Multi-part magnetic resonance local coil arrangement with low height of the lower part

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, a system with a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and a patient support device, a magnetic resonance device, and a use of such devices. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises a lower part and an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part, in a connected state, delimit a spatial volume in which a body part of a patient can be supported during a magnetic resonance examination. The lower part is designed to be positioned on a patient support device of a magnetic resonance device for performing the magnetic resonance examination. The lower part and the upper part, in a connected state, have an overall height, wherein the lower part has a height of less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the overall height.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, a system comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and a patient support device, a magnetic resonance device and a use of such devices.

[0002] Imaging techniques are important tools in medical technology. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MR), also known as magnetic resonance tomography (MRI), is characterized by high and variable soft tissue contrasts. A magnetic resonance scanner generates a spatially homogeneous main magnetic field in which a patient is placed during an MRI examination. High-frequency electromagnetic signals (RF signals) are radiated into the patient, exciting the patient's atomic nuclei. The excited atomic nuclei emit magnetic resonance signals, which are received by one or more magnetic resonance local coil arrays (local coils for short) and forwarded to an evaluation unit in the MRI scanner. Based on the received magnetic resonance signals, the evaluation unit calculates one or more magnetic resonance images.

[0003] When examining patients in modern magnetic resonance imaging scanners, patients who are unable to walk are usually transferred lying down from another transport device, such as a movable bed or couch, onto a patient support device of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. This can be done directly at the magnetic resonance imaging scanner with a stationary patient support device, or, with mobile patient support devices, wherever the mobile patient support device is brought to position the patient. Sick and bedridden patients, often very heavy patients, require considerable physical effort from radiology staff to transport the patients from one support surface to another.Often, sheets or plastic mats are placed under the patient so that they can be grasped and the patient can be transported from one support surface to the next by pulling on the surface.

[0004] A “SPINE / HIP” coil manufactured by Esaote SpA is known and is shown in a product brochure for the Magnifico™Open MRI device.

[0005] The object of the present invention can be considered to facilitate the positioning of a patient on a patient support device of a magnetic resonance imaging device. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female, or other gender identities are also included.

[0006] A magnetic resonance local coil arrangement for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals is proposed. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises a lower part and an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part, in a connected state, delimit a spatial volume in which a body part of a patient can be supported during a magnetic resonance examination. The lower part is designed to be positioned on a patient support device of a magnetic resonance device for performing the magnetic resonance examination. The lower part and the upper part, in a connected state, have an overall height, wherein the lower part, in at least one section, in particular a partial section, along the longitudinal axis of the patient, has a height of less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the overall height.

[0007] The requirement that the lower part have a certain maximum height in at least one section along the patient's longitudinal axis means, in particular, that the lower part does not have to meet this requirement over its entire length along the longitudinal axis. In another section along the longitudinal axis, the lower part may also have a height that exceeds this maximum height.

[0008] Due to the low height of the lower part of only 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the total height, the lower part positioned on the patient support device represents a smaller barrier, particularly when the patient is moved sideways on the patient support device, than conventional coils, whose lower parts are generally about 1 / 2 the total height. The patient can therefore be lifted into the lower part more easily, e.g. by a medical professional, because the height to be overcome is lower than usual. This is advantageous, for example, when a patient is to be transferred from a transport device, e.g. a movable bed or a movable couch, onto a patient support device of the magnetic resonance device for magnetic resonance examination of the body part.Such a body part can be, for example, the patient's head, which then does not have to be lifted as much in order to be placed in the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement.

[0009] The longitudinal axis is, in particular, the patient's longitudinal axis. In particular, the longitudinal axis is aligned from their feet to their head. When the patient is lying in a magnetic resonance device, their longitudinal axis is typically parallel to the z-axis of the magnetic resonance device. The section along the patient's longitudinal axis, in which the height is less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the total height of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, preferably extends over a length of at least 1 / 3, in particular at least 1 / 2, of the total length of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement along the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the lower part in this section presents a smaller obstacle for lateral transport of the patient.However, it is of course also conceivable that the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement has a height of less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the total height along its entire extension along the longitudinal axis.

[0010] The lower part of such a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is often also called the posterior part of a local coil; the upper part is often also called the anterior part. The connected state is preferably an operational state in which RF signals, in particular magnetic resonance signals, can be received and / or RF signals, in particular excitation signals, can be transmitted.

