Coil unit

Abstract

To provide a coil unit capable of easily fixing a reception coil to a patient.SOLUTION: A coil unit includes: a reception coil receiving a magnetic resonance signal to be examined; a belt member whose one end side is fixed to the reception coil and whose other end side is a free end; and a lock member fixed to the reception coil and fixing the belt member at a position of an arbitrary length from the one end side of the belt member. A user winds the belt member fixed to the reception coil around the patient's trunk, fixes the belt member with the lock member, and fixes the reception coil to the patient.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coil unit, and particularly to a technique for fixing a receiving coil that receives a magnetic resonance signal to the trunk of a patient.

Background Art

[0002] When performing abdominal imaging in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination, it is necessary to fix an abdominal coil to the patient's abdomen so that it does not shift. Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose techniques for fixing a patient to a hospital bed by crossing belts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, conventionally, when fixing a patient separately from the installation of the abdominal coil, the patient, the abdominal coil, and the belt were fixed separately. Therefore, it has remained an issue to fix the abdominal coil together with the patient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a coil unit that can easily fix a receiving coil to a patient.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a coil unit according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving coil that receives a magnetic resonance signal of an object to be inspected, a belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end, and a locking member fixed to the receiving coil and fixing the belt member at an arbitrary length position from one end side of the belt member.

[0007] According to this aspect, by winding the belt member fixed to the receiving coil around the patient's torso and fixing the belt member with the locking member, the receiving coil can be easily fixed to the patient.

[0008] A coil unit according to a second aspect of the present disclosure preferably includes, in the coil unit according to the first aspect, a loop member fixed to the receiving coil and regulating the path of the belt member.

[0009] A coil unit according to a third aspect of the present disclosure preferably has, in the coil unit according to the second aspect, one end side of the belt member, the locking member, and the loop member arranged in a straight line.

[0010] A coil unit according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure has, in the coil unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, a first belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end, and a second belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end, and the locking member preferably includes a first locking member for fixing the first belt member and a second locking member for fixing the second belt member.

[0011] A coil unit according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure preferably includes, in the coil unit according to the fourth aspect, a first loop member fixed to the receiving coil and regulating the path of the first belt member, and a second loop member fixed to the receiving coil and regulating the path of the second belt member.

[0012] In the coil unit according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to the fifth aspect, it is preferable that a straight line connecting one end side of the first belt member and the first loop member and a straight line connecting one end side of the second belt member and the second loop member intersect each other.

[0013] In the coil unit according to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, it is preferable that the receiving coil has a shape that encircles the patient's torso.

[0014] In the coil unit according to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, it is preferable to include a pipe member through which the belt member is inserted.

[0015] In the coil unit according to the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, it is preferable that the locking member is fixed to the center of the receiving coil.

[0016] In the coil unit according to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, it is preferable that the belt member is a cable that outputs the magnetic resonance signal received by the receiving coil.

[0017] In the coil unit according to the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the coil unit according to the tenth aspect, it is preferable that the belt member is a flat cable in which a plurality of cables are bundled in a planar shape.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, the receiving coil can be easily fixed to the patient.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the coil unit according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and redundant descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0021] 〔MRI Apparatus〕 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an MRI apparatus 10 to which the coil unit according to the present disclosure is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the MRI apparatus 10 includes a gantry 12 and a bed 16. The gantry 12 has a bore 14 which is an inspection (imaging) space on a cylinder. Further, an MRI magnet and various other coils are disposed in the gantry 12.

[0022] The examination table 16 is installed on the front side of the gantry 12 facing the bore 14. The examination table 16 includes a top plate 18. By moving the top plate 18 within the bore 14, the examination site of the patient 20 (an example of the "examination target") placed on the top plate 18 is set at the center of the static magnetic field within the bore 14.

[0023] A multi-channel RF (Radio Frequency) receiving coil 22 (hereinafter referred to as coil 22), which consists of a plurality of element coils for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signal (FID: Free Induction Decay) generated in the patient 20, is attached to the examination site of the patient 20. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the abdomen of the patient 20 is the examination site, and the coil 22 is attached to the abdomen of the patient 20.

[0024] A receiving-side cable (not shown) for outputting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the coil 22 is connected to the coil 22. A receiving-side connector (not shown) is connected to the end of this receiving-side cable. The receiving-side connector is connected to a table-side connector of a table-side cable (not shown). Thereby, the receiving-side cable and the table-side cable are communicably connected via their respective connectors.

