Segmented RF Coil Rungs for MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional birdcage RF coils are not ideally suited for MRI guided radiation therapy systems, as they interfere with the radiation therapy beam and cause undesirable attenuation, affecting the quality of both MRI imaging and radiation therapy.
Innovation Solution
The RF coil design includes a first and second conductive loop with a conductive rung in between, where the conductive rung has thinner sections to minimize radiation attenuation, while maintaining acceptable RF emission uniformity and quality factor of the coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional birdcage RF coil is used in MRI guided radiation therapy systems, then the coil provides sufficient RF emission uniformity and quality factor, but the coil causes undesirable attenuation of the radiation therapy beam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different sections of the conductive rung have different thicknesses. Specifically, the first and third conductive rung sections have a first thickness optimized for RF performance, while the second conductive rung section has a second thickness (smaller than the first thickness) that minimizes radiation beam attenuation. This local differentiation allows the coil to maintain RF emission uniformity while reducing harmful radiation attenuation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the conductive rung thickness is reduced to minimize radiation attenuation, then the radiation beam transmission is improved, but the RF emission uniformity and quality factor may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality to the conductive rung structure. The first and third conductive rung sections maintain a larger first thickness to ensure adequate RF emission uniformity and quality factor, while only the second conductive rung section (located in the radiation therapy beam path) has a reduced second thickness to minimize radiation attenuation. This localized thickness variation optimizes both RF performance and radiation transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive rung is segmented into multiple sections (first, second, and third conductive rung sections) with different thickness characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each section's thickness for its specific function: the first and third sections for RF performance and the second section for radiation transmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between RF quality and radiation beam attenuation.
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 allows for proper MRI imaging without significantly attenuating the radiation beam, ensuring the quality of both imaging and radiation therapy is maintained.
Implementation Method 1
a transient RF pulse is introduced that causes the proton dipoles to temporarily flip
Implementation Method 2
the second conductive rung section may have a thickness substantially thinner than at least one of a thickness of the first conductive loop, a thickness of the second conductive loop, and a thickness of the first conductive rung section
Data Source
AI summary
A radio frequency coil is disclosed that is suitable for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The radio frequency coil comprises first and second conductive loops connected electrically to each other by a plurality of conductive rungs. The conductive rungs each include a section that is relatively thin that will result in less attenuation to a radiation beam than other thicker sections of the rungs. Insulating regions are also disposed in areas of the radio frequency coil that are bound by adjacent rungs and the conductive loops. Portions of the insulating regions can be configured to provide a substantially similar amount of attenuation to the radiation beam as the relatively thin sections of the conductive rungs.