MRI Local Coil with Rounded Join Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing local coils for MRI scanners face challenges in providing a comfortable and hygienic interface for patients due to creases and sharp-edged join lines, which can cause skin irritation and hinder the coil's deformation to match the patient's shape, leading to reduced image quality and potential separation of composite materials.
Innovation Solution
A local coil design featuring a flat carrier body made of reversibly deformable material, with a frame element integrally bonded to outer skins to enclose an interspace containing the antenna array and filler, which reduces shear and bending forces and eliminates sharp-edged join lines through a macroscopically smooth surface, enhancing patient comfort and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal joining processes are used to interconnect elements of the local coil, then a permanently resilient connection is achieved, but creases and sharp-edged join lines are produced which make cleaning difficult and cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies curvature by rounding the join lines between carrier body and outer skin, as well as between outer skin and filling material. This eliminates sharp edges that cause skin irritation and creates smooth surfaces that are easier to clean, while maintaining the thermal joining process for reliable connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the join lines by rounding them instead of leaving them sharp. This parameter modification eliminates the harmful sharp edges while preserving the structural integrity and resilient connection achieved through thermal joining processes.
2Measurement precision
If the local coil is deformed to match the patient's shape, then positioning close to the signal volume is achieved and image quality is improved, but bulging and creasing occur particularly at join lines which can lead to separation of composite materials
Solution Approach 1:
By rounding the join lines between carrier body and outer skin, and between outer skin and filling material, the invention eliminates creases that would form during deformation. This curvature design allows the local coil to be molded to the patient's shape without compromising composite material integrity, maintaining both image quality and structural stability.
3Reliability
If outer layers are bonded along peripheral contour to create a closed structure, then shock protection and cleanability are improved, but sharp-edged join lines are produced which cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention rounds the join lines where outer skin meets the carrier body and where outer skin meets the filling material. This eliminates sharp edges that cause patient discomfort while maintaining the bonded closed structure that provides shock protection and cleanability.
Data Source
AI summary
A local coil of an embodiment includes a flat carrier body, at least one ventilation opening, and an antenna array for receiving RF signals in the frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance device. The flat carrier body is made of a reversibly deformable material and is moldable to the patient's shape. An embodiment of the invention further relates to a magnetic resonance system including a magnetic resonance device, a local coil and an electrical connecting cable. A method additionally relates to a method of manufacturing the local coil. A tool is further for use in a manufacturing process of a local coil.