A magnetic resonance receiving array coil and a vertebral-basilar artery imaging device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a magnetic resonance receiving array coil and a vertebrobasilar artery imaging device, relating to the field of magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebrobasilar artery. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil includes (n + 2) coil units, and the (n + 2) coil units include: n first coil units, 1 second coil unit, and 1 third coil unit; the n first coil units are distributed circumferentially around the second coil unit, and the third coil unit is located inside the second coil unit; the size of the first coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit, and the size of the third coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit. The embodiment of the present invention combines high-density small-size coil units (first coil units) with large-size coil units (second coil units), so that the receiving coil can have both a very high signal-to-noise ratio and a deep penetration depth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebrobasilar artery, and particularly to a magnetic resonance receiving array coil and a vertebrobasilar artery imaging device. Background Art

[0002] The vertebrobasilar artery includes the vertebral artery and the basilar artery. The vertebral artery originates from the bilateral subclavian arteries, ascends along the intervertebral foramina of the cervical vertebrae after emerging, and reaches the brainstem at the uppermost end. The left and right vertebral arteries merge into a single basilar artery. As Figure 1 shown, currently, a head coil is used for magnetic resonance scanning of the vertebrobasilar artery. As Figure 2 shown, in a common head coil, the positions of the receiving coil units on both sides are at a relatively far distance from both sides of the neck. Therefore, for vertebrobasilar artery imaging, a common head coil cannot provide a good signal-to-noise ratio. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic resonance receiving array coil and a vertebrobasilar artery imaging device, which can achieve that the receiving coil can have both a high signal-to-noise ratio and a deep penetration depth.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0005] A magnetic resonance receiving array coil, the magnetic resonance receiving array coil includes (n + 2) coil units, and the (n + 2) coil units include: n first coil units, 1 second coil unit, and 1 third coil unit;

[0006] The n first coil units are circumferentially distributed around the second coil unit, and the third coil unit is located inside the second coil unit;

[0007] The size of the first coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit, and the size of the third coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit.

[0008] Optionally, there is a first preset distance of overlap between two adjacent first coil units, and the first preset distance is a distance such that the electromagnetic coupling degree between two adjacent first coil units is less than the electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

[0009] Optionally, the first preset distance is determined by an experimental measurement method or a numerical simulation method.

[0010] Optionally, there is a second preset distance of overlap between the first coil unit and the third coil unit, and the second preset distance is a distance such that the electromagnetic coupling degree between the first coil unit and the third coil unit is less than the electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

[0011] Optionally, the overlapping distance between the first coil unit and the second coil unit is greater than a third preset distance, where the third preset distance is the distance at which the electromagnetic coupling degree between the first coil unit and the second coil unit is less than the electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

[0012] Optionally, the coil unit is connected with a preamplifier decoupling circuit; the preamplifier decoupling circuit at least includes a low-noise amplifier.

[0013] Optionally, the preamplifier decoupling circuit further includes: a matching circuit and a phase shifter circuit;

[0014] The input end of the matching circuit is connected with the coil unit, the output end of the matching circuit is connected with the input end of the phase shifter circuit, and the output end of the phase shifter circuit is connected with the input end of the low-noise amplifier.

[0015] Optionally, the shape of the third coil unit is saddle-shaped.

[0016] A vertebrobasilar artery imaging device, the vertebrobasilar artery imaging device includes: a left receiving coil and a right receiving coil, and both the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil adopt the above-mentioned magnetic resonance receiving array coil;

[0017] During use, the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively attached to the left side and the right side of the human neck.

[0018] Optionally, the vertebrobasilar artery imaging device further includes a flexible PU leather package;

[0019] The left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively arranged on the left side and the right side of the flexible PU leather package.

[0020] According to the specific embodiments provided by the present invention, the present invention discloses the following technical effects:

[0021] The embodiment of the present invention provides a magnetic resonance receiving array coil, the magnetic resonance receiving array coil includes (n + 2) coil units, and the (n + 2) coil units include: n first coil units, 1 second coil unit and 1 third coil unit; the n first coil units are distributed circumferentially around the second coil unit, and the third coil unit is located inside the second coil unit; the size of the first coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit, and the size of the third coil unit is smaller than the size of the second coil unit. The embodiment of the present invention combines high-density small-size coil units (first coil units) with large-size coil units (second coil units) to enable the receiving coil to have both a very high signal-to-noise ratio and a deep penetration depth.

