Triple-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device

Abstract

A triple-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device. The triple-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system comprises a coil circuit, a first transceiver link, a second transceiver link, and a first signal filter. The first signal filter comprises a first filter and a second filter. The passband range of the first filter does not coincide with the passband range of the second filter. A first end of the first filter and a first end of the second filter are both electrically connected to the coil circuit. A second end of the first filter is electrically connected to the first transceiver link, and a second end of the second filter is electrically connected to the second transceiver link. The first transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a first nuclide signal. The second transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a second nuclide signal and a third nuclide signal. The coil circuit is configured to generate relaxation signals of a first nuclide, a second nuclide, and a third nuclide.

Description

Triple-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system and magnetic resonance imaging device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411705575.3, filed on November 26, 2024, with the Chinese Patent Office, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, for example to a triple-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system and a magnetic resonance imaging device. BACKGROUND

[0003] Multi-nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can provide biochemical, physical, functional and structural information, and has been proven to be a useful tool for fully describing tumor pathological features and monitoring tumor treatment response. In high-field MR imaging applications, the main design challenge for developing multi-nuclear radio frequency coils comes from the increased electromagnetic coupling between different nuclear channels. Insufficient isolation between nuclear channels can lead to degraded excitation and acquisition performance, especially in heteronuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Therefore, a key design goal of multi-tuned coils is to maximize the avoidance of coupling between nuclei and channels to improve X-nuclear detection sensitivity and transmit field homogeneity, while maintaining proton sensitivity and homogeneity. Therefore, the interaction and interference between each individually tuned coil element must be suppressed.

[0004] In the design scheme of multi-nuclear radio frequency coils, there are mainly two categories of schemes to realize the multi-resonance of the coil, namely single structure independent resonance and combined structure. Single structure mainly realizes multiple resonance frequencies by one independent coil unit or realizes multiple resonance frequencies by frequency switching, and two or more independent physical coil structures are usually used to realize multi-nuclear resonance, and the schemes mainly include geometric decoupling structure and nested combination.

[0005] However, although the single structure can be easily extended to a multi-channel array design, the implementation of three resonances is first to adopt a double tuning and matching circuit, that is, by adding a frequency trap circuit and a frequency conversion circuit on each coil loop, the coil unit first generates two resonances, and then the third frequency resonance is realized through active tuning of the conversion circuit. However, due to the loss caused by the insertion of the trap element and the frequency conversion circuit, the quality and signal-to-noise ratio of the coil are reduced. The four-loop birdcage method is to add two additional end loop blocks on both sides of the traditional birdcage coil structure. The coil can be tuned at different frequencies, and the frequencies mainly come from the external structure and the internal structure. In order to maintain the signal-to-noise ratio of the four-loop birdcage coil, the length ratio needs to be optimized, which usually results in a significant increase in the overall length of the coil. The additional length requirement of the outer end loop limits the accessible space, which can be a problem in applications using smaller coils. In addition, it is quite difficult to extend the multi-structure, single-channel coil structure to a multi-channel array design, and the coils need to be exchanged when measuring. In the design using nested coils, the coupling of two or three coil systems needs to be handled to reduce the impact on the quality of the signal. This coupling can be controlled by modifying the distance or arrangement between multiple coils and between each channel within a coil, thereby avoiding performance degradation. However, the ability to control the coupling by adjusting the distance between the inner and outer coils can be limited by space. Most simultaneous schemes are limited to dual-nuclide acquisition, or independent imaging of nuclides using separate coils. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device to solve the problems in the related art, avoid electromagnetic interference between different nuclides, and solve the coupling problem between nuclides.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system, comprising: a coil circuit, a first transceiver link, a second transceiver link, and a first signal filter;

[0008] The first signal filter comprises a first filter and a second filter; the passband ranges of the first filter and the second filter do not overlap;

[0009] The first end of the first filter and the first end of the second filter are both electrically connected to the coil circuit; the second end of the first filter is electrically connected to the first transceiver link; and the second end of the second filter is electrically connected to the second transceiver link;

[0010] The first transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a first nuclide signal; and the second transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a second nuclide signal and a third nuclide signal;

[0011] The coil circuit is configured to generate relaxation signals of the first, second and third nuclei.

