Magnetic Resonance Reception Channel Expansion via Modular Digital Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance systems have a limited number of reception channels due to constraints in expandability of analog reception units and processing capacity of digital reception units, which restricts the signal-to-noise ratio and measurement time.
Innovation Solution
Decentralizing and modularizing the digital reception units by relocating them from the control processing device to a separate installation unit, allowing for increased channel processing and signal-to-noise ratio through the use of multiple digital reception units and analog reception units, along with synchronization via a control communication bus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of reception channels is increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The digital reception unit is divided into multiple independent digital reception channels, each capable of processing separate signal streams. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple reception channels simultaneously while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design, where each channel can be independently configured and processed.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple digital reception units are nested within a hierarchical structure where they share common resources such as the frequency generator unit and control processing device. This nesting allows the system to expand reception channels by adding digital reception units that utilize existing infrastructure, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple digital reception units are added to process more channels, then the number of reception channels increases, but the space and connection options in the control processing device are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of components within a single control processing device to a three-dimensional hierarchical architecture. Multiple digital reception units are distributed across different spatial locations and connected through standardized interfaces, allowing expansion in the vertical dimension rather than being constrained to horizontal space within a single device enclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The frequency generator unit and control processing device are designed as universal, multi-functional components that can serve multiple digital reception units simultaneously. This universality allows the system to process more reception channels without requiring proportionally more space, as the same core resources are shared across multiple channels through time-division and resource-allocation mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the digital transmit unit and digital reception unit are integrated into one unit, then the synchronization is simplified, but the number of reception channels is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated unit is segmented into separate digital transmit and digital reception functional blocks that maintain independent processing paths. Each block can be independently configured and expanded, allowing the system to achieve both simplified synchronization through shared frequency generation and increased reception channel capacity through modular addition of digital reception units.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized interface and control protocol act as intermediaries between the frequency generator unit and multiple digital reception units. This intermediary layer maintains synchronization across all channels while allowing independent operation and expansion of reception channels, effectively decoupling the synchronization mechanism from the channel processing architecture.
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 approach enables the expansion of reception channels as needed, improving the signal-to-noise ratio and reducing measurement time by utilizing modular units and synchronized frequency generators, while maintaining coherence conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The digital transmit unit communicates with the analog transmit unit, in which the digital transmit signal is converted by means of a Digital-Analog converter (D/A converter) into an analog transmit signal. It can then be modulated accordingly into an analog signal.
Implementation Method 2
For reception of signals the received signals are initially directed to the analog reception unit where they are correspondingly demodulated if necessary, and converted by an A/D converter into a digital received signal.
Implementation Method 3
Magnetic resonance systems are known that have a first installation unit in which a control processing device is arranged, as well as a radio-frequency coil arrangement for transmitting and receiving magnetic resonance signals
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance system has a first installation unit, in which a control processor device is arranged, as well as a radio-frequency coil arrangement for transmitting and receiving magnetic resonance signals. The radio-frequency coil arrangement is controlled or read out by a transmit device, having a digital transmit unit built into the first installation unit for emitting a digital transmit signal to an analog transmit unit, which outputs an analog transmit signal based on the digital transmit signal, and by a receiving apparatus, having at least one analog reception unit for converting an analog received signal into a digital reception signal and at least one digital reception unit for digital demodulation of the received signal. The digital reception unit is built into a further installation unit external to the first installation unit.