[0011] Preferably, the upper part and / or the lower part comprise one or more antennas, in particular coil elements, for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals. These antennas are preferably connected, in particular electrically, to the magnetic resonance device in a connected state, so that, for example, received magnetic resonance signals can be transmitted to the magnetic resonance device.

[0012] The spatial volume is, in particular, a three-dimensional spatial volume. In the connected state, the spatial volume is preferably not completely bounded by the lower and upper parts; for example, the boundary of the spatial volume by the lower and upper parts has a gap at at least one location, i.e., the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement has an opening at this at least one location. For example, the patient's neck can be guided through such an opening during a magnetic resonance examination while the patient's head is located in the spatial volume.

[0013] The spatial volume can be limited downwards, in particular, by a support surface of the lower part, particularly in the direction of gravity during intended use of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, with the height extending perpendicular to this support surface. The support surface can also be curved, so that the direction perpendicular to the support surface can be location-dependent.

[0014] The height direction of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is preferably parallel, in particular opposite, to the direction of gravity during intended use of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement. The direction of gravity is typically referred to as the y-direction in the coordinate system of magnetic resonance devices, while the z-direction typically indicates the direction of the main magnetic field in which the magnetic resonance examination takes place; the x-direction, in turn, is typically the direction orthogonal to the y- and z-directions. Gravity is ultimately also the force that must be overcome when positioning the patient's body part on the patient support device.

[0015] In particular, the direction of the height of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is oriented perpendicular to the frontal plane of the patient when the patient lies on his back on the patient support device.

[0016] The spatial volume can be limited upwards, i.e., counter to the direction of gravity during intended use of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, for example, by a housing underside of the upper part, particularly when the lower and upper parts are connected. The spatial volume is advantageously designed, in particular, to be sufficiently large, to accommodate the patient's body part to be examined. The body part can be, for example, the patient's head, a foot, or a knee. Preferably, the body part is placed into the lower part from above when the lower part and upper part are separated; then the upper part is plugged onto the lower part to establish the connected state.Preferably, the body part is surrounded by antennas in the connected state in order to receive RF signals generated in the body part, in particular magnetic resonance signals, and / or to transmit RF signals, in particular excitation signals for generating magnetic resonance signals, into the body part.

[0017] The patient support device comprises, for example, a patient table on which the patient lies or is supported during the magnetic resonance examination. For example, the lower part of a head coil is positioned at one end of the patient table for conducting the magnetic resonance examination. The patient table can, for example, be movably arranged on a fixed base frame of the patient support device. Advantageously, the patient, in particular the body part of the patient to be examined, can thus be moved into the main magnetic field, in particular the isocenter of the magnetic resonance device. This movement is then typically performed in the z-direction.

[0018] The total height of the lower and upper parts can, in particular, be the sum of both parts. Especially when the lower and upper parts interlock when connected, the total height can also be less than the sum of the individual parts.

[0019] The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is preferably designed to establish a mechanical and / or electrical connection between the lower part and the upper part when the upper part is plugged onto the lower part. The mechanical and / or electrical connection is preferably established directly and / or simultaneously with the plugging together of the lower part and the upper part. For example, the upper part snaps onto the lower part during the plugging process. This advantageously eliminates additional manual steps and simplifies the workflow.

[0020] Preferably, the upper part comprises at least one upper plug-in connection part, and the lower part comprises at least one lower plug-in connection part. The at least one upper plug-in connection part and the at least one lower plug-in connection part are designed to establish an electrical and / or mechanical connection between the upper part and the lower part when the upper part is plugged onto the lower part.

[0021] Preferably, the at least one upper connector part and the at least one lower connector part are each configured to correspond to one another. For example, the at least one upper connector part comprises one or more pin contacts that can engage with corresponding socket contacts of the at least one lower connector part. Electrical signals, in particular RF signals, and / or electrical energy can advantageously be transmitted via the contacts.

[0022] Preferably, the at least one lower connector part is flush with the surface of the lower part surrounding the at least one lower connector part. Advantageously, the at least one lower connector part does not protrude beyond the upper edge of the lower part. Advantageously, the patient's body part can be positioned particularly securely and easily in the lower part because the at least one lower connector part has no disruptive, particularly upward-facing, contours.

