Cushion element for a local coil

Abstract

A cushion element for a local coil, comprising a body which is reversibly connectable to the local coil and is designed to align a portion of the local coil relative to an anatomical structure of a patient when the cushion element is connected to the local coil in a predetermined manner when the local coil is positioned as intended.

Description

Regardless of the grammatical sex of a certain term, individuals with male, female or other sex identity are included.Dedicated local coils, in particular surface coils or dental coils, are frequently used for acquiring magnetic resonance data of a tooth or jaw region. Such local coils must be positioned as close as possible to a jaw region of a patient in order to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio and thus a high resolution and a good image quality. The process of positioning the local coil on the patient is therefore decisive for a high image quality and typically associated with a high level of effort by the medical personnel.Due to the high demands on the quality and the signal-to-noise ratio, a direct contact between the local coil and the jaw region or a face region of the patient is often unavoidable. Patient comfort during a magnetic resonance examination may be significantly affected by the positioning of the local coil on the face region. A lack of comfort for the patient may possibly lead to a break-off of the magnetic resonance examination by the patient. The design of interfaces between the local coil and the patient is therefore an important aspect in order to increase the comfort of the patient during the magnetic resonance examination and to avoid the patient's aborting the magnetic resonance examination.Conventional surface coils typically have padding elements which are firmly glued to a side facing the patient. Although such surface coils partially improve the patient comfort, they can only be cleaned and maintained at great expense due to the permanent connection of the surface coil to the cushioning element.It is therefore an object of the present invention to increase a patient's comfort during a magnetic resonance examination of a tooth or jaw region with a local coil and to enable more efficient handling of the local coil.This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.The cushion element according to the invention for a local coil comprises a body which can be connected reversibly to the local coil. The body of the cushion element is configured to align a portion of the local coil relative to an anatomical structure of a patient when the local coil is positioned according to the application when the cushion element is connected to the local coil in a predetermined manner.The body of the cushion element can be configured in particular to center a section of the local coil when the local coil is positioned according to the application relative to an anatomical structure of a patient, if the cushion element is connected to the local coil in a predetermined manner.Aligning a section of the local coil relative to an anatomical structure of a patient when positioning the local coil according to the application can also mean that the cushioning element is designed to align an anatomical structure of the patient, which comes into contact with the cushioning element when positioning the local coil according to the application for a magnetic resonance examination, in a suitable manner with the local coil. For example, the cushion member may be configured as a nasal cushion configured to provide the patient with a feel as to whether the patient's nose and / or head are properly positioned relative to the local coil. The cushioning element can thus serve as a guide element for the anatomical structure of the patient, wherein the patient can recognize, on the basis of a pressure distribution on the anatomical structure, whether the anatomical structure is arranged in accordance with the application with respect to the local coil.The cushion element can furthermore be configured to hold the local coil at a predetermined distance from the face region and / or a skin surface of the patient when the local coil is positioned on the patient in an appropriate position for a magnetic resonance examination.In one embodiment, the local coil is configured as a dental coil, in particular an extraoral surface coil. Preferably, the body of the cushioning element is configured to center or align a portion of the dental coil relative to a nasal leg or root of the patient when the cushioning element is connected to the dental coil in a predetermined manner when the dental coil is positioned according to the application.In a preferred embodiment, the cushioning element according to the invention is designed as a clip-on nose pad.The cushioning element can be designed in particular as a nose pad that can be plugged onto a section of the local coil. The nasal cushion may be adapted to a shape of the portion of the local coil such that a smooth or edgeless transition from the portion of the local coil to a surface of the nasal cushion is provided. The section of the local coil can in particular represent a section of a coil housing and / or of a retaining element of the local coil.By means of a cushion element according to the invention, a comfort of a patient during an imaging examination with the local coil can be advantageously increased.The cushioning element according to the invention can furthermore be designed to facilitate or improve an alignment of the local coil at a target anatomy of the patient. As a result, a process of positioning the local coil on the patient, but also a sensitivity or a signal-to-noise ratio of the local coil during a magnetic resonance examination, can be advantageously improved.The cushioning element according to the invention can be designed to enable manual installation or fastening of the cushioning element to the local coil. The cushioning element can be designed in particular to enable the cushioning