Adjustable MRI Receive Coil Unit for Staff Burden Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) require multiple steps to fix a receive coil to a subject, increasing the burden on imaging staff and being less adaptable to subjects with varying physiques.
Innovation Solution
A receive coil unit with a length-adjustable receive coil that can be fixed to a table using a single locking mechanism, allowing for easy adjustment to fit different subject physiques and reducing the number of steps required for setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate fixing belt is used to fix the receive coil to the subject, then the receive coil can be securely fixed, but the number of work steps increases and the burden on imaging staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the receive coil and fixing belt into a single integrated unit. The receive coil includes a fixing member with a locking mechanism that directly secures the coil to the table, eliminating the need for separate fixing operations. This merging of functions reduces the number of work steps while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The receive coil unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the imaging coil and the fixing mechanism. The locking mechanism integrated into the receive coil structure allows it to simultaneously fulfill its imaging function and its fixation function, reducing the need for additional separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size receive coil is used, then the coil structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to subjects with varying physiques
Solution Approach 1:
The receive coil is designed with adjustable dimensions through the locking mechanism. The coil can be dynamically adjusted to different sizes by modifying the position of the locking member relative to the receive coil body, allowing adaptation to various subject physiques while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Area of stationary object
If two receive coil units are mounted in overlapping manner on a subject, then coverage is improved, but the configuration cannot be applied to all subject physiques
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable locking mechanism allows the receive coil to be dynamically resized to match the subject's physique. This enables a single receive coil unit to provide adequate coverage for different body types without requiring multiple fixed-size coils or complex overlapping configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a receive coil unit and a medical image diagnosis system capable of reducing a burden on imaging staff. A receive coil unit includes: a receive coil of which one end side of a table, on which a subject is placed, is attached to one side portion among both side portions of the table, that has one sheet accommodating a plurality of sub coil channels, and that has a member to be locked provided on a surface of the sheet; and a fixing member that is attached to the other side portion of the table, that has a locking member locked to the member to be locked, and that fixes the receive coil to be length-adjustable by adjusting a locking position of the member to be locked with respect to the locking member.