# US 12,178,668 B2 · Magnetic resonance imaging system and method for determining the position of at least one coil in a magnetic resonance imaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,668 B2 - Document ID: US12178668B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/046,573 - Filed: 2022-10-14 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-19 - Assignees: Siemens Healthineers AG - Applicants: Siemens Healthineers AG - Inventors: Johann Sukkau; Volker Matschl; Steffen Schroeter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178668B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - G01R 33/34: Constructional details, e.g. resonators {, specially adapted to MR} - G01R 33/481: {MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET] or single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]} - G01R 33/543: {Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription (G01R33/546 takes precedence)} - G01R 33/58: Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material} - A61B 2090/3933: {Liquid markers} - A61B 2090/3958: {emitting a signal} - G01R 33/3403: {Means for cooling of the RF coils, e.g. a refrigerator or a cooling vessel specially adapted for housing an RF coil} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract At least one example embodiment provides a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one local radiofrequency (RF) coil; and at least one marker element, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system is configured to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system at a position relative to the at least one local RF coil if the at least one marker element is activated, and the at least one marker element is not detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system if the at least one marker element is deactivated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: at least one local radio frequency (RF) coil; at least one marker element, the magnetic resonance imaging system is being configured to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system at a position relative to the at least one local RF coil based on the at least one marker element being activated, and the at least one marker element is not detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system based on the at least one marker element being deactivated; and a shielding element, at least one of (i) the shielding element being movable into a first shielding position and into a first non-shielding position, or (ii) the at least one marker element being movable into a second shielding position and into a second non-shielding position, wherein the shielding element is configured to enclose the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is shielded from the magnetic resonance imaging system based on at least one of the shielding element being in the first shielding position or the at least one marker element being in the second shielding position, and the shielding element is configured to be apart from the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system based on at least one of the shielding element being in the first non-shielding position or the at least one marker element being in second the non-shielding position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one marker element is a capsule containing a magnetic resonance visible fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, wherein the shielding element is a tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, further comprising: an air pressure chamber; and a fluid conducting element connected to the air pressure chamber, wherein the shielding element and the at least one marker element are inside the air pressure chamber, and the shielding element is movable by air pressure provided via the fluid conducting element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, further comprising: a cable mechanism configured to move the shielding element between the first shielding position and the first non-shielding position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, further comprising: an ultrasound emitter configured to provide ultrasound waves at the at least one marker element to deactivate the at least one marker element with the ultrasound waves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, further comprising: a cable mechanism configured to activate the at least one marker element, and deactivate the at least one marker element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 7, further comprising: a hauling mechanism configured to move the at least one marker element to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element, the hauling mechanism being configured to move the at least one marker element at least one of with respect to the at least one local RF coil, or in and out of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, further comprising: a hauling mechanism configured to move the at least one marker element to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element, the hauling mechanism being configured to move the at least one marker element at least one of with respect to the at least one local RF coil, or in and out of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9, wherein the hauling mechanism comprises: a movable cable extending from the at least one local RF coil to an area outside of the detectable area, the at least one marker element being attached to the movable cable such that the at least one marker element is movable between the at least one local RF coil and the area outside of the detectable area via the movable cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one marker element comprises a magnetic resonance visible fluid; and the magnetic resonance visible fluid has a magnetic resonance relaxation time below 1000 ms. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11, further comprising: a relocation system, the relocation system including: a fluid conducting element containing the magnetic resonance visible fluid, the fluid conducting element including a first part and a second part, the first part being at the at least one local RF coil or within the at least one local RF coil, and the second part being outside of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system, and a fluidic pump configured to move the magnetic resonance visible fluid between the first part and the second part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11, further comprising: a cable mechanism configured to activate the at least one marker element, and deactivate the at least one marker element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11, further comprising: a hauling mechanism configured to move the at least one marker element to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element, the hauling mechanism being configured to move the at least one marker element at least one of with respect to the at least one local RF coil, or in and out of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11, further comprising: a relocation system configured to relocate the at least one marker element with respect to at least one of the at least one local RF coil, or the magnetic resonance imaging system, deactivate the at least one marker element by removing the at least one marker element from at least one of the at least one local RF coil, or a field of view of the magnetic resonance imaging system, and activate the at least one marker element by moving the at least one marker element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 15, wherein the relocation system comprises: a fluid conducting element containing the magnetic resonance visible fluid, the fluid conducting element including a first part and a second part, the first part being at the at least one local RF coil or within the at least one local RF coil, and the second part being outside of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system; and a fluidic pump configured to move the magnetic resonance visible fluid between the first part and the second part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 16, wherein the at least one local RF coil includes at least one ceramic element around at least one electronic component of the at least one local RF coil; the at least one ceramic element includes at least one fluid channel connected to the fluid conducting element; the magnetic resonance visible fluid is a cooling fluid; and the fluidic pump is configured to move the magnetic resonance visible fluid through the at least one fluid channel. ### Claim 18 A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: at least one local radio frequency (RF) coil; at least one marker element, the magnetic resonance imaging system being configured to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system at a position relative to the at least one local RF coil based on the at least one marker element being activated, and the at least one marker element is not detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system based on the at least one marker element being deactivated; and a cable mechanism configured to activate the at least one marker element, and deactivate the at least one marker element. ### Claim 19 A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: at least one local radio frequency (RF) coil; at least one marker element, the magnetic resonance imaging system being configured to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element such that the at least one marker element is detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system at a position relative to the at least one local RF coil based on the at least one marker element being activated, and the at least one marker element is not detectable by the magnetic resonance imaging system based on the at least one marker element being deactivated; and a hauling mechanism configured to move the at least one marker element to activate the at least one marker element and deactivate the at least one marker element, the hauling mechanism being configured to move the at least one marker element at least one of with respect to the at least one local RF coil, or in and out of a detectable area of the magnetic resonance imaging system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19, wherein the hauling mechanism comprises: a movable cable extending from the at least one local RF coil to an area outside of the detectable area, the at least one marker element being attached to the movable cable such that the at least one marker element is movable between the at least one local RF coil and the area outside of the detectable area via the movable cable.