Scanning assembly for magnetic resonance coil and magnetic resonance imaging system

Abstract

A scanning assembly for a magnetic resonance coil and a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. The scanning assembly comprises a first supporting piece which is used for positioning the first receiving coil relative to the first imaging region of interest and comprises a base and a bendable side wing, the lower surface of the base is placed on the scanning bed, and a first containing cavity for containing the first receiving coil and the first imaging region of interest is defined by the base and the bendable side wing; the second supporting piece is used for positioning the second receiving coil relative to the second imaging interested area, the lower surface of the second supporting piece is placed on the scanning bed, and the upper surface of the second supporting piece is sunken downwards to form a second containing cavity for containing the second receiving coil; the first and second supports are used for scanning imaging of the first and / or second imaging regions of interest. According to the scanning assembly provided by the utility model, the standard first coil and the standard second coil used for scanning adult patients can be directly used for scanning infants and can be placed at proper positions close to an imaging region of interest so as to ensure the image quality.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system, especially to a scanning assembly for a magnetic resonance coil. BACKGROUND

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems scan patients to provide detailed images of regions of interest to aid in diagnosis and treatment in various medical situations. MRI systems use an effective magnetic field to align protons within a patient. A radio frequency (RF) system is used to change the alignment of the magnetization that causes the protons to resonate to produce magnetic resonance (MR) signals that are received by receive coils and used to construct image slices. The signal strength in the receive coils depends on the amount of excitation in the coils and the distance of the coils from the region of interest being imaged. The receive coils are typically placed close to the region of interest being imaged in the patient to increase the MR signal strength and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the MR signals. Depending on the region of interest being imaged in the patient, the appropriate coil type, shape, size, and placement need to be selected to achieve reliable image quality.

[0003] Current receive coils are designed primarily for various applications with adult patients. Infant patients are typically smaller in size, and the size of infant patients varies more than adult patients. Specialized infant coils do not always fit the size of infant patients. In addition, the number of infant patients is limited, and standard receive coils used for other applications with adult patients are often used for MRI scans of infant patients to save the cost of purchasing coils. For example, knee coils used for adult patients can be used for whole body MRI scans of infant patients. However, placing standard receive coils used for adult patients close to the region of interest being imaged in infant patients and holding and fixing the coils in place still present challenges and limit the image quality. SUMMARY

[0004] The utility model aims at providing a scanning assembly for a magnetic resonance coil, which facilitates the application of standard coil assemblies used for adult patients to infant patients and achieves reliable image quality.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present application, a scanning assembly for magnetic resonance coils is provided, which comprises a first support member for positioning a first receiving coil relative to a first imaging region of interest, the first support member comprising a base and a foldable side wing, a lower surface of the base being placed on a scanning bed, the base and the foldable side wing together forming a first receiving cavity for accommodating the first receiving coil and the first imaging region of interest; and a second support member for positioning a second receiving coil relative to a second imaging region of interest, a lower surface of the second support member being placed on the scanning bed, an upper surface of the second support member being concave downward to form a second receiving cavity for accommodating the second receiving coil, the first and second support members being used separately or in combination for scanning imaging of the first and / or second imaging region of interest. Thanks to the scanning assembly according to the embodiment of the present application, the standard first and second coils for scanning of adult patients can be directly used for scanning of infants and toddlers, and the first and second coils are placed in a suitable position close to the imaging region of interest to ensure image quality.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present application, the scanning assembly further comprises an elastic bandage mounted on the foldable side wing, the elastic bandage being used to fix the first receiving coil in place along the cavity wall of the first receiving cavity.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present application, the scanning assembly further comprises a strap mounted on the foldable side wing, the strap being used to fold the foldable side wing from an open state in which the foldable side wing is away from each other to a closed state in which the foldable side wing is close to each other, wherein the open state is used to put the first receiving coil and the first imaging region of interest into the first receiving cavity, and the closed state is used to place the first receiving coil in position relative to the first imaging region of interest, wherein the size of the first receiving cavity in the closed state is adjustable to adapt to different sizes of the first imaging region of interest.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present application, the foldable side wing is arranged relatively apart on the upper surface of the base and extends upward, the foldable side wing and the upper surface of the base placed therebetween are integrally formed and together form a cavity wall of the first receiving cavity having a top opening.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present application, the foldable side wing and the base are in a split structure and are connected to each other at a joint area, wherein the upper surface of the base is concave downward to form a joint area connecting the foldable side wing, and the foldable side wing forms at least a part of the cavity wall of the first receiving cavity having a top opening.

[0010] According to the utility model one embodiment, wherein when the first and second support piece place in the scanning bed combination is used for to first and second imaging region of interest simultaneously scanning imaging, the first and second accommodating cavity along the scanning bed length direction each other through.

