Coil assembly and animal magnetic resonance imaging system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a coil assembly and an animal magnetic resonance imaging system. The coil assembly comprises a coil module, a fixing module and a locking part, and the coil module is provided with a containing space extending in the axial direction of the coil module. The coil module is provided with a first connecting hole extending in the radial direction of the coil module. The fixing module is connected with a scanning bed; the fixing module is arranged in the accommodating space in a penetrating manner; the fixing module is provided with a second connecting hole along the radial direction of the coil module; the locking part is detachably arranged in the first connecting hole and the second connecting hole in a penetrating mode in the radial direction of the coil module. The locking part penetrates through the first connecting hole of the coil module and the second connecting hole of the fixing module in the radial direction of the coil module, so that the coil module can be connected to the fixing module, namely the coil module can be assembled on the scanning bed. When the coil module is specifically a volume coil, the volume coil does not need to be assembled by means of a gradient coil, so that the volume of the volume coil can be effectively reduced, and the problems that the volume of the volume coil is too large and the signal-to-noise ratio is low are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of magnetic resonance imaging, and in particular to a coil assembly and an animal magnetic resonance imaging system. Background Art

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging experiments using mice and other animals can combine damaged neural recordings and neural regulation and other multimodal research methods to obtain more accurate neural activity information, which plays an irreplaceable role in conducting functional magnetic resonance signal mechanism research, finer-scale neural circuit mechanisms, and neural connectivity research based on causal methods. In addition, the results of small animal functional magnetic resonance imaging can also be transferred to the field of human brain functional magnetic resonance imaging, which plays an important guiding role in the development of advanced non-destructive functional magnetic resonance imaging methods for human brain imaging.

[0003] In the related art, the volume coil is generally fixed within the aperture of the gradient coil, which makes the volume of the volume coil relatively large and the signal-to-noise ratio low. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a coil assembly to address the problem of large volume coils in existing magnetic resonance imaging systems.

[0005] A coil assembly, comprising:

[0006] The coil module is configured with an accommodating space extending in the axial direction; the coil module is provided with a first connecting hole extending in the radial direction;

[0007] A fixing module, used for connecting with the scanning bed, the fixing module is arranged in the accommodating space; the fixing module is provided with a second connecting hole along the radial direction of the coil module;

[0008] The locking portion is movably disposed in the first connection hole and the second connection hole along the radial direction of the coil module to lock the coil module and the fixing module.

[0009] In one embodiment, when the locking portion is in the locking position, the locking portion is inserted into the first connection hole and the second connection hole; when the locking portion is in the unlocking position, the locking portion is separated from the second connection hole;

[0010] The locking portion is slidably connected to the first connection hole along a radial direction of the coil module to switch between the unlocking position and the locking position.

[0011] In one embodiment, the coil module is provided with a connection seat, the first connection hole is provided on the connection seat; the connection seat is provided with a limiting groove;

[0012] The locking portion is connected to a limiting protrusion; when the locking portion is in the locking position, the limiting protrusion is engaged with the limiting groove, and the limiting groove blocks the locking portion from moving along the radial direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the connection seat is provided with a limit stopper, the limit stopper has an opening, and the opening forms the limit groove.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the connection seat is provided with an avoidance groove, and the limiting protrusion can rotate around the first connection hole in the avoidance groove so that the limiting protrusion is engaged with the limiting groove or detached from the limiting groove.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, the limiting grooves include two, and the two limiting grooves are arranged along the radial direction; when the locking portion is in the unlocking position, the limiting protrusion can be engaged with one of the limiting grooves.

[0016] In one embodiment, the coil module is provided with a first positioning portion; and the fixing module is provided with a second positioning portion for plugging and matching with the first positioning portion.

[0017] In one embodiment, one of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion includes a positioning pin extending along the axial direction, and the other includes a positioning hole for cooperating with the positioning pin.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first positioning portion and the first connecting hole are respectively located at two ends of the coil module along the axial direction.

[0019] An animal magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a frame, a main magnet, a gradient coil, a scanning bed and the coil assembly as described above; the main magnet is located in the frame, the gradient coil is located in the inner cavity of the main magnet, and the inner side of the gradient coil forms a scanning cavity of the animal magnetic resonance imaging system; the scanning bed is located outside the frame, and one end of the scanning bed is connected to the fixing module for sending the animal to be tested into the scanning cavity.

[0020] The coil assembly is provided through the locking portion in the radial direction of the coil module through the first connection hole of the coil module and the second connection hole of the fixing module, so that the coil module can be connected to the fixing module, that is, the coil module can be assembled on the scanning bed, so as to enter the scanning cavity with the scanning bed. When the coil module is specifically a volume coil, the volume coil can be connected to the scanning bed through the fixing module, and does not need to be assembled with the help of the gradient coil, so that the volume of the volume coil can be reduced, solving the problem of large volume of the volume coil and low signal-to-noise ratio. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coil assembly provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coil module in the coil assembly shown in FIG. 1 .

