Tunable RF coil for magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsChristian Findeklee, Christoph Leussler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention concerns to a radio frequency (RF) body coil (2), for use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising: an RF shield (6), an RF coil element (8), distantly arranged from the RF shield (6), and at least one distance setting element (10), arranged and designed in such a way that the relative distance (12) between the RF shield (6) and the RF coil element (8) is adjustable via the distance setting element (10) which may lead to locally deforming the RF coil element (8) and/or the RF shield (6). Thus, a radio frequency coil for use in an Magnetic Resonance Imaging system is provided that can be tuned to desired resonances in a comfortable and economic way.
Claims20
A radio frequency (RF) body coil, comprising:
- an RF shield,
- an RF coil element, distantly arranged from the RF shield, and
- at least one distance setting element, arranged in such a way that a relative distance between the RF shield and the RF coil element is locally adjustable via the distance setting element by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield, wherein the distance setting element is configured to mechanically connect the RF coil element and the RF shield to each other.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- a patient tunnel;
- a radio frequency (RF) body coil, comprising:
- an RF shield,
- an RF coil element, disposed separate and apart from the RF shield,
- at least one distance setting element, disposed such that a relative distance between the RF shield and the RF coil element is locally adjustable via the distance setting element by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield, wherein the distance setting element is configured to mechanically connect the RF coil element and the RF shield to each other, and
- a solid coil former, wherein the RF shield or the RF coil element is arranged on the coil former,
- wherein the solid coil former comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface is averted to the outer surface, and
- wherein the inner surface faces a center of the patient tunnel.
A method for tuning a radio frequency (RF) body coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, wherein the RF body coil includes an RF shield, an RF coil element, distantly arranged from the RF shield, and at least one distance setting element, arranged in such a way that a relative distance between the RF shield and the RF coil element is locally adjustable via the distance setting element by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield, wherein the distance setting element is configured to mechanically connect the RF coil element and the RF shield to each other, the method comprising:
- measuring at least one of a frequency of the RF coil element and a homogeneity of an RF field of the RF body coil;
- and
- adjusting the relative distance between the RF coil element and the RF shield via the at least one distance setting element, which mechanically connects the RF coil element and the RF shield to each other, by locally deforming the RF coil element and/or the RF shield to change at least one of the frequency of the RF coil element and the homogeneity of the RF field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.