Movable RF Neck Coil for MRI Patient Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Neck imaging in MRI systems is challenging due to variability in neck length and thickness among individuals, as existing coils are not optimized to accommodate a wide range of patient sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A movable RF neck coil arrangement within the MRI magnet bore, allowing for positioning under and movement upward towards the patient's neck, combined with a posterior receive coil array, to ensure accurate imaging of the cervical spine and carotid artery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If patient centric receive coils are used that are positionable on and around the patient, then the coils can accommodate a large percentage of the population, but neck imaging is not optimized and varies significantly from person to person
Solution Approach 1:
The neck coil assembly is made movable along the bore axis, transitioning from a static to a dynamic positioning system. This allows the coil to be moved to different positions within the bore to optimize proximity to the neck region for each patient, thereby improving imaging quality while maintaining adaptability to different patient anatomies.
Solution Approach 2:
The receive coil system is segmented into a dedicated movable neck coil assembly that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the neck coil to be optimized for neck imaging specifically, while other coils handle other body regions, resolving the conflict between general adaptability and specialized imaging quality.
2Measurement precision
If neck coils are positioned in close proximity to the neck region, then imaging quality improves, but the wide variability in neck length and thickness among individuals makes consistent positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The neck coil assembly is made movable along the bore axis, transitioning from a static to a dynamic positioning system. This allows the coil to be moved to different positions within the bore to optimize proximity to the neck region for each patient, thereby improving imaging quality while maintaining adaptability to different patient anatomies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-adjustment of coil positioning to accommodate different patient neck sizes and positions, reducing the need for manual adjustment and expertise. The movable assembly can be positioned to optimize imaging for each patient's unique anatomy.
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 improved neck imaging by allowing the neck coil to be positioned closer to the patient, accommodating varying neck sizes and improving image quality across different patient populations.
Implementation Method 1
RF transmit coils are then pulsed to create RF magnetic field pulses in a bore of an MRI scanner
Implementation Method 2
MRI systems include a magnet, such as a superconducting magnet that generates a temporally constant (i.e., uniform and static) primary or main magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore and at least one RF neck coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF neck coil is movable within the magnet bore under and separate from a table within the magnet bore.