element to be installed or fastened to the local coil without tools. For example, the body of the cushioning element can be designed to engage around a section of the local coil or to engage with a complementarily designed section of the local coil.A reversibly removable cushioning element can simplify cleaning and / or replacement of the cushioning element. This advantageously simplifies or improves the efficiency of maintenance of the local coil between individual patients and / or preparation of the local coil for a magnetic resonance examination.In particular, a cushioning element according to the invention can enable replacement of the cushioning element without tools. This makes it possible to reduce the time required for replacing the cushioning element and to avoid the need for training the medical personnel using such tools.In one embodiment, the body of the cushioning element according to the invention comprises a flexible material, wherein the flexible material is deformable under the exertion of manual force.The body of the cushion element may comprise a flexible material or consist of a flexible material. Examples of suitable flexible materials are elastomers made of natural or synthetic materials, in particular foams, for example based on polyurethane, silicone, rubber, cork or the like.A flexible material can advantageously simplify a connection of the cushion element to the local coil and at the same time increase patient comfort during a magnetic resonance examination.In one embodiment, the cushioning element according to the invention is designed to be reversibly connected to the local coil while deforming the body.The material of the cushioning element can have a low modulus of elasticity, which is characterized in that it enables deformation of the cushioning element with manual exertion of force. It is conceivable that the material of the cushioning element is deformable once or repeatedly by a person, in particular a member of the medical staff.The material of the cushioning element can be designed to be elastically and / or plastically deformed.The provision of a cushion element that can be deformed with manual effort advantageously allows the cushion element to be connected to the local coil without tools.In a further embodiment, a body of the cushioning element according to the invention forms a tube. A wall of the body of the cushioning element has an incision along a longitudinal axis of the body or tube.The incision may partially or completely break through a material of the cushioning element. The incision may extend over a portion or over an entire length of the body of the cushioning element.Preferably, the incision is configured such that insertion of a portion or retaining element of the local coil into an opening provided by the incision to an interior of the tube-shaped cushion element is made possible.It is in particular conceivable that an opening of the cushion element provided by the incision is under-dimensioned with respect to the section or holding element of the local coil, so that the opening of the cushion element provided by the incision is reversibly deformed with manual effort when connecting the cushion element to the local coil.By providing a tube-shaped cushioning element with an incision, a particularly simple and / or efficient connection of the cushioning element to a section or a holding element of the local coil can be made possible.According to one embodiment, a body of the cushioning element according to the invention has an arc or a bend which is designed to receive a nasal leg of the patient when the local coil is positioned on the patient according to the application.Preferably, the cushioning member comprises a U-shaped portion, a V-shaped portion or a C-shaped portion adapted to receive the patient's nasal bone. It is in particular conceivable that a dimension of the arch or kink is matched to a standard dimension or a reference dimension of a human nasal bone.A cushioning element according to the invention can be advantageously oriented on the patient by receiving the nasal bone in the arch or bend. In particular, a degree of freedom of a left-right positioning of a local coil with a cushion element according to the invention relative to the nasal bone of the patient can be limited. As a result, an effort associated with the alignment of a local coil at the jaw region of the patient can be reduced in an advantageous manner.In a preferred embodiment, the cushioning element according to the invention comprises a biocompatible material.A biocompatible material advantageously reduces or prevents a risk of negative effects of contact of the cushioning element with a face region of the patient.The local coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention comprises a holding element, an antenna element and a cushion element according to an embodiment described above.The retaining element can comprise any desired mechanical support structure. Preferably, at least one section of the holding element is adapted to a shape of a section of a jaw and / or a shape of a section of a nasal leg. It is conceivable that the holding element comprises or consists of a rigid material, in particular a rigid plastic. The holding element can be designed to support the antenna element and / or to provide mechanical support for the antenna element.The antenna element is mechanically connected to the holding element. The antenna element can be connected to the holding element by means of a form-fit connection, a force-fit connection and / or a material connection. For example, the antenna element is connected to the holding element by means of a screw connection, an adhesive connection, a clamping connection, a plug connection or the like.The antenna element may be mechanically connected to and supported by a support structure. It is also conceivable that the antenna element is integrated or embedded in the support structure. The support structure can comprise a material which is designed to provide