Magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of magnetic resonance, in particular to a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly. The magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly includes: a flexible coil including a spine, at least a portion of which is configured in a curved shape corresponding to a shape of an anterior side of an ankle of a subject; the flexible coil is configured to wrap the ankle in a state where the at least part of the spine covers a front side of the ankle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of nuclear magnetic resonance, and in particular to a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly. BACKGROUND

[0002] The magnetic resonance coil device mainly consists of a coil and a coil carrier, and is one of the important devices of a magnetic resonance system. It can be used to receive magnetic resonance signals from a subject part such as an ankle, so that the magnetic resonance system can process the signals to reconstruct a magnetic resonance image corresponding to the subject part,

[0003] Patent document No. CN 206671523 U (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1) discloses an ankle coil assembly for ankle magnetic resonance imaging. The shell adopts a flexible structure combined with a rigid structure. The coil unit inside the shell can better fit the part to be scanned by deforming the flexible structure, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of magnetic resonance imaging and improving the image quality of magnetic resonance imaging, making the clinical diagnosis more accurate. However, the structure of the ankle coil assembly proposed in the patent document 1 is relatively complex, and is not convenient to use. In addition, there is still room for improvement in the application of the RF coil unit to the subject part. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to solve at least one of the above technical problems, the present application provides a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly.

[0005] The magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly provided by the present application comprises:

[0006] The flexible coil comprises a spine, at least a portion of the spine being configured in a curved shape corresponding to the shape of the front side of the ankle of the subject;

[0007] The flexible coil is configured to wrap the ankle in a state where the at least a portion of the spine covers the front side of the ankle.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the flexible coil comprises:

[0009] The first flexible portion and the second flexible portion are respectively located on opposite sides of the spine;

[0010] The flexible coil is configured to wrap the ankle and the foot of the subject by deforming each of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion towards the bottom side of the foot and the back side of the ankle in a state where the at least a portion of the spine covers the front side of the ankle.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion have a lower deformation stiffness than the spine.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the ridge includes a first end segment for covering the instep of the subject, a second end segment for covering the front side of the subject's lower leg, and a middle segment connecting the first end segment and the second end segment and for covering the front side of the ankle, wherein the middle segment is configured to be curved in a shape corresponding to the shape of the front side of the ankle.

[0013] The flexible coil is configured to wrap around the foot, ankle, and calf by deforming each of the first and second flexible portions toward the sole and back of the subject's ankle, with the first end segment covering the instep, the middle segment covering the front of the ankle, and the second segment covering the front of the calf.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the ridge is configured as a curved strip that extends continuously from the toe position of the foot to the front of the lower leg.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion are configured as a deformable blanket.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the ridge is a malleable structure.

[0017] In some possible implementations, it also includes:

[0018] The footrest is configured to support the ankle by supporting the subject's heel.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the footrest includes a support plate that includes a heel support portion for supporting the subject's heel and a foot support portion for supporting the subject's toes.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the flexible coil is detachably connected to the footrest at the toe position of the subject.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the footrest has a coil unit.

[0022] In some possible implementations, it also includes:

[0023] A first strap is configured to bind the flexible coil to the subject at the foot position;

[0024] A second strap is configured to bind the flexible coil to the subject at the lower leg position. Attached Figure Description

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only relate to some embodiments of the present application and are not a limitation on the present application.

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly provided by the embodiments of the present application when the flexible coil is separated from the foot support.

[0027] Figure 2 is a structural schematic view of a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly provided by the embodiments of the present application before the flexible coil wraps the ankle.

[0028] Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 2 .

[0029] Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 2 .

[0030] Figure 5 is a structural schematic view of a magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly provided by the embodiments of the present application after the flexible coil wraps the ankle.

