Non-Resonant Grid Coil for MRI Signal Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional phased array designs for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) require customization for each body part, involve a large number of components, and necessitate impedance matching, limiting their versatility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A non-resonant grid coil design that allows MR-induced currents to flow unconstrained over the grid, with inductively-coupled pickup loops detecting signals, reducing the number of components and eliminating the need for tissue matching, and enabling the use of a single grid to adapt to various body shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional phased array designs are used, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but device complexity increases due to large number of components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual coil elements are merged into a single continuous non-resonant grid structure. The grid consists of interconnected wire elements forming a unified conductive network that replaces traditional discrete coil assemblies, reducing component count while maintaining multiple detection channels through distributed pickup coils coupled to different grid regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-resonant grid structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a continuous conductive network for signal detection, provides multiple coupling points for pickup coils to enable multi-channel operation, and can be configured in various geometries (planar, cylindrical, saddle-shaped) to adapt to different body parts without requiring separate coil designs.
2Reliability
If traditional phased array designs are used, then imaging performance is improved, but adaptability decreases due to customization requirements for each body part
Solution Approach 1:
The grid structure is designed to be flexible and adaptable rather than fixed. It can be deformed into different three-dimensional configurations (flat, cylindrical, saddle-shaped surfaces) to conform to various body parts. The non-resonant nature of the grid allows it to maintain electrical continuity and functionality across different geometries, eliminating the need for body-part-specific coil designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical and geometric parameters of the grid can be adjusted to optimize performance for different applications. Pickup coils can be coupled to different regions of the grid with varying coupling strengths, and the grid geometry itself can be modified within the non-resonant regime to adapt to different body sizes and shapes while maintaining a single universal design approach.
3Measurement precision
If traditional phased array designs are used, then signal detection is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to impedance matching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The impedance matching requirement is extracted and eliminated from the design constraints. By using a non-resonant grid structure rather than resonant coils, the system operates in a regime where impedance matching with tissue is not critical. The distributed capacitive and inductive effects of the grid naturally provide broadband operation without requiring precise tuning or matching networks.
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
The non-resonant grid coil design enhances signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reduces component count, providing improved imaging performance and flexibility by allowing the grid to conform to arbitrary three-dimensional surfaces, while maintaining high isolation between channels for accelerated imaging.
Implementation Method 1
Each pickup coil may be inductively coupled to a corresponding transformer element in the non-resonant grid. Each pickup coil may be configured to detect an MR signal induced on a corresponding wire element in the non-resonant grid of wire elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance (MR) signal detector grid assembly adapted for detection of signals in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is disclosed. The MR signal detector grid assembly may include a non-resonant grid of a plurality of wire elements and a plurality of detector elements. At least one end of a selected wire element may be electrically attached to an end of at least one other selected wire element. At least one of the detector elements may be configured to detect an MR signal induced on a wire element in the non-resonant grid. The plurality of wire elements may be substantially in the same plane, and the plane may be warped into an arbitrary three-dimensional surface. The three-dimensional surface may have a shape that is cylindrical, partially cylindrical, and/or saddle-shaped. The plurality of wire elements may form a rectilinear grid, a hexagonal grid, a triangular grid, and/or a pseudo-random grid.