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a vertebrobasilar artery imaging device. This vertebrobasilar artery imaging device applies the above-mentioned magnetic resonance receiving array coil with high signal-to-noise ratio and penetration depth, and is encapsulated with a flexible PU skin, which can make the magnetic resonance receiving array coil better fit the human body and adapt to different scanning populations. Because of better conformability, it provides a better signal-to-noise ratio. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required to be used in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the position of the vertebrobasilar artery in the human body in the background art of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the positions of the receiving coil units on both sides of the head coil in the background art of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the magnetic resonance receiving array coil provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the first preset distance provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the preamplifier decoupling circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the flexible PU skin encapsulation provided by the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a magnetic resonance receiving array coil and a vertebrobasilar artery imaging device, which can enable the receiving coil to have both a very high signal-to-noise ratio and a deep penetration depth.

[0032] In order to make the above objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0033] In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance receiving array coil is provided, as Figure 3 shown. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil includes (n + 2) coil units, and the (n + 2) coil units include: n first coil units 1, 1 second coil unit 2, and 1 third coil unit 3; the n first coil units 1 are circumferentially distributed around the second coil unit 2, and the third coil unit 3 is located inside the second coil unit 2.

[0034] In the specification appendix Figure 3 The shapes of the first coil unit 1 and the second coil unit 2, and the number of the first coil units are only examples. The shapes of the first coil unit 1 and the second coil unit 2, and the number of the first coil units 1 and the coil units similar to the first coil unit 1 can be changed.

[0035] Among them, the second coil unit 2 at the center of the magnetic resonance receiving array coil is a unit with a relatively large size, which can provide a relatively deep penetration depth; the first coil units 1 on the periphery are arranged in a circle around the second coil unit 2. The size of a single first coil unit 1 is much smaller than that of the second coil unit 2, and it is responsible for providing a high signal-to-noise ratio. The third coil unit 3 is a coil unit with a saddle-shaped structure. It is inside the second coil unit 2 and provides a high signal-to-noise ratio for the central region of the second coil unit 2.

[0036] There will be electromagnetic coupling between adjacent coil units in nuclear magnetic resonance. The common method between adjacent units is to decouple by overlapping an appropriate distance, and this distance is called the critical distance, as Figure 4 shown. As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the overlapping distance between two adjacent first coil units is the first preset distance d 0 , and this first preset distance d 0 controls the electromagnetic coupling degree between adjacent first coil units 1 within an acceptable range (< -12 dB, this range is the range when the electromagnetic coupling degree threshold is -12 dB). The optimal value of d 0 can be determined by experimental measurement or numerical simulation.

[0037] In the present invention, the coupling between the third coil unit 3 and the first coil unit 1 and the coil units similar to the first coil unit 1 is also decoupled by overlapping an appropriate distance (i.e., the second preset distance). The determination method of the second preset distance is the same as that of the first preset distance, and will not be elaborated here.

[0038] To improve the signal-to-noise ratio in the central region of the coil, the first coil unit 1, the coil units similar to the first coil unit 1, and the second coil unit 2 are in an over-coupling relationship, i.e., d > d 3 , where d is the actual overlapping distance between the first coil unit 1 and the second coil unit 2, and d 3 is the third preset distance. The third preset distance is the distance that controls the electromagnetic coupling degree between the first coil unit 1 and the second coil unit 2 within an acceptable range. The determination method of the third preset distance is the same as that of the first preset distance, which will not be elaborated here.

[0039] The coil unit is connected with a preamplifier decoupling circuit. In the embodiments of the present invention, each coil unit can be respectively connected with a foregoing preamplifier decoupling circuit to achieve decoupling.

