Scaling of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner

• US 9,817,098 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Campagna, Swen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Susan
• Application Number:
  US14/497,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 324318
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/36 Electrical details, e.g. matching or coupling of the coil to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3621 NMR receivers or demodulators, e.g. preamplifiers, means for frequency modulation of the MR signal using a digital down converter, means for analog to digital conversion [ADC] or for filtering or processing of the MR signal such as bandpass filtering, resampling, decimation or interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5608 Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A scaling unit (1) for reception antennae (A1, A2, A3, A4) of a plurality of local coils (LS) of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner (MRT) includes a plurality of signal inputs (in1, in2, in3, in4) configured for the reception of signals from the reception antennae (A1, A2, A3, A4), and a plurality of signal outputs (out1, out2, out3, out4) configured for the output of unaltered and/or altered signals from the reception antennae (A1, A2, A3, A4).

Claims

1. A scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, the scaling unit comprising:

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

2. The scaling unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a switching element configured for changing over, for signaling purposes, the single common signal output to which the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied in the summed signal mode to a signal input associated with the single common signal output in a single signal mode;

wherein each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output, such that a respective unaltered, signal from the associated signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single associated signal output.

3. The scaling unit of claim 1, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

4. The scaling unit of claim 2, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

5. A reception device comprising:

a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, the scaling unit comprising;

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output;

wherein each reception antenna of the reception antennae is individually connected, for signaling purposes, to the plurality of signal inputs of the scaling unit; and

wherein the plurality of signal outputs of the scaling unit is configured to be connected, for signaling purposes, to a plurality of associated signal inputs of an image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

6. The reception device of claim 5, wherein the scaling unit further comprises:

a switching element configured for changing over, for signaling purposes, the single common signal output to which the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied in the summed signal mode to a signal input associated with the single common signal output in a single signal mode;

wherein each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output, such that a respective unaltered, signal from the associated signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single associated signal output.

7. The reception device of claim 5, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

8. A local coil for a reception device, the local coil comprising a plurality of reception antennae and at least one scaling unit for the plurality of reception antennae, the at least one scaling unit comprising:

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

9. The local coil of claim 8, wherein the scaling unit further comprises:

a switching element configured for changing over, for signaling purposes, the single common signal output to which the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied in the summed signal mode to a signal input associated with the single common signal output in a single signal mode;

wherein each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output, such that a respective unaltered, signal from the associated signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single associated signal output.

10. The local coil of claim 8, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

11. A reception-and-transmission device comprising a plurality of scaling units for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, each scaling unit of the plurality of scaling units comprising:

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output;

wherein respective signal outputs to which sums of signals from the plurality of signal inputs are applied are connected, for signaling purposes, to a multiplexer that is connected via a transmission channel to a demultiplexer; and

wherein the demultiplexer is configured to individually supply the sums of signals from the plurality of signal inputs of each scaling unit of the plurality of scaling units to an image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

12. The reception-and-transmission device of claim 11, wherein:

signal outputs of each scaling unit of the plurality of scaling units, to which signals from respective signal inputs are applied, are electrically connected to a multiplexer;

wherein the multiplexer is connected via a transmission channel to a demultiplexer; and

wherein the demultiplexer is configured to individually supply signals on the signal inputs of each scaling unit to the image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

13. The reception-and-transmission device of claim 11, wherein the scaling unit further comprises:

a switching element configured for changing over, for signaling purposes, the single common signal output to which the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied in the summed signal mode to a signal input associated with the single common signal output in a single signal mode;

wherein each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output, such that a respective unaltered, signal from the associated signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single associated signal output.

14. The reception-and-transmission device of claim 11, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

15. The reception-and-transmission device of claim 12, wherein the scaling unit further comprises:

a switching element configured for changing over, for signaling purposes, the single common signal output to which the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied in the summed signal mode to a signal input associated with the single common signal output in a single signal mode;

wherein each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output, such that a respective unaltered, signal from the associated signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single associated signal output.

16. The reception-and-transmission device of claim 12, wherein:

each signal input of the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single associated signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a respective unaltered signal from an associated signal input is applied to the single associated signal output, wherein an image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a single signal mode; and

the plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal outputs, or the plurality of signal inputs and the plurality of signal outputs are connected, for signaling purposes, to an additional common signal output, such that a sum of unaltered signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the additional common signal output, wherein the image processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is configured to retrieve signals in a summed signal mode.

17. A magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising a reception-and-transmission device and a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, the scaling unit comprising:

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

18. The magnetic resonance imaging scanner of claim 17, wherein signal outputs of the scaling unit to which signals from respective signal inputs are applied are electrically connected to a multiplexer;

wherein the multiplexer is connected via a transmission channel to a demultiplexer; and

wherein the demultiplexer is configured to individually supply signals on the signal inputs of each scaling unit to an image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

19. A method for signal transmission comprising:

using a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, a reception device comprising the scaling unit, a local coil for the reception device, a reception-and-transmission device comprising the scaling unit, or a magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising the reception-and-transmission device;

wherein the scaling unit comprises;

a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae; and

a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;

wherein, at least in a summed signal mode;

the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output; and

each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

calculating a value of a signal from a reception antenna at a signal input that is not directly connected to an associated signal output in the summed signal mode;

wherein the calculating is based on the sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs that is applied to the associated signal output minus a sum of remaining single signals that are applied to remaining signal inputs or signal outputs.