Semi-Rigid Flexible RF Coil for Intra-Operative MRI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF coils for magnetic resonance imaging, whether rigid or flexible, face challenges in accommodating varying patient anatomy and maintaining optimal positioning within the magnetic field, especially in intra-operative settings where sterilization and mechanical adjustment are critical, leading to compromised image quality due to suboptimal coil placement and orientation.
Innovation Solution
A semi-rigid flexible RF coil assembly with embedded stiffening elements and a conformable support mechanism that allows the upper coil to be flexed into different shapes and positions, and an adjustable mount for the lower coil providing six degrees of freedom, enabling optimal alignment without external fixation devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid coils are used, then sterilization is possible and structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to patient anatomy and positioning flexibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is divided into multiple segments or sections that can move relative to each other, allowing the coil to adapt to different patient anatomies while maintaining structural integrity for sterilization. The segmented design enables flexibility without compromising the rigid construction needed for sterilization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to change shape or position during use, transitioning from a rigid sterilizable state to a flexible patient-adapted state. This dynamic capability enables the coil to achieve both sterilization reliability and anatomical adaptability at different stages of use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible coils are used, then adaptability to patient anatomy is improved, but structural stability and ease of sterilization are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coil employs flexible shell structures or thin film elements that can conform to patient anatomy while being designed to withstand sterilization processes. These flexible components are engineered to maintain their integrity and functionality after exposure to sterilization conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil utilizes composite materials that combine the properties of flexibility and sterilization resistance. The composite structure allows the coil to be both adaptable to patient anatomy and capable of withstanding sterilization processes, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and sterilization reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mounting is used, then structural stability is maintained, but mechanical adjustment and repositioning flexibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates dynamic elements that allow for easy adjustment and repositioning during use, while maintaining structural stability when in the final position. The mounting can transition between a flexible adjustment state and a stable fixed state.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with simpler systems such as magnetic holding, friction-based positioning, or memory shape materials that provide both ease of adjustment and structural stability without requiring complex mechanical interfaces.
4Reliability
If external fixation devices are used, then coil positioning is secured, but device complexity and potential contamination risk are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts or eliminates the need for external fixation devices by integrating positioning capabilities directly into the coil structure itself. The coil is designed to self-position or self-secure without requiring separate external fixation components, reducing device complexity and potential contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil incorporates self-positioning or self-securing mechanisms that allow it to maintain its own positioning without external fixation devices. The coil structure itself provides the necessary positioning security through inherent features such as shape memory, magnetic attraction, or friction-based holding.
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 solution allows for improved image quality by enabling precise positioning of the RF coils relative to the patient anatomy, reducing the need for external devices and enhancing user safety, while maintaining sterility and facilitating adjustments without mechanical interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
having a resistance to bending which is arranged such that said at least one stiffening element acts to hold the flexible material in the different shapes
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for intra-operative MRI includes a patient table with a movable magnet and an RF coil having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is formed of a foam material flexible to different shapes with a pair of stiffeners formed of connected pivotal elements extending from a central back-bone embedded in the top sheet of the foam to hold the flexible material in the different shapes and is carried at one end of a flexible foam arm attached to a side rail of the table and stiffened by a longitudinal stiffener. A head clamp is attached to the table with a C-shaped holder for the skull clamp pins. The lower coil is movable by flexing about longitudinal lines to different curvatures and is held channel shaped by the C-shaped holder. It is attached at one longitudinal end to an adjustable mount connected to the head clamp.