[0012] In an embodiment, the coil circuit is in a ring structure.

[0013] The coil circuit comprises two first structures configured to tune to match the relaxation signals of the first nuclei, and two second structures configured to tune to match the relaxation signals of the second and third nuclei.

[0014] Each of the first structures and one of the second structures form a tuning matching unit in parallel; two of the tuning matching units are symmetrically arranged in the coil circuit.

[0015] In an embodiment, the first structure comprises a first capacitor and a first inductor connected in series.

[0016] In an embodiment, the second structure comprises a second capacitor.

[0017] In an embodiment, the three-tuning radio frequency coil transceiver system further comprises a matching circuit.

[0018] The first end of the first filter and the first end of the second filter are electrically connected to the coil circuit through the matching circuit.

[0019] The matching circuit is located at a middle position between the first structure and the second structure.

[0020] In an embodiment, the first transceiver chain comprises a first transmission / reception switch; the first transmission / reception switch comprises a first transmission input end, a first reception output end and a first common end.

[0021] The first transmission input end is configured to be connected to a first transmission device; the first reception output end is configured to be connected to a first reception device; the first common end is connected to the second end of the first filter; wherein the first transmission device is configured to transmit signals of a first frequency; the first reception device is configured to receive signals of the first frequency.

[0022] In an embodiment, the second transceiver chain comprises a second transmission / reception switch; the second transmission / reception switch comprises a second transmission input end, a second reception output end and a second common end.

[0023] The second transmission input end is configured to be connected to a second transmission device; the second reception output end is configured to be connected to a second reception device and a third reception device; the second common end is connected to the second end of the second filter; wherein the second transmission device is configured to transmit signals of a second frequency; the second reception device is configured to receive signals of a third frequency; the third reception device is configured to receive signals of a fourth frequency.

[0024] In an embodiment, the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system further comprises a second signal filter; the second signal filter comprises a third filter and a fourth filter.

[0025] The second receiving device is connected with the second receiving output end through the third filter; the third receiving device is connected with the second receiving output end through the fourth filter; the passband ranges of the third filter and the fourth filter do not overlap.

[0026] In an embodiment, the first nuclear species signal is a 23Na nuclear species signal.

[0027] In an embodiment, the second nuclear species signal and the third nuclear species signal are respectively a 1H nuclear species signal and a 19F nuclear species signal.

[0028] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system described in any one of the above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system provided by the embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0031] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data thus used can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0032] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system provided by an embodiment of the present application. The embodiment provides a three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system. Referring to Figure 1, the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system includes a coil circuit 10, a first transceiving link 20, a second transceiving link 30, and a first signal filter 40. The first signal filter 40 includes a first filter 41 and a second filter 42. The first end of the first filter 41 and the first end of the second filter 42 are electrically connected to the coil circuit 10. The second end of the first filter 41 is electrically connected to the first transceiving link 20. The second end of the second filter 42 is electrically connected to the second transceiving link 30. The first transceiving link 20 is configured to transmit and receive a first nuclide signal. The second transceiving link 30 is configured to transmit and receive a second nuclide signal and a third nuclide signal. The coil circuit 10 is configured to generate relaxation signals of the first nuclide, the second nuclide, and the third nuclide.

[0033] The first nuclide signal can be understood as a radio frequency signal capable of exciting relaxation signals carrying a first kind of nuclide. The second nuclide signal can be understood as a radio frequency signal capable of exciting relaxation signals carrying a second kind of nuclide. The third nuclide signal can be understood as a radio frequency signal capable of exciting relaxation signals carrying a third kind of nuclide.

[0034] The passband range of the first filter 41 and the passband range of the second filter 42 do not overlap. The passband range of the first filter 41 includes the frequency of the first nuclide signal, and the passband range of the second filter 42 includes the frequencies of the second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal, so as to achieve efficient separation of the first nuclide signal from the second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the first filter 41 is a low-pass filter, and the second filter 42 is a high-pass filter.

[0035] It should be noted that the frequencies of the second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal are slightly offset, so that the second nuclide and the third nuclide can share the second transceiving link 30.

