MRI RF Coil IF Conversion to Cut Cable and LNA Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RF systems in MRI face challenges with RF cabling, power consumption, and space requirements due to dense receiver arrays, particularly with on-coil low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), which complicate the design and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that includes a radio-frequency (RF) coil array with a mixer and electronic amplifier in the coil housing to convert and amplify magnetic resonance (MR) RF signals to intermediate-frequency (IF) signals, eliminating the need for high-Q inductors and reducing the necessity for expensive high-frequency cables by performing frequency conversion and amplification on-coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If on-coil low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are used in dense receiver arrays, then signal amplification is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the LNA function from the coil assembly by using a remote amplifier located outside the magnet room. The RF signal is transmitted through cables to the remote amplifier, which performs the amplification function without being physically integrated into the coil housing. This separation reduces device complexity and space requirements while maintaining signal amplification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RF cables as an intermediary medium to transmit the RF signal from the coil array to the remote amplifier. This intermediary allows the decoupling of the amplification function from the coil assembly, enabling the amplifier to be located in a magnetically distinct environment while still serving the coil array effectively.
2Reliability
If on-coil low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are used in dense receiver arrays, then signal amplification is improved, but the space required in the coil housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier is extracted from the coil housing and placed in a remote location outside the magnet room. This extraction eliminates the space requirement for housing the amplifier within the coil assembly, allowing for more compact coil designs and easier integration of multiple coil elements in dense receiver arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the amplifier from the spatial dimension of the coil housing to a different spatial location (outside the magnet room). This dimensional relocation allows the coil housing to be optimized for its primary function of signal reception without being constrained by the space requirements of the amplifier.
3Reliability
If traditional RF systems are used, then signal transmission is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the amplification function to a remote amplifier, the system can optimize the power consumption characteristics of the amplifier in a controlled environment outside the magnet room. The remote amplifier can be designed with lower power consumption while maintaining signal transmission reliability, as it is not constrained by the space and thermal management limitations of on-coil placement.
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 reduces the complexity and cost of RF systems by allowing for more coil elements in a smaller space, lowering power consumption, and maintaining signal quality, thus addressing the limitations of traditional RF systems.
Implementation Method 1
a mixer disposed in the coil housing and electronically connected to the RF coil array, where the mixer converts the MR RF signal from the RF coil array to an intermediate-frequency (IF) signal
Implementation Method 2
An electronic amplifier is disposed in the coil housing. The electronic amplifier is electronically connected to the mixer and is configured to amplify the IF signal from the mixer to an amplified IF signal
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, a system, and a chip are provided for improving RF system performance in MRI systems. The apparatus includes a radio-frequency (RF) coil array disposed at least partially in a coil housing, where the RF coil array may include at least one coil configured to receive magnetic resonance (MR) RF signals. The apparatus also includes a mixer disposed in the coil housing and electronically connected to the RF coil array, where the mixer converts MR RF signals from the RF coil array to intermediate-frequency (IF) signals. An electronic amplifier is disposed in the coil housing. The electronic amplifier is electronically connected to the mixer and is configured to amplify IF signals from the mixer to amplified IF signals.