Coil set and trunk coil

Abstract

To provide a coil set and a body trunk coil capable of easily fixing a subject and a receiving coil in close contact with each other.SOLUTION: A coil set according to the present disclosure includes a trunk coil having flexibility and in which a plurality of receiving coils for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals of a subject are arranged in a two-dimensional manner, two belts configured separately from the trunk coil and configured to fix the trunk coil to a subject, and a length adjustment mechanism configured to fix the two belts at an arbitrary length, wherein the trunk coil includes a plurality of through holes, the two belts are each passed through any one of the plurality of through holes, and the two belts are adjusted to an arbitrary length by the length adjustment mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coil set and a body coil, and more particularly to a technique for fixing a body coil, in which a receiving coil for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals is arranged, to a subject. [Background technology]

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

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-152465 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-2346 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-6007 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In MRI examinations, it is desirable to place the RF receiving coil in close contact with the subject to obtain high-quality images in the area where the RF receiving coil is highly sensitive. However, conventional fixation belts are fastened from the edge of the bed, which means that the RF receiving coil cannot be placed in close contact with the side of the trunk, resulting in gaps.

[0005] Furthermore, with conventional fixation belts, the fixation belt on the opposite side of the bed from the side where the technician is standing is far away and difficult to reach. This means that, particularly for larger subjects, smaller technicians may be unable to reach the fixation belt on the opposite side, and they have to go around to the other side of the bed, which is an issue.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a coil set and a trunk coil that can easily fix a receiving coil in close contact with a subject. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the coil set according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a flexible trunk coil in which a plurality of receiving coils are arranged two-dimensionally to receive nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the subject, two belts configured separately from the trunk coil to secure the trunk coil to the subject, and a length adjustment mechanism to secure the two belts at any length, the trunk coil having a plurality of through-holes, and the two belts are each passed through one of the multiple through-holes and can be adjusted to any length by the length adjustment mechanism.

[0008] A coil set according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the coil set according to the first aspect, wherein the two belts preferably cross each other to fix the trunk coil to the subject.

[0009] A coil set according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the coil set according to the first or second aspect, wherein the trunk coil preferably includes four through-holes.

[0010] A coil set according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the coil set according to the third aspect, wherein the trunk coil preferably has through-holes at each of the four corners of the trunk coil in a plan view.

[0011] A coil set according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the coil set according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the length adjustment mechanism is preferably arranged on the opposite side of the subject across the trunk coil.

[0012] A coil set according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the coil set according to the fifth aspect, wherein the length adjustment mechanism is preferably fixed to the center of the trunk coil in a plan view.

[0013] In a coil set according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in a coil set according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, it is preferable that the length adjustment mechanism includes a relay connector for connecting a cable that outputs nuclear magnetic resonance signals received by multiple receiving coils.

[0014] A coil set according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is preferably the coil set according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein each of the two belts comprises a first belt member having one of a pair of connecting members and a second belt member having the other of the pair of connecting members.

[0015] A coil set according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is preferably the coil set according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a respiratory synchronization sensor disposed between the trunk coil and the subject, for detecting the subject's breathing.

[0016] A coil set according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is preferably a coil set according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the trunk coil has a rectangular shape in a plan view and can be fixed to the subject in either an orientation in which the long side of the rectangle is aligned with the axis of the subject's part to be examined, or an orientation in which the short side of the rectangle is aligned with the axis of the subject's part to be examined.

[0017] In order to achieve the above object, a trunk coil according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a trunk coil fixed to a subject, and includes: a plurality of receiving coils that receive nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the subject; a flexible blanket on which the plurality of receiving coils are arranged two-dimensionally; a plurality of through-holes that are arranged on the blanket and through which two belts configured separately from the trunk coil are passed; and a length adjustment mechanism that fixes the two belts passed through the plurality of through-holes at any length. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the subject and the receiving coil can be easily fixed in close contact with each other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an MRI apparatus to which a coil unit is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coil set according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the trunk coil. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a top view of a body coil attached to the abdomen of a subject. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic view taken along the arrow A in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view of a body coil attached in another manner to the abdomen of a subject. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a coil set according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a top view of a body coil attached to the abdomen of a subject. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of a coil set according to the third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view for explaining how to use the coil set. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a top view of a body coil attached to the abdomen of a subject. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic view taken along the arrow B in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF 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 components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0021] [Typical Device Configuration] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a typical MRI apparatus 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the MRI apparatus 100 includes a gantry 112 and a bed 116. The gantry 112 has a cylindrical examination (imaging) space 114. The gantry 112 is also provided with an MRI magnet (not shown) as a magnetic field generation source, and various other coils (not shown).

