RF Receive Coil Temporal Sensitivity Modulation for MRI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MRT imaging techniques are limited by slow imaging speed, mechanical complexity, and restricted signal-to-noise ratio, particularly in clinical applications, where faster and more efficient imaging methods are needed to capture dynamic processes like the beating heart or blood flow dynamics.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using RF receive coils with dynamically modulated sensitivity profiles, where the self-resonance frequency remains constant or varies within a narrow range around the Larmor frequency, allowing for temporal modulation of the sensitivity profiles during signal acquisition, which enhances spatial information and improves image reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If line-by-line scanning with phase encoding gradients is used, then spatial resolution is achieved, but imaging speed becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by temporally modulating the sensitivity profiles of multiple RF receive coils during signal acquisition. Instead of using static coil positions and fixed sensitivity patterns, the system dynamically changes the spatial sensitivity distribution of each coil over time, allowing multiple k-space lines to be encoded simultaneously and reconstructed to achieve both high spatial resolution and accelerated imaging speed.
2Productivity
If multiple RF receive coils with fixed positions are used, then parallel imaging capability is provided, but additional spatial information for further acceleration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system overcomes the limitation of static coil arrays by dynamically modulating the sensitivity profiles of the RF receive coils during acquisition. This temporal modulation creates time-varying spatial encoding patterns that provide additional independent spatial information, enabling further imaging acceleration beyond what is achievable with fixed coil positions alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the RF receive coils by temporally modulating their sensitivity profiles. Instead of relying solely on the fixed geometric arrangement of coils, the system varies the sensitivity distribution parameters over time, creating additional degrees of freedom for spatial encoding and enabling enhanced parallel imaging performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical movement of RF receive coils is implemented, then dynamic RF sensing capability is improved, but device complexity and mechanical challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical movement system with an electronic modulation system. Instead of physically moving RF receive coils to change their sensitivity profiles, the system uses electronic means to temporally modulate the sensitivity profiles of stationary coils, achieving dynamic RF sensing capability without any mechanical complexity or movement-related challenges.
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 approach accelerates imaging speed, increases signal-to-noise ratio, and reduces mechanical complexity by providing additional spatial information for improved image quality without the need for mechanical movement of RF coils, making it suitable for routine clinical applications.
Implementation Method 1
magnetic resonance signals are created in the object
Implementation Method 2
tuned before the imaging process to the Larmor frequency of the MR scanner
Implementation Method 3
modulating means, in particular by adjusting capacitances of the RF receive coils
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3I
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AI summary
A method of magnetic resonance tomography MRT imaging an object 1, comprises the steps of arranging the object 1 in a static magnetic field, subjecting the object 1 to radiofrequency RF pulses and magnetic field gradients for creating spatial encoding of magnetic resonance signals, acquiring the magnetic resonance signals with at least two RF receive coils, each with a self-resonance frequency and a spatially restricted sensitivity profile, and reconstructing an object image, wherein the spatial encoding of the magnetic resonance signals by the magnetic field gradients and by the spatially restricted sensitivity profiles of the RF receive coils is utilized, wherein the sensitivity profile of at least one of the RF receive coils is subjected to a temporal sensitivity profile modulation during the step of acquiring the magnetic resonance signals, wherein the self-resonance frequency of the at least one modulated RF receive coil is set within a predetermined receive bandwidth of a constant resonance frequency value during the temporal sensitivity profile modulation, and the step of reconstructing the object image further utilizes the temporal sensitivity profile modulation for obtaining additional spatial information to the spatial encoding of the magnetic resonance signals by the magnetic field gradients. Furthermore, an MRI device 100 is described.