Method and systems for a radio frequency coil assembly

A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• a flexible spine;
• a first RF coil array section coupled to the flexible spine only along a top edge of the first RF coil array section and including a first RF coil array comprising a plurality of flexible RF coils;
• a second RF coil array section coupled to the flexible spine only along a top edge of the second RF coil array section and including a second RF coil array comprising a plurality of flexible RF coils, each of the first RF coil array section and the second RF coil array section being formed of a flexible material and having at least 90 degrees of rotation along a respective interface with the flexible spine, and
• each RF coil including a loop portion comprising a coupling electronics portion and at least two parallel, distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, wherein each of the distributed capacitance wire conductors includes a first terminating end and a second terminating end;
• wherein the coupling electronics portion includes a pre-amplifier, a decoupling circuit, and an impedance inverter circuit;
• wherein the decoupling circuit includes a decoupling diode which when turned on causes the at least two parallel wire conductors to short, wherein the decoupling diode is directly connected between at least two first terminating ends of the at least two distributed capacitance wire conductors;
• wherein the impedance inverter circuit comprises an impedance matching network and an input balun having two input terminals and two output terminals, wherein the pre-amplifier comprises a low input impedance pre-amplifier optimized for high source impedance, and wherein the impedance matching network provides the high source impedance;
• wherein the input balun is connected between the decoupling diode and the impedance matching network and wherein the second terminating end of one of the at least two distributed capacitance wire conductors is directly connected to one input end of the input balun;
• and
• wherein the flexible spine section is devoid of RF coils.

A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• a flexible spine;
• four RF coil array sections being formed of a flexible material only coupled to each other via the flexible spine and not directly coupled to each other at any other location and movable relative to each other, including a first RF coil array section configured to cover a neck of a subject to be imaged, a second RF coil array section configured to cover a shoulder of the subject, a third RF coil array section configured to cover an upper section of an arm of the subject, and a fourth RF coil array section configured to cover a lower section of the arm of the subject,
• each RF coil array section comprising a respective RF coil array including a plurality of flexible RF coils, each RF coil including a loop portion comprising a coupling electronics portion and at least two parallel, distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, wherein each of the distributed capacitance wire conductors includes a first terminating end and a second terminating end;
• a coil-interfacing cable extending between each coupling electronics portion and an RF coil interfacing connector, wherein the coil-interfacing cable is coupled to and extends along the flexible spine;
• wherein the coupling electronics portion includes a pre-amplifier, a decoupling circuit, and an impedance inverter circuit;
• and
• wherein the decoupling circuit includes a decoupling diode which when turned on causes the at least two parallel wire conductors to short, wherein the decoupling diode is directly connected between at least two first terminating ends of the at least two distributed capacitance wire conductors;
• wherein the impedance inverter circuit comprising an impedance matching network and an input balun having two input terminals and two output terminals, wherein the pre-amplifier comprises a low input impedance pre-amplifier optimized for high source impedance, and wherein the impedance matching network provides the high source impedance;
• wherein the input balun is connected between the decoupling circuit diode and the impedance matching network and wherein the second terminating end of one of the at least two distributed capacitance wire conductors is directly connected to one input end of the input balun;
• and
• wherein the flexible spine section is devoid of RF coils.