Magnetic Field Camera with Distributed Samples and Merged Receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic resonance tomographs face challenges in accurately measuring magnetic field distributions due to dynamic effects like vascular flows, which affect image quality, and current field cameras require multiple antenna coils and separate receivers, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A field camera with distributed samples, such as styrofoam balls, and reception antennas is used to measure magnetic fields, employing a sensitivity matrix and inverse matrix calculations to distinguish and reconstruct magnetic resonance signals, allowing for simplified and cost-effective measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple antenna coils and separate receivers are used in field cameras, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna coils and their corresponding receivers into integrated receiver units. Each receiver unit is assigned to evaluate signals from multiple antenna coils simultaneously, merging previously separate components into unified functional blocks. This reduces the total number of independent components while maintaining the capability to process signals from distributed field probes for accurate magnetic field measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver units are designed with multi-functionality to evaluate signals from multiple antenna coils within a single unit. Instead of having dedicated receivers for each antenna coil, the universal receiver units can process signals from any combination of antenna coils, reducing overall system complexity while preserving measurement precision through centralized signal evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If the number of field probes is increased, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent groups multiple antenna coils into receiver units, where each receiver unit processes signals from multiple field probes. This merging approach allows the system to handle a large number of field probes without proportionally increasing the number of independent receiver components, thus maintaining high spatial resolution while controlling system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses distributed field probes that are identical in structure and function, arranged in specific spatial patterns. These copied probe elements simplify the overall system design by using standardized components throughout, reducing the need for complex individual probe designs while achieving high measurement precision through their collective arrangement.
3Measurement precision
If distributed samples are used in field camera, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field camera into modular receiver units, each handling a specific group of antenna coils and field probes. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual receiver units that can be assembled and tested independently before integration into the complete system, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the distributed sample configuration for high measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a field camera (60) and a method for measuring a magnetic field distribution using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner (1) and the field camera (60). The field camera (60) has a number of M samples (61) distributed over a volume (70) to be measured, and a number of N receiving antennas (62). In one step of the method, a sensitivity matrix for the receiving antennas (62) is acquired for each sample (61) at each receiving antenna (62) using the MRI scanner (1). In another step, N antenna signals from the M samples (61) in a magnetic field to be measured are acquired using the N receiving antennas (62) with the MRI scanner (1). Finally, from the N antenna signals, M magnetic resonance signals of the individual samples (61) are determined by a controller, depending on the sensitivity matrix.In a further step, the magnetic field strength at the location of the samples (61) can be determined from the magnetic resonance signals.