HTS Cryogenically Cooled Whole-Body RF Coil Array for MRI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MRI systems require multiple specialized RF coils for different body parts, leading to inefficiencies in patient positioning and imaging quality due to low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when using transceiver coils, and increased noise with smaller receive coils.
Innovation Solution
A high temperature superconductor (HTS) cryogenically cooled whole-body RF coil array is implemented, which acts as both a transmitter and receiver, providing high SNR and large Field of View (FOV) for diagnostic imaging without the need for specialized coils, by using a transceiver coil array configuration with cryogenically cooled modules on opposing sides of the examination region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a transceiver coil is used to image a large FOV, then patient positioning is easier and FOV is larger, but the SNR of the images is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple receive coils into a coil array system where each element contributes to the overall signal. By merging the signals from multiple coils through signal processing techniques, the system achieves both large FOV coverage and high SNR, resolving the contradiction between using a single transceiver coil for large FOV versus multiple small receive coils for high SNR.
Solution Approach 2:
The receive coil is divided into multiple discrete coil elements arranged in an array. Each coil element can be independently optimized for signal reception, and their combined output provides both the coverage of a large FOV and the SNR enhancement of multiple sensors working together.
2Area of stationary object
If the size of the receive coil is decreased to increase FOV coverage, then FOV is larger, but coil noise increases and SNR decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large coil that would have high noise, the system segments the receive function into multiple smaller coil elements. Each element has lower individual noise, and their combined signal provides both large FOV coverage and reduced overall noise through signal integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the coil array by adjusting the weighting and combination of signals from individual elements. This allows optimization of the noise characteristics while maintaining large FOV coverage, effectively managing the noise parameter to achieve both goals.
3Measurement precision
If multiple specialized receive coils are used for different body parts, then SNR is higher, but device complexity and time to change coils increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coil array system that can image any body part with high SNR. The array is designed to be reconfigurable and adaptable to different imaging regions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized coils while maintaining high SNR performance for all body parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil array system is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing different subsets of coil elements to be activated and optimized for different body parts. This dynamic adaptability provides the SNR benefits of specialized coils without requiring physical coil changes, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.
4Measurement precision
If multiple specialized receive coils are used for different body parts, then SNR is higher, but time to change coils and patient throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The universal coil array can image any body part without requiring coil changes, maintaining high SNR for all applications. This eliminates the time lost in coil changes and improves patient throughput while preserving the SNR benefits of specialized coils through software-based reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of the appropriate coil elements and signal processing parameters before each imaging sequence. This pre-setup allows immediate high-quality imaging without physical coil changes, improving patient throughput while maintaining the SNR performance needed for diagnostic imaging.
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
This solution enables diagnostic imaging of all body parts with improved efficiency, patient throughput, and reduced costs by eliminating the need for multiple specialized coils, while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio and conforming to the human body contour.
Implementation Method 1
A high temperature superconductor (HTS) cryogenically cooled whole-body RF coil array is implemented
Implementation Method 2
a first cryogenically cooled (e.g., HTS) RF coil array module and a second cryogenically cooled (e.g., HTS) RF coil array module
Implementation Method 3
A radio frequency (RF) coil is selectively driven under computer control according to a pulse sequence to generate in the patient a temporary oscillating transverse magnetization signal that is detected by the RF coil
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum thermal isolation housing comprising a double wall hermetically sealed jacket that (i) encloses a hermetically sealed interior space under a vacuum condition
Data Source
AI summary
A whole body RF coil array module configured for cryogenic cooling for use in magnetic resonance imaging. The RF coil array may be a superconducting coil array, such as a high temperature superconducting (HTS) array. The RF coil array module provides sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio and large field of view such that the RF coil array may be used in an MRI whole body system for diagnostic imaging of all body parts without requiring using special-purpose RF coils for different body parts.