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the coil assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the locking portion in an unlocked position.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the locking portion of the coil assembly shown in FIG. 3 in a locking position.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the coil assembly shown in FIG. 1 .

[0026] Figure numbers: 100, coil assembly; 110, coil module; 111, first positioning portion; 120, connecting seat; 121, first connecting hole; 122, limiting baffle; 123, limiting groove; 124, avoidance groove; 130, fixing module; 131, second connecting hole; 132, second positioning portion; 140, locking portion; 150, limiting protrusion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the connotation of the present application, so the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that if the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated by these terms is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0029] In addition, if the terms "first" or "second" appear, these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, if the term "plurality" appears, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0030] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, if the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like appear, these terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, if there is a description that a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, etc., or similar descriptions appear, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above" and "above" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below" and "below" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0032] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. If any, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation method.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a coil assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a coil module 110, a fixing module 130 and a locking portion 140. The coil module 110 is configured with a receiving space extending along its axial direction; the coil module 110 is provided with a first connecting hole 121 extending along its radial direction; the fixing module 130 is used to connect with a scanning bed (not shown); the fixing module 130 is inserted into the receiving space; the fixing module 130 is provided with a second connecting hole 131 along the radial direction of the coil module 110; the locking portion 140 is movably inserted into the first connecting hole 121 and the second connecting hole 131 along the radial direction of the coil module 110 to lock the coil module 110 and the fixing module 130. As shown in FIG. 1 , the axial direction of the coil module 110 is indicated by arrow X, and the radial direction of the coil module 110 is indicated by arrow Y.

[0034] The coil assembly 100 is provided with a first connection hole 121 of the coil module 110 and a second connection hole 131 of the fixing module 130 through the locking portion 140 along the radial direction of the coil module 110, so that the coil module 110 can be connected to the fixing module 130, that is, the coil module 110 can be assembled on the scanning bed, so as to enter the scanning cavity with the scanning bed. When the coil module 110 is specifically a volume coil, the volume coil can be connected to the scanning bed through the fixing module 130, and does not need to be assembled with the help of the gradient coil, so that the volume of the volume coil can be effectively reduced, and the problem of the volume coil being too large and the signal-to-noise ratio being low can be solved. Further, in order to improve the locking effect of the coil module 110, two first connection holes 121 and two second connection holes 131 are provided, and the two first connection holes 121 are respectively located on both sides of the coil module 110 along the radial direction; correspondingly, the two second connection holes 131 are respectively located on both sides of the fixing module 130 along the radial direction.

