MRI Coil Optical Link Selection for Cable-Free Gantry Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless optical communication systems for MRI receive coil units are limited in their flexibility and efficiency, as they require one-to-one correspondence with specific types of RF coil components, leading to difficulties in adapting to different types and numbers of RF coil elements, and are hindered by physical communication cables that obstruct workflow and increase device size and cost.
Innovation Solution
A wireless optical communication system with a first optical communication device connected to the receive coil unit and multiple second optical communication devices positioned within the MRI gantry, controlled by a processor that performs link-up checks and selects the optimal device for communication based on type, model number, and signal reception intensity, allowing for adaptable communication regardless of the receive coil type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmitter/receiver modules are attached to each RF coil element with one-to-one correspondence to scanner optical devices, then optical communication can be performed, but it becomes difficult to adapt to different types and numbers of RF coil components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical communication system where the scanner has a fixed number of optical receivers/transmitters that can communicate with any type of RF coil component through wireless optical communication. The system uses signal processing and identification techniques to adapt to different coil types without requiring physical reconfiguration or one-to-one matching, enabling one scanner configuration to serve multiple coil types including head coils, spine coils, abdominal coils, and joint coils with varying numbers of elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (physical cables and connectors) with wireless optical communication. Instead of requiring physical attachment and cable connections between the scanner and RF coil components, the system uses optical signals transmitted through space, eliminating the need for mechanical interfaces and enabling flexible adaptation to different coil configurations without physical reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If physical communication cables are used to connect receive coil unit to scanner, then signal transmission can be achieved, but the cables hinder operator workflow and increase device size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based communication system with wireless optical communication. Optical signals are transmitted from the RF coil component to the scanner through free space using optical transmitters and receivers, eliminating the need for physical cables, connectors, and associated mounting hardware. This substitution maintains signal transmission reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation by removing physical obstacles that hindered operator workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the communication cables from the MRI system configuration. By implementing wireless optical communication, the system eliminates the cables that physically connected the receive coil unit to the scanner, thereby removing the source of workflow obstruction and reducing the overall device footprint and cost associated with cable management infrastructure.
3Reliability
If the number of channels of receive coil is increased to improve signal reception, then the number of coaxial cables increases, leading to increase in device size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-based signal transmission system with wireless optical communication. Instead of requiring separate coaxial cables for each channel of the receive coil, the system uses optical transmitters and receivers that can handle multiple channels wirelessly. This substitution allows the number of signal channels to be increased without a corresponding increase in cable quantity, as the optical system can multiplex and transmit multiple signals through the wireless medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal wireless optical communication interface that can accommodate any number of coil channels. The scanner's optical receivers are configured to receive signals from multiple RF coil elements simultaneously through wireless optical transmission, eliminating the need for separate physical cable connections for each channel. This enables the system to handle high-channel-count coil arrays without increasing cable quantity, device size, or cost.
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
Enables efficient and flexible optical communication with the MRI receive coil unit, optimizing signal reception and reducing physical cable dependencies, thereby improving workflow and reducing device size and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical communication device 227 that is connected to a receive coil unit 200 attached to a subject102; two or more second optical communication devices 10 that are provided at a front-side position and a back-side position in a bore120 of a gantry110 of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus100 and that are capable of performing wireless optical communication with the first optical communication device 227
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system includes: a first optical communication device of an optical wireless module that is connected to a receive coil unit attached to a subject; and two or more second optical communication devices that are provided at a front-side position and a back-side position in a bore of a gantry of an MRI apparatus and capable of performing wireless optical communication with the first optical communication device. A processor is configured to: acquire link-up check information indicating which of the second optical communication devices is to be used through the optical communication between the first optical communication device and the second optical communication devices before main scanning by the MRI apparatus is started; and select a second optical communication device to be used for the main scanning from the second optical communication devices based on the link-up check information and use the selected second optical communication device.