contact protection for the patient and / or to be reformed onto a contour of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. The antenna element can be mechanically connected to the holding element by means of the carrier structure.In one embodiment, the antenna element is detachably fastened to the holding element. The holding element and the antenna element and / or the carrier structure of the antenna element can have a holding mechanism which is designed to mechanically connect the antenna element reversibly to the holding element. The holding element and the antenna element can in particular have parts of complementary configuration of the holding mechanism which are configured to reversibly engage one another. For example, the holding mechanism can be designed as a plug connection, snap connection or latching connection. In addition, however, other positive and / or non-positive mechanical connections are also conceivable.The holding element is designed to hold the antenna element in an intended position on a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient. The retaining member may be post-formed or adapted to a facial region of a patient. It is conceivable that the holding element is configured to hold the antenna element in a predetermined position relative to the jaw region of the patient when the local coil is positioned on the jaw region of the patient according to the application.The holding element is preferably designed to enable variable positioning and / or alignment of the antenna element with respect to a patient and / or a base element. The holding element can be configured in particular to hold the antenna element in a predetermined position relative to a jaw region of the patient.The holding element can be configured to be mechanically connected to the cushioning element. The mechanical connection between the holding element and the cushioning element can comprise a force-fit connection, a form-fit connection, but also a material-fit connection. For example, the cushioning element can be designed to be clamped to a section of the holding element or to be plugged onto a section of the cushioning element. It is also conceivable that the cushioning element can be connected to the section of the holding element by means of an adhesive element or an adhesive partial surface.The holding element is preferably mechanically connected to a base element of the local coil. The mechanical connection between the holding element and the base element can be provided, for example, by means of a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism may be configured to allow movement of the retaining member relative to the base member. It is conceivable in particular that the guide mechanism is mechanically connected to the base element and the holding element and is designed to position the holding element variably with respect to the base element. Preferably, the base element and the guide mechanism are configured to hold the retaining element in an intended position relative to a receiving region defined by the base element.A receiving region defined by the base element can comprise a volume and / or a surface in which a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient can be positioned according to the application for a magnetic resonance examination. The receiving region is preferably defined by a volume adjoining a base surface of the base element and / or a volume bounded by the base element. The receiving region can be characterized in particular by a free space which is suitable for receiving the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in the local coil. The diagnostically relevant body region of the patient can in particular represent a section of a head or a jaw region.The base element can be mechanically connected to a component of a magnetic resonance apparatus, such as a patient table and / or a patient support device. Furthermore, the base element can have a positioning unit which is designed to position the base element relative to the magnetic resonance apparatus, the patient support apparatus and / or the patient. The base element can be understood as a mechanical structure which is designed to hold the holding element in the position according to application on the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in a robust and / or reproducible manner. The base element can furthermore represent a mechanical interface between the magnetic resonance apparatus and the holding element.The guide mechanism may be configured to allow relative movement of the retaining member relative to the base member. The guide mechanism preferably comprises a joint, a bearing, a hinge, in particular a pivoting or folding mechanism, a rail guide, a linear guide or a combination of these or comparable mechanisms. The guide mechanism is preferably designed to enable simple and / or time-efficient transfer of the local coil, in particular of the retaining element and / or of the antenna element, from an open position to a closed position. The guide mechanism can be configured to allow pivoting or rotating of the holding element about a fixed or movable point, in particular a bearing point or an axle center point.An opening position of the local coil can be characterized by a maximum or predetermined deflection of the holding element and / or of the antenna element with respect to a bearing surface of the local coil. The opening position can in particular represent a "loading position" of the local coil, which enables positioning of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in an appropriate relative position to the base element. It is conceivable that the holding element and / or the antenna element are positioned or arranged in an opening position of the local coil in such a way that access of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient to the receiving region of the local coil is made possible.A bearing surface of the local coil can represent a surface of the local coil enclosed or enclosed