[0035] In a specific application scenario, the coil module 110 may be a micro-volume coil with an aperture of about 20 mm to 50 mm. The object to be tested may specifically be an animal such as an experimental mouse, that is, the coil assembly 100 is used to perform magnetic resonance imaging on the animal. One end of the fixing module 130 is fixed on a scanning bed (not shown), and the fixing module may be an animal cabin. The locking portion 140 may be a locking pin, which passes through the first connecting hole 121 and the second connecting hole 131 respectively, thereby fixing the coil module 110. In other embodiments, the locking portion may also be a locking screw, etc., and the first connecting hole and the second connecting hole are specifically threaded holes.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , in one embodiment, the locking portion 140 has a locking position and an unlocking position. When the locking portion 140 is in the locking position, the locking portion 140 is inserted into the first connection hole 121 and the second connection hole 131; when the locking portion 140 is in the unlocking position, the locking portion 140 is disengaged from the second connection hole 131; the locking portion 140 is connected to the first connection hole 121 along the radial direction of the coil module 110 by sliding, so as to switch between the unlocking position and the locking position. Specifically, the locking portion 140 is a locking latch. In the perspective of FIG. 3 , the locking latch can move left and right, so as to switch between the locking position and the unlocking position. The state shown in FIG. 3 is that the locking portion 140 is in the unlocking position, and the corresponding coil module 110 is in the unlocking state; the state shown in FIG. 4 is that the locking portion 140 is in the locking position, and the corresponding coil module 110 is in the locking state.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , in one embodiment, the coil module 110 is provided with a connection seat 120, and the first connection hole 121 is provided on the connection seat 120, that is, the locking portion 140 can be sequentially provided in the connection seat 120 and the fixing module 130, so as to lock the coil module 110 on the fixing module 130. The connection seat 120 is provided with a limiting groove 123; the locking portion 140 is fixedly connected to a limiting protrusion 150; when the locking portion 140 is in the locking position, the limiting protrusion 150 is clamped in the limiting groove 123. By providing the limiting protrusion 150, the limiting protrusion 150 is clamped in the limiting groove 123, and the limiting groove 123 blocks the movement of the limiting protrusion 150 in the radial direction, so as to limit the locking portion 140 in the locking position, thereby ensuring the reliability of the coil module 110 being fixed on the fixing module 130.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , in one embodiment, the connection base 120 is provided with a limit stopper 122, and the limit stopper 122 has an opening, and the opening forms the limit groove 123. When the limit projection 150 is located in the limit groove 123, the movement of the locking portion 140 in the radial direction is restricted, so that the locking portion 140 is limited in the locking position, thereby ensuring the reliability of the coil module 110 being fixed to the fixing module 130.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , in one embodiment, the connection seat 120 is provided with an avoidance groove 124, and the limiting protrusion 150 can rotate around the first connection hole 121 in the avoidance groove 124, so that the limiting protrusion 150 is engaged with the limiting groove 123 or is separated from the limiting groove 123. By providing the avoidance groove 124 on the connection seat 120, a rotation space can be provided for the limiting protrusion 150. Since the limiting protrusion 150 can rotate with the radial direction as the axis, the locking portion 140 can be conveniently driven to rotate and move through the limiting protrusion 150, so that it moves from the unlocking position to the locking position. For example, when the locking portion 140 needs to switch from the unlocking position to the locking position, the operating limit protrusion 150 drives the locking portion 140 to rotate with the radial direction as the axis, and the locking portion 140 moves radially at the same time to pass through the first connecting hole 121 and the second connecting hole 131; when the limit protrusion 150 is aligned with the limit groove 123 in the locking position, the limit protrusion 150 is rotated in the opposite direction again, so that the limit protrusion 150 is engaged with the limit groove 123 in the locking position, and the coil module 110 is fixed to the fixing module 130 through the locking portion 140, and the fixing effect of the coil module 110 is ensured by the limit protrusion 150 and the limit groove 123, so as to ensure the reliability of the use of the coil module 110.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , in one embodiment, the limiting grooves 123 include two, and the two limiting grooves 123 are arranged along the radial direction; when the locking portion 140 is in the unlocking position, the limiting protrusion 150 can be engaged with one of the limiting grooves 123. In other words, one limiting groove 123 corresponds to the unlocking position, and the other limiting groove 123 corresponds to the locking position. By providing the limiting groove 123 in the unlocking position, the locking portion 140 in the unlocking position can be limited in the limiting groove 123, thereby reducing the possibility of the locking portion 140 being separated from the first connecting hole 121, thereby reducing the possibility of the locking portion 140 being accidentally lost, and improving the reliability of the subsequent use of the locking portion 140.

[0041] In other embodiments, the connection seat may be elastically connected to a limiting post, and the locking portion may be provided with a limiting hole. Specifically, an elastic member is provided between the connection seat and the limiting post. When the locking portion moves to the locking position, the limiting post extends into the limiting hole, and the deformation of the elastic member decreases; when the locking portion is in other positions, the limiting post abuts against the outer peripheral wall of the locking portion, and the deformation of the elastic member increases. In this way, under the action of the elastic member, the limiting post can extend into the limiting hole of the locking portion, thereby limiting it.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the coil module 110 is provided with a first positioning portion 111; the fixing module 130 is provided with a second positioning portion 132 for plugging and matching with the first positioning portion 111. Through the cooperation of the first positioning portion 111 and the second positioning portion 132, the coil module 110 and the fixing module 130 are positioned, which is conducive to improving the assembly efficiency of fixing the coil module 110 on the fixing module 130.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, one of the first positioning portion 111 and the second positioning portion 132 includes a positioning pin extending along the axial direction, and the other includes a positioning hole for cooperating with the positioning pin. The axial cooperation between the positioning pin and the positioning hole ensures the positioning of the coil module 110 and the fixing module 130. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the coil module 110 is provided with a positioning hole, and the fixing module 130 is provided with a positioning pin. Of course, in other embodiments, the setting positions of the positioning pin and the positioning hole can be interchanged, that is, the positioning hole is provided on the fixing module, and the positioning pin is provided on the coil module.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the first positioning portion 111 and the first connecting hole 121 are respectively located at two ends of the coil module 110 along the axial direction. With this arrangement, the positions of the locking portion 140 and the second positioning portion 132 are relatively dispersed, reducing the possibility of interference between the two during assembly, and ensuring a larger operating space, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the coil module 110.

