Multi-channel RF coil system with multi-channel RF coil transceiver detecting more than one frequency at the same time for magnetic resonance imaging systems and methods

• US 8,217,653 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Vaughan, J. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): FETZNER, TIFFANY A
• Application Number:
  US12/390,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 382128-131, 600407-435
• US Class Current: 324/313
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3415 comprising arrays of sub-coils , i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3635 Multi-frequency operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/365 Decoupling of multiple RF coils wherein the multiple RF coils have the same function in MR, e.g. decoupling of a receive coil from another receive coil in a receive coil array, decoupling of a transmission coil from another transmission coil in a transmission coil array
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3664 Switching for purposes other than coil coupling or decoupling, e.g. switching between a phased array mode and a quadrature mode, switching between surface coil modes of different geometrical shapes, switching from a whole body reception coil to a local reception coil or switching for automatic coil selection in moving table MR or for changing the field-of-view G01R33/3671 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5659 caused by a distortion of the RF magnetic field, e.g. spatial inhomogeneities of the RF magnetic field G01R33/56509, G01R33/56518, G01R33/56536 take precedence

Abstract

An RF coil system for magnetic resonance applications includes a multi-channel RF coil transceiver and a multi-channel RF coil. The RF coil system is structured for reconfiguration between a plurality of operational modes.

Claims

1. An RF coil system configured for magnetic resonance applications, comprising:

a multi-channel RF coil transceiver configured to excite an RF field in an RF coil and/or receive RF signals from the RF coil; and

a multi-channel RF coil connected to the multi-channel RF coil transceiver, the multi-channel RF coil configured for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging, wherein;

the RF coil system being structured for reconfiguration between a plurality of operational modes, wherein at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a frequency dual tuned, reactively coupled, multi-nuclear, multi-channel mode with at least one operational frequency driven in a multi-channel mode, wherein a first subset of one or more current elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a first frequency associated with a first nuclei, and a second subset of one or more elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a second frequency associated with a second nuclei, which allows magnetic resonance imaging to occur simultaneously over both the first and second frequency.

2. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a quadrature mode.

3. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is an adjustable multi-channel mode.

4. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a single tuned mode.

5. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a double tuned mode.

6. The RF coil system of claim 5, wherein the double tuned mode includes a first frequency in a fixed mode and an operational frequency in a multi-channel mode.

7. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of operational modes differ from each other in at least one of the parameters selected from the group consisting of magnitude, frequency, phase, time, and space.

8. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a transmit mode.

9. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a receive mode.

10. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the RF coil comprises reactively coupled coil elements.

11. The RF coil system of claim 10, wherein reactive coupling between at least two coil elements is suppressed.

12. The RF coil system of claim 11, wherein the suppression of reactive coupling is achieved without lumped element bridging.

13. The RF coil system of claim 11, wherein the suppression of reactive coupling is achieved with distributed reactance cancellation.

14. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the RF coil comprises reactively decoupled coil elements.

15. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the RF coil is a body coil.

16. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the RF coil is a head coil.

17. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the RF coil is a TEM coil that includes one or more independent transmission line elements.

18. The RF coil system of claim 1, further comprising an additional RF coil.

19. The RF coil system of claim 18, further comprising a third coil, wherein the RF coil, the additional RF coil, and the third coil are electrically and mechanically integrated.

20. The RF coil system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a fixed mode.

21. A method for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

providing a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including an RF coil system containing a multi-channel RF transceiver and a multi-channel RF coil;

positioning a patient in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus;

imaging the patient with the RF coil system in a first operational mode; and

imaging the patient with the RF coil system in a second operational mode;

wherein the patient remains positioned in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus during and between imaging'"'"'s in the first and second operational modes; and

further wherein at least one of the first operational mode and the second operational mode is a frequency dual tuned, reactively coupled, multi-nuclear, multi-channel mode with at least one operational frequency driven in a multi-channel mode, wherein a first subset of one or more current elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a first frequency associated with a first nuclei, and a second subset of one or more elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a second frequency associated with a second nuclei, which allows magnetic resonance imaging to occur simultaneously over both the first and second frequency.

22. A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising

a superconducting magnet;

a gradient coil system; and

an RF coil system comprising

a multi-channel RF transceiver and

a multi-channel RF coil,

wherein the multi-channel RF transceiver is configured to excite an RF field in an RF coil and/or receive RF signals from the RF coil and the multi-channel RF coil is configured for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging,

wherein;

the RF coil system is structured for reconfiguration between a plurality of operational modes,

wherein at least one of the plurality of operational modes is a frequency dual tuned, reactively coupled, multi-nuclear, multi-channel mode with at least one operational frequency driven in a multi-channel mode, and

wherein a first subset of one or more current elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a first frequency associated with a first nuclei, and a second subset of one or more elements of the multi-channel RF coil are tuned to a second frequency associated with a second nuclei, which allows magnetic resonance imaging to occur simultaneously over both the first and second frequency.