Magnetic resonance coil system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A modular coil system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising:
- a radio frequency cryogenic coil that excites magnetic resonance in nuclei and receives a magnetic resonance signal from excited nuclei, wherein the radio frequency cryogenic coil is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the excitation of the magnetic resonance in the nuclei and the reception of the magnetic resonance signals;
a sample receiving region that supports a sample being imaged during the magnetic resonance procedure; and
a cooling system that maintains a temperature of the radio frequency cryogenic coil within a cryogenic temperature range wherein the cooling system includes a cold head and the radio frequency cryogenic coil is disposed on a coil holder contacting the cold head such that the radio frequency cryogenic coil is in thermal communication with the cold head;
wherein the radio frequency cryogenic coil and the sample receiving region are selectively removeably assembleable to form the modular coil system.
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance coil system 18 allows for the use of modular components and which in one embodiment is particularly well-suited for use with small animals and includes an animal receiving apparatus 202, a transmit coil module 204, and a receive coil module 206. The receive coil module 206 includes a cryogenic receive coil. The coil system 18 is selectively insertable in the bore of the gradient coil of a magnetic resonance examination system.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular coil system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising:
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a radio frequency cryogenic coil that excites magnetic resonance in nuclei and receives a magnetic resonance signal from excited nuclei, wherein the radio frequency cryogenic coil is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the excitation of the magnetic resonance in the nuclei and the reception of the magnetic resonance signals; a sample receiving region that supports a sample being imaged during the magnetic resonance procedure; and a cooling system that maintains a temperature of the radio frequency cryogenic coil within a cryogenic temperature range wherein the cooling system includes a cold head and the radio frequency cryogenic coil is disposed on a coil holder contacting the cold head such that the radio frequency cryogenic coil is in thermal communication with the cold head; wherein the radio frequency cryogenic coil and the sample receiving region are selectively removeably assembleable to form the modular coil system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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transmitting, by a cryogenic transmit coil, an excitation radio frequency signal to excite nuclei in a subject during a magnetic resonance examination of the subject with a small animal magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the cryogenic transmit coil is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the excitation magnetic resonance in the nuclei; receiving, by a cryogenic receive coil, a magnetic resonance signal emitted by the excited nuclei, wherein the cryogenic receive coil is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the reception of the magnetic resonance signals; and cooling with a cooling system the cryogenic transmit and receive coils to maintain the cryogenic transmit and receive coils within a cryogenic temperature range, wherein the cooling system includes a cold head and the cryogenic transmit and receive coils are disposed on a coil holder contacting the cold head such that the cryogenic transmit and receive coils are in thermal communication with the cold head; wherein the cryogenic transmit coil and the cryogenic receive coil are removeable components of a modular coil system that inserts into an examination region of a magnetic resonance scanner. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A modular magnetic resonance radio frequency coil module, comprising:
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means for supporting a sample in the module; cryogenic means for transmitting an excitation radio frequency signal to excite nuclei in the sample, wherein the cryogenic means for transmitting is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the excitation of magnetic resonance in the nuclei; cryogenic means for receiving a magnetic resonance signal emitted from the excited nuclei, wherein the cryogenic means for receiving the magnetic resonance signal is operated at a cryogenic temperature during the reception of the magnetic resonance signals; and means for cryogenically cooling the cryogenic means for transmitting and the cryogenic means for receiving to a cryogenic temperature, wherein the means for cryogenically cooling includes a cold head and the cryogenic means for transmitting and receiving are disposed on a coil holder contacting the cold head such that the cryogenic means for transmitting and receiving are in thermal communication with the cold head. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification