Movable RF Receive Coil for MRI Whole-Body Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MRI systems require stepwise scanning and complex coil arrangements due to patient-centric receive coils, which add time and complexity, and not all coils are within the field-of-view, limiting efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A movable RF receive coil arrangement within the MRI magnet bore, allowing anterior and posterior coils to move along and radially within the examination axis, ensuring all coils remain within the bore for efficient imaging of the entire patient body, with unused coils moved out of the field-of-view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If patient-centric receive coils are used, then imaging coverage for specific body parts is improved, but scanning time and system complexity increase due to stepwise scanning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The receive coils are made movable along the examination axis within the magnet bore, transitioning from static patient-centric coils to dynamic system-centric coils. This allows the coils to be repositioned between different body regions without changing the patient's position, enabling whole-body imaging through a single static coil configuration rather than multiple stepwise scans.
Solution Approach 2:
A single receive coil is designed to serve multiple body regions by moving it to different positions along the examination axis. The coil can be repositioned to image different body parts sequentially, making one coil perform the function of multiple specialized coils, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining imaging versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If receive coils are positioned outside the field-of-view to accommodate different patient sizes, then adaptability to various patients is improved, but data acquisition efficiency decreases since only coils within FOV generate MRI data
Solution Approach 1:
The receive coil is dynamically repositionable along the examination axis, allowing it to be moved into the optimal position for data acquisition. Between scans, the coil can be repositioned to accommodate different patient sizes and locations, ensuring maximum data collection efficiency for each imaging session while maintaining adaptability across different patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil position can be pre-adjusted based on patient characteristics and imaging requirements before data acquisition begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the coil is already in the optimal location for maximum data collection efficiency, eliminating the need for post-acquisition repositioning or stepwise scanning.
3Reliability
If multiple receive coils are used to cover entire patient body, then imaging completeness is improved, but time consumption increases due to stepwise scanning between coils
Solution Approach 1:
A single receive coil is designed to serve multiple body regions by moving it to different positions along the examination axis. The coil can be repositioned to image different body parts sequentially, making one coil perform the function of multiple specialized coils, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining imaging versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil remains stationary within the magnet bore during data acquisition, allowing continuous imaging without interruption for repositioning. The coil can be quickly repositioned between different body regions without removing it from the magnet bore, ensuring continuous and efficient data collection across the entire patient body in a single imaging session.
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 efficient, whole-body imaging without the need for stepwise scanning, reduces gamma attenuation in PET imaging, and allows for flexible coil positioning, improving imaging speed and complexity while maintaining high data quality.
Implementation Method 1
RF transmit coils are then pulsed to create RF magnetic field pulses in a bore of an MRI scanner in order to acquire MR images
Implementation Method 2
MRI data acquisition is accomplished by exciting magnetic moments within the primary magnetic field using radio-frequency (RF) coils
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.