. The coil interface of claim 9 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a were left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

11. The coil interface of claim 9 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

12. The coil interface of claim 9 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

13. A method of operating an array of N coils with a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said MR system having M inputs, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing N input ports for coupling to said N coils of said array;

(b) providing M output ports for coupling to said M inputs of said MR system; and

(c) selectively interconnecting said N input ports to said M output ports so that said array of N coils can be selectively operated in a plurality of operational modes, with at least one of said operational modes permitting phased array acquisition.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said array of N coils is an array of surface coils.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said surface coils of said array are capable of being deployed for imaging a vasculature of a patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said array of surface coils include coils adapted for positioning against at least one of a posterior surface an anterior surface of said patient.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein in said lateral left mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least on of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

25. A magnetic resonance (MR) system comprising:

(a) a scanner having M inputs;

(b) an array of N coils; and

(c) a coil interface for coupling said array of N coils to said scanner, said coil interface including;

(I) N input ports for coupling to said N coils of said array;

(II) M output ports for coupling to said M inputs of said scanner; and

(III) an interface circuit for selectively interconnecting said N input ports to said M output ports so that said array of N coils can be selectively operated in a plurality of operational modes, with at least one of said operational modes permitting phased array acquisition.

26. The MR system of claim 25 wherein said array of coils is an array of surface coils.

27. The MR system of claim 26 wherein said surface coils of said array are capable of being deployed for imaging a vasculature of a patient.

28. The MR system of claim 27 wherein said array of surface coils include coils adapted for positioning against at least one of a posterior surface an anterior surface of said patient.

29. The MR system of claim 28 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

30. The MR system of claim 29 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

31. The MR system of claim 29 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

32. The MR system of claim 29 wherein in s id bilateral mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

33. The MR system of claim 25 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

34. The MR system of claim 33 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

35. The MR system of claim 33 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

36. The MR system of claim 33 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said N coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

37. A coil interface for coupling an array of N coils to a magnetic resonance (MR) system, said MR system having M inputs, said coil interface comprising:

(a) N input ports for coupling to said N coils of said array;

(b) M output ports for coupling to said M inputs of said MR system; and

(c) an interface circuit capable of (I) selectively coupling a set of at least two of said N input ports to an equal number of said M output ports and (II) selectively coupling at least said set of said N input ports to a lesser number of said M output ports, so that said array can be selectively operated in a plurality of operational modes.

38. A coil interface for coupling N coils of a coil system to a magnetic resonance (MR) system having M inputs, said coil interface comprising:

(a) N input ports for coupling to said N coils of said coil system;

(b) M output ports for coupling to said M inputs of said MR system; and

(c) an interface circuit for changeably interconnecting said N input ports, and thus said N coils, with said M input ports and thereby enable said coil system to be selectively operated in a plurality of operational modes.

39. The coil interface of claim 38 wherein changeably interconnecting said N input ports with said M output ports includes enabling at least one of (I) which of said N input ports are to be interconnected to which of said M output ports and (II) how many of said N input ports are to be interconnected to which of said output ports.

40. The coil interface of claim 38 wherein at least one of said inputs of said MR system has a preamplifier connected thereto for connection to said M output port of said coil interface corresponding thereto.

41. The coil interface of claim 38 wherein said interface circuit includes electronically controlled switches and combiners for enabling predetermined one(s) of said N input ports to be selectively interconnected to said M output ports.

42. The coil interface of claim 38 wherein said N coils is an array of surface coils.

43. The coil interface of claim 42 wherein said surface coil of said array are capable of being deployed for imaging a vasculature of a patient.

44. The coil interface of claim 43 wherein said array of surface coils include coils adapted for positioning against at least one of a posterior surface and an anterior surface of said patient.

45. The coil interface of claim 44 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

46. The coil interface of claim 45 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

47. The coil interface of claim 45 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

48. The coil interface of claim 45 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said surface coils of said array are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.

49. The coil interface of claim 38 wherein said plurality of operational modes includes (A) a unilateral left mode of operation, (B) a unilateral right mode of operation, and (C) a bilateral mode of operation.

50. The coil interface of claim 49 wherein in said unilateral left mode of operation certain of said N coils of said coil system are used to image at least one of a lower left leg region and a left ankle and foot region of said patient.

51. The coil interface of claim 49 wherein in said unilateral right mode of operation certain of said N coils of said coil system are used to image at least one of a lower right leg region and a right ankle and foot region of said patient.

52. The coil interface of claim 49 wherein in said bilateral mode of operation certain of said N coils of said coil system are used to image said patient over at least one of a renal and abdominal region, an abdominal and femoral region, a femoral and knee region, a lower leg region, an ankles and feet region, and a feet region.