[0025] The table-side cable is stored in a cable storage section (not shown) of the examination table 16. The nuclear magnetic resonance signal of the examination target received by the coil 22 is transmitted to a signal processing section (not shown) via the receiving-side cable and the table-side cable. The signal processing section processes the received nuclear magnetic resonance signal and converts it into an image signal.

[0026] 〔First Embodiment〕 〈Configuration of Coil Unit〉 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an abdominal coil unit 100 according to the first embodiment. The abdominal coil unit 100 has a mechanism for fixing the coil 22 to the abdomen of the patient 20. In FIG. 2, the body axis direction of the patient 20 (not shown in FIG. 2) to which the coil 22 is fixed is the ± axis direction, the direction along the circumference of the body trunk of the patient 20 is the ± circumferential direction, and the direction orthogonal to the ± axis direction and the ± circumferential direction is the ± radial direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the abdominal coil unit 100 includes a coil 22, a belt 102, a stopper 104, and a loop 106. The belt 102, the stopper 104, and the loop 106 are provided on the + radial side surface of the coil 22 (hereinafter referred to as the upper surface of the coil 22).

[0028] The belt 102 (an example of a "belt member") is a long, flexible member, for example, a string-like member. The belt 102 may be a belt-shaped member. One end 102A (an example of "one end side") of the belt 102 is fixed to the fixed point 22A of the coil 22, and the other end 102B (an example of "the other end side") is a free end. The position of the fixed point 22A is the center in the ± axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and on the - circumferential side in the ± circumferential direction. The position of the fixed point 22A may be the end on the - circumferential side of the upper surface of the coil 22. Note that the position of the belt 102 fixed to the fixed point 22A is not limited to the end 102A, and may be any position on the end 102A side of the belt 102.

[0029] The stopper 104 (an example of a "locking member") has a mechanism for detachably fixing the belt 102 at an arbitrary length position from the end 102A. The arbitrary length position is not limited to an arbitrary position of a continuous length, and may be any position among a plurality of discrete length positions.

[0030] The stopper 104 is fixed to the fixed point 22B of the coil 22. The position of the fixed point 22B is the center in the ± axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and the center in the ± circumferential direction of the upper surface. That is, the position of the fixed point 22B is the center of the upper surface of the coil 22. The position of the fixed point 22B may be on the + circumferential side or the - circumferential side of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0031] The stopper 104 includes an insertion hole 104A that communicates from the + circumferential direction side to the + radial direction side, and a locking mechanism (not shown). When the locking mechanism is in the unlocked state, the stopper 104 allows the belt 102 to be movably inserted into the insertion hole 104A. When the locking mechanism is in the locked state, the stopper 104 fixes the belt 102 inserted into the insertion hole 104A. That is, the stopper 104 can fix the belt 102 at any position of the belt 102.

[0032] The loop 106 (an example of a "loop member") is a member that regulates the path of the belt 102. Here, the loop 106 regulates the movement of the belt 102 in the ± axial direction and the ± radial direction. The loop 106 includes an insertion hole 106A for inserting the belt 102 in the ± circumferential direction.

[0033] The loop 106 is fixed to the fixing point 22C of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22C is at the center of the upper surface of the coil 22 in the ± axial direction and on the + circumferential direction side of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22C may be at the end on the + circumferential direction side of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0034] In this way, on the upper surface of the coil 22, the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 104, and the loop 106 are arranged in a straight line. Note that in this specification, "arranged in a straight line" is not limited to being arranged exactly on one straight line. That is, even when the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 104, and the loop 106 are arranged deviating from a straight line to such an extent that the intended effects in the present disclosure can be obtained, it is interpreted as "arranged in a straight line".

[0035] 〈Mounting of the Coil Unit〉 FIG. 3 is a top view of the patient 20 placed on the top plate 18. An abdominal coil unit 100 is mounted on the abdomen of the patient 20 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the belt 102 on the back side of the patient 20 is shown by a dotted line. FIG. 4 is a schematic view taken along the arrow A in FIG. 3.

[0036] To attach the abdominal coil unit 100 to the patient 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first, the user wraps the belt 102 around via the lower surface, which is the surface opposite to the upper surface of the coil 22, and inserts it through the insertion hole 106A of the loop 106 from the end 102B. Also, the user inserts the belt 102 through the insertion hole 104A of the stopper 104 in the unlocked state from the end 102B. Subsequently, the user passes the patient 20's body through the space surrounded by the lower surface of the coil 22 and the belt 102, and brings the lower surface of the coil 22 into contact with the patient 20's abdomen. The patient 20 may also pass his or her own body through the space surrounded by the lower surface of the coil 22 and the belt 102 from the head or feet by himself or herself.

[0037] Then, the user pulls the end 102B side of the belt 102 in the + radial direction of the coil 22 to make the coil 22 fit tightly against the patient 20's abdomen, and locks the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 104A of the stopper 104. As a result, the belt 102 is fixed by the stopper 104, and the coil 22 is closely fixed to the patient 20's abdomen by the belt 102.

[0038] Note that the abdominal coil unit 100 may be attached as follows. That is, the user aligns the coil 22 so that the ± axis direction in FIG. 2 is in the direction of the patient 20's torso. Next, the user brings the lower surface of the coil 22 into contact with the patient 20's abdomen.

[0039] Subsequently, the user wraps the belt 102 around from the back side to the front side of the patient 20, inserts the belt 102 through the insertion hole 106A of the loop 106 from the end 102B. Further, the user inserts the belt 102 through the insertion hole 104A of the stopper 104 in the unlocked state from the end 102B.

[0040] After that, the user pulls the end 102B side of the belt 102 in the + radial direction of the coil 22 to make the coil 22 fit tightly against the patient 20's abdomen, and locks the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 104A of the stopper 104.

[0041] Even with such a procedure, the abdominal coil unit 100 can be attached to the patient 20.

[0042] Thus, according to the abdominal coil unit 100 according to the first embodiment, by fixing the belt 102 to at least one point of the coil 22 and putting the belt 102 on the patient 20, the user can complete the fixing of the coil 22 only by pulling the belt 102.

[0043] Here, by inserting the belt 102 through the insertion hole 106A of the loop 106, the movement of the belt 102 in the ±axial direction and the ±radial direction is restricted, and the belt 102 can be wound around at an appropriate position. Further, since the stopper 104 is arranged at the center of the coil 22, the user can complete the fixing of the coil 22 only by pulling the belt 102 at a position on the upper surface of the coil 22 that is easy to grasp and hold. Furthermore, since the end portion 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 104, and the loop 106 are arranged in a straight line, the force applied by the user to pull the belt 102 can be efficiently transmitted to the end portion 102A of the belt 102, and the coil 22 can be appropriately fixed to the patient 20.

[0044] In FIG. 3, the state in which the abdominal coil unit 100 is attached in such a direction that the +axial direction side of the coil 22 faces the head side of the patient 20 is shown, but the abdominal coil unit 100 may be attached in such a direction that the -axial direction side of the coil 22 faces the head side of the patient 20. Also, here, the abdominal coil is described as an example of the trunk coil, but the target part of the trunk coil may be any part such as the head, neck, shoulder, arm, chest, waist, leg, etc.

[0045] 〔Second Embodiment〕 〈Configuration of Coil Unit〉 FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an abdominal coil unit 110 according to the second embodiment. The abdominal coil unit 110 includes a coil 22, a belt 102, a loop 106, a belt 112, a stopper 114, and a loop 116.

[0046] The belt 112 (an example of the "second belt member") is a string-like member similar to the belt 102 (an example of the "first belt member"). One end 112A of the belt 112 is fixed to the fixing point 22D of the coil 22, and the other end 112B is a free end. The position of the fixing point 22D is at the center in the ±axial direction on the upper surface of the coil 22 and on the +circumferential direction side in the ±circumferential direction of the upper surface. The position of the fixing point 22D may be at the end on the +circumferential direction side of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0047] The stopper 114 (an example of the "first locking member" and an example of the "second locking member") has a mechanism for detachably fixing the belt 102 at an arbitrary length position from the end 102A and a mechanism for detachably fixing the belt 112 at an arbitrary length position from the end 112A. The stopper 114 is fixed to the fixing point 22B of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22B is the center of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0048] The stopper 114 includes an insertion hole 114A communicating from the +circumferential direction side to the +radial direction side, an insertion hole 114B communicating from the -circumferential direction side to the +radial direction side, and locking mechanisms (not shown) corresponding to the insertion hole 114A and the insertion hole 114B respectively. When the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 114A is in the unlocked state, the stopper 114 allows the belt 102 to be movably inserted into the insertion hole 114A. When the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 114A is in the locked state, the stopper 114 fixes the belt 102 inserted into the insertion hole 114A. Similarly, when the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 114B is in the unlocked state, the stopper 114 allows the belt 112 to be movably inserted into the insertion hole 114B. When the locking mechanism of the insertion hole 114B is in the locked state, the stopper 114 fixes the belt 112 inserted into the insertion hole 114B. The stopper 114 may fix both the belt 102 inserted into the insertion hole 114A and the belt 112 inserted into the insertion hole 114B by a single locking mechanism.

[0049] Loop 116 (an example of the "second loop member") is a member that restricts the movement of the belt 112 in the ±axial direction and the ±radial direction, similar to loop 106 (an example of the "first loop member"). Loop 116 includes an insertion hole 116A for inserting the belt 112. Loop 116 is fixed to the fixed point 22E of the coil 22. The position of the fixed point 22E is at the center of the upper surface of the coil 22 in the ±axial direction and on the -circumferential side of the ±circumferential direction of the coil 22.

[0050] In this way, on the upper surface of the coil 22, the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 104, and the loop 106 are arranged in a straight line, and the end 112A of the belt 112, the stopper 114, and the loop 116 are arranged in a straight line.

[0051] 〈Mounting of the Coil Unit〉 FIG. 6 is a top view of the patient 20 placed on the top plate 18. An abdominal coil unit 110 is mounted on the abdomen of the patient 20 shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the belts 102 and 112 on the back side of the patient 20 are shown by dotted lines. FIG. 7 is a schematic view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 6.

[0052] To mount the abdominal coil unit 110 on the patient 20 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, first, the user wraps the belt 102 around via the lower surface side of the coil 22 and inserts it from the end 102B into the insertion hole 106A of the loop 106. Also, the user inserts the belt 102 from the end 102B into the insertion hole 104A of the stopper 104 in the unlocked state.

[0053] Similarly, the user wraps the belt 112 around via the lower surface side of the coil 22 and inserts it from the end 112B into the insertion hole 116A of the loop 116. Also, the user inserts the belt 112 from the end 112B into the insertion hole 114B of the stopper 114 in the unlocked state. In this way, the belts 102 and 112 are wound around the lower surface side of the coil 22 in opposite directions.

[0054] Subsequently, the user passes the body of patient 20 through the space surrounded by the lower surface of coil 22, belt 102, and belt 112, and brings the lower surface of coil 22 into contact with the abdomen of patient 20.

[0055] Then, the user pulls belts 102 and 112 in the + radial direction to ensure that coil 22 is in close contact with the abdomen of patient 20, and locks the locking mechanisms of insertion hole 114A and insertion hole 114B of stopper 114. As a result, belts 102 and 112 are fixed by stopper 114, and coil 22 is closely fixed to the abdomen of patient 20 by belts 102 and 112.

[0056] Here, the user fixes belts 102 and 112 by operating stopper 114 once, but one of belts 102 and 112 may be fixed first and then the other. Also, the user may align coil 22 so that the ± axis direction in FIG. 5 is in the direction of the trunk of patient 20, bring the lower surface of coil 22 into contact with the abdomen of patient 20, and then wind belts 102 and 112 around patient 20 to attach abdominal coil unit 110 to patient 20.

[0057] Thus, according to abdominal coil unit 110 according to the second embodiment, belts 102 and 112 are fixed to at least two points of coil 22, and belts 102 and 112 are put on patient 20. As a result, by simply pulling belts 102 and 112, which are in a position that is easy to grasp and hold on the upper surface of coil 22, the fixation of coil 22 can be completed evenly on the left and right with respect to the trunk of patient 20.

[0058] Here, by inserting the belt 102 and the belt 112 into the insertion holes 106A of the loop 106 and the insertion holes 116A of the loop 116, the movement of the belt 102 and the belt 112 in the ±axial direction and the ±radial direction is restricted. Thereby, the user can wind the belt 102 and the belt 112 at appropriate positions. Further, since the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 114, and the loop 106 are arranged in a straight line, and the end 112A of the belt 112, the stopper 114, and the loop 116 are arranged in a straight line, the force applied by the user to pull the belt 102 and the belt 112 can be efficiently transmitted to the end 102A of the belt 102 and the end 112A of the belt 112, and the coil 22 can be appropriately fixed to the patient 20. Furthermore, by winding and fixing the belt 102 and the belt 112 in opposite directions from both sides of the patient 20, the coil 22 can be evenly fixed to the left and right of the trunk of the patient 20.

[0059] 〔Third Embodiment〕 〈Configuration of Coil Unit〉 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the abdominal coil unit 120 according to the third embodiment. The abdominal coil unit 120 includes a belt 102, a loop 106, a belt 112, a stopper 114, and a loop 116, similar to the abdominal coil unit 110.

[0060] One end 102A of the belt 102 is fixed to the fixing point 22F of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22F is the end on the +axial direction side in the ±axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and the end on the -circumferential direction side in the ±circumferential direction of the upper surface.

[0061] The loop 106 is fixed to the fixing point 22G of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22G is the end on the -axial direction side in the ±axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and the ±circumferential direction side of the coil 22. Thus, the end 102A of the belt 102 and the loop 106 are arranged on the diagonal line of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0062] The belt 112 has an end 112A fixed to the fixing point 22H of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22H is the end on the +axial direction side in the ±axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and is also the end on the +circumferential direction side in the ±circumferential direction of the upper surface.

[0063] The loop 116 is fixed to the fixing point 22I of the coil 22. The position of the fixing point 22I is the end on the -axial direction side in the ±axial direction of the upper surface of the coil 22 and is also the end on the -circumferential direction side in the ±circumferential direction of the coil 22. In this way, the end 112A of the belt 112 and the loop 116 are on the diagonal line of the upper surface of the coil 22 and are arranged on a diagonal line different from the diagonal line of the end 102A of the belt 102 and the loop 106.

[0064] The stopper 114 is fixed to the fixing point 22B which is the center of the upper surface of the coil 22.

[0065] In this way, on the upper surface of the coil 22, the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 114, and the loop 106 are arranged in a straight line. Also, on the upper surface of the coil 22, the end 112A of the belt 112, the stopper 114, and the loop 116 are arranged in a straight line. Moreover, the straight line connecting the end 102A of the belt 102, the stopper 114, and the loop 106 intersects with the straight line connecting the end 112A of the belt 112, the stopper 114, and the loop 116.

[0066] 〈Mounting of the Coil Unit〉 FIG. 9 is a top view of the patient 20 placed on the top plate 18. An abdominal coil unit 120 is mounted on the abdomen of the patient 20 shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the belts 102 and 112 on the back side of the patient 20 are shown by dotted lines. Also, FIG. 10 is a schematic view seen from the C arrow direction of FIG. 9.

[0067] To attach the abdominal coil unit 120 to the patient 20 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, first, the user passes the belt 102 along the lower surface side of the coil 22 and winds it diagonally across the coil 22, inserting it from the end 102B through the insertion hole 106A of the loop 106. Also, the user inserts the belt 102 from the end 102B through the insertion hole 114A of the stopper 114 in the unlocked state.

[0068] Similarly, the user passes the belt 112 along the lower surface side of the coil 22 and winds it diagonally across the coil 22, inserting it from the end 112B through the insertion hole 116A of the loop 116. Also, the user inserts the belt 112 from the end 112B through the insertion hole 114B of the stopper 114 in the unlocked state. In this way, the belts 102 and 112 are wound around the lower surface side of the coil 22 in opposite directions and intersecting each other.

[0069] Then, the user pulls the belts 102 and 112 in the + radial direction to bring the coil 22 into a state where it is sufficiently in contact with the abdomen of the patient 20, and locks the locking mechanisms of the insertion hole 114A and the insertion hole 114B of the stopper 114. As a result, the belts 102 and 112 are fixed by the stopper 114, and the coil 22 is closely fixed to the abdomen of the patient 20 by the belts 102 and 112.

[0070] After the user brings the lower surface of the coil 22 into contact with the abdomen of the patient 20, the user may wind the belts 102 and 112 around the patient 20 to attach the abdominal coil unit 120 to the patient 20.

[0071] Thus, according to the abdominal coil unit 120 according to the third embodiment, the belts 102 and 112 are fixed to both ends of the coil 22, and the belts 102 and 112 are crossed and put on the patient 20. Thereby, by simply pulling the belts 102 and 112 that are in a position where they are easy to grasp and hold on the upper surface of the coil 22, the fixation of the coil 22 can be completed evenly on the left and right with respect to the trunk of the patient 20.

[0072] In the example shown in FIG. 9, the abdominal coil unit 120 is attached with the coil 22 aligned in the direction where the ± axis direction in FIG. 8 is the direction of the patient 20's torso. However, the abdominal coil unit 120 may be attached with the coil 22 aligned in the direction where the ± circumferential direction in FIG. 8 is the direction of the patient 20's torso. Thus, according to the abdominal coil unit 120, the coil 22 can be brought into closer contact with the patient 20 regardless of whether the coil 22 is used in the longitudinal or lateral direction with respect to the patient 20's torso direction.

[0073] 〔Fourth Embodiment〕 The coil fixed by the coil unit may be a flexible coil.

[0074] FIG. 11 is a top view of the patient 20 placed on the top plate 18. A chest coil unit 130 is attached to the chest of the patient 20 shown in FIG. 11, a lumbar coil unit 140 is attached to the waist, and a leg coil unit 150 is attached to the left leg portion, respectively. FIG. 12 is a schematic view taken along the arrow D in FIG. 11 and shows the chest coil unit 130.

[0075] The chest coil unit 130 includes a coil 32, a belt 102, a loop 106, a belt 112, a stopper 114, and a loop 116. The coil 32 is wearable and has a structure that surrounds the torso in a circle from the chest to the back of the patient 20 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 11, the belt 102, the loop 106, the belt 112, the stopper 114, and the loop 116 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the coil 32. The belt 102 and the belt 112 are crossed and placed on the back side of the patient 20 in the same manner as the abdominal coil unit 120 and are fixed by the stopper 114. Thereby, the chest coil unit 130 can bring the coil 32 into close contact with the patient 20.

[0077] The lumbar coil unit 140 includes a coil 42, a belt 102 on the outer peripheral surface of the coil 42, a loop 106, a belt 112, a stopper 114, a loop 116, a loop 126, a loop 136, a loop 146, and a loop 156. The coil 42 is wearable and has a structure that surrounds the trunk once at the lumbar region of the patient 20.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 11, the belt 102 is wound from the end 102A around the back side of the patient 20 diagonally on the coil 42 and passed through the loop 106. Then, the belt 102 is wound around the front side of the right leg of the patient 20 and passed through the loop 126, and wound around the back side of the right leg of the patient 20 and passed through the loop 136. Further, the belt 102 is wound around the front side of the right leg of the patient 20 and fixed by the stopper 114.

[0079] Similarly, the belt 112 is wound from the end 112A around the back side of the patient 20 diagonally on the coil 42 and passed through the loop 116. Then, the belt 112 is wound around the front side of the left leg of the patient 20 and passed through the loop 146, and wound around the back side of the left leg of the patient 20 and passed through the loop 156. Further, the belt 112 is wound around the front side of the left leg of the patient 20 and fixed by the stopper 114. Thereby, the lumbar coil unit 140 can closely attach the coil 42 to the patient 20.

[0080] The leg coil unit 150 includes a coil 52, a belt 102 on the outer peripheral surface of the coil 52, a loop 106, a belt 112, a stopper 114, and a loop 116. The coil 52 is wearable and has a structure that surrounds the trunk once at the leg of the patient 20.

[0081] The belt 102 and the belt 112 are crossed and placed on the back side of the patient 20 and fixed by the stopper 114. Thereby, the leg coil unit 150 can closely attach the coil 52 to the patient 20.

[0082] Thus, according to the chest coil unit 130, the waist coil unit 140, and the leg coil unit 150 according to the fourth embodiment, by fixing the belt to at least one point of the coil respectively and putting the belt on the patient, even a coil with a complex shape and a wearable coil can be brought into close contact with the patient.

[0083] 〔Fifth Embodiment〕 FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the abdominal coil units 100A, 110A, and 120A according to the fifth embodiment. F13A in FIG. 13 shows the abdominal coil unit 100A. The abdominal coil unit 100A includes a pipe 170 in addition to the abdominal coil unit 100.

[0084] FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view of the pipe 170. As shown in FIG. 14, the pipe 170 (an example of a "pipe member") is a cylindrical member having an inner diameter larger than that of the belt 102. The pipe 170 may be made of a flexible material or a rigid material. The pipe 170 may be any of a perfect cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, and a rectangular cylindrical shape, but preferably has a flat outer shape.

[0085] As shown in F13A, the abdominal coil unit 100A is formed by passing the belt 102 of the abdominal coil unit 100 through the pipe 170 between the end 102A of the belt 102 and the loop 106.

