Nuclear magnetic resonance integrated flexible head coil structure

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of nuclear magnetic resonance, in particular to a nuclear magnetic resonance integrated flexible head coil structure. A nuclear magnetic resonance integrated flexible head coil structure comprises a base assembly, a face cover assembly, a head cover assembly and a head top support assembly, and is characterized in that the face cover assembly and the head cover assembly are arranged above the base assembly, the head top support assembly is arranged above the head cover assembly, and the head top support assembly is connected with the base assembly. Compared with the prior art, the nuclear magnetic resonance integrated flexible head coil structure has the advantages that the soft coil and the hard coil are combined, and the position of the head coil can be flexibly adjusted according to different head forms and face forms of each detected individual, so that the position of the head coil and the face coil is closer to the detected position, and the effect of clearer and more accurate nuclear magnetic imaging is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of nuclear magnetic resonance, in particular to an integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance. Background Art

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging is an advanced non-destructive imaging technology for the human body and is widely used in the diagnosis of diseases in various parts of the human body.

[0003] Head coil clinical diagnosis With the development of medicine, the requirements for accurate diagnosis of head diseases are getting higher and higher, and clearer and more accurate head imaging is needed to detect small lesions, vascular abnormalities, etc. At the same time, in some examinations, such as intracranial and extracranial vascular wall imaging, it is necessary to detect the head and neck at the same time, and the image must have a higher resolution.

[0004] The progress of magnet technology has continuously improved the magnetic field strength, making it possible for the head coil to receive weaker and more precise signals. The development of multi-channel technology has also prompted the head coil to develop in the direction of multi-channel and high-channel number to improve the speed and quality of imaging. The use of flexible coils has also continuously expanded the application of soft coils. Flexible coils can adapt to the different body requirements of each individual, making nuclear magnetic resonance imaging clearer and more accurate.

[0005] The current multifunctional flexible coils have been used in the joints of the human body, shoulders, arms, legs and feet, but there are no flexible coil products used in the head coils in the application market. Most of the head coils currently available in the market are split-type with upper and lower covers or hinged integrated upper and lower hard shell coil designs. The measured space is fixed and the distance between the coil and the head of different measured individuals cannot be adjusted. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to overcome the technical deficiency that the existing hard coil test space cannot be adjusted in real time, the present invention provides an integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance. By combining soft and hard coils, the position of the head coil can be flexibly adjusted to suit the different head and face shapes of each individual being tested, so that the position of the head and face coil is closer to the tested position, thereby achieving clearer and more accurate nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, an integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance is designed, comprising a base assembly, a face mask assembly, a head cover assembly, and a top support assembly, characterized in that a face mask assembly and a head cover assembly are provided above the base assembly, a top support assembly is provided above the head cover assembly, and the top support assembly is connected to the base assembly.

[0008] The base assembly includes a base body, a soft head strap, a rotating support rod, and a rotating axis damper assembly. An arc-shaped groove for placing the head is provided in the middle of the base body, and a U-shaped groove for placing the face mask assembly is provided on the outside of the arc-shaped groove; grooves for placing the rotating support rod are respectively provided at the upper parts of the left and right sides of the base body, and a rotating support rod is provided in the groove, the upper end of the rotating support rod is connected to the top bracket assembly, and the lower end of the rotating support rod is connected to the rotating axis damper assembly.

[0009] The rotating shaft damper assembly includes a rotating shaft damper base and a rotating shaft damper. One end of the rotating shaft damper is connected to the inside of the left and right sides of the base body through the rotating shaft damper base. The other end of the rotating shaft damper is connected to the lower part of the rotating support rod. Double-sided handles for carrying the coil as a whole are respectively provided on the outside of the left and right sides of the base body.

[0010] A soft head strap is arranged on the outer side of the rear part of the arc-shaped groove, and the soft head strap is received and bound on the base body through buckles at both ends of the base body.

