Bandage or garment combined with a wirelessly coupled magnetic resonance coil

• US 9,568,572 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• 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:
  US11/429,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,938 Days
• Field of Search: 324/218, 324300-322, 600407-435, 336/200, 336/83, 336/65, 382128-131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• 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 33/345 of waveguide type G01R33/343 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3692 involving signal transmission without using electrically conductive connections, e.g. wireless communication or optical communication of the MR signal or an auxiliary signal other than the MR signal

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, a radio frequency magnetic coil is coupled to a wireless communication circuit. The wireless communication circuit allows control or monitoring of individual channels or other functions of a coil.

Claims

1. A radio frequency magnetic resonance coil current element coupled to a bandage and a wireless communication circuit comprising:

at least one magnetic resonance coil current element configured as a volume coil or a surface coil configured for imaging a specimen, a magnetic resonance coil current element including a first conductive element, a second conductive element, and a dielectric element, the first conductive element and the second conductive element being separated by the dielectric element, wherein the at least one current element is configured for transmitting, and/or receiving at least one radio frequency signal to and/or from a region of interest of the specimen;

a wireless communication circuit coupled to the at least one current element, the wireless communication circuit configured to provide a wireless communication link between the at least one current element and a computer system of a magnetic resonance (MR) system that is configured for providing information pertaining to the at least one radio frequency signal, with the wireless communication circuit displacing a volume of space distinct from volumes of space displaced by the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the dielectric element; and

a bandage coupled to the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element and the wireless communication circuit, wherein the bandage includes an adhesive coated surface that permits removably affixing the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element to a skin surface of a subject;

wherein the magnetic resonance coil is disposed proximal to a main magnet of the MR system and the computer system of the MR system is disposed distal to the main magnet of the MR system.

2. The coil of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication circuit includes at least one of a transmitter, a receiver, and a transceiver.

3. The coil of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element includes a transmission line.

4. The coil of claim 1 further comprising an antenna coupled to the wireless communication circuit.

5. The coil of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is configured for receiving a radio frequency signal from a region of interest.

6. The coil of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is configured for transmitting a radio frequency signal to a region of interest.

7. The coil of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to communicate with at least one magnetic resonance system.

8. The coil of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is configured for resonance at a frequency that is selected based on a signal received from the wireless communication circuit.

9. The coil of claim 1 wherein a parameter corresponding to a transverse electromagnetic signal in the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is selected based on a control signal received from the wireless communication circuit.

10. The coil of claim 9 wherein the parameter includes at least one of a phase, a current, and a voltage.

11. The coil of claim 9 wherein the transverse electromagnetic signal can be detuned based on the control signal received from the wireless communication circuit.

12. The coil of claim 1 wherein a parameter corresponding to a transverse electromagnetic signal in the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is monitored based on a control signal received from the wireless communication circuit.

13. The coil of claim 12 wherein the parameter includes at least one of a current, a voltage, a frequency, and a phase.

14. The coil of claim 1 wherein a transverse electromagnetic signal in the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element is controlled by a feedback signal generated as a function of a monitored parameter, wherein the monitored parameter is monitored wirelessly, and the feedback signal is provided wirelessly.

15. The coil of claim 4 further comprising a second wireless communication circuit in wireless communication with the wireless communication circuit via wireless link.

16. The coil of claim 15 further comprising a second antenna coupled to the second wireless communication circuit.

17. The coil of claim 15 wherein the second wireless communication circuit is coupled to a magnetic resonance computing system.

18. The coil of claim 15 wherein the wireless link is an optical link.

19. The coil of claim 1, wherein the bandage includes a flexible material.

20. The coil of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnetic resonance coil current element and the wireless communication circuit are disposable.

21. The coil of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes at least one of a nanotechnology transmitter and a nanotechnology receiver.

22. A method of using a radio frequency magnetic resonance coil current element coupled to a bandage and a wireless communication circuit comprising:

arranging a radio frequency magnetic resonance coil which is coupled to a bandage that includes an adhesive coated surface configured for removably affixing the radiofrequency magnetic resonance coil onto a skin surface of a subject, and

having a magnetic resonance coil current element disposed about a region of interest, and proximal a main magnet of a magnetic resonance (MR) system by removably affixing the bandage onto a skin surface proximate the region of interest, the magnetic resonance coil current element including;

a first conductive element,

a second conductive element, and

a dielectric element and being configured for imaging a specimen,

having the radiofrequency magnetic resonance coil also being coupled to a wireless circuit; and

wirelessly receiving from the wireless circuit a first radio frequency signal based on a monitored current that is present in the radiofrequency magnetic resonance coil; and

wirelessly transmitting to the wireless circuit, a second radiofrequency signal corresponding to a current selected for the radiofrequency magnetic resonance coil, the current selected being based on a feedback signal generated from the monitored current of the first radiofrequency signal; and

repeating the wirelessly receiving and transmitting of the first and second radio frequency signals until at least a first image is generated by the magnetic resonance system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless circuit includes a nanotechnology transmitter, and further comprising the step of transmitting the first radio frequency signal from the nanotechnology transmitter.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless circuit includes a nanotechnology receiver, and further comprising the step of receiving the second radio frequency signal by the nanotechnology receiver.

25. A magnetic resonance compatible garment with a removably affixed magnetic resonance coil assembly, comprising:

a magnetic resonance coil assembly comprising;

a magnetic resonance coil disposed proximal a main magnet, of a magnetic resonance system, the magnetic resonance coil having a magnetic resonance coil current element configured for imaging a specimen with the magnetic resonance system;

a wireless communication circuit coupled to the magnetic resonance coil current element, the wireless communication circuit being configured in order to provide a wireless communication link between the magnetic resonance coil current element and a computer of the magnetic resonance system that is disposed distal to the main magnet, of the magnetic resonance system;

a garment having an outer surface onto which the magnetic resonance coil assembly is removably affixed; and

a means for removably affixing the magnetic resonance coil assembly onto the outer surface of the garment.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the garment includes a fabric structure configured to be worn on a body.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the magnetic resonance coil includes a plurality of transmission line segments.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the wireless communication circuit is coupled to each transmission line segment.