[0022] The bed 116 is installed on the front side of the gantry 112, facing the examination space 114. The bed 116 is equipped with a top panel 118. A subject P is placed on the top panel 118 along the longitudinal direction with his / her body axis horizontal. The top panel 118 is configured to be movable in the X direction, which is the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the top panel 118, the Y direction, which is the vertical direction, and the Z direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the top panel 118.

[0023] The MRI apparatus 100 includes a driving mechanism (not shown) that moves the top plate 118 in the Z direction and moves the top plate 118 into and out of the examination space 114. By moving the top plate 118 within the examination space 114, the MRI apparatus 100 sets the examination target region of the subject P to be imaged, who is placed on the top plate 118, at the center of the static magnetic field within the examination space 114.

[0024] A multi-channel RF receiving coil array (not shown) consisting of a plurality of RF receiving coils for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals generated in the subject P is fixed to the examination target region of the subject P by a fixing belt 122. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the abdomen of the subject P is the examination target region, and the RF receiving coil array is attached to the abdomen of the subject P.

[0025] A receiving cable (not shown) that outputs the nuclear magnetic resonance signals received by the RF receiving coil is connected to the RF receiving coil array. A receiving connector (not shown) is connected to an end of this receiving cable. The receiving connector is connected to a bed-side connector of a bed cable (not shown). This allows the receiving cable and the bed cable to be connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via their respective connectors.

[0026] The bed cable is stored in a cable storage unit (not shown) of the bed 116. The nuclear magnetic resonance signals of the subject P received by the RF receiving coil are transmitted to a signal processing unit (not shown) via the receiving cable and the bed cable. The signal processing unit processes the received nuclear magnetic resonance signals and converts them into image signals.

[0027] 〔assignment〕 Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, an abdominal coil 120 including an RF receiving coil array consisting of multiple RF receiving coils is placed on the abdomen of a subject P placed on a tabletop 118. The abdominal coil 120 is fixed to the abdomen of the subject P by a fixing belt 122.

[0028] The fixing belt 122 includes a first fixing belt 122A and a second fixing belt 122B. One end of the first fixing belt 122A is fixed to the end of the tabletop 118 on the +X direction side, and the other end is directed to the -X direction side and placed on the abdomen of the subject P, overlapping the abdominal coil 120. One end of the second fixing belt 122B is fixed to the end of the tabletop 118 on the -X direction side, and the other end is directed to the +X direction side and placed on the abdomen of the subject P, overlapping the first fixing belt 122A.

[0029] 2, there is a gap between the abdominal coil 120 and the subject P on both sides of the subject P in the X direction. This causes a problem of reduced sensitivity of the RF receiving coil, making it impossible to capture high-quality images. In addition, when a technician is standing on the -X side, for example, the technician may not be able to reach the first fixing belt 122A on the +X side, which causes a problem of time and effort required to attach the abdominal coil 120.

[0030] [First embodiment] 3 is a perspective view of the coil set 10 according to the first embodiment. The coil set 10 has a mechanism for fixing an RF receiving coil array to the abdomen of the subject P.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the coil set 10 includes a trunk coil 22 and two belts 30 and 32.

[0032] The two belts 30, 32 are each configured as a separate body that can be separated from the trunk coil 22. The belt 30 is a flexible string-like member having one free end, end 30A, and the other free end, end 30B. The belt 32 is a flexible string-like member having one free end, end 32A, and the other free end, end 32B. The belts 30, 32 are made of synthetic resin, leather, rubber, or metal.

[0033] The trunk coil 22 has a rectangular shape in a plan view (viewed from the Y direction in FIG. 3). Here, the sides along the X direction are the long sides of the rectangle, and the sides along the Z direction are the short sides of the rectangle.

[0034] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the trunk coil 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the trunk coil 22 includes a blanket 24 and multiple RF receive coils 26 (an example of "multiple receive coils").

[0035] The blanket 24 is a container that covers the periphery of the multiple RF receiving coils 26. The blanket 24 is flexible and formed into a bag shape by sewing or gluing together the edges of a sheet-like material that has been cut into one piece. The material of the blanket 24 may be a urethane-based resin such as polyurethane, a polyamide synthetic resin such as nylon, or the like.