[0011] According to the utility model one embodiment, scanning assembly still includes the first support pad and the second support pad of placing on the scanning bed, the first support pad and the first support piece along the length of scanning bed length direction sum is substantially equal to the length of second support piece along the length of scanning bed length direction, and the second support pad and the second support piece along the length of scanning bed length direction are substantially equal, thereby make the position of first and second support piece on the scanning bed lock when single or combination is used.

[0012] According to the utility model one embodiment, scanning assembly still includes the auxiliary pad, when the first and second support piece place in the scanning bed makes the first and second accommodating cavity of accommodating the first and second receiving coil along the scanning bed length direction each other through, the auxiliary pad covers the first and second receiving coil and is placed between the imaging region of interest and coil.

[0013] According to the utility model one embodiment, wherein the upper surface of second support piece forms support boss on the left and right sides along the scanning bed width direction in the recessed second accommodating cavity, and the support boss is provided with cable groove for accommodating the cable of second receiving coil.

[0014] According to the utility model another aspect, provide a kind of magnetic resonance imaging system, including the scanning assembly of described. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1A And Figure 1B Schematically shows the magnetic resonance imaging system 100 and scanning assembly 120 according to the utility model embodiment;

[0016] Figure 2A And Figure 2B Schematically shows the first support piece 122 of scanning assembly 120 according to the utility model embodiment, and respectively shows the closed state and open state of first support piece 122;

[0017] Figure 3 Schematically shows the first support piece 300 according to another embodiment of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 4 Schematically shows the second support piece 124 of scanning assembly 120 according to the utility model embodiment;And

[0019] Figure 5A 、 5BFigures 5C and 5C schematically illustrate different applications of the scanning component 120 according to embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to examples. Those skilled in the art should understand that these exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] Figure 1A A magnetic resonance imaging system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. For example... Figure 1A As shown, the patient-supporting scanning bed 110 moves the patient into or out of the scanning imaging area of ​​the magnetic resonance imaging system 100. The magnetic resonance coil scanning assembly 120 is placed on the scanning bed 110 to house the magnetic resonance receiving coil and position it appropriately close to the patient's region of interest. The scanning assembly 120 is particularly advantageous for imaging infants and young children. Figure 1A and 1B In the illustrated embodiment, the scanning assembly 120 includes a first support 122 and a second support 124. The first support 122 has a first receiving cavity 130 that accommodates a first receiving coil 126 and a first region of interest (ROI) 132 of the patient, for example, the head of an infant patient. The first support 122 can position the first receiving coil 126 relative to the first ROI 132. The second support 124 has a second receiving cavity 140 that accommodates a second receiving coil 128 and can position the second receiving coil 128 relative to a second ROI 134 of the patient, for example, the body of an infant patient. When the first and second supports 122 and 124 are placed on the scanning bed 110 such that the first and second receiving cavities 130 and 140 are interconnected along the length direction A of the scanning bed 110, the first and second ROIs 132 and 134 can be scanned simultaneously, for example, to complete a whole-body scan of an infant patient. The first and second supports 122 and 124 can also be used individually to complete head and body scans of infant patients, respectively. When used alone, the first support member 122 can also be used for scanning imaging of specific regions of interest in adult patients, such as knee imaging in adult patients.

[0022] Optionally, the magnetic resonance imaging system 100 also includes an auxiliary pad 150 to improve the comfort of infant patients. When the first and second supports 122 and 124 are placed on the scanning bed 110 such that the first and second receiving cavities 130 and 140 accommodating the first and second receiving coils 126 and 128 are in communication with each other along the length A of the scanning bed, the auxiliary pad 150 covers the first and second receiving coils 126 and 128 and is positioned between the imaging region of interest and the coils.

[0023] Thanks to the scanning assembly 120, the magnetic resonance imaging system 100 according to the present embodiment can use a general magnetic resonance receiving coil for adult patients, which is placed in a suitable position close to the first imaging region of interest of the infant patient, thereby avoiding the need to add a special infant receiving coil and improving the magnetic resonance signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio when using a general magnetic resonance coil, and improving the image quality.

[0024] Figure 2A and Figure 2B The first support 122 of the scanning assembly 120 according to the present embodiment is schematically shown, and the closed state and the open state of the first support 122 are respectively shown. As shown in Figure 2A , the first support 122 includes a base 202 and oppositely arranged foldable flaps 204. The lower surface 212 of the base 202 is placed on the scanning bed 110, and the base 202 and the foldable flaps 204 form a first accommodating cavity 130 that accommodates the first receiving coil 126 and the first imaging region of interest 132. The first support 122 can further include an elastic bandage 206 mounted on the foldable flaps 204. The elastic bandage 206 is used to fix the first receiving coil 126 in place along the cavity wall of the first accommodating cavity 130.

