Half Driving Mode for Degenerate Birdcage Coils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems using birdcage coils face a cost-performance tradeoff due to the high number of pTx drivers required for higher rung configurations, which increases costs and power efficiency losses, while also posing safety risks due to higher coil temperatures from inefficient RF power usage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a half driving mode for 2N-rung degenerate birdcage coils and ladder coils, which reduces the number of pTx drivers by half, enhances power efficiency, and achieves higher magnetic field uniformity without the need for Butler matrices, allowing for safer operation by reducing power consumption and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of rungs in birdcage coils is increased to improve magnetic field uniformity, then magnetic field uniformity is improved, but the number of pTx drivers required increases, leading to increased costs and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the 2N-rung birdcage coil into two independent N-rung coils, each driven by its own pTx driver. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the magnetic field uniformity of a 2N-rung coil while using only N pTx drivers, effectively resolving the contradiction between field uniformity and driver quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two N-rung coils into a single 2N-rung coil structure that operates with N pTx drivers. By merging the coils and their driving circuits, the system achieves both the uniformity benefits of higher rung configurations and the cost/power efficiency of fewer drivers.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of pTx drivers is increased to drive higher rung configurations, then magnetic field uniformity is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the 2N-rung coil into two N-rung coils driven by N pTx drivers, the patent reduces the total number of drivers required. This segmentation directly improves power efficiency by eliminating the power consumption associated with driving 2N drivers, while maintaining the magnetic field uniformity benefits of the 2N-rung configuration.
3Manufacturing precision
If the number of pTx drivers is increased for higher rung configurations, then magnetic field uniformity is improved, but coil temperature increases due to inefficient RF power usage, creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 2N-rung coil into two N-rung coils, each driven by N pTx drivers. This reduces the total number of drivers from 2N to N, thereby reducing RF power consumption and the resulting coil temperature, while maintaining the magnetic field uniformity advantages of the higher rung configuration.
4Loss of energy
If the number of pTx drivers is reduced, then costs and power consumption are reduced, but magnetic field uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two N-rung coils into a single 2N-rung coil structure that is driven by only N pTx drivers. This merging allows the system to achieve the magnetic field uniformity of a 2N-rung configuration (which would normally require 2N drivers) while using only N drivers, thus reducing power consumption without sacrificing field uniformity.
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
The half driving mode significantly reduces the number of pTx drivers, enhances power efficiency, and improves magnetic field uniformity, while ensuring safety by minimizing power consumption and temperature risks, thus offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for MRI systems.
Implementation Method 1
RF energy can be transmitted by an RF coil to create a B1 field that rotates a net magnetization
Implementation Method 2
resulting magnetic resonance (MR) signals can be received by an RF coil to detect precessing transverse magnetization
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system can include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coil, which is or otherwise includes a degenerate birdcage coil (DBC) or a ladder coil. The MRI RF coil includes a row of meshes for operation in a half driving transmit mode. The meshes can include driving meshes and non-driving meshes, where each non-driving mesh is coupled between neighboring driving meshes. Driving meshes are electrically coupled to drivers, whereas non-driving meshes are not. The MRI RF coil may have enhanced transmit power efficiency and magnetic field uniformity with fewer drivers.