[0036] The RF receiving coil 26 functions as a detector for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The RF receiving coil 26 is a circular loop coil with a diameter of approximately 10 cm to 15 cm in a plan view. The multiple RF receiving coils 26 are arranged two-dimensionally inside the blanket 24. The trunk coil 22 shown in FIG. 4 includes an RF receiving coil array 28 consisting of a total of 20 RF receiving coils 26 arranged two-dimensionally in a grid pattern of five rows in the X direction and four columns in the Z direction. Note that the number and arrangement of the RF receiving coils 26 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4.

[0037] In this way, the trunk coil 22 is flexible, and multiple RF receiving coils 26 are arranged two-dimensionally.

[0038] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 3 , four loops 34, 36, 38, and 40 are arranged on the surface (hereinafter referred to as the “upper surface”) on the +Y direction side of the trunk coil 22. The loops 34, 36, 38, and 40 have insertion holes 34A, 36A, 38A, and 40A (examples of “plurality of insertion holes”) through which the belt 30 or belt 32 is inserted, respectively. That is, the belts 30 and 32 are respectively passed through one of the insertion holes 34A, 36A, 38A, and 40A. The loops 34, 36, 38, and 40 function as restricting members that restrict the path of the belts 30 and 32 inserted through the insertion holes 34A, 36A, 38A, and 40A, respectively. The insertion holes 34A, 36A, 38A, and 40A may be holes that penetrate the blanket 24 in the Y direction.

[0039] The loops 34, 36, 38, and 40 are preferably disposed at the ends of the long sides or the short sides of the rectangular shape of the trunk coil 22. The ends are not limited to the positions of the rectangular sides, but may be positions relatively close to the ends so that the ends of the trunk coil 22 come into close contact with the subject P when the trunk coil 22 is fixed to the subject P by the belts 30 and 32.

[0040] 3, loops 34, 36, 38, and 40 are respectively arranged at positions 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D at the four corners of trunk coil 22. The four corners are not limited to the corner positions of trunk coil 22, but may be positions relatively close to the corners of trunk coil 22.

[0041] A stopper 42 is disposed on the opposite side of the subject P across the trunk coil 22. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the stopper 42 is disposed at a center position 22E of the top surface of the trunk coil 22 in a planar view. The center does not have to be the exact center, but may be a position relatively close to the center. The stopper 42 may be fixed to the position 22E of the trunk coil 22, or may be provided separately from the trunk coil 22.

[0042] Stopper 42 (an example of a "length adjustment mechanism") has a mechanism for fixing belts 30, 32 at positions at any length from ends 30A, 30B and ends 32A, 32B, respectively. The positions at any length are not limited to any position on a continuous length, but may be any position on a plurality of discrete length positions.

[0043] The stopper 42 includes insertion holes 42A and 42B that communicate from the +X direction side to the +Y direction side, insertion holes 42C and 42D that communicate from the -X direction side to the +Y direction side, and a locking mechanism (not shown) that can adjust the opening amount of the insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D. The insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D may each be arranged on a straight line parallel to the X direction on the +Y direction side.

[0044] When the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state, the stopper 42 relatively increases the opening amount of the insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D, allowing the belts 30 and 32 to movably pass through the insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D. When the locking mechanism is in a locked state, the stopper 42 relatively decreases the opening amount of the insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D, restricting the movement of the belts 30 and 32 passed through the insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D. In other words, the stopper 42 can fix the belts 30 and 32 at any length.

[0045] 3, end 30A of belt 30 passes through insertion hole 34A of loop 34 and passes through insertion hole 42A of stopper 42, and end 30B passes through insertion hole 40A of loop 40 and passes through insertion hole 42D of stopper 42. Belt 30 is routed between loop 34 and loop 40, along the −Y direction side of trunk coil 22. Furthermore, end 32A of belt 32 passes through insertion hole 36A of loop 36 and passes through insertion hole 42B of stopper 42, and end 32B passes through insertion hole 38A of loop 38 and passes through insertion hole 42C of stopper 42. Belt 32 is routed between loop 36 and loop 38, along the −Y direction side of trunk coil 22, crossing belt 30.

[0046] To attach the trunk coil 22 to the region to be examined of the subject P (see FIG. 1), the technician first positions the region to be examined of the subject P between the −Y direction surface of the trunk coil 22 of the coil set 10 in the state shown in FIG. 3 and the belts 30, 32. For example, if the region to be examined is the abdomen, the coil set 10 in the state shown in FIG. 3 is placed over the subject P's head, with the trunk coil 22 positioned on the abdominal side and the belts 30, 32 positioned on the back side.