[0023] The lower part preferably comprises a cover that is suitable, in particular, for covering any electrical contacts of the at least one lower plug-in connection part, over which the at least one lower plug-in connection part is positioned, in particular slid. This can advantageously increase the safety of the patient and / or the operating personnel.

[0024] One possible embodiment provides for the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement to be or include a head coil, a knee coil, or a foot coil, in particular a foot / ankle coil. Accordingly, the body part to be examined is preferably the patient's head, knee, or foot. Advantageously, these body parts can be placed particularly easily in the lower part of the respective coil.

[0025] One possible embodiment provides for the lower part to be part of a, particularly very long, spinal coil. In particular, the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is a combination of a spinal coil with another local coil comprising the lower part.

[0026] One possible embodiment provides that the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises, as the upper part, a first upper part for examining a first body part of the patient, wherein the upper part can be connected to the lower part for examining the first body part. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises a second upper part for examining a second body part of the patient, wherein the second upper part can be connected to the lower part for examining the second body part. Advantageously, both the first upper part and the second upper part can each be connected to the same lower part, i.e., enter a connected state.

[0027] The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement can thus, in particular, be an arrangement in which the lower part can be combined with various upper parts, each designed to examine a different body part. Advantageously, the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement can be used multiple times for different applications.

[0028] For example, the first body part is the patient's head, and the second body part is the ankle / foot area. Accordingly, the first upper part is an upper part configured to examine the patient's head together with the lower part, and the second upper part is an upper part configured to examine the patient's ankle / foot area together with the lower part.

[0029] Furthermore, a system comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals and a patient support device for performing the magnetic resonance examination with a magnetic resonance device is proposed. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is, in particular, a previously described magnetic resonance local coil arrangement.

[0030] Preferably, the patient support device has a table surface intended for supporting a lying patient during a magnetic resonance examination, in particular a magnetic resonance measurement, wherein the lower part protrudes less than 5 cm above the table surface at least in a section along the patient's longitudinal axis when the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is mounted on the patient support device. In particular, the shape of the table surface can be predominantly described by a plane, and the lower part protrudes less than 5 cm above this plane at least in a section along the patient's longitudinal axis.The section along the patient's longitudinal axis, in which the lower part protrudes less than 5 cm above the table surface when the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is mounted on the patient support device, preferably extends over a length of at least 1 / 3, in particular at least 1 / 2, of the total length of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement along the longitudinal axis. This advantageously allows the operating personnel to position the patient particularly easily on the table surface.

[0031] The patient support device can, for example, comprise a patient table with a table surface and a support, in particular a frame, on which the patient table is mounted. Advantageously, the patient table is movably mounted so that the patient's body part can be moved to the optimal position in the magnetic resonance imaging device.

[0032] Preferably, the lower part has an interface with the upper part, wherein this interface is flush with the table surface when the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is mounted on the patient support device. Preferably, the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement does not protrude beyond the table surface, so that the patient can be moved particularly easily on the patient support device or can move themselves particularly easily on the patient support device.

[0033] One possible embodiment provides that the patient support device comprises at least one table-side plug connection part, and the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises at least one coil-side plug connection part. The at least one table-side plug connection part and the at least one coil-side plug connection part are designed to establish an electrical connection between the patient support device and the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement when the at least one coil-side plug connection part is connected to the at least one table-side plug connection part. The upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement can, in particular, comprise at least one cable that connects the at least one coil-side plug connection part to the remaining upper part.

[0034] Preferably, the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement has at least one electrical contact for electrically contacting the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, wherein the at least one electrical contact is galvanically decoupled.

[0035] Another embodiment of the system provides for the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil assembly to be permanently integrated into the patient support device. This can preferably be the lower part of a foot / ankle coil.

[0036] Furthermore, a magnetic resonance apparatus is proposed which comprises a previously described system comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and a patient support device.

[0037] It is further proposed to use a previously described magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and / or a previously described system comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and a patient support device and / or a previously described magnetic resonance device for carrying out a magnetic resonance examination.

