Array coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

• a static magnetic field forming unit that forms a static magnetic field;
• a gradient magnetic field forming unit that forms a gradient magnetic field;
• a transmitting RF coil that irradiates an examination object placed in the static magnetic field with an RF magnetic field;
• a receiving RF coil that detects a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the examination object;
• and
• a signal processing unit that processes the nuclear magnetic resonance signal detected by the receiving RF coil,
• wherein the receiving RF coil is an array coil comprising:
• a coil unit in which a plurality of sub-coils which includes a loop coil portion in which a conductor having flexibility with a predetermined length is curved and which is adjusted to receive a magnetic resonance signal from an examinee are arranged at predetermined intervals;
• and
• a coil casing that is formed of a sheet-shaped material which expands and contracts in at least one direction and accommodates the coil unit therein,
• wherein at least one position of each of the plurality of sub-coils is fixed to the coil casing and an inter-center distance between the sub-coils varies with expansion and contraction of the coil casing,
• wherein the coil casing includes:
• a first casing surface and a second casing surface that are arranged substantially parallel to each other;
• and
• a collision preventing surface that is arranged substantially parallel to the first casing surface and the second casing surface between the first casing surface and the second casing surface, and
• wherein the sub-coils of the coil unit are alternately arranged in a first space that is formed between the first casing surface and the collision preventing surface and a second space that is formed between the second casing surface and the collision preventing surface in an expanding and contracting direction of the coil casing.

An array coil comprising:

• a coil unit in which a plurality of sub-coils which includes a loop coil portion in which a conductor having flexibility with a predetermined length is curved and which is adjusted to receive a magnetic resonance signal from an examinee are arranged at predetermined intervals;
• and
• a coil casing that is formed of a sheet-shaped material which expands and contracts in at least one direction and accommodates the coil unit therein,
• wherein at least one position of each of the plurality of sub-coils is fixed to the coil casing and an inter-center distance between the sub-coils varies with expansion and contraction of the coil casing,
• wherein the coil casing has a configuration in which at least two sub-casings expanding and contracting in the at least one direction are connected such that the expanding direction and the contracting direction thereof are different from each other, and
• wherein the coil casing expands and contracts in at least two directions as a whole.