[0047] Next, the technician places the subject P on the tabletop 118 (see FIG. 1). For example, if the region to be examined is the abdomen, the technician places the subject P on his back on the tabletop 118 with the trunk coil 22 positioned on the abdominal side.

[0048] Then, the technician unlocks the locking mechanism of the stopper 42 and pulls the ends 30A, 30B of the belt 30 and the ends 32A, 32B of the belt 32 that extend from the +Y side of the stopper 42 of the trunk coil 22 in the +Y direction, thereby bringing the trunk coil 22 into close contact with the abdomen of the subject P.

[0049] Finally, with the trunk coil 22 in close contact with the abdomen of the subject P, the technician locks the locking mechanism of the stopper 42 to secure the belts 30, 32. Thus, the belts 30, 32 can be adjusted to any length. In this way, the technician can complete the fixation of the trunk coil 22 by pulling the belts 30, 32, which are located in easy-to-grasp positions on the surface of the trunk coil 22.

[0050] Fig. 5 is a top view of the trunk coil 22 attached to the abdomen of the subject P. In Fig. 5, the subject P is placed on a tabletop 118, and the belts 30 and 32 on the back side of the subject P are indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a schematic view seen from the arrow A in Fig. 5.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, by crossing the belts 30, 32 behind the subject P, the entire trunk coil 22 can be brought into close contact with the subject P without any gaps, as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, the RF receiving coil 26 can receive nuclear magnetic resonance signals with relatively high sensitivity, and can perform imaging with relatively high image quality. Note that respiratory-gated imaging synchronized with the respiration of the subject P can be performed using respiratory sensing by a camera (not shown) arranged in the examination space 114 (see Fig. 1).

[0052] Furthermore, since there are no fixed points between the belts 30, 32 and the trunk coil 22, the trunk coil 22 can be fixed without moving the belts 30, 32 on the back side of the subject P. Therefore, there is no need for a guide to slide the belts 30, 32 on the back side of the subject P, improving the comfort of the subject P while sleeping and preventing discomfort caused by the belts 30, 32 on the back side of the subject P moving.

[0053] 5 and 6, the trunk coil 22 is attached to the subject P with the short side of the rectangular shape aligned along the body axis of the subject P, but it may also be attached with the long side of the rectangular shape aligned along the body axis of the subject P. In this way, the trunk coil 22 can be fixed to the subject P in either a vertically elongated position (an example of "an orientation in which the long side of the rectangular shape is aligned along the axis of the subject's examination target region") or a horizontally elongated position (an example of "an orientation in which the short side of the rectangular shape is aligned along the axis of the subject's examination target region"). The technician may input whether the trunk coil 22 is fixed in a vertically elongated position or a horizontally elongated position into a signal processing device (not shown).

[0054] 7 is a top view of the trunk coil 22 attached to the abdomen of the subject P in another manner. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the end 30A of the belt 30 passes through the insertion hole 34A of the loop 34 and then passes through the insertion hole 42A of the stopper 42, and the end 30B passes through the insertion hole 38A of the loop 38 and then passes through the insertion hole 42C of the stopper 42. The belt 30 is passed over the back of the subject P between the loop 34 and the loop 38.

[0055] The end 32A of the belt 32 passes through the insertion hole 36A of the loop 36 and then passes through the insertion hole 42B of the stopper 42, and the end 32B passes through the insertion hole 40A of the loop 40 and then passes through the insertion hole 42D of the stopper 42. The belt 32 is passed between the loop 36 and the loop 40 along the back of the subject P.

[0056] In this way, the belts 30, 32 may be fixed to the subject P without crossing each other. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the trunk coil 22 is fixed to the subject P in a horizontal position. However, when the trunk coil 22 is fixed to the subject P in a vertical position, the belts 30, 32 must be reinserted into the insertion holes 36A, 38A, 40A, and 42A of the loops 36, 38, 40, and 42. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when the trunk coil 22 is fixed to the subject P in a vertical position and when the trunk coil 22 is fixed to the subject P in a horizontal position, the insertion holes 36A, 38A, 40A, and 42A through which the belts 30, 32 pass may be the same. Therefore, it is preferable that the belts 30, 32 cross each other behind the subject P.

[0057] Second Embodiment 8 is a perspective view of the coil set 12 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, a stopper 142 is disposed at a central position 22A on the upper surface of the trunk coil 22 of the coil set 12.

[0058] The stopper 142 includes insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D and a relay connector 142A. The relay connector 142A is a connector for connecting a receiving cable 50 (see FIG. 9) that outputs nuclear magnetic resonance signals received by a plurality of RF receiving coils 26 (see FIG. 4).