[0025] Thanks to the foldability of the flaps 204, the first support 122 can be in an open state and a closed state. When no external force is applied to the flaps 204 arranged on both sides of the first accommodating cavity 130, the flaps 204 on both sides are away from each other, defining the open state of the first support 122, as shown in Figure 2B . The open state is used to make the first receiving coil 126 and the first imaging region of interest 132 enter the first accommodating cavity 130. For example, the elastic bandage 206 adheres the two free ends of the first receiving coil 126 to the two free ends of the flaps 204, thereby fixing the first receiving coil 126 in place along the cavity wall of the first accommodating cavity 130. Then, the first imaging region of interest 132 of the patient can be placed in the first accommodating cavity 130 where the first receiving coil 126 has been placed. At this time, by applying an external force to the flaps 204 on both sides of the first accommodating cavity 130, the flaps 204 on both sides are close to each other, defining the closed state of the first support 122, as shown in Figure 2A . The closed state is used to place the first receiving coil 126 in place relative to the first imaging region of interest 132, for example, in a suitable position close to the first imaging region of interest 132 that can improve the magnetic resonance signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio. Thanks to the foldability of the flaps 204, the size of the first accommodating cavity 130 in the closed state can be adjusted to a suitable size according to the size of the first imaging region of interest 132, which is more conducive to coping with the challenge brought by the large difference in the size of the head of the infant patient. Figure 2AIn the embodiment, an external force is applied to cause bending by means of the straps 208 mounted on the two side wings 204. The straps 208 can be fixed to the two side wings 204 by Velcro or similar connecting mechanisms.

[0026] In Figure 2A the embodiment, the base 202 and the side wings 204 adopt a split structure. Specifically, the lower surface 212 of the base 202 is placed on the scanning bed 110, and a joining area 216 for connecting the bendable side wings 204 is formed by a downward depression on the upper surface 214 of the base 202. The bendable side wings 204 include a corresponding joining area 218 assembled with the joining area 216 of the base 202 and a free area 220 extending upward from the joining area 218 to the free end 222. The Velcro for fixing the straps 208 can be provided at a position in the free area 220 close to the free end 222. As Figure 2A shown in the embodiment of

[0027] Figure 3 the joining area 218 of the side wings 204 and the joining area 216 of the base 202 completely overlap, and the cavity wall of the first accommodation cavity is completely defined by the side wings 204. In another embodiment (not shown), the joining area 218 of the side wings 204 may also partially overlap the joining area 216 of the base 202, and the cavity wall of the first accommodation cavity is defined jointly by the base 202 and the joining area 216 and the side wings 204. The side wings 204 of the split first support member 122 can be detachably installed on the base 202 by the magnetic resonance operator for use or fixedly assembled with the base 202 as a whole for use.

[0028] Figure 4The second support 124 of the scanning assembly 120 according to the embodiment of the present application is schematically shown. The lower surface of the second support 124 is placed on the scanning bed 110, and the upper surface of the second support 124 is concave downward to form a second accommodating cavity 140 accommodating the second receiving coil 128. Specifically, the bottom and three side walls of the second accommodating cavity 140 are formed by the concave upper surface of the second support 124. The top of the second accommodating cavity 140 forms a top opening for receiving the second receiving coil 128, and one side of the second accommodating cavity 140 forms a side opening penetrating the first accommodating cavity 130. In one embodiment, when the first and second accommodating cavities 130 and 140 penetrate each other along the scanning bed length direction A, the bottom surface of the second accommodating cavity 140 is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the first accommodating cavity 130, thereby improving the comfort of the patient.

[0029] In addition, the upper surface of the second support 124 forms a support boss 402 on the left and right sides of the concave second accommodating cavity 140 along the scanning bed width direction B. In one embodiment, the support boss 402 is provided with a cable groove 404 for accommodating the cable of the second receiving coil 128. The cable groove 404 can also be provided with a circular arc-shaped guide arc-shaped opening 406 at the cable outlet, so that the cable is more easily inserted into the cable interface provided at the head or tail of the scanning bed after leaving the cable groove 404.