[0036] The coil circuit 10 can be provided with a capacitor and / or an inductor, so as to generate the resonance frequencies of the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, the second nuclide, and the third nuclide. In an optional embodiment, the coil circuit 10 is a single physical loop structure, so that the resonance frequencies of the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, the second nuclide, and the third nuclide can be generated simultaneously within the single physical loop structure, thereby solving the problem of electromagnetic interference among the three nuclides.

[0037] The first transceiving link 20 is electrically connected with the coil circuit 10 through the first filter 41, and is configured to provide a first driving signal for the coil circuit 10, so that the coil circuit 10 receives the relaxation signals of the first nuclide and outputs to the first transceiving link 20. Similarly, the second transceiving link 30 is electrically connected with the coil circuit 10 through the second filter 42, and is configured to provide a second driving signal for the coil circuit 10, so that the coil circuit 10 receives the relaxation signals of the second nuclide and the third nuclide and outputs to the second transceiving link 30, thereby eliminating the electromagnetic interference between the second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal.

[0038] In the embodiment, the first signal filter of the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiving system includes a first filter and a second filter with non-overlapping passband ranges, the first end of the first filter and the first end of the second filter are both electrically connected with the coil circuit, the second end of the first filter is electrically connected with the first transceiving link, and the second end of the second filter is electrically connected with the second transceiving link, the first transceiving link is configured to transmit and receive the first nuclide signal, the second transceiving link is configured to transmit and receive the second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal, and the coil circuit is configured to generate the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, the second nuclide and the third nuclide. In this way, the signals of the three kinds of nuclides can be generated simultaneously through a single physical loop structure, and the radio frequency front-end component is matched, so that three-nuclear magnetic resonance imaging can be realized without frequency switching, thereby avoiding the electromagnetic interference between different nuclides and solving the coupling problem between nuclides.

[0039] Optionally, continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the coil circuit 10 is in a ring structure; the coil circuit 10 includes two first structures 11 configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, and two second structures 12 configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the second nuclide and the third nuclide; each first structure 11 and a second structure 12 are connected in parallel to form a tuning and matching unit; the two tuning and matching units are symmetrically arranged in the coil circuit 10.

[0040] The ring structure can include, but is not limited to, a circular structure or a rectangular structure, etc. FIG. 1 only exemplarily shows the case where the ring structure is a rectangular structure, and does not limit the shape of the ring structure. By setting the coil circuit 10 to be in a ring structure, the signal-to-noise ratio of the collected relaxation signals of the three kinds of nuclides can be improved, and thus the imaging quality of the three-tuned magnetic resonance imaging system can be improved.

[0041] The first structure 11 is configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, and in an optional embodiment, the first structure 11 includes a first capacitor C1 and a first inductor L1 connected in series. The second structure 12 is configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the second nuclide and the third nuclide, and in an optional embodiment, the second structure 12 includes a second capacitor C2.

[0042] Each first structure 11 and one second structure 12 are connected in parallel to form a tuning matching unit, and two tuning matching units are symmetrically arranged in the coil circuit 10 to reduce electromagnetic interference between elements in the two tuning matching units, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference between the three kinds of nuclides.

[0043] Optionally, continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system further comprises a matching circuit 50; the first end of the first filter 41 and the first end of the second filter 42 are electrically connected to the coil circuit 10 through the matching circuit 50; the matching circuit 50 is located at the middle position of the first structure 11 and the second structure 12.

[0044] The matching circuit 50 is a three-tuned matching circuit 50 for the first nuclide, the second nuclide and the third nuclide, so as to simultaneously realize imaging of the first nuclide, the second nuclide and the third nuclide, thereby being able to solve the problem of electromagnetic interference between the three kinds of nuclides.

[0045] Optionally, continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the first transceiver link 20 comprises a first transmission / reception switch 21; the first transmission / reception switch 21 comprises a first transmission input end a, a first reception output end b and a first common end c; the first transmission input end a is used to be connected with a first transmission device; the first reception output end b is used to be connected with a first reception device; and the first common end c is connected with the second end of the first filter 41.

