Non-invasive prostate coil for MR systems with vertical main field

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10175314-B2
Application number	US-201314405800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2013
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An inductively coupled magnetic resonance local prostate radio frequency coil ( 10 ) includes at least two connected electrically conductive loops ( 50 ) and an interface device ( 80 ). The at least two connected electrically conductive loops ( 50 ) are tuned to receive magnetic resonance radio frequency signal components along an axis of a subject disposed in a main magnetic field (B 0 ) orthogonal to the axis of the subject (i.e. an open MRI system having a vertical magnetic field) and generate one or more currents indicative of the received magnetic resonance signal components. The interface device ( 80 ) connected to the at least two conductive loops transmits measures of the one or more currents to a signal processing system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil that is utilized in imaging the upper thighs and pelvic area of a subject comprising:
at least two electrically conductive loops which are:
1) tuned in order to receive magnetic resonance radio frequency signal components along an axis of a subject disposed in a main magnetic field (Bo) orthogonal to the axis of the subject in the main magnetic field (Bo); and
2) generate one or more currents indicative of the received magnetic resonance signal components;

wherein the at least two electrically conductive loops are also:
a) detachably connected to one another via an integrated flat transformer;
b) disposable or sheathed in a disposable sleeve;
c) arranged in either an underwear shape, or a thong shape or a combination of an underwear shape and a thong shape;
d) wrap around a torso of the subject adjacent the pelvic area of the subject, with a front and a back, connected between the upper thighs of the subject,

an interface device connected to the at least two connected electrically conductive loops; and
wherein the interface device is configured to transmit measures of the one or more currents indicative of the received magnetic resonance signal components into a signal processing system when the non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil is utilized.

2. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 1 , wherein the interface device couples the at least two connected electrically conductive loops in quadrature using at least one of a capacitive network of the connection device such that two orthogonal magnetic resonance signal components that are orthogonal to the main magnetic field are received by the at least two connected electrically conductive loops.

3. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 1 , wherein portions of each of the at least two connected electrically conductive loops connect and form a single conductive loop using a length of each electrically conductive loop.

4. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two connected electrically conductive loops are each sized in order to fit over each of an upper thigh of the subject.

5. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two connected electrically conductive loops are connected along a length which passes between the upper thighs of the subject.

6. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 2 , further including: a connector device configured to detachably connect the two additional electrically conductive loops with the electrically conductive coil length.

7. The non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 6 , wherein the connector device includes a flat transformer.

8. A non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil, comprising:
an electrically conductive loop configured to wrap around a torso of a subject adjacent a pelvic area of the subject;
an electrically conductive coil length connected to a front and a back of the electrically conductive loop and configured to pass between upper thighs of the subject,
whereby the configuration of the electrically conductive coil length and the electrically conductive coil loop create the formation of either an underwear shape, or a thong shape, around the torso of a subject that is adjacent to the pelvic area of the subject;
wherein the conductive loop and the conductive coil length having either an underwear shape, or a thong shape are:
a) detachable from each other;
b) disposable;
c) tuned in order to receive in quadrature magnetic resonance radio frequency signal components when the subject is disposed in a main magnetic field (Bo) orthogonal to an axis of the subject; and
d) generate one or more currents indicative of the received magnetic resonance signal components; and
an interface device that is connected to the connected electrically conductive loop and the electrically conductive coil length having either the underwear shape, or the thong shape; and
wherein the interface device is configured to transmit measures of the one or more currents indicative of the quadrature received magnetic resonance signal components into a signal processing system when the non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil is utilized.

9. The non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 8 , further including:
a disposable sleeve that is disposed in order to cover the two additional electrically conductive loops.

10. The non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive loop and the electrically conductive coil length include at least one of:
thin copper strips; and
thin copper wire, which are compatible with high frequency ultrasound.

11. The non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 8 , further including: two additional electrically conductive loops connected to the electrically conductive coil length, the two additional electrically conductive loops each being configured to encircle an upper thigh of the subject while being angled toward a waist of the subject.

12. A magnetic resonance system, comprising:
a patient support configured to support a subject horizontally;
a main magnet configured to generate a vertical main magnetic field (Bo) orthogonal to an axis of the subject;
a radio frequency coil disposed adjacent the main magnet with the radio frequency coil being configured to induce magnetic resonance in the subject; and
the non-invasive quadratic magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil according to claim 8 .

13. A method of magnetic resonance imaging an upper thigh prostrate region of a subject, comprising:
positioning the subject on a patient support with the subject wearing a non-invasive magnetic resonance local radio frequency prostate coil including:
at least two electrically conductive loops with a front and a back, that are connected and arranged in the form of a thong that passes between the upper thighs of the subject and wraps around a torso of the subject adjacent a pelvic area of the subject,
wherein the at least two electrically conductive loops that are arranged in the form of a thong, are:
a) tuned to receive magnetic resonance radio frequency signals along an axis of the subject, when the subject is disposed in a main magnetic field (Bo) generated by a main field magnet orthogonal to the axis of the subject, and
b) detachably connected to one another via a connection device;

exciting magnetic resonance in the subject and receiving the magnetic resonance radiofrequency signals from the subject with the non-invasive prostate coil;
with a reconstruction processor, reconstructing one or more images from the received magnetic resonance radiofrequency signals; and
at least one of disposing of the electrically conductive loops or disposing of a protective sleeve covering the electrically conductive loops.

14. The method of magnetic resonance imaging an upper thigh prostrate region of a subject according to claim 13 , wherein positioning includes disposing each of the electrically conductive loops over a thigh and buttocks region of the subject that is located adjacent the

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Mazurewitz Peter
• Leussler Christoph

Classifications

• A61B5/055

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• G01R33/34084 Primary

  implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts · CPC title

• G01R33/34053

  Solenoid coils; Toroidal coils · CPC title

• G01R33/3678

  involving quadrature drive or detection, e.g. a circularly polarized RF magnetic field · CPC title

• G01R33/3415

  comprising arrays of sub-coils {, i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels} · CPC title