by the base element. The support surface is preferably designed to receive and / or mechanically support the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in an application-specific position for a magnetic resonance examination of the diagnostically relevant body region. It is also conceivable that the support surface represents a section of a patient table or a patient support device which is enclosed and / or enclosed by the base element of the local coil. In particular, the bearing surface can be a surface in a receiving region of the local coil, which is positioned between two delimiting elements or supports of the base element or is enclosed by the base element.A closing position of the local coil can be characterized by a minimum deflection of the holding element and / or of the antenna element with respect to the bearing surface. The closed position can represent, in particular, an "examination position", which is characterized by an application-specific relative position of the antenna element on the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient for a magnetic resonance measurement. A transfer of the local coil from the opening position into the closing position can comprise in particular a guiding of the holding element and / or of the antenna element in the direction of the supporting surface of the local coil. It is conceivable that the holding element is moved or deflected in a direction facing the base element by means of the guide mechanism when the local coil is transferred from the opening position into the closing position.In a preferred embodiment of the local coil according to the invention, a first end of the holding element is mechanically connected to the base element. A second end of the holding element opposite the first end is configured to be cantilevered. The first end of the holding element can be mechanically connected to the base element according to an embodiment described above.Preferably, the local coil according to the invention has a free space or gap which separates the second end of the holding element from a point on the base element closest to the second end of the holding element. In particular, the free space or gap may separate the second end of the retaining element from a closest point on a limiting element (e.g. a second limiting element) of the base element. It is conceivable that the holding element delimits or encloses the receiving region in an X direction of the local coil only along one section. The free space is preferably designed to provide access to the receiving region from a surrounding area of the local coil. The free space is in particular configured such that access to the receiving region along a surface normal to the support surface is made possible. The clearance may have a dimension of more than 2 cm, more than 4 cm, or more than 6 cm in an X direction of the local coil.The holding element can be configured, for example, as a cylindrical body, a prism, an arm, a tube, a beam or a shaft. Preferably, a diameter of the holding element is small compared to a longitudinal extension of the holding element. For example, the diameter of the holding element can be less than 10 cm, less than 8 cm or preferably less than 6 cm. This advantageously reduces impairment of a view of the patient during a magnetic resonance examination with the local coil.By means of a holding element with a free-floating end, an open local coil can be provided. An open local coil offers numerous advantages over conventional local coils, such as, for example, improved access to the receiving region, improved ventilation, avoidance of shadowing of the diagnostically relevant body region, but also reduced impairment of a field of view of the patient. As a result, a comfort of the patient during a magnetic resonance examination can be advantageously increased and / or a risk of an aborting of a magnetic resonance examination can be reduced.The antenna element is designed to receive high-frequency signals in a frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement.An antenna element can represent a coupling element between electromagnetic waves guided in signal conductors and unguided, i.e. located in a free space. The antenna element is designed, in particular, to receive electromagnetic waves in the region of a magnetic resonance frequency of a magnetic resonance-active atomic nucleus. Electromagnetic waves relevant for magnetic resonance examinations can represent high-frequency signals (magnetic resonance signals) comprising frequencies between 1 and 500 MHz, preferably between 10 and 300 MHz. The magnetic resonance signals of typical atomic nuclei to be examined can have a low power of a few microwatts to several milliwatts.Preferably, the antenna element comprises a signal conductor. The signal conductor can comprise an electrical conductor, in particular an electrically conductive wire. The wire of the signal conductor may have an oval or polygonal cross section. Preferably, the wire of the signal conductor is designed to transmit the above-mentioned powers continuously. It is likewise conceivable for the signal conductor to be embodied as a conductor track on a printed circuit board. The signal conductor may be made of copper. However, other electrically conductive metals, such as gold, aluminum, silver, platinum or the like, are also conceivable.Of course, the local coil according to the invention can comprise a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna elements can be arranged spaced apart from one another, adjacent to one another or partially overlapping. The antenna elements may also be arranged in the form of a grid or a matrix.It is furthermore conceivable that the local coil according to the invention has a transmitting unit which is designed to emit a high-frequency signal in a direction of the examination object, such as a jaw region of the patient. The radio-frequency signal transmitted by the transmission unit can, for example, be in a power range of a few watts to