Receive coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of magnetic resonance, in particular to a receiving coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging. The receiving coil assembly comprises a support body for supporting the neck of a subject; two flexible coil components connected to the support body at the left side and the right side of the neck respectively, configured to cover the neck by deforming close to the neck, and the flexible coil component comprises a first radio frequency receiving coil deformed following the deformation of the flexible coil component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of nuclear magnetic resonance technology, and more particularly to a receiving coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging. Background Technology

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging device, and the radio frequency (RF) receiving coil is a crucial component. The role of the RF receiving coil can be likened to that of the human eye; the final image clarity is directly proportional to its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (sensitivity). To improve image clarity (or SNR, or sensitivity), the primary consideration in coil design is determining the coil's shape and internal cavity dimensions—the size must be neither too large nor too small. If the coil is too large, the distance between the coil element and the body part will be too great, reducing the clarity of the MRI image; if it is too small, a significant proportion of patients may not be able to fit their specific body parts inside the coil. Therefore, the primary principle of coil design is to make the coil as close as possible to the scanned area or object while still meeting the required dimensions. For example, the design of a head coil should ensure that the head of the vast majority of patients (e.g., over 95%) can be placed inside the coil.

[0003] Radio frequency (RF) receiving coils can be named according to the scanning site or object, and come in various types. When scanning different parts of the human body, specialized coils are generally required to obtain the best image quality. For example, a coil used to scan the head is called a head coil, a coil used to scan the knee joint is called a knee coil, and a coil used to scan the hand is called a hand coil or wrist coil. Using specialized coils in MRI scans significantly improves the performance of clinical images.

[0004] Neck MRI scans commonly use head and neck coils. However, standard head and neck coils are generally quite large to accommodate the majority of patients. As clinical examinations demand increasingly higher image quality, a key aspect of coil design is achieving a snug fit to the neck and suitability for the majority of patients. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this application provides a receiving coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging.

[0006] The receiving coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging proposed in this application includes:

[0007] A support structure for supporting the subject's neck;

[0008] Two flexible coil components, respectively connected to the support on the left and right sides of the neck, are configured to cover the neck by deforming near the neck. The flexible coil components include a first radio frequency receiving coil that deforms in accordance with the deformation of the flexible coil component.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the flexible coil component includes:

[0010] The coil carrier is a deformable flexible structure and is mechanically connected to the support.

[0011] The first radio frequency receiving coil is carried by the coil carrier and is configured to deform in accordance with the deformation of the coil carrier.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the coil carrier is a soft blanket structure, and the radio frequency receiving coil is housed and held inside the soft blanket.

[0013] In some possible implementations, it also includes:

[0014] The second radio frequency receiving coil is mounted on the support and located on the rear side of the neck.

[0015] In some possible implementations, one of the two flexible coil components is configured to cover at least a portion of the left side and the front side of the neck, and the other of the two flexible coil components is configured to cover at least a portion of the right side and the front side of the neck. When the two flexible coil components cover the neck, the two flexible coil components and the support define a cavity for receiving the neck, and the inner wall of the cavity surrounds the neck circumferentially.

[0016] In some possible implementations, when the two flexible coil components cover the neck, the coil combination consisting of the first radio frequency receiving coil and the second radio frequency receiving coil surrounds the neck around its entire circumference.

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

[0018] The straps are configured to secure the two flexible coil components to the periphery of the neck.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the support body supports the neck by supporting the subject's head.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the support has a downwardly recessed depression for receiving the head.

[0021] In some possible implementations, it also includes:

[0022] A guide rail extends along the head-to-toe direction of the subject and is fixed to the support body. The guide rail is configured to connect a transmitting coil assembly to a receiving coil assembly in a manner that allows it to move along the head-to-toe direction. The transmitting coil assembly is configured to transmit radio frequency signals toward the neck to excite hydrogen nuclei within the neck to generate magnetic resonance signals.

[0023] The receiving coil assembly for cervical magnetic resonance imaging provided in the embodiments of this application is suitable for most different subjects and is easy to use. It can perform high-quality magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine and the bilateral carotid arteries of the subject. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit this application.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the receiving coil assembly provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Top view.

[0027] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Side view.

[0028] Figure 4 Observation from the top of the subject's head Figure 1 Side view.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] D1 - Head-to-toe direction;

[0031] 100 - Receiver coil assembly;

[0032] 1-Support, 1a-Concave;

[0033] 2- Flexible coil component;

[0034] 3-Strap;

[0035] 4-Guide rail. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. Based on the described embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application. It is understood that, without conflict, some technical means of the various embodiments described herein can be substituted for or combined with each other.

[0037] In the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. Therefore, objects specified with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of those objects, and, for example, the term "first element" itself does not imply the existence of a "second element," nor does the term "second element" itself imply the existence of a "first element." Furthermore, words such as "a" or "one" do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one, while "multiple" indicates not less than two.