[0011] The face mask assembly includes a face mask soft coil and a bulge made by using a soft foam hot pressing process or a soft foam sewing process. The face mask soft coil is a U-shaped structure in the cross section of the face, and hollow positions for the eyes and nose are arranged on the face mask soft coil; the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil is located in the U-shaped groove of the base body; and bulges are respectively arranged on the left and right inner sides of the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil.

[0012] The head cover assembly includes a head cover hard shell coil, a front handle or a mirror frame assembly, the rear part of the face mask soft coil is connected to the head cover hard shell coil, the front part of the top end of the head cover hard shell coil is connected to the front handle or the mirror frame assembly, the rear part of the top end of the head cover hard shell coil is connected to the rear handle, and the left and right sides of the head cover hard shell coil are respectively connected to the top of the head bracket assembly.

[0013] The overhead bracket assembly includes an overhead bracket upper shell, an overhead bracket lower shell, and a lifting connection assembly. The outer side of the overhead bracket upper shell is connected to the overhead bracket lower shell, and the overhead bracket upper shell and the overhead bracket lower shell are U-shaped structures. The left and right ends of the U-shaped opening of the overhead bracket lower shell are respectively connected to the upper parts of the rotating brackets on the left and right sides of the base through the lifting connection assembly.

[0014] The lifting connection assembly includes a lifting rack and a lifting rotation damping gear assembly. The left and right sides of the interior of the lower shell of the overhead bracket are respectively connected to the lifting rack, and the lifting rack is meshed and connected to the lifting rotation damping gear assembly. The lifting and rotating damping gear assembly comprises a damping gear, a damping gear shaft, and a damping gear bracket; the damping gear and the gear shaft are an integral structure, the damping gear and the gear shaft are connected to the damping gear bracket, and the damping gear bracket is fixedly connected to the head cover hard shell coil.

[0015] The lifting connection assembly can be a structure in which a gear and a rack are meshed to perform stepless lifting, or a structure in which a positioning rod and a positioning hole cooperate to perform step-by-step lifting.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance, which adopts a combination of soft and hard coils and can flexibly adjust the position of the head coil to adapt to the different head and face shapes of each individual being tested, so that the position of the head and face coil is closer to the tested position, achieving clearer and more accurate nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the explosion of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the head cover assembly of the present invention in a rotationally closed state.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the head cover assembly of the present invention in a rotated open state.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the head cover assembly of the present invention in the non-lifting state.

[0022] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the head cover assembly of the present invention in the rising state.

[0023] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the soft coil of the face mask and the hard shell coil of the head mask.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the soft coil bulge structure inside the mask assembly.

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of the soft head strap structure inside the base.

[0026] Fig.10 , Fig.11 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the front handle and rear handle of the hood assembly.

[0027] See also Figure 1 to Figure 2 , Figures 7 to 11, 1 is a base assembly, 1-1 is a base body, 1-2 is an arc-shaped groove, 1-3 is a U-shaped groove, 1-4 is a rotating support rod, 1-5 is a rotating axis damper, 1-6 is a rotating axis damper base, 1-7 is a double-sided handle for carrying the coil as a whole, 1-8 is a soft head strap, 2 is a face mask assembly, 2-1 is a soft face mask coil, 2-2 is a drum bag, 3 is a head mask assembly, 3-1 is a head mask hard shell coil, 3-2 is a front handle or a frame assembly, 3-3 is a rear handle, 4 is a head bracket assembly, 4-1 is a head bracket upper shell, 4-2 is a head bracket lower shell, 4-3 is a lifting rack, 4-4 is a lifting and rotating damping gear assembly, 4-4-1 is a damping gear, and 4-4-2 is a damping gear bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] like Figures 1 to 11 As shown, a face mask assembly 2 and a head mask assembly 3 are provided above the base assembly 1, and a top support assembly 4 is provided above the head mask assembly 3, and the top support assembly 4 is connected to the base assembly 1.

