Flexible MRI Coil Array with Staggered Preamplifier Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face challenges in achieving high image signal-to-noise ratio and image quality due to the rigidity and increased distribution density of phased array coils, which hinder their flexibility and ability to fit the human body, leading to motion artifacts from fetal or maternal movement during scans.
Innovation Solution
A flexible radio frequency receiving coil array is designed with staggered coil units and preamplifiers arranged on a flexible panel, where each row and column of preamplifier installation plates are aligned straightly, reducing preamplifier distribution density and enhancing flexibility, allowing the coil array to better conform to the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of coil units and distribution density are increased to improve parallel acceleration capability, then image signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but flexibility and bending degree of the coil are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as the substrate for mounting preamplifiers and connecting coil units. This flexible film structure allows the coil array to bend and conform to body contours while maintaining electrical connections and signal integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between high coil density for improved SNR and the need for flexibility to fit body surfaces.
2Productivity
If the number of preamplifiers is increased to match increased coil units, then parallel acceleration capability is improved, but distribution density increases which reduces flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple preamplifiers onto a single flexible printed circuit board, merging what would be separate discrete components into a unified flexible assembly. This combining approach maintains the necessary number of preamplifiers for parallel processing while reducing overall distribution density and preserving system flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible printed circuit board allows preamplifiers to be arranged in a two-dimensional flexible layout rather than being constrained to rigid planar arrangements. This dimensional flexibility enables high preamplifier density without proportionally increasing distribution complexity, as the FPC can be bent and configured to optimize spacing and connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array. The flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array is provided on a flexible panel and comprises several rows of coil units. Adjacent two rows of coil units in the several rows of coil units are alternately arranged. Preamplifiers are provided in the coil units. In the flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array, two preamplifiers in adjacent two coil units are provided on a same preamplifier mounting plate on the flexible panel, where multiple preamplifier mounting plates are provided on the flexible panel, and the preamplifier mounting plates of different columns and rows are linearly arranged. The flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array effectively reduces the distribution density of the preamplifiers, ensures the flexibility and maximum degree of distension of the coil array, and improves the fit of the coil array to the human body, thus increasing image signal-to-noise ration and image quality.