MRI Receiver Channel Selection for Multi-Coil Compatibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receivers are not compatible with multiple types of local coils, requiring re-design and increasing system costs.

Innovation Solution

A receiver for MRI systems that includes a receiving end, a sending end, multiple digital processing channels, and a channel selection unit that selects the appropriate digital processing channel based on type information about the local coil, allowing compatibility with various local coils without re-designing them, and incorporates a gain adjustable amplifier to compensate for signal attenuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the receiver is designed to support only a certain type of local coil, then the receiver structure can be simplified and costs reduced, but the adaptability to different local coil types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiver design costVSAvoidcompatibility with local coil types
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is designed with multiple digital processing channels that can handle different local coil types. The channel selection unit enables the receiver to adapt to various local coil configurations without requiring complete re-design, thus achieving multi-functionality while maintaining cost efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver incorporates a channel selection unit that can dynamically switch between different digital processing channels based on the type of local coil being used. This dynamic adaptability allows the receiver to optimize its processing path for each specific coil type without requiring multiple fixed receiver designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital processing channels are added to support different local coil types, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with local coil typesVSAvoidreceiver structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is segmented into multiple independent digital processing channels, each optimized for specific local coil types. The channel selection unit acts as a router that directs signals to the appropriate segment, allowing the system to handle multiple coil types without requiring all processing paths to be active simultaneously, thus managing complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The channel selection unit serves as an intermediary component that manages the complexity of multiple digital processing channels. It receives signals from the local coil and routes them to the appropriate processing channel based on coil type identification, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing the decision-making logic in a single intermediary component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If signal processing is performed in the analog stage, then the signal processing efficiency is high, but the compatibility with different local coil types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with local coil types
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces analog signal processing with digital signal processing. By converting analog signals to digital signals early in the processing chain, the system gains the flexibility to process signals from different local coil types using digital algorithms, thereby achieving both high processing efficiency and broad compatibility without being constrained by analog circuit limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10126384B2Receiver of magnetic resonance system and magnetic resonance system
Publication Date: 2018.11.13 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
  • US10126384B2 patent drawing
  • US10126384B2 patent drawing
  • US10126384B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A receiver of a magnetic resonance imaging system and a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. The receiver includes a receiving end for receiving an analog magnetic resonance signal from a local coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system, a sending end for sending a digital magnetic resonance signal to an image reconstruction apparatus of the magnetic resonance imaging system, at least two digital processing channels connected to the sending end for digitizing the analog magnetic resonance signal to the digital magnetic resonance signal, and a channel selection unit connected between the digital processing channels and the receiving end for selecting a corresponding digital processing channel from the digital processing channels according to type information about the local coil. The embodiments may be compatible with many types of local coils without re-designing the local coils, which significantly reduces the cost of the system.