[0031] Explanation of reference signs:

[0032] P1-foot, P2-ankle, P3-calf;

[0033] P2f-front side of the ankle, P2b-back side of the ankle;

[0034] 1000-magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly;

[0035] 100-flexible coil, 200-foot support;

[0036] 1-first flexible part;

[0037] 2-second flexible part;

[0038] 3-ridge, 3F-first end section, 3B-second end section, 3M-middle section;

[0039] 4-base;

[0040] 5-support plate, 5B-heel support part, 5F-forefoot support part, 51-flexible pad;

[0041] 6-first strap;

[0042] 7-second strap;

[0043] 8-channel;

[0044] 9-outlet box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] For purposes of the present application, the following terms shall have the following meanings. In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the described embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of the present application. It can be understood that, some technical means of the various embodiments described herein can be mutually replaced or combined without conflict.

[0046] In the description of the present application, if there are terms “first”, “second” and the like, they are only used to distinguish the described objects, and do not have any sequential or technical meaning. Therefore, the objects defined with “first”, “second” and the like can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the objects, and for example, the term “first element” itself does not mean the existence of “second element”, and the term “second element” itself does not mean the existence of “first element”. In addition, “one” or “a” and the like do not represent a quantity limitation, but represent the existence of at least one, and “multiple” represents no less than two.

[0047] Figures 1 to 5 An ankle coil assembly 1000 (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the assembly 1000) provided according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, which is used to receive magnetic resonance signals from an ankle P2 of a subject when the ankle P2 of the subject is subjected to magnetic resonance detection, so that a magnetic resonance system containing the assembly can obtain a magnetic resonance image for the ankle P2 of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signals using an image reconstruction technique.

[0048] In use, the assembly 1000 can be positioned on an examination bed of a magnetic resonance system, a subject lies on the examination bed in a supine position, and a limb part of the subject containing the ankle P2 is carried by the assembly, the aforementioned limb part including a foot P1, the ankle P2 and a lower leg P3 of the subject.

[0049] The assembly 1000 includes a foot support 200 and a flexible coil 100.

[0050] The foot support 200 includes a base 4 and a support plate 5 fixed to the base 4.

[0051] The bottom of the base 4 is a substantially flat bottom plate, which can be used to stably support the base 4 on the examination bed in use.

[0052] The pallet 5 is formed in a substantially L-shaped shape corresponding to the limb combination of the foot P1, the ankle P2 and the lower leg P3, and includes a heel supporting portion 5B for supporting the heel from the back side of the heel and a ball supporting portion 5F for supporting the ball from the bottom side of the foot, the heel supporting portion 5B and the ball supporting portion 5F being provided in the aforementioned substantially L-shaped shape. In order to improve the experience of the subject, each of the heel supporting portion 5B and the ball supporting portion 5F has a flexible pad 51 for directly contacting the subject's limb, and the flexible pad 51 of the heel supporting portion 5B and the flexible pad 51 of the ball supporting portion 5F can be the same flexible pad 51 formed in a substantially L shape.

[0053] The flexible coil 100 includes a ridge 3 and first and second flexible portions 1 and 2 located on opposite sides of the ridge 3, respectively, which are of a blanket type structure that is deformable. And, it goes without saying that the flexible coil 100 also includes an RF coil unit that can sense magnetic resonance signals, such as the RF coil unit can be sewn to be held inside the first and second flexible portions 1 and 2. In addition, the flexible coil 100 can also be configured with an RF coil unit at the position of the ridge 3, such as the flexible coil 100 includes a plurality of RF coil units hidden inside its outer surface, and at least one RF coil unit extends across the first flexible portion 1, the ridge 3 and the second flexible portion 2.

[0054] A part of the ridge 3 is configured to be curved corresponding to the shape of the front side P2f of the ankle. The first and second flexible portions 1 and 2 have a lower deformation stiffness than the ridge 3, that is, the first and second flexible portions 1 and 2 are more easily deformed relative to the ridge 3. Through such a design, in use, the position of the flexible coil 100 relative to the ankle P2 can be preliminarily positioned from the front side P2f of the ankle by the ridge 3, and then the ankle P2 is wrapped by deforming the flexible coil 100 towards the back side, so that the magnetic resonance signals from the ankle P2 are sensed by the RF coil unit of the flexible coil 100.

