Evaluating the urethra and the periurethral tissues
First Claim
1. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
- an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit, wherein the balun circuit comprises a member exhibiting a high impedance at a MRI frequency of the MRI machine.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues may involve an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna; an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit, wherein the balun circuit comprises a member exhibiting a high impedance at a MRI frequency of the MRI machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32)
-
-
26. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an internal endourethral anatomic region of a patient, comprising:
-
an endourethral probe with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna; and an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit, wherein the balun circuit comprises a triaxial braiding layer, and wherein the balun circuit has a high impedance at an MRI operating frequency of the MRI machine. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an internal endourethral anatomic region of a patient, comprising:
-
an endourethral probe with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna; and an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit, wherein the balun circuit comprises a coaxial cable configured to exhibit high impedance at an operating frequency of the MRI machine. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
Specification