Systems for a radio frequency coil for MR imaging
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert Steven Stormont, Scott Allen Lindsay, Dashen Chu, Ricardo M. Matias
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost disposable radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, an RF coil assembly for an MRI imaging system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductor wires, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier; and a disposable material enclosing at least the loop portion, the disposable material comprising one or more of paper, plastic, and/or cloth.
Claims20
A disposable radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductors;
- a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier;
- and
- a disposable material encasing at least the loop portion, the disposable material comprising one or more of paper, plastic, and cloth;
- wherein the coupling electronics portion is removably coupled to the loop portion.
A radio frequency (RF) coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- a first RF coil comprising a first integrated capacitor coil loop and a first coupling electronics unit;
- a second RF coil comprising a second integrated capacitor coil loop and a second coupling electronics unit, each of the first and second coupling electronics units including a pre-amplifier and impedance matching network configured to generate a high blocking impedance;
- a disposable material encasing the first integrated capacitor coil loop and the second integrated capacitor coil loop;
- and
- a common housing configured to house the first coupling electronics unit and the second coupling electronics unit, the common housing including a connector to couple the first coupling electronics unit and the second coupling electronics unit to a RF coil array interfacing cable;
- wherein the common housing, the first coupling electronics unit, and the second coupling electronics unit are removably coupled to the disposable material.
A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- a disposable portion adapted to be positioned on a subject to be imaged, the disposable portion comprising:
- an integrated capacitor coil loop;
- a coupling electronics unit including a pre-amplifier and impedance matching network configured to generate a high blocking impedance;
- and
- a disposable material encasing at least the integrated capacitor coil loop;
- and
- a durable RF coil array interfacing cable configured to be selectively engaged with and disengaged from the disposable portion to allow disposal of the disposable portion without disposing of the durable RF coil array interfacing cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.