[0055] In some embodiments, the first and second flexible portions 1 and 2 can be two regions of the same piece of blanket, and a member for defining the ridge 3 (for example, a curvedly extending strip-shaped plastic piece) is joined to the middle position of the same piece of blanket. In other embodiments, the ridge 3, the first and second flexible portions 1 and 2 can be three members that are processed separately in advance, and then the three members and the RF coil unit, etc. are assembled together to form the flexible coil 100.

[0056] In order to improve the quality of the magnetic resonance imaging of the ankle P2 and to obtain magnetic resonance images of the tissues in the vicinity of the ankle P2 so that the physician can comprehensively analyze the condition of the ankle P2 according to a larger range of magnetic resonance images, the size of the flexible coil 100 is designed to be able to wrap not only the ankle P2 of the subject, but also the foot P1 and the lower leg P3 of the subject. Correspondingly, in order to easily position the flexible coil 100 relative to the foot P1, the ankle P2 and the lower leg P3 when in use, the spine 3 is configured to include a first end segment 3F for covering the instep of the foot P1, a second end segment 3B for covering the front side of the lower leg P3, and a middle segment 3M connecting the first end segment and the second end segment and for covering the front side P2f of the ankle, wherein the middle segment 3M is curved corresponding to the shape of the front side P2f of the ankle.

[0057] In use, the respective segments of the spine 3 can be covered on the instep of the foot P1, the front side P2f of the ankle and the front side of the lower leg P3, respectively, and then the flexible coil 100 can be wrapped around the foot P1, the ankle P2 and the lower leg P3 of the subject by deforming each of the first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2 towards the bottom side of the foot and the back side of the ankle of the subject. It can be understood that since the spine 3 has a curved shape corresponding to the front side P2f of the ankle and has a higher deformation stiffness than the first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2, the operator can easily identify the spine 3 from appearance and touch, and can easily apply the spine 3 to cover the front side P2f of the ankle without obvious wrinkles.

[0058] In use, the flexible pad 51 of the heel supporting portion 5B is for the heel of the foot P1 and the lower leg P3 of the subject to contact, and the flexible pad 51 of the sole supporting portion 5F is for the bottom of the foot P1 of the subject to contact, thereby providing a relatively comfortable use experience for the subject.

[0059] It should be understood that the spine 3 having a higher deformation stiffness than the first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2 does not necessarily mean that the spine 3 is a flexible structure capable of being deformed, and it also includes the case that the spine 3 is configured as a rigid structure incapable of being deformed. For example, in some embodiments, the spine 3 is a rigid strip member formed of plastic, which is fixed to a middle position of one flexible portion, thereby dividing the flexible portion into the aforementioned first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2.

[0060] In the case that the spine 3 is a rigid structure, flexible coils 100 of different sizes and corresponding sizes of spines 3 can be configured to respectively adapt to subjects of different body types.

[0061] In some embodiments, the ridge 3 has good plasticity, and is a plastic structure. Through such a design, the user can apply force to the ridge 3 according to the shape of the current subject's examination site (e.g., the foot P1, the ankle P2, and the lower leg P3), to cause a small amount of plastic deformation, so that the ridge 3 is better applied to the examination site.

[0062] In some embodiments, the ridge 3 has flexibility, but its deformation stiffness is higher than that of the first flexible part 1 and the second flexible part 2. For example, a flexible coil 100 can be constructed as follows: a flexible strip of fabric or leather is sewn and fixed in the middle part of a blanket, so that the middle part of the blanket is thickened to have a higher deformation stiffness than other positions, and thus the thickened area in the middle of the blanket defines the ridge 3, while the non-thickened areas on both sides of the blanket define the first flexible part 1 and the second flexible part 2, respectively.

[0063] In this embodiment, the ridge 3 is configured as a curved long strip that continuously extends from the toe position of the foot P1 to the front side of the lower leg P3. Through such a design, it is easier to position the parts of the flexible coil 100 relative to the examination site.