[0030] Figure 5A 、 5B and 5C schematically show different applications of the scanning assembly 120 according to the embodiment of the present application. Through the specific length design of the support pad, the first and second supports 122 and 124 along the scanning bed length direction A, the positions of the first and second supports 122 and 124 on the scanning bed 110 can be locked. Figure 5A The scanning bed 110 when performing a routine scan of an adult patient is shown. At this time, the head, body and foot support pads are placed on the scanning bed 110 to improve the comfort of the patient. Among them, the body support pad is composed of two rectangular support pads 510 and 520 with equal lengths. The placement positions of the support pads 510 and 520 are defined by the head and foot support pads at both ends of the scanning bed. Figure 5B The placement positions of the scanning assembly 120 on the scanning bed 110 when performing a whole body scan of an infant are exemplarily shown. At this time, the support pad 510 is replaced by the second support 124 with equal length and height, and the support pad 520 is replaced by the combination of the first support 122 and the support pad 530. Among them, the first support 122 is placed between the second support 124 and the support pad 530, and the sum of the lengths of the first support 122 and the support pad 530 is substantially equal to the support pad 520 (i.e. substantially equal to the length of the second support 124). When performing a whole body scan of an infant, the placement positions of the support pad 530, the first and second supports 122 and 124 can be the same as those of the scanning assembly 120 when performing a whole body scan of an adult patient.Figure 5B The first and second support members 122 and 124 are placed adjacent to each other so that the first and second accommodating cavities are through each other along the length direction A of the scanning bed. Figure 5C The placement position of the first support member 122 when used alone in the scanning bed 110 is exemplarily shown. At this time, Figure 5A The support pad 520 in the first support member 122 is replaced by the combination of the first support member 122 and the support pad 530. The first support member 122 can be used for head scanning of infant patients or knee or leg scanning of adult patients. According to the selection of the imaging region of interest and the different placement of the patient on the scanning bed, for example, the head or the feet are closer to the scanning imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system 100, the first support member 122 and the support pad 510 and 530 can be selected in different position combinations to facilitate scanning. Benefiting from the specific length design of the first and second support members 122 and 124 and the support pads 510, 520 and 530 along the length direction A of the scanning bed, the scanning assembly according to the embodiments of the present application can meet the needs of various scanning scenarios and lock the position of the first and / or second support members 122 and 124.

[0031] Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that such detailed description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed to limit the present application. The technical solutions of the present application are determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A scan assembly for a magnetic resonance coil, characterized by, The scanning assembly comprises: a first support member for positioning a first receiving coil relative to a first imaging region of interest, the first support member comprising a base and foldable flaps, a lower surface of the base being placed on a scanning bed, the base and the foldable flaps together forming a first receiving cavity for accommodating the first receiving coil and the first imaging region of interest; and a second support member for positioning a second receiving coil relative to a second imaging region of interest, a lower surface of the second support member being placed on the scanning bed, an upper surface of the second support member being concave downward to form a second receiving cavity for accommodating the second receiving coil, the first and second support members being used separately or in combination for scanning imaging of the first and / or second imaging region of interest.

2. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising an elastic bandage mounted on the foldable flaps for securing the first receiving coil in place along the cavity wall of the first receiving cavity.

3. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising a strap mounted on the foldable flaps for folding the foldable flaps from an open state in which the first receiving coil and the first imaging region of interest are accommodated in the first receiving cavity to a closed state in which the first receiving coil is positioned relative to the first imaging region of interest, wherein the size of the first receiving cavity in the closed state is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of the first imaging region of interest.

4. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, The foldable flaps are arranged opposite each other on the upper surface of the base and extend upward, the foldable flaps and the upper surface of the base placed therebetween being integrally formed and together forming a cavity wall of the first receiving cavity having a top opening.

5. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, The foldable flaps and the base are in a split structure and are connected to each other at a joint region, wherein the upper surface of the base is concave downward to form a joint region connecting the foldable flaps, and the foldable flaps together form at least a portion of the cavity wall of the first receiving cavity having a top opening.

6. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, When the first and second support members are placed on the scanning bed for simultaneous scanning imaging of the first and second imaging region of interest, the first and second receiving cavities are through each other along the length direction of the scanning bed.

7. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising a first support pad and a second support pad placed on the scanning bed, the sum of the lengths of the first support pad and the first support member along the length direction of the scanning bed being substantially equal to the length of the second support member along the length direction of the scanning bed, and the length of the second support pad along the length direction of the scanning bed being substantially equal to the length of the second support member along the length direction of the scanning bed, so that the positions of the first and second support members on the scanning bed are locked when used separately or in combination.

8. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising an auxiliary pad for covering the first and second receiving coils and being placed between the imaging region of interest and the coils when the first and second support members are placed on the scanning bed so that the first and second receiving cavities accommodating the first and second receiving coils are through each other along the length direction of the scanning bed.

9. The scanning assembly of claim 1, wherein, An upper surface of the second support member forms support bosses on both sides of the recessed second receiving cavity in the scanning bed width direction, and cable grooves for accommodating cables of the second receiving coil are arranged on the support bosses.

10. A magnetic resonance imaging system, characterized by The scanning assembly according to any one of claims 1-9.

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