[0038] Figures 1 to 4 A receiving coil assembly 100 (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as assembly 100) according to an embodiment of this application is shown, which is used to receive magnetic resonance signals from the neck of a subject for magnetic resonance imaging of the subject's neck. The assembly mainly includes a support 1 and two flexible coil components 2.

[0039] The support body 1 supports the patient's neck by supporting the head and back of the shoulders. Inside the support body 1 is a second radio frequency (RF) receiving coil (not shown), used to receive MRI signals from the back of the neck. Since this receiving coil assembly 100 is designed for use by the patient in a supine position, from the radiologist's perspective, the second RF receiving coil inside the support body 1 is located on the lower side of the patient's neck. Furthermore, the support body 1 is mostly made of plastic, thus providing sufficient rigidity.

[0040] To improve the user experience and to better stabilize the position of the subject's head and thus the position of the neck, the support 1 has a downwardly recessed recess 1a, which has a shape corresponding to the back of the human head (back of the skull) for receiving the subject's head from the back.

[0041] Two flexible coil components 2 are connected to the support 1 on the left and right sides of the neck, respectively, and are configured to cover the neck by deforming close to it. Since the flexible coil component 2 contains a first radio frequency receiving coil (not shown) that can deform in accordance with the deformation of the flexible coil component 2, the radio frequency receiving coil within it is well close to the neck when the flexible coil component 2 covers the subject's neck, thereby receiving magnetic resonance signals from the neck at least from the left and right sides. With this design, the assembly 100 can perform high-quality magnetic resonance imaging of both the subject's cervical spine and the bilateral carotid arteries.

[0042] More specifically, the flexible coil component 2 includes a coil carrier with a deformable soft blanket structure and is mechanically connected to the support 1. The aforementioned first radio frequency receiving coil is housed and held inside the soft blanket and is deformable in accordance with the deformation of the coil carrier. For example, the soft blanket may include an outer blanket body and an inner blanket body sewn together, and the first radio frequency receiving coil is sewn and held within the clamping space between the outer blanket body and the inner blanket body.

[0043] One of the two flexible coil components 2 is configured to cover at least a portion of the left side and the front side of the neck, and the other is configured to cover at least a portion of the right side and the front side of the neck. When the two flexible coil components 2 cover the neck, the two flexible coil components 2 and the support 1 define a cavity for receiving the neck, the inner wall of which surrounds the neck circumferentially, and thus the coil combination consisting of the first radio frequency receiving coil and the second radio frequency receiving coil surrounds the neck circumferentially, thereby enabling the reception of magnetic resonance signals from the neck circumferentially.

[0044] Additionally, the strap 3 is connected to the edge of one of the flexible coil components 2, which is used to bind and fix the two flexible coil components 2 to the periphery of the neck, so that the flexible coil components 2 are as close to the neck as possible, and to stabilize the relative position of the radio frequency receiving coil and the neck.

[0045] The guide rail 4 extends along the head-to-toe direction D1 of the subject and is fixed to the support body 1. The guide rail 4 is used to connect the transmitting coil assembly (not shown) to the receiving coil assembly 100 in a manner that allows it to move along the head-to-toe direction D1. The transmitting coil assembly is used to transmit radio frequency signals to the subject's neck to excite hydrogen nuclei in the neck to generate the aforementioned magnetic resonance signals.

Claims

1. A receiving coil assembly for neck magnetic resonance imaging, characterized in that, include: A support structure for supporting the subject's neck; Two flexible coil components, respectively connected to the support on the left and right sides of the neck, are configured to cover the neck by deforming near the neck. The flexible coil components include a first radio frequency receiving coil that deforms in accordance with the deformation of the flexible coil component.

2. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible coil component includes: The coil carrier is a deformable flexible structure and is mechanically connected to the support. The first radio frequency receiving coil is carried by the coil carrier and is configured to deform in accordance with the deformation of the coil carrier.

3. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The coil carrier is a soft blanket structure, and the radio frequency receiving coil is housed and held inside the soft blanket.

4. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The second radio frequency receiving coil is mounted on the support and located on the rear side of the neck.

5. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, One of the two flexible coil components is configured to cover at least a portion of the left side and the front side of the neck, and the other of the two flexible coil components is configured to cover at least a portion of the right side and the front side of the neck. When the two flexible coil components cover the neck, the two flexible coil components and the support define a cavity for receiving the neck, and the inner wall of the cavity surrounds the neck circumferentially.

6. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the two flexible coil components cover the neck, the coil combination consisting of the first radio frequency receiving coil and the second radio frequency receiving coil surrounds the neck around its entire circumference.

7. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The straps are configured to secure the two flexible coil components to the periphery of the neck.

8. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support structure supports the neck by supporting the subject's head.

9. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The support has a downwardly recessed depression for receiving the head.

10. The receiving coil assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A guide rail extends along the head-to-toe direction of the subject and is fixed to the support body. The guide rail is configured to connect a transmitting coil assembly to a receiving coil assembly in a manner that allows it to move along the head-to-toe direction. The transmitting coil assembly is configured to transmit radio frequency signals toward the neck to excite hydrogen nuclei within the neck to generate magnetic resonance signals.

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