[0064] In this embodiment, the flexible coil 100 is detachably connected to the foot support at the toe position of the subject's foot P1. More specifically, the flexible coil 100 has a rigid plastic outlet box 9 at the toe position of the subject's foot P1, and the cable inside the flexible coil 100 for transmitting signals is led out through the outlet box 9, and the outlet box 9 has a card edge with omitted markings. Accordingly, the foot support 200 has a card slot with omitted markings that is adapted to the aforementioned card edge, and by fitting the card edge of the outlet box 9 into the card slot of the foot support 200, the connection between the flexible coil 100 and the foot support 200 is achieved, which helps to inhibit the movement of the examination site relative to the foot support 200.

[0065] In this embodiment, the L-shaped support plate 5 of the foot support 200 also has an RF coil unit, which is referred to as the first coil unit for distinction and ease of description, and the RF coil unit of the flexible coil 100 is referred to as the second coil unit. The first coil unit can be installed in a containing space inside the support plate 5 (e.g., inside the aforementioned flexible pad 51), and the second coil unit can be sewn and held inside the flexible coil 100. Obviously, the number of first coil units and the number of second coil units can be multiple, respectively.

[0066] In use, the flexible coil 100 wraps the ankle P2 of the subject and the pallet 5 with the first coil units in its inner periphery, and at least one first coil unit (the rear side of the ankle coil unit) is located at the rear side P2b of the ankle in the inner periphery of the flexible coil 100, and at least part of the second coil units are located at the front side P2f, left side and right side of the ankle. In this way, on the one hand, the position of the ankle P2 can be fixed by the pallet 5, so as to inhibit the movement of the ankle P2 in the magnetic resonance detection process, and on the other hand, the first coil units of the pallet 5 can also be used to receive the magnetic resonance signals from the ankle P2 from the rear side P2b of the ankle. And in the state that the flexible coil 100 wraps the ankle P2 and the pallet 5, the pallet 5 is closer to the ankle P2 of the subject than the part of the flexible coil 100 located at the lower side (outer side) of the pallet 5, so compared with receiving the magnetic resonance signals from the rear side P2b of the ankle by using the part of the flexible coil 100 at the outer side of the pallet 5, the quality of the magnetic resonance signals received from the rear side P2b of the ankle by using the first coil units of the pallet 5 is higher.

[0067] And since the flexible coil 100 wraps the ankle P2 of the subject and the pallet 5 with the first coil units in its inner periphery, the flexible coil 100 also helps the ankle P2 of the subject to be mechanically maintained on the foot support 200, that is, to inhibit the movement of the subject relative to the foot support 200, and thereby inhibit the magnetic resonance artifacts.

[0068] It should be understood that the aforementioned at least one first coil unit is located at the rear side P2b of the ankle in the inner periphery of the flexible coil 100 does not mean that the corresponding first coil unit should be entirely located at the rear side P2b of the ankle, but also includes the case that only a part of the first coil unit is located at the rear side P2b of the ankle. For example, one part of a first coil unit is arranged on the heel supporting portion 5B, and the other part is arranged on the sole supporting portion 5F.

[0069] It should also be understood that the aforementioned at least part of the second coil units located at the front side P2f, left side and right side of the ankle can at least include two different cases: 1. The same second coil unit is located at the front side P2f, left side and right side of the ankle at the same time; 2. One second coil unit is located at the front side P2f of the ankle, and the other two second coil units are respectively located at the left side and right side of the ankle P2.

[0070] Further, the heel supporting portion 5B of the platform 5 has a first coil unit (posterior calf coil unit) located at the posterior side of the calf P3 of the subject, the ball supporting portion 5F has a first coil unit (plantar coil unit) located at the plantar side of the subject, and the flexible coil 100 has a second coil unit (dorsal coil unit) located at the dorsal side of the foot of the subject and a second coil unit (anterior calf coil unit) located at the anterior side of the calf P3. In other words, at least one first coil unit is located at the posterior side of the calf P3 of the subject and is arranged at the heel supporting portion 5B of the platform 5, at least one first coil unit is located at the plantar side and is arranged at the ball supporting portion 5F of the platform 5, at least one second coil unit is located at the dorsal side, and at least one second coil unit is located at the anterior side of the calf P3. In use, the flexible coil 100 wraps the ankle P2, the foot P1, the calf P3, the posterior ankle coil unit, the posterior calf coil unit and the plantar coil unit within its inner periphery.