[0059] A signal detection circuit (not shown) is connected to each of the multiple RF receiving coils 26. The outputs of the multiple signal detection circuits are connected to the respective terminals of the relay connector 142A. The nuclear magnetic resonance signals received by the RF receiving coils 26 are detected by the signal detection circuits and transmitted to the relay connector 142A.

[0060] 9 is a top view of the trunk coil 22 attached to the abdomen of the subject P. As shown in FIG. 9, a receiving cable 50 is connected to a relay connector 142A of the stopper 142. A receiving connector 50A is connected to the other end of the receiving cable 50. A bed cable (not shown) is connected to the receiving connector 50A. As a result, the nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the RF receiving coil 26 is output to a signal processing device (not shown) via the relay connector 142A, the receiving cable 50, and the bed cable.

[0061] With the coil set 12, the technician can efficiently perform two tasks in the same position: fixing the trunk coil 22 to the subject P, and connecting the trunk coil 22 and the receiving cable 50.

[0062] Instead of the relay connector 142A, a wireless communication device using a predetermined protocol may be provided in the stopper 142, and the nuclear magnetic resonance signal received by the RF receiving coil 26 may be output by wireless communication from the wireless communication device.

[0063] Third Embodiment Fig. 10 is a front view of the coil set 14 according to the third embodiment. Fig. 11 is a top view of the coil set 14. As shown in Fig. 10, the coil set 14 includes a support base 60 located on the -X direction side of the bed 116. The support base 60 includes a shaft portion 62 and a hook portion 64. Note that the support base 60 is not shown in Fig. 11.

[0064] The shaft 62 is a support pillar extending in the Y direction. The hook 64 is fixed to the shaft 62. The hook 64 is a U-shaped latching member for hooking and holding the trunk coil 22. In the example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the trunk coil 22 is held on the support base 60 with the stopper 42 hooked onto the hook 64. The hook 64 is preferably positioned closer to the +Y direction than the top plate 118.

[0065] The coil set 14 also includes two belts 130 and 132. The two belts 130 and 132 are each configured separately from the trunk coil 22. The belt 130 includes end portions 130A and 130B, which are free ends. The belt 130 includes a belt member 230A (an example of a "first belt member") and a belt member 230B (an example of a "second belt member"). The belt member 230A has one end which is the end portion 130A and the other end which is a connector 130C, which is one of a pair of connectors (an example of a "pair of connecting members"). The belt member 230B has one end which is the end portion 130B and the other end which is a connector 130D, which is the other of the pair of connectors. The belt members 230A and 230B are connected by the connectors 130C and 130D to form a single belt 130.

[0066] Belt 132 has end portion 132A and end portion 132B, which are free ends. Belt 132 has belt member 232A (an example of a "first belt member") and belt member 232B (an example of a "second belt member"). Belt member 232A has one end which is end portion 132A and the other end which is one of a pair of connectors, connector 132C. Belt member 232B has one end which is end portion 132B and the other end which is the other of the pair of connectors, connector 132D. Belt member 232A and belt member 232B are connected by connector 132C and connector 132D to form one belt 132.

[0067] Connectors 130C and 130D, connectors 132C and connectors 132D may be easily attachable and detachable members such as a pair of hooks that engage with each other, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a buckle.

[0068] Ends 130A and 130B of belt 130 and ends 132A and 132B of belt 132 are inserted through insertion holes 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D (not shown in Figures 10 and 11, see Figure 3) of stopper 42, respectively.

[0069] 10 and 11, the belt 130 from which the connectors 130C and 130D are disconnected has the belt member 230B inserted through the insertion hole 40A (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, see FIG. 3) of the loop 40, and is placed on the top plate 118 (on the +Y side) so as to run from the end on the -X direction side to the end on the +X direction side. Similarly, the belt 132 from which the connectors 132C and 132D are disconnected has the belt member 232B inserted through the insertion hole 38A (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, see FIG. 3) of the loop 38, and is placed on the top plate 118 so as to run from the end on the -X direction side to the end on the +X direction side.

[0070] 11, belt member 230B and belt member 232B are placed on tabletop 118 so as to intersect with each other. That is, at the end of tabletop 118 on the -X direction side, of belt member 230B and belt member 232B, belt member 230B is arranged on the -Z direction side, and belt member 232B is arranged on the +Z direction side. On the other hand, at the end of tabletop 118 on the +X direction side, of belt member 230B and belt member 232B, belt member 230B is arranged on the +Z direction side, and belt member 232B is arranged on the -Z direction side.

