# US 10,310,033 B2 · Plug connector for use in a magnetic resonance device

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- Number: US 10,310,033 B2
- Document ID: US10310033B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/706,995
- Filed: 2017-09-18
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23
- Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Thomas Kundner; Wolfgang Kraus
- Inventors: Thomas Kundner; Wolfgang Kraus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310033B2

## CPC

- G01R 33/3415: comprising arrays of sub-coils {, i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels}
- G01R 33/288: {Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room}
- G01R 33/34007: {Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system}
- G01R 33/36: Electrical details, e.g. matching or coupling of the coil to the receiver
- G01R 33/3642: {Mutual coupling or decoupling of multiple coils, e.g. decoupling of a receive coil from a transmission coil, or intentional coupling of RF coils, e.g. for RF magnetic field amplification}
- G01R 33/3664: {Switching for purposes other than coil coupling or decoupling, e.g. switching between a phased array mode and a quadrature mode, switching between surface coil modes of different geometrical shapes, switching from a whole body reception coil to a local reception coil or switching for automatic coil selection in moving table MR or for changing the field-of-view (G01R33/3671 takes precedence)}
- H01R 12/91: allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning (for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence)
- G01R 33/56383: {involving motion of the sample as a whole, e.g. multistation MR or MR with continuous table motion}
- H01R 13/6315: {allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence)}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A plug connector is disclosed for use in a magnetic resonance device. The plug connector includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part, which are configured to be detachably connected to one another. The first connecting part includes a first contact surface and the second connecting part includes a first contact plate, a second contact plate, and a housing. The second contact plate is arranged to be moved relative to the housing. In a connected state, the first contact plate is arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact plate. The electrical plug connector includes a mechanical lifting apparatus, which is configured, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, to move the second contact plate, e.g., relative to the housing, in the direction of the first contact plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A magnetic resonance device or a patient couch comprising:
a plug connector comprising:
a first connecting part having a first contact surface comprising at least one first electrical contact element;
a second connecting part having a first contact plate comprising at least one second electrical contact element, a second contact plate comprising at least one third contact element, and a housing, wherein the second contact plate is configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the second connecting part is configured to be connected detachably to the first connecting part, and wherein, in a connected state, the first contact plate is arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact plate, the at least one first electrical contact element touches the at least one second electrical contact element, and the at least one second electrical contact element touches the at least one third electrical contact element; and
a mechanical lifting apparatus configured to move the second contact plate in a direction of the first contact plate when the first connecting part is connected to the second connecting part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein the second connecting part has an outer surface, which, in the connected state of the contact surface, faces towards the first connecting part,
wherein the outer surface of the first contact plate, the housing, or both the outer surface and the housing have a smooth surface, a coherent surface, or both smooth and coherent surfaces.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein, on connection of the first connecting part to the second connecting part, the first connecting part moves in a first connecting direction and the second contact plate moves in a second connecting direction,
wherein the first connecting direction and the second connecting direction enclose an angle of 90° to 180°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein the mechanical lifting apparatus is configured, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, to transmit a mechanical force from the first connecting part to the second contact plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein the mechanical lifting apparatus comprises a first lifting apparatus part and a second lifting apparatus part,
wherein the first connecting part comprises the first lifting apparatus part and the second connecting part comprises the second lifting apparatus part, and
wherein, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, a first mechanical force is introduced into the second lifting apparatus part by the first lifting apparatus part so that a second mechanical force is introduced into the second contact plate by the second lifting apparatus part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 5, wherein the housing of the second connecting part has at least one recess, and
wherein the first lifting apparatus part comprises at least one projecting element configured to be arranged in the at least one recess of the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 5, wherein the second lifting apparatus part comprises at least one rocker, at least one lifting wedge, or the at least one rocker and the at least one lifting wedge.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 7, wherein the at least one rocker has a first rocker surface and a second rocker surface, and
wherein the second rocker surface is rotated when a mechanical force is introduced into the first rocker surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 7, wherein the at least one lifting wedge has a first wedge surface,
wherein the at least one lifting wedge is configured so that the first lifting apparatus part is moved in a direction when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, which encloses a first angle of inclination greater than 90° and less than 180° with a normal of the first wedge surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 9, wherein the at least one lifting wedge has a second wedge surface of which a normal encloses a second angle of inclination greater than 0° and less than 90° in relation to a direction of displacement.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein the second connecting part comprises a spring unit,
wherein the spring unit exerts a repelling force between the second contact plate and the first contact plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 11, wherein the spring unit comprises at least one compression spring.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least one first electrical contact element, the at least one second electrical contact element, or the at least one third electrical contact element has at least one spring contact.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1, wherein the second connecting part has an outer surface, which, in the connected state, faces towards the first contact surface of the first connecting part,
wherein the patient couch has a patient support surface, which at least partly encloses the outer surface, and
wherein the patient support surface adjoins the outer surface steplessly.

### Claim 15

A local coil comprising:
a plug connector;
a first connecting part having a first contact surface comprising at least one first electrical contact element; and
a second connecting part having a first contact plate comprising at least a second electrical contact element, a second contact plate comprising at least a third electrical contact element, and a housing, wherein the second connecting part is located moveably relative to the housing,
wherein the first connecting part and the second connecting part are configured for being detachably connected to one another,
wherein in a connected state, the first contact plate is located between the first contact surface and the second contact plate, the at least one first electric contact element touches the at least one second electric contact element, and the at least one second electric contact element touches the at least one third electric contact element,
wherein the first connecting part and the second connecting part are configured for entering the plug connector, wherein the plug connector is an electric plug connector, and
wherein the plug connector comprises a mechanical lifting apparatus, which is configured, in the connected state, to move the second contact plate in a direction of the first contact plate.