several kilowatts depending on a basic magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus. The high-frequency signal transmitted by the transmission unit can in particular represent a B1 magnetic field. The transmitting unit may comprise one or more antenna elements which are configured to transmit the above-mentioned powers.The cushioning element is connected to the holding element in such a way that the cushioning element is positioned on a nasal leg of the patient when the local coil is positioned on the patient according to the application.The local coil according to the invention shares the advantages of the cushioning element according to the invention.In one embodiment, the local coil according to the invention is designed as a dental coil which is designed to acquire magnetic resonance data of a tooth region and / or of a jaw region of a patient.The holding element can be configured to hold the antenna element of the local coil on a mouth region and / or a cheek region of a patient. In particular, the holding element can be configured to hold the antenna element in an intended position on the mouth region and / or cheek region of the patient in such a way that the antenna element is integrally formed on the mouth region and / or the cheek region of the patient and / or surrounds the latter at least partially along a circumferential direction of the head of the patient.By means of a dental coil according to the invention, high-resolution magnetic resonance data of a tooth region and / or of a jaw region of a patient can be acquired in an advantageous manner. Furthermore, a dental coil according to the invention can enable a robust and / or reproducible arrangement of the antenna element at a mouth region and / or a cheek region of a patient.The magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention is designed to perform a magnetic resonance measurement of a jaw region of a patient who is positioned within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance apparatus. The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a local coil according to an embodiment described above.The magnetic resonance apparatus is preferably designed to acquire magnetic resonance image data, in particular diagnostic magnetic resonance image data, from the jaw region of the patient.The magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention can represent a closed bore scanner ("closed bore scanner"). A closed scanner may comprise a substantially cylindrically configured patient tunnel or patient receiving area. A closed scanner can comprise a magnet unit with one or more magnet coils, which enclose the patient receiving region along an axial direction or a rotational symmetry axis of the cylindrically configured patient receiving region. The superconducting magnet may comprise a superconducting wire having negligible electrical resistance at (or below) a superconducting temperature.A direction of a main magnetic field which is provided by means of the superconducting magnet can be aligned substantially parallel to an access direction of the object to the imaging region and / or the axial direction of the cylindrically configured patient receiving region.Alternatively, the magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention can be designed as an open scanner, for example a C-type scanner, a dipolar scanner (e.g. with two magnets lying opposite one another), a one-sided scanner (e.g. with only one magnet) or the like.The magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention can comprise further components which are required for proper operation of the magnetic resonance apparatus. For example, the magnetic resonance apparatus may comprise an outer vacuum chamber, a magnet support structure, a thermal shield, a cryo-cooler, a cryogenic container or the like.The magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention shares the advantages of the local coil according to the invention according to an embodiment described above.Further advantages and details are evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. They show in principle: FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a local coil according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a cushioning element according to the invention, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a local coil according to the invention with a cushioning element according to the invention.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic resonance apparatus 10 according to the invention having a local coil 26 according to the invention. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a magnet unit 11 which has, for example, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet or a superconducting main magnet 12 for generating a strong and, in particular, homogeneous basic magnetic field 13 (B0 magnetic field). In addition, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a patient receiving area 14 for receiving a patient 15. In principle, however, embodiments of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 and / or of the patient receiving area 14 that deviate from this example are also conceivable.The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 preferably has a patient support device 16, which is designed to position the patient 15 in the patient receiving area 14. For this purpose, the patient support device 16 can comprise a patient table 17 configured to be movable within the patient receiving area 14.