[0030] The base assembly 1 includes a base body, a soft head strap, a rotating support rod, and a rotating axis damper assembly. An arc-shaped groove 1-2 for placing the head is provided in the middle of the base body 1-1, and a U-shaped groove 1-3 for placing the face mask assembly 2 is provided on the outer side of the arc-shaped groove 1-2; grooves 1-4-1 for placing the rotating support rod are respectively provided at the upper parts of the left and right sides of the base body 1-1, and a rotating support rod 1-4 is provided in the groove 1-4-1, the upper end of the rotating support rod 1-4 is connected to the top bracket assembly 4, and the lower end of the rotating support rod 1-4 is connected to the rotating axis damper assembly.

[0031] The rotating shaft damper assembly includes a rotating shaft damper base and a rotating shaft damper. One end of the rotating shaft damper 1-5 is connected to the inside of the left and right sides of the base body 1-1 through the rotating shaft damper base 1-6, and the other end of the rotating shaft damper 1-5 is connected to the lower part of the rotating support rod 1-4. The outside of the left and right sides of the base body 1-1 are respectively provided with coil integral carrying double-sided handles 1-7; the rotating support rod 1-4 serves as the main support when the head cover assembly 3 rotates.

[0032] A soft head strap 1-8 is provided on the outer rear side of the arc-shaped groove 1-2. The soft head strap 1-8 is received and bound on the base body 1-1 through the buckles at both ends of the base body 1-1. When in use, first loosen the buckle at one end of the base body 1-1, and then buckle the buckle to restrain the head after the head position is determined.

[0033] The face mask assembly 2 includes a face mask soft coil and a bulge made by using a soft foam hot pressing process or a soft foam sewing process. The face mask soft coil 2-1 is a U-shaped structure in the cross section of the face, and hollow positions for the eyes and nose are arranged on the face mask soft coil 2-1; the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil 2-1 is located in the U-shaped groove 1-3 of the base body 1-1; bulges 2-2 are respectively arranged on the left and right inner sides of the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil 2-1, and the bulge 2-2 can contact the surface of the human auricle to appropriately calm the random movements of the person's head during the test.

[0034] The hood assembly 3 includes a hood hard shell coil, a front handle or a mirror frame assembly. The rear part of the face mask soft coil 2-1 is connected to the hood hard shell coil 3-1, the front part of the top end of the hood hard shell coil 3-1 is connected to the front handle or the mirror frame assembly 3-2 (an optional assembly when an exterior mirror assembly is required), and the rear part of the top end of the hood hard shell coil 3-1 is connected to the rear handle 3-3. The left and right sides of the hood hard shell coil 3-1 are respectively connected to the top bracket assembly 4.

[0035] The overhead support assembly 4 includes an overhead support upper shell, an overhead support lower shell, and a lifting connection assembly. The outer side of the overhead support upper shell 4-1 is connected to the overhead support lower shell 4-2, and the overhead support upper shell 4-1 and the overhead support lower shell 4-2 are U-shaped structures. The left and right ends of the U-shaped opening of the overhead support lower shell 4-2 are respectively connected to the upper parts of the rotating brackets 1-4 on the left and right sides of the base 1 through the lifting connection assembly.

[0036] The lifting connection assembly includes a lifting rack and a lifting rotation damping gear assembly. The left and right sides of the interior of the lower shell 4-2 of the overhead bracket are respectively connected to the lifting rack 4-3, and the lifting rack 4-3 is meshedly connected to the lifting rotation damping gear assembly 4-4.

[0037] The lifting and rotating damping gear assembly 4-4 comprises a damping gear, a damping gear shaft, and a damping gear bracket; the damping gear 4-4-1 and the gear shaft are an integral structure, the damping gear 4-4-1 and the gear shaft are connected to the damping gear bracket 4-4-2, and the damping gear bracket 4-4-2 is fixedly connected to the head cover hard shell coil 3-1.

[0038] The lifting connection component includes a gear rack meshing mode for stepless lifting adjustment or a positioning rod and a positioning hole matching mode for stepless lifting adjustment.