[0046] The first transmission device is arranged to transmit a signal of a first frequency; and the first reception device is arranged to receive a signal of the first frequency. The signal of the first frequency can be understood as a radio frequency signal used for tuning matching the first nuclide.

[0047] The first transmission input end a of the first transmission / reception switch 21 is connected with the first transmission device, the first common end c is connected with the second end of the first filter 41, and the first end of the first filter 41 is connected with the coil circuit 10, so that the signal of the first frequency transmitted by the first transmission device can be transmitted to the coil circuit 10, so as to make the coil circuit 10 generate a relaxation signal of the first nuclide. At the same time, the first reception output end b is connected with the first reception device, and the first reception device is arranged to receive the signal of the first frequency, so that the relaxation signal of the first nuclide generated by the coil circuit 10 can be received by the first reception device.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, the first reception output end b is connected with the first reception device through a first low-noise power amplifier 22, so as to amplify the signal of the first frequency output by the first reception output end b without introducing additional noise, which is conducive to reducing the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0049] Optionally, continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the second transceiving link 30 comprises a second transmission / reception switch 31; the second transmission / reception switch 31 comprises a second transmission input end d, a second reception output end e and a second common end f; the second transmission input end d is configured to be connected with the second transmission device; the second reception output end e is configured to be connected with the second reception device and the third reception device; and the second common end f is connected with the second end of the second filter 42.

[0050] The second transmission device is configured to transmit a signal of a second frequency; the second reception device is configured to receive a signal of a third frequency; and the third reception device is configured to receive a signal of a fourth frequency. The signal of the second frequency can be understood as a radio frequency signal for tuning and matching the second nuclide and the third nuclide. The signal of the third frequency is a radio frequency signal for tuning and matching the second nuclide. The signal of the fourth frequency is a radio frequency signal for tuning and matching the third nuclide.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, the three-tuning radio frequency coil transceiving system further comprises a second signal filter 60; the second signal filter 60 comprises a third filter 61 and a fourth filter 62; the second reception device is connected with the second reception output end e through the third filter 61; and the third reception device is connected with the second reception output end e through the fourth filter 62.

[0052] The passband range of the third filter 61 and the passband range of the fourth filter 62 do not overlap, the passband range of the third filter 61 comprises the frequency of the signal of the second nuclide, and the passband range of the fourth filter 62 comprises the frequency of the signal of the third nuclide, so as to realize efficient separation of the signal of the second nuclide and the signal of the third nuclide. In an exemplary embodiment, the third filter 61 is a low-pass filter, and the fourth filter 62 is a high-pass filter.

[0053] The second transmission input end d of the second transmission / reception switch 31 is connected with the second transmission device, the second common end f is connected with the second end of the second filter 42, and the first end of the second filter 42 is connected with the coil circuit 10, so that the signal of the second frequency transmitted by the second transmission device can be transmitted to the coil circuit 10, so that the coil circuit 10 generates the relaxation signal of the second nuclide and the third nuclide, and outputs the signal of the second frequency carrying the relaxation signal of the second nuclide and the third nuclide through the second reception output end e. At the same time, the second reception output end e is connected with the second reception device through the third filter 61 and is connected with the third reception device through the fourth filter 62, and the second reception device is configured to receive the signal of the third frequency, and the third reception device is configured to receive the signal of the fourth frequency, so that the relaxation signal of the second nuclide and the third nuclide generated by the coil circuit 10 can be received by the second reception device and the third reception device respectively.

[0054] In an optional embodiment, the second receiving output terminal e is connected to the second receiving device and the third receiving device through the second low-noise power amplifier 32, so that the signal of the second frequency output by the second receiving output terminal e is amplified without introducing additional noise, which is beneficial to reducing the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0055] Optionally, the first nuclide signal is the 23Na nuclide signal, and the second and third nuclide signals are the 1H nuclide signal and the 19F nuclide signal, respectively.

[0056] Optionally, since the frequency of 1H is 128.2MHz and the frequency of 19F is 120.6MHz, the frequency offset between 1H and 19F is small. By setting the second frequency signal to 124.4MHz, the second transceiver link 30 can operate normally at both the 1H and 19F frequencies. By setting the third frequency signal to 128.2MHz and the fourth frequency signal to 120.6MHz, it can receive the 1H and 19F frequencies respectively, thereby improving the reception performance of the 1H and 19F frequencies.