[0038] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings. Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0039] They show: Fig. 1 a magnetic resonance apparatus with a patient support device and a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, Fig. 2 a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to the prior art, Fig. 3 a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement with a low base, Fig. 4 a patient on a transport device before being transferred to a patient support device, Fig. 5 a patient after transfer to a patient support device, Fig. 6 a patient on a patient support device with the upper part attached, Fig. 7 a system comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement and a patient support device, Fig. 8 Bottom of an upper part of a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement, Fig. 9 a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement with a lower part and two alternative upper parts, Fig. 10 a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement with a lower part which has a height of less than 1 / 3 of the total height only in a partial section.

[0040] In Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a magnet unit 11 having a main magnet 12 for generating a strong and, in particular, temporally constant main magnetic field 13. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a patient receiving area 14 for receiving a patient 15. The patient receiving area 14 in the present exemplary embodiment is cylindrical and is surrounded in a circumferential direction by the magnet unit 11. In principle, however, a different design of the patient receiving area 14 is conceivable at any time. The patient 15 can be pushed into the patient receiving area 14 by means of a patient support device 16 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. For this purpose, the patient support device 16 comprises a patient table 17 designed to be movable in the z-direction within the patient receiving area 14.The z-direction coincides with the longitudinal axis of the patient 15. The z-direction also represents the central axis of the cylindrical magnet unit 11.

[0041] The magnet unit 11 further comprises a gradient coil unit 18 for generating magnetic field gradients used for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 18 is controlled by a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance device 10. The magnet unit 11 further comprises a radio-frequency antenna unit 20, which in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a body coil permanently integrated into the magnetic resonance device 10. The radio-frequency antenna unit 20 is controlled by a radio-frequency antenna control unit 21 of the magnetic resonance device 10 and radiates radio-frequency magnetic resonance sequences into an examination space, which is essentially formed by a patient receiving area 14 of the magnetic resonance device 10. As a result, the main magnetic field 13 generated by the main magnet 12 excites atomic nuclei.Magnetic resonance signals are generated by the relaxation of the excited atomic nuclei. The patient's body part to be examined here is the head. For this purpose, a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 in the form of a head coil is arranged on the patient's head 15, with which the magnetic resonance signals are received. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 comprises several antennas in which magnetic resonance signals induce voltages that are measured. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 comprises a lower part 101 and an upper part 102 that can be plugged onto the lower part; this creates a volume of space between the lower part 101 and an upper part 102 in which the head is supported.

[0042] The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a system control unit 22 for controlling the main magnet 12, the gradient control unit 19, and the radio-frequency antenna control unit 21. The system control unit 22 centrally controls the magnetic resonance apparatus 10, such as performing a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence. Furthermore, the system control unit 22 includes an evaluation unit (not shown in detail) for evaluating the magnetic resonance signals measured during the magnetic resonance examination. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 includes a user interface 23 connected to the system control unit 22. Control information, such as imaging parameters, as well as reconstructed magnetic resonance images, can be displayed on a display unit 24, for example, on at least one monitor, of the user interface 23 for medical personnel.Furthermore, the user interface 23 has an input unit 25 by means of which information and / or parameters can be entered by the medical operating personnel during a measurement process.

[0043] In Fig. 2 shows a conventional magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100', in particular a head coil, in which the lower part 101' is approximately the same height as the upper part 102'. One problem here is the geometry of the patient table 17 together with the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100'. In the usual positioning (head first), the head of the patient 15 should lie in the lower part 101' of the head coil. This usually serves as a receiving coil for head examinations and simply as a base or storage for the head for non-head examinations. During lateral transport T of the patient 15 (i.e. perpendicular to its longitudinal axis), as is exemplified in Fig. 3-4, however, the lower part of the head coil is an obstacle when transferring from a couch 50 to the patient table 17. The support surfaces of the couch 50 and the patient table 17 are largely flat and allow easy laterally transporting the body; only the lower part 101' of the head coil protrudes many centimeters above the surface of the patient table 17. This makes the workflow of the magnetic resonance examination difficult. The head of the patient 15 must be lifted over the edges of the head coil, or the patient 15 must be transported further laterally on the foot side and then pushed into the head coil in the z-direction along its longitudinal axis.

[0044] Therefore, a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals is proposed, as shown schematically in Fig. 3. The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 is a head coil here, but the inventive concept can also be applied to other multi-part local coils, such as knee coils or foot coils, in particular foot / ankle coils.

