Inductively Coupled MRI Coil Arrangement for Reduced Patient Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems require strong, homogeneous high-frequency magnetic fields for effective imaging, but existing whole body antennas are costly, complex, and expose patients to excessive heat due to large field backflow and high transmission power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A coil arrangement comprising a planar transmission coil and a passive, tubular part-body coil that are galvanically decoupled but inductively coupled, allowing for efficient electromagnetic oscillation and reduced heat exposure by positioning the part-body coil closer to the patient, eliminating the need for a whole body antenna and minimizing cooling requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a whole body antenna is used to transmit high frequency radiation, then the high frequency magnetic field can be generated in the examination volume, but the field backflow space increases leading to larger main magnet and gradient coil unit sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into two separate components: a transmission coil and a part-body coil. The transmission coil generates the high frequency magnetic field, while the passive part-body coil is positioned within the examination volume to receive and focus the field. This segmentation allows the transmission coil to be placed outside the magnet unit, eliminating the need for a large field backflow space within the main magnet and gradient coil unit.
2Reliability
If a whole body antenna is used to transmit high frequency radiation, then the examination can be performed, but the production costs increase due to precise positioning requirements and structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transmission coil from the magnet unit structure and positions it separately. The transmission coil is no longer integrated into the main magnet and gradient coil unit, but rather is positioned independently to transmit high frequency radiation through the examination volume. This extraction simplifies the overall structure and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining examination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive part-body coil acts as an intermediary component between the transmission coil and the examination volume. It receives the high frequency magnetic field from the transmission coil and focuses it within the examination volume, enabling effective imaging without requiring the transmission coil to be precisely positioned within the magnet unit structure.
3Productivity
If high transmission power is used with a whole body antenna for high-volume excitation, then the imaging speed can be improved, but the patient's heat exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by using a passive part-body coil that is specifically positioned within the examination volume to receive and focus the high frequency magnetic field. This allows the high transmission power to be concentrated locally in the examination volume rather than being distributed throughout the entire body, thereby improving imaging speed while minimizing patient heat exposure outside the examination volume.
4Power
If a whole body antenna is used, then the high frequency field can be transmitted, but the field is present outside the examination volume exposing large parts of the patient to heat
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna system into a transmission coil and a passive part-body coil, the patent confines the high frequency magnetic field primarily to the examination volume. The passive part-body coil acts as a spatial filter, receiving the field from the transmission coil and focusing it locally, thereby preventing significant field presence outside the examination volume and reducing patient heat exposure.
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 configuration enables cost-effective, high-intensity magnetic resonance imaging with reduced patient heat exposure and simplified handling, as the part-body coil can be placed closer to the patient, achieving better field homogeneity without the need for large, costly main magnets and gradient coil units.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission coil is designed to excite the part-body coil inductively by way of an emitted first high frequency radiation to cause an enforced electromagnetic oscillation
Implementation Method 2
the part-body coil emits a second high frequency radiation in the event of an enforced electromagnetic oscillation
Data Source
AI summary
A coil arrangement is for transmitting high frequency radiation. In an embodiment, the coil arrangement includes a transmission coil with a planar design and a passive, tubular part-body coil. The part-body coil is designed to radially enclose an examination volume relative to a direction. The examination volume includes a part of a patient's body. Furthermore, the part-body coil and the transmission coil are galvanically decoupled, and at the same time the part-body coil and the transmission coil are inductively coupled. The transmission coil is designed, by way of an emitted first high frequency radiation, to excite the part-body coil inductively, causing an enforced electromagnetic oscillation. The part-body coil emits second high frequency radiation in the event of an enforced electromagnetic oscillation. The coil arrangement of an embodiment can be used in a magnetic resonance unit without an integrated high frequency unit.