MRI Receiver Clock Generation for Digital Coil Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face challenges with complex and costly analogue designs, electromagnetic interference, and inefficient workflow due to the need for extensive cabling and galvanic separation of components, which affects image quality and patient comfort.
Innovation Solution
A digital interface for MRI radio frequency receivers is introduced, where analogue to digital conversion occurs within the coil, using a clock generator to produce high-accuracy sampling and system clocks from a digital timing reference, allowing for daisy chaining of receivers and reducing cabling through optical fiber connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a massive parallel analogue solution with many analogue design elements (RF switches, RF amplifiers, RF power supplies, RF cables, RF connectors) is used, then the receive chain can process multiple coil elements, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly due to component spread and unwanted interactions between galvanic parts over distances of 10-20 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the massive parallel analogue solution with a digital interface where analogue to digital conversion is performed within the coil. Multiple coil element signals are converted to digital form and transmitted via optical fibers or galvanic wires, eliminating the need for numerous RF cables, connectors, and analogue components distributed over 10-20 meters. This substitution of mechanical/electrical analogue infrastructure with digital/optical transmission resolves the complexity issue while maintaining multi-element processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple coil element information into a consolidated digital transmission medium. Instead of requiring separate RF cables and connectors for each coil element, the digital interface combines all element data streams into fewer optical fibers or galvanic wires, reducing component count and eliminating unwanted interactions between distributed galvanic parts
2Ease of manufacture
If galvanic wiring is used to connect receive coils, then electrical signals can be transmitted, but image quality deteriorates due to galvanic wiring coupling effects that require careful design and draping considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes galvanic wiring with optical fiber connections for signal transmission. Optical fibers transmit digital signals without electromagnetic coupling effects that plague galvanic wires. This eliminates the need for careful draping considerations and design constraints imposed by galvanic coupling, thereby improving image quality while maintaining ease of signal transmission
3Object-affected harmful factors
If extensive cabling and galvanic separation are used to shield MR receive chains from external radio frequency waves, then electromagnetic interference is reduced, but the workflow efficiency and patient throughput decrease due to cable clutter and longer setup times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces extensive galvanic cabling with optical fiber connections. Optical fibers are inherently immune to electromagnetic interference, eliminating the need for heavy electromagnetic shielding and extensive galvanic separation. This reduces cable clutter, simplifies setup procedures, and improves workflow efficiency without compromising protection against external radio frequency waves
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical fibers as an intermediary medium for signal transmission between the coil and the control system. Optical fibers provide galvanic isolation and electromagnetic shielding inherently through their dielectric nature, eliminating the need for separate shielding measures and extensive cabling while maintaining protection against electromagnetic interference
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual coils are combined using state of the art wire technology, then high element counts can be achieved, but connector and cable handling issues increase and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wire-based coil combining technology with a digital interface using optical fibers. Multiple coil elements are digitized and transmitted through optical fiber connections that are significantly easier to handle than numerous individual wires and connectors. This substitution eliminates connector and cable handling issues while maintaining the ability to support high element counts
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency receiver, the receiver being adapted to receive analogue signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (122; 204; 306), the radio frequency receiver comprising an analogue-digital converter (408) to convert the analogue magnetic resonance signal into a first digital signal, a resampling and demodulation unit (414) to convert the first digital signal into a second digital signal, a communication interface (400: 600; 602) adapted for transmitting the second digital signal via a communication link (202), and a first clock generator (406) for generating a sampling clock, the sampling clock being the direct clock source for the analogue-digital converter (408), the first clock generator (406) being adapted to generate the sampling clock using a digital timing reference, the digital timing reference being received digitally via the communication link (202) by the communication interface (400: 600; 602), wherein the receiver further comprises a second clock generator (410) for generating a system clock, the system clock being the direct clock source for the resampling and demodulation unit (414), the second clock generator (410) being adapted to generate the system clock using the sampling clock.