MRT Local Coil Flexibility via Segmented Electronics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) local coils with increasing channel numbers become inflexible due to rigid electronic components, limiting their ability to adjust to varying patient anatomies, especially in multipurpose and abdomen imaging applications where high flexibility is required for optimal image quality.
Innovation Solution
The local coil design incorporates bendable antenna support parts with electronic components housed laterally or in a separate external structure, allowing for flexibility and reduced rigidity, enabling better adjustment to fluctuating anatomies while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of channels in a local coil is increased to improve image quality and enable higher acceleration factors, then the signal-to-noise ratio and imaging performance are improved, but the local coil becomes more rigid and less flexible due to the increased electronics density
Solution Approach 1:
The local coil is divided into multiple independent modules, each containing a subset of coil elements and associated electronics. This modular segmentation allows the overall coil to maintain high channel count while individual modules remain flexible and can be independently positioned to adapt to patient anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar two-dimensional coil layout to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement where coil elements and electronics are distributed in multiple dimensions. This enables better adaptation to complex patient geometries while maintaining high channel density without increasing rigidity in a single plane.
2Productivity
If more coil elements are integrated into a compact geometry to increase channel density, then parallel imaging acceleration is improved, but the individual coil elements become smaller which may affect their performance
Solution Approach 1:
Coil elements are arranged in nested or overlapping configurations where smaller elements are positioned within or alongside larger elements. This nesting approach allows high channel density in a compact geometry while maintaining adequate element sizes for optimal signal-to-noise ratio performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the local coil are designed with different element sizes and geometries optimized for their specific imaging locations. Elements closer to the center may be smaller for high channel density, while peripheral elements maintain larger sizes for optimal signal reception, with each region's quality tailored to its function.
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 design enhances the flexibility and ergonomics of local coils, allowing for improved image quality and adaptability to different patient geometries without compromising the signal-to-noise ratio, even in high-channel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the excited nuclei induce a voltage into antennas of the local coil
Data Source
AI summary
A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device includes an elastic antenna support part with several antennas and an electronic part with electronic components connected to the antennas via supply lines. At least one part of the electronic part is located outside of the antenna support part.