[0045] The magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 comprises a lower part 101 and an upper part 102, wherein the lower part 101 and the upper part 102, in a connected state, delimit a spatial volume V in which a body part, for example the head, of a patient 15 can be supported during a magnetic resonance examination. The lower part 101 can be positioned on a patient table 17 of a patient support device 16 of a magnetic resonance device 10 for performing the magnetic resonance examination. The lower part 101 has the height y p and the upper part 102 has the height y aIn a connected state, the lower part 101 and the upper part 102 have a total height of y g = y p + y a The lower part 101 has a height of less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the total height y g Due to the low height of the lower part 101, the patient 15 can be more easily lifted over the edges of the lower part 101.

[0046] The height of a part is the dimension, in particular the extension, of the part in the y-direction, i.e. parallel to the force of gravity in its intended use during a magnetic resonance examination.

[0047] The patient table 17 of the patient support device 16 has a table surface S on which the patient 15 can be supported during the magnetic resonance examination. The table surface S is largely flat. The patient table 17 has a recess in the y-direction in which the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100, in particular the lower part 101, can be arranged.

[0048] Preferably, the dimension y is d by which the lower part 101 projects upwards above the table surface S, i.e. in the y-direction, is less than 5 cm when the lower part 101 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 is mounted on the patient support device 16. Ideally, y dequal to zero, ie the lower part 101 has an interface G to the upper part 102, wherein this interface G is flush with the table surface S when the lower part 101 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 is mounted on the patient support device 16.

[0049] In Fig. 4-6 illustrates the use of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 on the patient support device 16 during a magnetic resonance examination. The patient 15 is placed on a transport device in the form of a couch 50 next to the patient support device 16. The patient 15 is then lifted in the horizontal x-direction onto the patient support device 16, i.e., a lateral transport T is performed. For this purpose, a base 51, e.g., a cloth or a plastic mat, is frequently placed underneath so that it can be grasped and the patient 15 is transported onto the patient table 17 by pulling on the base 51. Once the head is positioned on the lower part 101 and the rest of the body of the patient 15 is lying on the table surface S, the upper part 102 can be placed, in particular plugged, onto the lower part 101 from above.

[0050] Preferably, a mechanical and / or electrical connection is established between the lower part 101 and the upper part 102 when the upper part 102 is plugged onto the lower part 101. For example, the upper part 102 comprises one or more upper plug-in connection parts, and the lower part 101 comprises one or more corresponding plug-in connection parts, which are suitable for establishing an electrical and / or mechanical connection between the upper part 102 and the lower part 101 when the upper part 102 is plugged onto the lower part 101. This will be explained by way of example with reference to Fig. This can be clarified in Figure 7, which shows a view of the underside of the upper part. On the underside, several upper plug-in connection parts are shown in the form of several mechanical connecting elements 103 and several electrical connecting elements 104, which interact with corresponding connecting elements on the upper side of the lower part (not shown here) when plugged in. Any magnetic resonance signals received by the upper part 102 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 can then be transmitted via the electrical connecting elements 104 to the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100.

[0051] Preferably, the lower connector parts are formed flush with the surface of the interface G of the lower part 101 surrounding the at least one lower connector part, so that they do not interfere during transport T. Preferably, the lower part 101 comprises one or more covers that are suitable for being positioned over the lower connector parts, in particular for covering any electrical contacts of the lower connector parts.

[0052] In Fig. 8 shows a patient support device 16 with a table-side connector part 27. The lower part 101 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 comprises a coil-side connector part 103. The table-side connector part 27 and the coil-side connector part 105 establish an electrical connection between the patient support device 16 and the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 when the lower part 101 is positioned on the patient table. Any magnetic resonance signals received by the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 can then be transmitted via this interface, for example, to the system control unit 22 of the magnetic resonance device 10.

[0053] It is also conceivable that the upper part 102 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 comprises at least one coil-side plug-in connection part that can be plugged into a table-side plug-in connection part in order to establish an electrical connection between the patient support device 16 and the upper part 102 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100, so that any magnetic resonance signals received by the upper part 102 will be transmitted directly to the patient support device 16.

[0054] It is also conceivable that the lower part 101 is permanently integrated into the patient support device 16, in particular the patient table 17. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the lower part 101 is part of a (very long) spinal coil.