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a gradient coil 18 for generating magnetic gradient fields which are used for spatial coding during a magnetic resonance examination. The gradient coil 18 is controlled by means of a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 can furthermore comprise a radio-frequency antenna, which in the example shown is designed as a body coil 20 integrated permanently into the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The body coil 20 is designed for excitation of atomic nuclei which are located in the basic magnetic field 13 generated by the main magnet 12. The body coil 20 is actuated by a radio-frequency unit 21 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 and radiates radio-frequency signals into an examination space which is substantially formed by a patient receiving region 14 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The body coil 20 can furthermore also be designed for receiving magnetic resonance signals.The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a control unit 22 which is designed to control and / or coordinate the main magnet 12, the gradient control unit 19 and the radio-frequency unit 21. The control unit 22 is preferably designed to control execution of a sequence, such as an imaging gradient echo sequence, a TSE sequence or a UTE sequence. The control unit 22 can comprise an evaluation unit 28 which is configured for evaluating digitized magnetic resonance signals which are acquired during a magnetic resonance examination.Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 can comprise a user interface 23, which has a signal connection to the control unit 22. Control information, such as imaging parameters and reconstructed magnetic resonance images, may be displayed to a user on a display unit 24, such as a monitor of the user interface 23. Furthermore, the user interface 23 has an input unit 25, by means of which parameters of magnetic resonance imaging can be input by the user.The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a local coil 26 according to the invention, which is positioned on a head or a jaw region of the patient 15. The local coil 26 is designed to acquire magnetic resonance signals from a volume of the jaw region of the patient 15 and to transmit them to the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The local coil 26 preferably has an electrical connection line 27 which provides a signal connection between an antenna 32 of the local coil and a receiving unit of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10, in particular the radio-frequency unit 21 and / or the control unit 22.Analogously to the body coil 20, the local coil 26 can also be configured for excitation of atomic nuclei. For example, the high-frequency unit 21 can be designed to control a transmitter unit of the local coil 26 to emit high-frequency signals into a volume of the jaw region of the patient 15.The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 shown can of course comprise further components which magnetic resonance apparatuses usually have. It is also conceivable that instead of the cylindrical structure, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a C-shaped, a triangular or an asymmetric structure of the magnetic field-generating components. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 can be a dedicated scanner, which is designed to perform a magnetic resonance examination of the jaw region of a standing or seated patient 15.FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention. The holding element 31 is positionable relative to the base element 30 by means of the guide mechanism 33. One or more of the antenna elements 32 may form a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit of the local coil 26.The holding element 31 is designed as an arm with a substantially cylindrical body and is mechanically connected at the first end 36 to the guide mechanism 33 or the base element 30. A second end 37 of the holding element 31 opposite the first end 36 is configured to be free-floating. This provides a free space 34 which facilitates access to a body region (not shown) of a patient 15 positioned in the receiving region 35. Likewise, an impairment of a patient 15 positioned in the receiving region 35 due to structures of the local coil 26 can be reduced in comparison to conventional local coils.In the embodiment shown, the local coil 26 has a further guide mechanism 41 which is designed to enable rotation of the antenna 32 about an axis of the further guide mechanism 41. In the example shown, the further guide mechanism 41 is rotatably mounted about a cylindrical section of the holding element 31 and allows rotation of the antenna element 32 about the X axis of the local coil 26.Furthermore, in the example shown, the local coil 26 has a locking mechanism 38 which is designed to lock the antenna 32 in a desired rotational position with respect to the holding element 31 and / or to set a mechanical resistance of the guide mechanism 41. The locking element 38 in the present case has an adjusting screw which allows a user to adjust the mechanical resistance of the guide mechanism 41.FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cushioning element 50 according to the invention. The body 51 of the cushioning element 50 has a tube-shaped form in the present case. Furthermore, the body 51 of the cushioning element 50 has a cut 52 along a longitudinal axis of the body 51.Preferably, the notch 52 is configured to enable a reversible connection of the cushion element 50 to a portion of a retaining element 31 and / or the support structure of the antenna element 32 of the local coil 26. For example, the cushioning element 50 is made of a flexible and / or elastic material which allows the body 51 to be bent or deformed at the incision 52 in order to allow the section of the holding element 31 and / or the carrier structure of the antenna element 32 to be encompassed.The cushioning element 50 further comprises an arc or bend in the example shown. The bend or bend is preferably designed to receive a nasal bone of a patient 15 when the local coil 26 with the cushioning element 50 is positioned on a jaw region of the patient 15 according to the application.In an embodiment, the cushion element 50 may be configured as a type of sleeve configured to engage a taper of a portion of a coil housing, e.g., a taper of a portion of the retaining member 31 and / or the support structure of the antenna element 