[0071] 10 and 11, to attach the trunk coil 22 to the subject P, the technician first places the subject P supine on the tabletop 118. Next, the technician places the trunk coil 22, which is held by the support base 60, on the abdomen, which is the region to be examined, of the subject P. Next, the technician inserts the belt member 230B, from the connector 130D side, into the insertion hole 34A (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11; see FIG. 3) of the loop 34, and connects the connectors 130C and 130D. As a result, the belt members 230A and 230B become one unit to form a single belt 130.

[0072] Similarly, the technician inserts belt member 232B from the connector 132D side into insertion hole 36A (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, see FIG. 3) of loop 36, and connects connector 132C to connector 132D. As a result, belt member 232A and belt member 232B become one unit, forming a single belt 132.

[0073] Furthermore, the technician unlocks the locking mechanism of stopper 42 and pulls ends 130A, 130B of belt 130 and ends 132A, 132B of belt 132 extending from the +Y direction side of stopper 42 of trunk coil 22 in the +Y direction, thereby bringing trunk coil 22 into close contact with the abdomen of subject P.

[0074] Finally, the technician locks the locking mechanism of the stopper 42 with the trunk coil 22 in close contact with the abdomen of the subject P, and fixes the belts 130 and 132. In this way, the trunk coil 22 is attached to the subject P.

[0075] Fig. 12 is a top view of the trunk coil 22 attached to the abdomen of the subject P. Fig. 13 is a schematic view taken along the arrow B in Fig. 12. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the technician can attach the trunk coil 22 in close contact with the subject P.

[0076] The coil set 14 eliminates the need for the subject P to put the trunk coil 22 on before placing the subject P on the tabletop 118, thereby improving workflow. Furthermore, when removing the trunk coil 22 from the subject P, there is no need to remove the trunk coil 22 from the subject P, starting from the head side. When removing the trunk coil 22, the subject P can be released by disconnecting the connectors 130C and 130D and disconnecting the connectors 132C and 132D. This allows a respiratory-gated sensor (not shown) that detects the respiration of the subject P and is installed between the subject P and the trunk coil 22 to be installed at the region to be examined of the subject P lying on the tabletop 118, as in the conventional case, before the trunk coil 22 is installed.

[0077] 〔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 with each other within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 100...MRI device 112...Gantry 114...Examination space 116...Bed 118...Tabletop 122...Fixed belt P...Subject

Claims

1. a flexible trunk coil in which a plurality of receiver coils for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the subject are arranged in a two-dimensional manner; two belts configured separately from the trunk coil and fixing the trunk coil to the subject; a length adjustment mechanism for fixing the two belts at any length; Equipped with the body coil includes a plurality of through holes; The two belts are each passed through any one of the plurality of through holes and adjusted to a desired length by the length adjustment mechanism. Coil set.

2. the two belts cross each other to fix the trunk coil to the subject; The coil set according to claim 1 .

3. The body coil has four of the through holes. The coil set according to claim 1 .

4. The trunk coil has the through-holes at four corners in a plan view of the trunk coil. The coil set according to claim 3 .

5. the length adjustment mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the subject across the trunk coil. The coil set according to claim 1 .

6. The length adjustment mechanism is fixed to the center of the trunk coil in a plan view. The coil set according to claim 5 .

7. the length adjustment mechanism includes a relay connector for connecting a cable for outputting the nuclear magnetic resonance signals received by the plurality of receiving coils; The coil set according to claim 1 .

8. The two belts each have: a first belt member having one of a pair of connecting members; a second belt member including the other of the pair of connecting members; Equipped with The coil set according to claim 1 .

9. a respiratory synchronization sensor disposed between the body coil and the subject, the respiratory synchronization sensor detecting the respiration of the subject; The coil set according to claim 8 .

10. The trunk coil has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and can be fixed to the subject in either of the following orientations: a long side of the rectangular shape is aligned with the axis of the examination target region of the subject; and a short side of the rectangular shape is aligned with the axis of the examination target region of the subject. The coil set according to claim 1 .

11. A body coil fixed to a subject, a plurality of receiving coils for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals of the subject; a flexible blanket on which the plurality of receiving coils are two-dimensionally arranged; a plurality of through holes disposed in the blanket and through which two belts configured separately from the trunk coil are passed; a length adjustment mechanism that fixes the two belts passed through the plurality of through holes at any length; A trunk coil comprising:

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