[0055] In Fig. 9 illustrates that different upper parts 1021, 1022 can be used with the same lower part 101. For example, the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 can comprise, as the upper part, a first upper part 1021 for examining the head of the patient 15, wherein the first upper part 1021 can be connected to the lower part 101 for examining the head; furthermore, the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100 can comprise a second upper part 1022 for examining an ankle / foot region of the patient 15, wherein the second upper part 1022 can be connected to the lower part 101 for examining the ankle / foot region. Such multiple use of the lower part 101 can reduce costs.

[0056] In Fig.10 shows an example of a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100, in which the lower part has a height of less than 1 / 3 of the total height y only in a section A along the z-direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the patient 15 in the intended use. g While the height of the lower part 101 at the head end (left in the figure) is about half of the total height y g , the height in the negative z-direction continues to decrease until the height of 1 / 3 of the total height y g is exceeded. In section A, the patient's head can be lifted particularly easily laterally into the lower part 101 of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement 100. The length z g,A of section A, in which the height of 1 / 3 of the total height y g is exceeded, is more than 1 / 2 of the total length z gof the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement along the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, no or only minimal movement in the z-direction is required after the lateral transport to bring the patient's head into its final position, in which the magnetic resonance measurement is performed.

[0057] Finally, it should be noted once again that the devices detailed above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the respective features may be present in multiple instances. Likewise, the term "unit" does not exclude the possibility that the respective components consist of several interacting subcomponents, which may also be spatially distributed.

Claims

[1] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals comprising: a bottom and a top, wherein the lower part and the upper part, in a connected state, define a volume of space in which a body part of a patient can be stored during a magnetic resonance examination, wherein the lower part is designed to be positioned on a patient support device of a magnetic resonance device for carrying out the magnetic resonance examination, wherein the lower part and the upper part in a connected state have a total height, wherein the lower part has a height of less than 1 / 3, in particular less than 1 / 4, of the total height in at least one section along the longitudinal axis of the patient, wherein the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises as an upper part a first upper part for examining a first body part of the patient, whereby the upper part can be connected to the lower part to examine the first body part, wherein the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises a second upper part for examining a second body part of the patient, whereby the second upper part can be connected to the lower part to examine the second body part. [2] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lower part has a support surface which limits the volume downwards for supporting the body part, wherein the direction of the height of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is aligned parallel to the force of gravity when the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is positioned on the patient support device of the magnetic resonance device for performing a magnetic resonance examination. [3] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is designed to establish a mechanical and / or electrical connection between the lower part and the upper part when the upper part is plugged onto the lower part. [4] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper part comprises at least one upper plug connection part, wherein the lower part comprises at least one lower plug connection part, wherein the at least one upper plug connection part and the at least one lower plug connection part are designed to establish an electrical and / or mechanical connection between the upper part and the lower part when the upper part is plugged onto the lower part. [5] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the at least one lower plug connection part is formed flush with the surface of the lower part surrounding the at least one lower plug connection part. [6] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lower part has a cover which is suitable for being positioned over the at least one lower plug connection part, in particular for covering any electrical contacts of the at least one lower plug connection part. [7] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the MR local coil arrangement is or comprises a head coil or a knee coil or a foot coil, in particular a foot / ankle coil. [8] Magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower part is part of a spinal coil. [9] System comprising a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement for receiving and / or transmitting RF signals and a patient support device for carrying out the magnetic resonance examination with a magnetic resonance device, wherein the patient support device has a table surface intended to support a patient during the magnetic resonance examination, wherein the lower part protrudes less than 5 cm above the table surface in at least one section along the longitudinal axis of the patient when the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement is mounted on the patient support device. [10] The system of claim 9, wherein the lower part has an interface with the upper part, said interface being flush with the table surface when the lower part of the magnetic resonance local coil assembly is mounted on the patient support device. [11] System according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the patient support device comprises at least one table-side plug-in connection part, wherein the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement comprises at least one coil-side plug-in connection part, wherein the at least one table-side plug-in connection part and the at least one coil-side plug-in connection part are designed to establish an electrical connection between the patient support device and the upper part of the magnetic resonance local coil arrangement when the at least one coil-side plug-in connection part is connected to the at least one table-side plug-in connection part. [12] System according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the lower part is firmly integrated into the patient support device. [13] Magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a system according to one of claims 9 to 12. [14] Use of a magnetic resonance local coil arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a system according to one of claims 9 to 12 for carrying out a magnetic resonance examination.

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