Inductively Coupled Dental MRI Coil for Higher Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MRI techniques for dental imaging suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio due to the small volume and distance of conventional coils from the diagnostically relevant areas, resulting in poor image quality, especially with low field strengths.
Innovation Solution
A local coil design comprising two galvanically isolated antenna units, where the first unit is positioned intraorally and the second unit conforms to the outer surface of the patient, allowing for inductive coupling and improved signal reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional volume and surface coils are used for MRI imaging of dental structures, then the imaging technique avoids ionizing radiation, but the signal-to-noise ratio is low resulting in poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The coil system is divided into multiple independent antenna units (first antenna unit intraoral, second antenna unit extraoral) that can be positioned independently to optimize signal reception from different regions of the jaw, thereby improving overall signal-to-noise ratio and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The first antenna unit is positioned inside the oral cavity while the second antenna unit surrounds it from the outside, creating a nested configuration where the intraoral antenna receives signals directly from the target region and the extraoral antenna provides additional signal detection capability
2Measurement precision
If the antenna units are positioned close to the examination object to improve signal detection, then the signal-to-noise ratio increases, but the device complexity and positioning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the coil into two distinct antenna units that can be independently positioned and configured, each unit can be optimized for its specific location (intraoral and extraoral) without requiring the entire system to be repositioned, simplifying the overall positioning process while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a positioning structure that acts as an intermediary between the antenna units and the patient's anatomy, providing standardized interfaces and positioning mechanisms that reduce the complexity of direct positioning while ensuring optimal signal reception
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and image quality by reducing the distance between the antenna units and the object, enabling higher-quality magnetic resonance imaging of dental structures.
Implementation Method 1
the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit are galvanically isolated and are designed to receive magnetic resonance signals of an examination subject
Implementation Method 2
the examination subject is typically positioned in a strong, static, and homogeneous basic magnetic field (B0 magnetic field) of a magnetic resonance scanner. The basic magnetic field can have magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.2 Tesla to 7 Tesla, causing the nuclear spins of the examination subject to align along the basic magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
To trigger so-called nuclear magnetic resonances, high-frequency signals, called excitation pulses (B1 magnetic field), are radiated into the examination subject. Each excitation pulse causes a deviation of the magnetization of certain nuclear spins of the examination subject from the basic magnetic field
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a local coil (26) comprising a first antenna unit (31) and a second antenna unit (32), wherein the first antenna unit (31) and the second antenna unit (32) are galvanically isolated and configured to receive magnetic resonance signals from a test object (15), wherein, when the local coil (26) is positioned as applicable relative to the test object (15): • the second antenna unit (32) at least partially surrounds the first antenna unit (31) along a circumferential direction of the first antenna unit (31), • the first antenna unit (31) is located inside a test object (15), and • the second antenna unit (32) is located on an outer surface of the test object (15), and wherein • the second antenna unit (32) has inductive coupling with the first antenna unit (31);wherein the second antenna unit (32) is configured to detect a magnetic resonance signal received from the first antenna unit (31) by means of inductive coupling.