[0045] Specifically, during assembly, the fixing module 130 is assembled on the scanning bed, and the object to be tested is placed in the fixing compartment of the fixing module 130 to complete the preparation work before scanning. Then, the fixing module 130 is axially penetrated in the coil module 110, and the coil module 110 is inserted into the fixing module 130 so that the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole to achieve axial positioning. Further, the locking portion 140 is passed through the first connecting hole 121 and the second connecting hole 131, so as to achieve the locking of the coil module 110 and the fixing module 130, and the fixing of the coil module 110 is completed to perform subsequent scanning work.

[0046] Furthermore, an embodiment of the present application also provides an animal magnetic resonance imaging system (not shown), including the coil assembly 100 as described above. It can be understood that the animal magnetic resonance imaging system can also include a frame, a main magnet, a scanning bed and a gradient coil. The main magnet is located in the frame, the gradient coil is located in the inner cavity of the main magnet and is fixed to the frame, and the inner side of the gradient coil forms a scanning cavity of the animal magnetic resonance imaging system. The scanning bed is located outside the frame, and one end of the scanning bed is connected to the aforementioned fixed module for sending the animal to be tested into the scanning cavity. Of course, in some embodiments of the present application, when scanning, while the scanning bed drives the fixed module to enter the scanning cavity, the coil module connected to the fixed module also enters the scanning cavity together. Among them, the coil module can be a volume coil, so that the volume coil does not need to be assembled with the help of a gradient coil, thereby effectively reducing the volume of the volume coil, solving the problem of large volume of the volume coil and low signal-to-noise ratio. In some embodiments, the animal magnetic resonance imaging system is an ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging system, and the magnetic field strength generated by it can be above 9.4T. In addition, those skilled in the art may also add or remove other devices as needed to form an animal magnetic resonance imaging system to meet usage requirements, and there is no limitation on this.

[0047] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0048] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A coil assembly, characterized in that: The coil assembly comprises: The coil module (110) is configured with a containing space extending in an axial direction, and the coil module (110) is provided with a first connecting hole (121) extending in a radial direction; A fixing module (130) used for connecting to a scanning bed, the fixing module (130) being arranged in the accommodating space, and the fixing module (130) being provided with a second connecting hole (131) along the radial direction of the coil module (110); A locking portion (140) is movably disposed in the first connection hole (121) and the second connection hole (131) along the radial direction of the coil module (110) to lock the coil module (110) and the fixing module (130).

2. The coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the locking portion (140) is in a locking position, the locking portion (140) is inserted into the first connection hole (121) and the second connection hole (131); when the locking portion (140) is in an unlocking position, the locking portion (140) is separated from the second connection hole (131); The locking portion (140) is slidably connected to the first connection hole (121) along the radial direction of the coil module (110) to switch between the unlocking position and the locking position.

3. The coil assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The coil module (110) is provided with a connection seat (120), and the first connection hole (121) is provided on the connection seat (120); the connection seat (120) is provided with a limiting groove (123); The locking portion (140) is connected to a limiting protrusion (150); when the locking portion (140) is in the locking position, the limiting protrusion (150) is engaged with the limiting groove (123), and the limiting groove (123) blocks the locking portion (140) from moving along the radial direction.

4. The coil assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connection seat (120) is provided with a limit stopper (122), the limit stopper (122) having an opening, and the opening forms the limit groove (123).

5. The coil assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connection seat (120) is provided with an avoidance groove (124), and the limiting protrusion (150) can rotate around the first connection hole (121) in the avoidance groove (124) so ​​that the limiting protrusion (150) is engaged with the limiting groove (123) or is separated from the limiting groove (123).

6. The coil assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limiting grooves (123) include two, and the two limiting grooves (123) are arranged along the radial direction; when the locking portion (140) is in the unlocking position, the limiting protrusion (150) can be engaged with one of the limiting grooves (123).

7. The coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil module (110) is provided with a first positioning portion (111); and the fixing module (130) is provided with a second positioning portion (132) for plugging and mating with the first positioning portion (111).

8. The coil assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: One of the first positioning portion (111) and the second positioning portion (132) comprises a positioning pin extending along the axial direction, and the other comprises a positioning hole for cooperating with the positioning pin.

9. The coil assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first positioning portion (111) and the first connecting hole (121) are respectively located at two ends of the coil module (110) along the axial direction.

10. An animal magnetic resonance imaging system, characterized in that: It comprises a gantry, a main magnet, a gradient coil, a scanning bed, and also comprises a coil assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; The main magnet is located in the frame, the gradient coil is located in the inner cavity of the main magnet, and the inner side of the gradient coil forms a scanning cavity of the animal magnetic resonance imaging system; the scanning bed is located outside the frame, and one end of the scanning bed is connected to the fixing module for sending the animal to be tested into the scanning cavity.

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