[0040] The preamplifier decoupling circuit at least includes a low-noise amplifier, and in some cases, it may also include a matching circuit, and in some cases, it may also include a phase shifter circuit. When including a matching circuit, a phase shifter circuit, and a low-noise amplifier, the structure of the preamplifier decoupling circuit is as Figure 5 shown.

[0041] Among them, the real part of the input impedance Zin of the low-noise amplifier is a relatively small value, such as <1 ohm; for the low-noise amplifier, when Zs > 100 ohm, the low-noise amplifier reaches its better noise figure.

[0042] The magnetic resonance receiving array coil provided by this embodiment can be applied to vertebral basilar artery imaging, can also be applied to magnetic resonance scanning of other parts of the human body, and can also be applied to other magnetic resonance imaging scenarios other than magnetic resonance scanning of different parts of the human body. Only adaptive adjustments such as size and quantity are required. Therefore, it should be noted here that the application in vertebral basilar artery imaging in the background art of the present invention and another embodiment cannot limit the protection scope of the magnetic resonance receiving array coil in this embodiment.

[0043] In one embodiment, a vertebral basilar artery imaging device is provided. The vertebral basilar artery imaging device includes: a left receiving coil and a right receiving coil, and both the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil adopt the magnetic resonance receiving array coil of the above embodiment; when in use, the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively attached to the left and right sides of the human neck.

[0044] In this embodiment, the vertebral basilar artery imaging device is encapsulated with a flexible PU skin, and the shape of the flexible PU skin encapsulation is as Figure 6 shown. Figure 6Among them, (a), (b), (c), and (d) are the outer shapes of the flexible PU leather package at different angles. Among them, the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively located on the left side ( Figure 6 the left part in) and the right side ( Figure 6 the right part in) of the flexible PU leather package. This outer shape has a design adapted to the neck, which can make the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil fit on the left and right sides of the neck. Coupled with the soft characteristics of the PU leather, it can fit the scanned object highly.

[0045] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as the scope described in this specification.

[0046] In this article, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principles and implementation manners of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manners and application scopes. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance receiving array coil, characterized in that: The magnetic resonance receiving array coil includes n+2 coil units, and the n+2 coil units include: n first coil units, 1 second coil unit and 1 third coil unit; n first coil units are distributed around the circumference of the second coil unit, and the third coil unit is located inside the second coil unit; The first coil unit has a smaller size than the second coil unit, and the third coil unit has a smaller size than the second coil unit.

2. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two adjacent first coil units overlap with each other by a first preset distance, where the first preset distance is a distance at which the electromagnetic coupling degree between the two adjacent first coil units is less than an electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

3. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first preset distance is determined by experimental measurement or numerical simulation.

4. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first coil unit and the third coil unit overlap each other by a second preset distance, and the second preset distance is a distance at which the electromagnetic coupling degree between the first coil unit and the third coil unit is less than an electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

5. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 1, characterized in that: The overlapping distance between the first coil unit and the second coil unit is greater than a third preset distance, and the third preset distance is a distance that makes the electromagnetic coupling degree between the first coil unit and the second coil unit less than an electromagnetic coupling degree threshold.

6. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil unit is connected to a preamplifier decoupling circuit; the preamplifier decoupling circuit at least includes a low noise amplifier.

7. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 6, characterized in that: The preamplifier decoupling circuit also includes: a matching circuit and a phase shifter circuit; The input end of the matching circuit is connected to the coil unit, the output end of the matching circuit is connected to the input end of the phase shifter circuit, and the output end of the phase shifter circuit is connected to the input end of the low noise amplifier.

8. The magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third coil unit is in a saddle shape.

9. A vertebral basilar artery imaging device, characterized in that: The vertebral basilar artery imaging device comprises: a left receiving coil and a right receiving coil, wherein the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil both adopt the magnetic resonance receiving array coil according to any one of claims 1 to 8; When in use, the left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively attached to the left side and the right side of the human neck.

10. The vertebrobasilar artery imaging device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The vertebrobasilar artery imaging device also includes a flexible PU skin package; The left receiving coil and the right receiving coil are respectively arranged on the left side and the right side of the flexible PU skin package.

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