[0071] In some embodiments, a certain first coil unit is located both at the posterior side P2b of the ankle P2 and at the posterior side of the calf P3, so it is both a posterior calf coil unit and a posterior ankle coil unit.

[0072] The assembly further comprises a first strap 6 and a second strap 7, one end of the first strap 6 and one end of the second strap 7 being respectively sewn to the edges of the first flexible portion 1. In use, the first strap 6 binds the flexible coil 100 to the subject at the location of the foot P1 of the subject, and the second strap 7 binds the flexible coil 100 to the subject at the location of the calf P3.

[0073] More specifically, a passage 8 is formed between the platform 5 of the foot support 200 and the base 4 of the foot support 200, which extends in the left-right direction of the subject, and the flexible coil 100 wraps the ankle P2 of the subject and the platform 5 within its inner periphery by passing through the passage 8. In implementation, the operator can first cover the middle portion of the flexible coil 100 (i.e. the portion defined by the ridge 3) on the anterior side P2f of the ankle, and then wrap the ankle P2 and the platform 5 within its inner periphery by passing the left portion of the flexible coil 100 (i.e. the first flexible portion 1) rightward through the passage 8 and the right portion of the flexible coil 100 (i.e. the second flexible portion 2) leftward through the passage 8, and bind the flexible coil 100 to the foot P1, the ankle P2, the calf P3 and the platform 4 using the first strap 6 and the second strap 7.

[0074] It is necessary to point out that the ridge 3 can also be designed to have the same deformation rigidity as the first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2. For example, in some implementations, a flexible blanket with coil units inside and uniform appearance constitutes the flexible coil 100, and the ridge 3, the first flexible portion 1 and the second flexible portion 2 can be understood as three different regions of the flexible blanket.

[0075] In other embodiments, the pallet 5 does not have RF coil elements, but all the RF coil elements in the flexible coil 100 are used to receive magnetic resonance signals. In this case, the flexible coil 100 can not wrap the pallet 5, but only wrap the limb part of the subject, or the pallet 5 and the limb part of the subject can be wrapped together.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance ankle coil assembly, comprising: The assembly includes: a flexible coil including a ridge, at least a portion of the ridge being configured in a curved shape corresponding to a shape of an anterior side of an ankle of a subject; the flexible coil is configured to wrap the ankle in a state where the at least a portion of the ridge covers the anterior side of the ankle.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the flexible coil includes: a first flexible portion and a second flexible portion located on opposite sides of the ridge, respectively; the flexible coil is configured to wrap the ankle and a foot of the subject by deforming each of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion toward a plantar side of the foot and a posterior side of the ankle in a case where the at least a portion of the ridge covers the anterior side of the ankle.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein, the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion have a lower deformation rigidity than the ridge.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein, the ridge includes a first end segment for covering a dorsal side of the foot of the subject, a second end segment for covering an anterior side of a lower leg of the subject, and a middle segment connecting the first end segment and the second end segment and for covering an anterior side of the ankle, wherein the middle segment is configured in a curved shape corresponding to a shape of the anterior side of the ankle; the flexible coil is configured to wrap the foot, the ankle, and the lower leg by deforming each of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion toward a plantar side of the foot and a posterior side of the ankle in a case where the first end segment covers the dorsal side of the foot, the middle segment covers the anterior side of the ankle, and the second end segment covers the anterior side of the lower leg.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein, the ridge is configured in a curved strip shape continuously extending from a toe position of the foot to the anterior side of the lower leg.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein, the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion are configured in a deformable blanket-like structure.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the ridge is a pliable structure.

8. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, Further including: a foot support configured to support the ankle by supporting a heel of the subject.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein, the foot support includes a support plate including a heel support portion for supporting the heel of the subject and a ball support portion for supporting a ball of the subject.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein, the foot support has a coil unit.

11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein, the flexible coil is detachably connected to the foot support at a toe position of the subject.

12. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, Further including: a first strap configured to bind the flexible coil to the subject at a position of the foot of the subject; a second strap configured to bind the flexible coil to the subject at a position of a lower leg of the subject.

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