MRI systems and receive coil arrangements

Abstract

To provide an MRI system receive coil arrangement which is easily manufactured and set while maintaining compatibility with other systems.SOLUTION: Provided is an MRI system receive coil arrangement for use with a main MRI scanner arrangement, the receive coil arrangement comprising a support structure and at least one receive coil carried on the support structure. The support structure includes a receive coil housing portion which defines a channel portion which houses at least a portion of the at least one receive coil. The channel has a mouth for allowing the introduction of the at least a portion of the at least one receive coil through the mouth and into the channel and a closing portion moveable between a first position in which the mouth of the channel portion is open for allowing introduction of the at least a portion of the at least one receive coil into the channel portion and a second closing position in which the mouth of the channel is blocked by the closing portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Claims

1. 1. An MRI system receive coil arrangement for use with a primary MRI scanner arrangement, the receive coil arrangement comprising: A support structure; At least one receive coil mounted on the support structure; The support structure comprises: a receive coil housing portion defining a channel portion housing at least a portion of the at least one receive coil, the channel having an aperture for allowing the at least a portion of the at least one receive coil to be introduced into the channel through the aperture; a closure portion movable between a first position in which the mouth of the channel portion is open to allow introduction of the at least a portion of the at least one receive coil into the channel portion and a second closed position in which the mouth of the channel portion is blocked by the closure portion; 1. An MRI system receive coil device comprising:

2. 2. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1, wherein the closure portion is a press-fit closure portion that can be press-fit from the first position to the second closed position.

3. 3. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support structure is configured to be locked against movement back towards the first position when the closure portion is moved to the second position.

4. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the support structure is configured to be releasably locked against movement back towards the first position when the closure portion is moved to the second position.

5. 2. The MRI system receive coil device of claim 1, wherein the closing portion is configured to be press-fit with the receiving portion such that when the closing portion is moved to the closed position, the closing portion is press-fit into a predetermined position on the receiving portion to close the mouth of the channel portion.

6. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 5 , wherein the closure portion is a press fit with the mouth of the channel portion.

7. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 5 , wherein the closure portion is configured to be press-fit within the mouth.

8. 6. The receive coil device of an MRI system according to claim 5, wherein the closing portion and the housing portion are configured to be locked against movement back towards the first position when the closing portion is press-fitted into a predetermined position on the housing portion.

9. 6. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 5, wherein the mouth of the channel portion has a receiving area having a concave cross-sectional shape, and the closure portion includes a correspondingly shaped insert portion that fits within the receiving area when the closure portion is press-fit into the mouth.

10. 2. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1, wherein the closing portion includes first and second engagement portions that are press-fit relative to one another, and when the closing portion is moved to the closed position, the first and second engagement portions are press-fit together to close the mouth of the channel portion.

11. The first and second engagement portions of the closure portion are i) the closure portion is locked against movement back towards the first position when the first and second engagement portions are press-fit together; ii) the closure portion is releasably locked against movement back towards the first position when the first and second engagement portions are press-fitted together; and iii) the first and second engagement portions latch together when they are press-fit together; The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 10 , configured to be at least one of:

12. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closing portion is a separate component from the housing portion.

13. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is shaped to conform to a predetermined body part.

14. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a base portion and a cover portion, the base portion being more rigid than the cover portion, and the cover portion including the receive coil housing portion.

15. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of receive coils mounted on the support structure, the receive coil housing portion housing a plurality of the receive coils.

16. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion defines a plurality of channel portions, each of the channel portions housing at least a portion of a respective receive coil from the plurality of receive coils.

17. The receive coil device of an MRI system according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of channel portions are defined in an integral part of the housing portion.

18. 18. An MRI system receive coil arrangement as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the containing portion comprises a web of a channel-defining portion.

19. 2. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of closure portions, each closure portion for blocking the mouth of a respective channel portion.

20. 20. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 19, wherein the plurality of closure portions are provided as an integral part of the support structure.

21. 21. An MRI system receive coil arrangement as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the support structure comprises a web of a closing portion.

22. The containment portion includes a web of a channel defining portion, 22. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 21, wherein the channel-defining portion webs and the closure portion webs are sized and positioned to align with one another such that a respective closure portion of the closure portion web is aligned or alignable with a respective channel of the channel-defining portion web.

23. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is additively manufactured.

24. The MRI system receive coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closure portion is additively manufactured.

25. The MRI system receive coil arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one receive coil comprises a length of coaxial cable configured in a loop.

26. 2. A method of manufacturing an MRI system receive coil arrangement as claimed in claim 1, the receive coil arrangement comprising a plurality of receive coils and a respective plurality of closed portions, the method comprising: Creating a housing portion; introducing coil portions of the plurality of receiving coils into respective channel portions of the housing portion; moving the plurality of closure portions to a second position; checking the receiving operation of the receive coil system; Including, the checking step indicates that a first predetermined criterion of receiving operation has not been achieved; a) moving at least one of the closure portions back from the second position; b) adjusting the positioning of at least one of the receive coils to return the at least one of the closure portions to a second position; c) rechecking the receive operation of the receive coil system; and d) performing steps a) through c) in sequence until a second predetermined criterion of receiving behavior is achieved.

27. A main MRI scanner device; A patient support; 13. An MRI system receive coil assembly as claimed in claim 1, mounted on said patient support and electrically connected to said main MRI scanner assembly; An MRI system comprising:

28. 28. An MRI system according to claim 27, Medical Linear Accelerator System and An MR-Linac system comprising:

29. 28. An MRI system according to claim 27, Positron Emission Tomography System A PET-MR system comprising:

30. 28. An MRI system according to claim 27, A stereotactic mask that can be used for MR guided therapy and A stereotactic mask-MR system for treatment planning comprising:

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