MR Local Coil Spiral Cable Connection for Flexible Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MR local coils face challenges in handling and cable management due to rigid connections, limiting flexibility and increasing patient safety risks with excessive cable length and looping.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional, spiral-shaped transmission element is integrated into the MR local coil, allowing the connection cable to rotate relative to the antenna unit, reducing cable length and weight, and enabling flexible placement on the patient without damaging the coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid connection cable is used to connect the MR local coil to the magnetic resonance apparatus, then the cable provides stable electrical connection, but the cable cannot be flexibly positioned and creates handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cable is transformed from a rigid structure to a dynamically flexible structure that can rotate and bend. The cable is designed to be rotatable at the connecting site to the antenna element, allowing it to adapt to different positions and orientations of the local coil on the patient's body, thereby resolving the contradiction between stable connection and handling flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible cable design that can be bent and rotated, replacing the conventional rigid cable. This flexible cable allows the local coil to be positioned freely on different body parts while maintaining electrical connection, eliminating the need for complex cable guiding arrangements and improving ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the local coil is flexibly positioned on the patient, then the coil can cover different body regions, but the cable guiding arrangement becomes complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cable is designed with rotational freedom at the connecting site to the antenna element, enabling it to dynamically adapt to different coil positions and orientations on the patient's body. This dynamic design allows versatile positioning while keeping cable management simple, as the cable can rotate freely without requiring complex guiding mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a long connection cable is used to allow flexible positioning, then the coil can be placed on different body parts, but excessive cable length creates looping risks and patient safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable connection cable design allows the cable to be optimized in length while maintaining placement flexibility. The cable can rotate at the connecting site, enabling the coil to be positioned on different body parts without requiring excessive cable length, thereby reducing looping risks and improving patient safety.
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 design enhances handling flexibility, reduces cable looping risks, and optimizes cable placement on the patient, improving safety and ease of use while maintaining signal transmission efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a two-dimensional, (e.g., ribbon-shaped), transmission element for transmitting energy, (e.g., electrical energy), and/or signals, (e.g., electrical and/or optical signals), between the connection cable and the antenna unit
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance (MR) local coil and a magnetic resonance apparatus are disclosed. The MR local coil includes an antenna unit having at least one antenna for receiving and/or transmitting high frequency (HF) signals; a connection cable for connecting the MR local coil to a magnetic resonance apparatus; and a two-dimensional, (e.g., ribbon-shaped), transmission element for transmitting energy, (e.g., electrical energy), and/or signals, (e.g., electrical and/or optical signals), between the connection cable and the antenna unit. In this case, the transmission element is at least in part arranged about an axis of rotation in a spiral manner.