[0057] Proton magnetic resonance imaging (1H MRI) is widely used to provide anatomical information with high spatial and soft tissue resolution. Fluorine magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI), utilizing high-performance fluorine nanoprobes, can be used for cancer diagnosis due to its excellent soft tissue resolution and inherently high natural abundance. Sodium magnetic resonance imaging (23Na-MRI) offers the possibility of non-invasively quantifying tissue sodium concentration, potentially providing information on tumor cellularity and changes in tumor microstructure after treatment. Multiple molecular events interact at different levels—molecular, metabolic, and ionic—leading to abnormal biological behaviors such as unlimited tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and increased invasiveness and metastasis. Therefore, the simultaneous application of these technologies can acquire biological information at different levels, including tumor molecular targets, energy metabolism, ion perturbations, and structural-functional aspects, which is of great significance for tumor research.

[0058] This embodiment also provides a magnetic resonance imaging device. Since the magnetic resonance imaging device includes the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system provided in any of the above embodiments, it can have the corresponding structure and features of the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system provided in the embodiments of this application. The similarities can be referred to the above description.

Claims

1. A three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system, comprising: Coil circuit, first transceiver link, second transceiver link, and first signal filter; The first signal filter includes a first filter and a second filter; The passband ranges of the first filter and the second filter do not overlap; Both the first terminal of the first filter and the first terminal of the second filter are electrically connected to the coil circuit; the second terminal of the first filter is electrically connected to the first transceiver link; and the second terminal of the second filter is electrically connected to the second transceiver link. The first transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a first nuclide signal; the second transceiver link is configured to transmit and receive a second nuclide signal and a third nuclide signal. The coil circuit is configured to generate relaxation signals for the first, second, and third nuclides.

2. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein, The coil circuit has a ring structure; The coil circuit includes two first structures configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the first nuclide, and two second structures configured to tune and match the relaxation signals of the second and third nuclides. Each of the first structure and one of the second structures are connected in parallel to form a tuning matching unit; The two tuning matching units are symmetrically arranged in the coil circuit.

3. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 2, wherein, The first structure includes a first capacitor and a first inductor connected in series.

4. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 2, wherein, The second structure includes a second capacitor.

5. The three-tuned RF coil transceiver system according to claim 2 further includes a matching circuit; The first terminal of the first filter and the first terminal of the second filter are electrically connected to the coil circuit through the matching circuit. The matching circuit is located in the middle of the first structure and the second structure.

6. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein, The first transceiver link includes a first transmit / receive switch; the first transmit / receive switch includes a first transmit input terminal, a first receive output terminal, and a first common terminal; The first transmit input terminal is used to connect to the first transmit device; the first receive output terminal is used to connect to the first receive device; the first common terminal is connected to the second terminal of the first filter; wherein, the first transmit device is configured to transmit a signal of the first frequency; and the first receive device is configured to receive a signal of the first frequency.

7. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein, The second transceiver link includes a second transmit / receive switch; the second transmit / receive switch includes a second transmit input, a second receive output, and a second common terminal; The second transmit input terminal is used to connect to the second transmit device; the second receive output terminal is used to connect to the second receive device and the third receive device; the second common terminal is connected to the second terminal of the second filter; wherein, the second transmit device is configured to transmit a signal at a second frequency; the second receive device is configured to receive a signal at a third frequency; and the third receive device is configured to receive a signal at a fourth frequency.

8. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 7 further includes a second signal filter; the second signal filter includes a third filter and a fourth filter; The second receiving device is connected to the second receiving output terminal through the third filter; the third receiving device is connected to the second receiving output terminal through the fourth filter; the passband ranges of the third filter and the fourth filter do not overlap.

9. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein, The first nuclide signal is the nuclide signal of 23Na.

10. The three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein, The second nuclide signal and the third nuclide signal are the 1H nuclide signal and the 19F nuclide signal, respectively.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising the three-tuned radio frequency coil transceiver system according to any one of claims 1-10.

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