32. The cushion member 50 and the local coil 26 may be configured such that the cushion member 50 receives a portion of a nasal leg or root of the patient 15 when the local coil 26 is positioned on the patient 15 according to use (e.g., in a closed position according to an embodiment described above).The cushioning element 50 can be designed to be able to be plugged or pushed onto the section of the coil housing without tools. A surface of the cushion member 50 may be flush with the coil housing when the cushion member 50 and the coil housing are connected according to the application. The cushioning element 50 according to the invention can be designed to be able to be fastened to the coil housing and / or to be able to be removed from the coil housing without tools and / or with manual exertion of force. The cushioning element 50 thus enables simple cleaning of the coil housing and the cushioning element 50, but also simple replacement of the cushioning element 50.FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention with a cushion element 50 according to the invention. The cushion element 50 is in the present case mechanically connected to a section, in particular a strut, of the retaining element 31 and / or the carrier structure of the antenna element 32. The section of the holding element 31 and / or of the support structure in the present case has a V-shaped shape which is shaped to conform to a contour of a nasal bone of the patient 15. However, it is also conceivable that the receptacle for the nose leg is defined solely by the cushioning element 50.The cushioning element 50 may at least partially enclose the portion of the retaining element 31 and / or the support structure of the antenna element 32 as described above. However, it is also conceivable that the holding element 31 and / or the support structure of the antenna element 32 comprise a depression and / or a dedicated receiving element (not shown) which are configured to hold the cushion element 50 in a predetermined relative position to the antenna element 32. For example, the cushioning element 50 can be designed to be inserted into a depression of the holding element 31 and / or of the carrier structure of the antenna element 32.In the example shown in FIG. 4, a section of the holding element 31 and / or of the support structure of the antenna element 32 is already shaped in such a way that the holding element 31 or the support structure of the antenna element 32 is centered over the jaw region of the patient 15 when the local coil 26 is positioned on the patient 15 in an intended position in a closed position on the nasal bone of the patient 15. However, it is also conceivable that the centering of the local coil takes place by means of the cushioning element 50, which according to an embodiment described above is connected to the holding element 31 and / or the carrier structure of the antenna element 32. In this case, the centering of the holding element 31 and / or of the carrier structure of the antenna element 32 relative to the jaw region of the patient 15 can be effected by receiving the nasal bone of the patient 15 in the nasal post 50, in particular an arc or bend of the cushioning element 50.Although the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by the preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is nevertheless not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. In particular, features of individual embodiments can be combined with other embodiments, provided that such a combination is not explicitly excluded.

Claims

A cushion element for a local coil, comprising a body that is reversibly connectable to the local coil and is configured to align a portion of the local coil relative to an anatomical structure of a patient when the local coil is positioned according to the application when the cushion element is connected to the local coil in a predetermined manner.The cushioning element of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a flexible material and wherein the flexible material is deformable under manual force.The cushioning element according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning element is configured to be reversibly connected to the local coil under deformation of the body.The cushioning element of claim 3, wherein the body of the cushioning element forms a tube, and wherein a wall of the body has an incision along a longitudinal axis of the body.The cushioning element of any preceding claim, wherein the body of the cushioning element, when connected to the local coil in accordance with the use, has an arc or bend configured to receive a nasal bone of the patient.The cushioning element of any preceding claim, comprising a biocompatible material.A local coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising a holding element, an antenna element and a pad element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna element is mechanically connected to the holding element, wherein the holding element is configured to hold the antenna element in an application-specific position on a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient, wherein the antenna element is configured to receive high-frequency signals in a frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement, and wherein the pad element is connected to the holding element such that the pad element is positioned on a nasal leg of the patient when the local coil is positioned on the patient according to the application.The local coil according to claim 7, wherein the local coil is configured as a dental coil configured to acquire magnetic resonance data of a tooth region and / or a jaw region of the patient.A magnetic resonance apparatus configured to perform a magnetic resonance measurement of a jaw region of a patient positioned within an imaging range of the magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising a local coil according to any one of claims 7 or 8.

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