[0039] The magnetic resonance head coil of the present invention mainly comprises a base component 1, a face mask component 2, a head cover component 3, and a head support component 4. The face mask component 2 and the head cover component 3 are assembled into one by the head support component 4, and the headrest position inside the base component 1 and the head top positions of the face mask component 2 and the head cover component 3 are all provided with radio frequency antenna components, wherein the base component 1 includes a headrest position radio frequency antenna component, the face mask component 2 includes a face position flexible radio frequency antenna component, and the head cover component 3 includes a head top position radio frequency antenna component.

[0040] The hard-soft combination design of the head mask hard shell coil 3-1 of the head mask assembly 3 and the soft face mask coil 2-1 of the face mask assembly 2 allows the soft face mask coil 2-1 to flexibly and adaptively adjust the face distance of people with different face shapes, especially fat faces, which is different from the commonly used full hard shell upper and lower cover separated head coil structure with a fixed internal space; it makes the coil closer to the measured part and the imaging clearer.

[0041] The soft coil of the face mask has 2-2 bulges designed at the ear positions on both sides. The skin-friendly and environmentally friendly soft material can moderately contact the human ear auricle, which can appropriately limit and remind the patient of unnecessary hyperactivity of the head during the test, and avoid poor quality imaging due to hyperactivity of the head.

[0042] The soft head strap 1-8 made of soft silicone or fabric is assembled on the rear edge of the base body 1-1, and adopts a hidden design. When not in use, the strap is directly tied to the edge of the base as shown in the figure. When in use, it can be adjusted to different lengths according to the actual head length and locked and fixed.

[0043] The base assembly 1 and the head cover assembly 3 are connected through the rotating shaft damper 1-5. The head cover assembly is swung with one hand according to the position indicated by the mark on the rear handle of the head cover, so that the coils of the face mask assembly 2 and the head cover assembly 3 can rotate and hover at any position in the sagittal plane; the rotation damping force is appropriate, the service life of the damper reaches 20,000 times, the operation is simple and labor-saving, and the traditional upper and lower cover split head coil structure can eliminate the need for carrying and locking the coil upper cover.

[0044] The hood assembly 3 and the top bracket assembly 4 are connected by the meshing of the rotary damping gear and the rack. Both hands lift or press according to the position indications of the front and rear handle marks of the hood. The top bracket assembly 4 is lifted and lowered internally by the meshing of the rotary damping gear 4-4 and the rack 4-3. The top bracket assembly 4 can be lifted and lowered arbitrarily within the travel range in the coronal plane. It does not rule out the possibility of adjusting the lifting design method and hovering motion through a stepped positioning method. The flexible soft coil in the face mask part is adjusted according to the actual reasonable distance between the faces of different people, so that the coil is closer to the measured part and the imaging is clearer. The service life of the damper reaches 20,000 times.

[0045] If the image has problems such as low signal-to-noise ratio, low resolution or uneven image, the distance between the hard-shell RF antenna assembly on the top of the head and the flexible RF antenna assembly on the face mask and the human body can be further raised or lowered, and the fit between the flexible RF antenna assembly and the measured position can be flexibly adjusted until satisfactory image quality is obtained.

[0046] The operation process of the present invention is as follows: 1. If Figure 4 As shown, the face mask assembly 2, the head cover assembly and the head support assembly 4 are first opened, and the opening components are realized by the rotating shaft damper assembly; 2. Place the head of the person being tested in the arc-shaped groove 1-2 of the base 1 and fix the head with the soft head strap 1-8 to prevent the head from shifting and affecting the MRI results; 3. If Figure 3 As shown, the face mask assembly 2, the head mask assembly and the head support assembly 4 are closed by the rotating shaft damper assembly, and the face mask assembly 2 and the head mask assembly are adjusted to a suitable position by the lifting connection piece; 4. Perform MRI; 5. After the imaging is completed, the face mask assembly 2 and the head mask assembly are raised by the lifting connector. Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown; then the face mask assembly 2, the head cover assembly and the top bracket assembly 4 are opened by rotating the axis damper assembly to facilitate the tester to leave the flexible head coil.

Claims

1. A nuclear magnetic resonance integrated flexible head coil structure, comprising a base assembly, a face mask assembly, a head cover assembly, and a head support assembly, characterized in that: A face mask assembly (2) and a head mask assembly (3) are provided above the base assembly (1); a head support assembly (4) is provided above the head mask assembly (3); and the head support assembly (4) is connected to the base assembly (1).

2. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base assembly (1) comprises a base body, a soft head strap, a rotating support rod, and a rotating shaft damper assembly. An arc-shaped groove (1-2) for placing the head is provided in the middle of the base body (1-1), and a U-shaped groove (1-3) for placing the face mask assembly (2) is provided outside the arc-shaped groove (1-2); grooves (1-4-1) for placing the rotating support rod are respectively provided at the upper parts of the left and right sides of the base body (1-1), and a rotating support rod (1-4) is provided in the groove (1-4-1). The upper end of the rotating support rod (1-4) is connected to the head support assembly (4), and the lower end of the rotating support rod (1-4) is connected to the rotating shaft damper assembly.

3. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotary shaft damper assembly comprises a rotary shaft damper base and a rotary shaft damper. One end of the rotary shaft damper (1-5) is connected to the inside of the left and right sides of the base body (1-1) through the rotary shaft damper base (1-6). The other end of the rotary shaft damper (1-5) is connected to the lower part of the rotary support rod (1-4). The outside of the left and right sides of the base body (1-1) are respectively provided with coil integral carrying double-sided handles (1-7).

4. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 2, characterized in that: A soft head strap (1-8) is provided on the outer side of the rear portion of the arc-shaped groove (1-2), and the soft head strap (1-8) is received and bound on the base body (1-1) through buckles at both ends of the base body (1-1).

5. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The face mask assembly (2) comprises a face mask soft coil and a bulge which are made by using a soft foam hot pressing process or by sewing the soft foam; the face mask soft coil (2-1) is a U-shaped structure in the cross section of the face; hollow positions for the eyes and the nose are arranged on the face mask soft coil (2-1); the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil (2-1) is located in the U-shaped groove (1-3) of the base body (1-1); and bulges (2-2) are respectively arranged on the left and right inner sides of the U-shaped opening of the face mask soft coil (2-1).

6. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The head cover assembly (3) comprises a head cover hard shell coil, a front handle or a mirror frame assembly, the rear part of the face cover soft coil (2-1) is connected to the head cover hard shell coil (3-1), the top front part of the head cover hard shell coil (3-1) is connected to the front handle or the mirror frame assembly (3-2), the top rear part of the head cover hard shell coil (3-1) is connected to the rear handle (3-3), and the left and right sides of the head cover hard shell coil (3-1) are respectively connected to the top bracket assembly (4).

7. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The overhead support assembly (4) comprises an overhead support upper shell, an overhead support lower shell, and a lifting connection assembly. The outer side of the overhead support upper shell (4-1) is connected to the overhead support lower shell (4-2), and the overhead support upper shell (4-1) and the overhead support lower shell (4-2) are U-shaped structures. The left and right ends of the U-shaped opening of the overhead support lower shell (4-2) are respectively connected to the upper parts of the rotating supports (1-4) on the left and right sides of the base (1) through the lifting connection assembly.

8. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lifting connection assembly comprises a lifting rack and a lifting rotation damping gear assembly; the left and right sides of the interior of the lower shell (4-2) of the overhead bracket are respectively connected to the lifting rack (4-3); the lifting rack (4-3) is meshedly connected to the lifting rotation damping gear assembly (4-4).

9. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claim 8, characterized in that: The lifting and rotating damping gear assembly (4-4) comprises a damping gear, a damping gear shaft, and a damping gear bracket; The damping gear (4-4-1) and the gear shaft are an integral structure, the damping gear (4-4-1) and the gear shaft are connected to the damping gear bracket (4-4-2), and the damping gear bracket (4-4-2) is fixedly connected to the head cover hard shell coil (3-1).

10. The integrated flexible head coil structure for nuclear magnetic resonance according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that: The lifting connection assembly can be a structure in which a gear and a rack are meshed to perform stepless lifting, or a structure in which a positioning rod and a positioning hole cooperate to perform step-by-step lifting.

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