RF Coil Former Groove Design for MRI Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MRI systems face challenges in reducing the overall thickness of the RF coil while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality, which affects the imaging quality and the compatibility with the MRI device's bore diameter.
Innovation Solution
The RF coil is designed with a former having distinct areas and grooves to accommodate various components such as windings, capacitors, and cables, optimizing the thickness distribution to reduce the overall coil thickness while ensuring compatibility with the MRI system's dimensions, using materials like fiber-reinforced plastics and conductive elements like copper foil and printed circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional RF coil structures are used, then structural integrity and functionality are maintained, but the overall thickness of the RF coil increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds RF coil components (capacitors, connectors, windings) into grooves formed within the former structure. The capacitors are inset into grooves in the first area, while windings are formed on the second area, creating a nested arrangement where components are housed within the former's internal cavities rather than being mounted on the exterior surface, thereby reducing overall thickness while preserving structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The former is designed with spatially varying thickness: a first area with greater thickness to accommodate capacitors and connectors, and a second area with lesser thickness for windings. This non-uniform thickness distribution optimizes space utilization locally, allowing thick components to be housed where needed while minimizing thickness in other regions, thus reducing the overall RF coil thickness without compromising structural strength
2Length of moving object
If RF coil components are reduced in size, then the overall thickness decreases, but the imaging quality and functionality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting capacitors, connectors, and other components into grooves within the former structure, the patent reduces the external footprint and thickness of the RF coil without reducing the actual size of the functional components. The capacitors maintain their required capacitance values, and the windings maintain their necessary dimensions for proper RF operation, ensuring imaging quality is preserved while achieving compactness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface mounting approach to a three-dimensional embedded arrangement. Components are positioned at different depths within the former structure, utilizing the vertical dimension (depth of grooves) to accommodate component thicknesses. This dimensional transition allows full-size components to be housed within a reduced external thickness envelope
3Adaptability or versatility
If more components are integrated into the RF coil, then functionality is enhanced, but the thickness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The former structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for all RF coil components, acts as an electrical insulator, provides structural rigidity, and defines the geometric shape of the coil. This multi-functionality allows capacitors, connectors, and windings to be integrated without proportionally increasing thickness, as the former's volume is efficiently utilized to house multiple components that would otherwise require separate mounting structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a nested hierarchy where the former contains grooves that house capacitors and connectors, while the second area of the former provides mounting surfaces for windings. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be integrated within the same spatial envelope, enhancing functionality without linearly increasing overall thickness
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprises, a main magnet, a gradient coil and an RF coil. The main magnet generates a static magnetic field, the gradient coil which is formed inside the main magnet and generates a gradient magnetic field and the RF coil. The RF coil is formed inside the gradient coil and comprises a plurality of different components including: a former supporting the plurality of different components including windings and having a first area and a second area and a groove formed in the second area and in which a component of the RF coil is installed and inset, reducing thickness of the RF coil.