MRI Coil Detuning via Wireless Energy Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic resonance imaging systems face issues with direct current cables causing tissue burns and B0 artifacts due to radio frequency surface currents, and existing wireless energy transfer methods do not effectively power detuning circuits without galvanic DC power cables.

Innovation Solution

A wireless magnetic resonance energy harvesting and coil detuning system that detects and repurposes energy from the transmit stage to power detune circuits, eliminating the need for galvanic DC cables by using wireless power detection sensors and energy harvesting circuits to synchronize energy harvesting with the transmit stage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If galvanic DC cables are used to power detune circuits in radio frequency surface coils, then the detune circuits can be powered reliably, but the cables are susceptible to radio frequency surface currents that can burn tissue and cause B0 artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidtissue burns and B0 artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical galvanic DC cable connection with a wireless power transfer system using magnetic resonance coupling. The transmit coil generates an oscillating magnetic field that induces current in the receive coil, which then powers the detune circuit through rectification and voltage regulation, eliminating the need for physical DC cables that carry harmful RF currents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary wireless power transfer system consisting of a transmit coil, receive coil, rectifier circuit, and voltage regulator. This intermediary system transfers power through magnetic field coupling rather than direct electrical connection, allowing power to be delivered to the detune circuit without exposing the patient to harmful RF currents through cables

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If radio frequency surface coils are placed close to the patient to pick up weak radio frequency signals, then signal reception quality improves, but the associated DC cables for detune circuits are closer to the patient increasing the risk of tissue burns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reception qualityVSAvoidtissue burns from DC cables

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical DC cable connection with a wireless power transfer system. The receive coil is placed close to the patient for optimal signal reception, and the detune circuit is powered wirelessly through magnetic resonance coupling from an external transmit coil, eliminating the need for harmful DC cables in the patient vicinity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless energy transfer is used to power detune circuits, then tissue burns and B0 artifacts are prevented, but energy must be harvested and stored from the transmit stage to ensure sufficient power is available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue burns and B0 artifactsVSAvoidenergy harvesting and storage system

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-powered detune circuit system where the receive coil harvests energy from the transmit coil's magnetic field during the transmit phase. The rectifier circuit converts the induced AC voltage to DC, and the voltage regulator ensures stable power delivery to the detune circuit, making the system self-sufficient without external DC cable connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the periodic nature of the magnetic resonance transmit pulses to harvest energy. During each transmit phase, the receive coil captures energy from the oscillating magnetic field, which is then rectified and stored to power the detune circuit during the subsequent receive phase, creating a periodic energy harvesting and power delivery cycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 prevents tissue burns and B0 artifacts by detuning radio frequency coils wirelessly, ensuring patient safety and improving image quality by using repurposed energy from the magnetic resonance imaging system's transmit stage.

Implementation Method 1

A wireless magnetic resonance energy harvesting and coil detuning system that detects and repurposes energy from the transmit stage to power detune circuits

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Magnetic resonance imaging systems are complex systems that use magnets to align and realign hydrogen nuclei (protons) in water molecules in a subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3519841B1Wireless magnetic resonance energy harvesting and coil detuning

Publication Date: 2024.12.18 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

A magnetic resonance system includes a wireless power detection sensor and a wireless energy harvesting circuit. The wireless power detection sensor detects magnetic resonance transmissions of the magnetic resonance system. The wireless energy harvesting circuit harvests energy from the magnetic resonance transmissions based on the wireless power detection sensor detecting the magnetic resonance transmissions.