[0086] The pipe 170 is arranged on the back side of the patient when the abdominal coil unit 100A is worn on the patient. That is, it is arranged between the patient and the top plate 18 in a state where the patient lies on the top plate 18. Therefore, even when the load of the patient is applied to the pipe 170, the belt 102 can easily move inside the pipe 170. Further, by making the outer shape of the pipe 170 flat, the discomfort of the patient can be alleviated even at the position where the pipe 170 contacts the patient.

[0087] F13B in Fig. 13 shows the abdominal coil unit 110A. The abdominal coil unit 110A includes a pipe 170 and a pipe 180 in addition to the abdominal coil unit 110. The abdominal coil unit 110A passes the belt 102 of the abdominal coil unit 110 through the pipe 170 between the end 102A of the belt 102 and the loop 106, and passes the belt 112 through the pipe 180 (an example of a "pipe member") between the end 112A of the belt 112 and the loop 116.

[0088] The pipes 170 and 180 are arranged on the back side of the patient when the abdominal coil unit 110A is attached to the patient. That is, they are arranged between the patient and the top plate 18 when the patient lies on the top plate 18. Therefore, even when the patient's load is applied to the pipes 170 and 180, the belt 102 can easily move through the pipe 170, and the belt 112 can easily move through the pipe 180.

[0089] F13C in Fig. 13 shows the abdominal coil unit 120A. The abdominal coil unit 120A includes a pipe 170 and a pipe 180 in addition to the abdominal coil unit 120. The abdominal coil unit 120A passes the belt 102 of the abdominal coil unit 120 through the pipe 170 between the end 102A of the belt 102 and the loop 106, and passes the belt 112 through the pipe 180 between the end 112A of the belt 112 and the loop 116.

[0090] The abdominal coil unit 120A also has the same effect as the abdominal coil unit 110A.

[0091] According to the abdominal coil unit 110A, the abdominal coil unit 120A, and the abdominal coil unit 130A according to the fifth embodiment, by passing the belts of the portions passing through the back side of the patient through flat pipe members, even when the load of the patient lying on the bed is applied, the belt can be easily moved, and the discomfort of the patient can be alleviated even when in contact with the pipe.

[0092] 〔Embodiment 6〕 In the first to fifth embodiments, the belts 102 and 112 may be receiving-side cables that output the magnetic resonance signals received by the coils. Thereby, the number of parts of the coils can be reduced, and the complication of the structure can be suppressed.

[0093] Furthermore, the receiving-side cables as the belts 102 and 112 may be flexible flat cables in which a plurality of cables are bundled in a planar (band-like) shape. Thereby, the discomfort of the patient can be reduced.

[0094] 〔Others〕 The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. The configurations and the like in each embodiment can be appropriately combined among the embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0095] 10…MRI apparatus 12…Gantry 14…Bore 16…Bed 18…Ceiling 20…Patient 22…Multi-channel RF receiving coil (coil)

Claims

1. A receiving coil that receives a magnetic resonance signal to be inspected, A belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end, A locking member fixed to the receiving coil and fixing the belt member at an arbitrary length position from the one end side of the belt member, A coil unit comprising the above.

2. The coil unit according to claim 1, further comprising a loop member fixed to the receiving coil and restricting the path of the belt member. The coil unit according to claim 1.

3. The one end side of the belt member, the locking member, and the loop member are arranged in a straight line. The coil unit according to claim 2.

4. The belt member includes a first belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end, and a second belt member having one end fixed to the receiving coil and the other end being a free end. The locking member includes a first locking member for fixing the first belt member and a second locking member for fixing the second belt member. The coil unit according to claim 1.

5. A first loop member fixed to the receiving coil and restricting the path of the first belt member, A second loop member fixed to the receiving coil and restricting the path of the second belt member, Comprising the above. The coil unit according to claim 4.

6. The straight line connecting the one end side of the first belt member and the first loop member intersects the straight line connecting the one end side of the second belt member and the second loop member. The coil unit according to claim 5.

7. The receiving coil has a shape that encircles the patient's torso. The coil unit according to claim 1.

8. The coil unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe member through which the belt member is inserted. The coil unit according to claim 1.

9. The locking member is fixed to the center of the receiving coil. The coil unit according to claim 1.

10. The belt member is a cable that outputs the magnetic resonance signal received by the receiving coil. The coil unit according to claim 1.

11. The belt member is a flat cable in which a plurality of cables are bundled in a planar shape. The coil unit according to claim 10.

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