# US 12,181,542 B2 · MR local coil and method for producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,542 B2 - Document ID: US12181542B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/142,332 - Filed: 2023-05-02 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-20 - Assignees: Siemens Healthineers AG - Applicants: Siemens Healthineers AG - Inventors: Christina Strauchmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181542B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6823: {Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip} - G01R 33/34007: {Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - G01R 33/34084: {implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts} - G01R 33/3858: {Manufacture and installation of gradient coils, means for providing mechanical support to parts of the gradient-coil assembly (manufacture of inductances or coils in general H01F41/00)} - G01R 33/341: comprising surface coils - 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 A magnetic resonance (MR) local coil, a magnetic resonance apparatus with an MR local coil, and a method for producing an MR local coil are provided. The MR local coil includes an outer casing, an antenna structure, and a frame for accommodating the antenna structure. The outer casing is embodied in a flexible manner and surrounds an inner area. The frame is embodied in a rigid manner, at least in regions, and is connected to the outer casing in a fixed manner. The antenna structure is arranged in the inner area of the outer casing and is held in position by the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic resonance (MR) local coil comprising: an outer casing that is configured in a flexible manner and surrounds an inner area; a frame for accommodating an antenna structure, the frame having multiple break points and being configured in a rigid manner, at least in regions between the break points, and being connected to the outer casing in a fixed manner, the break points being points where the frame is broken during manufacturing; and the antenna structure comprising at least one MR antenna that is arranged in the inner area of the outer casing and is held in position by the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the break points are formed by a breaking of intended break points. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the frame is connected to the outer casing by an ultrasonic welding seam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the outer casing comprises an artificial leather, a PU-coated fabric, or the artificial leather and the PU-coated fabric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the outer casing has an opening for introducing the at least one MR antenna into the inner area of the outer casing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The MR local coil of claim 5, wherein the frame borders the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The MR local coil of claim 5, wherein the outer casing has a flat top side, wherein the outer casing has a flat bottom side opposite the flat top side, wherein the flat top side and the flat bottom side are connected by multiple end faces, and wherein the opening is attached to one of the multiple end faces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The MR local coil of claim 7, wherein the multiple end faces have a circumferentially uniform outer seam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The MR local coil of claim 8, wherein the outer seam is an ultrasonic welding seam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the frame has a guide structure that interacts with a matching structure of the antenna structure such that the antenna structure is held in position in the inner area of the outer casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure has a groove, a tongue, or the groove and the tongue via which the antenna structure is held in position within the outer casing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The MR local coil of claim 1, wherein the MR local coil comprises a cover that is detachably fastened to the outer casing in the region of the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The MR local coil of claim 12, wherein the frame is clamped by the cover. ### Claim 14 A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising: at least one MR local coil, an MR local coil of the at least one MR local coil comprising: an outer casing that is configured in a flexible manner and surrounds an inner area; a frame for accommodating an antenna structure, the frame having multiple break points and being configured in a rigid manner, at least in regions, and being connected to the outer casing in a fixed manner, the break points being points where the frame is broken during manufacturing; and the antenna structure comprising at least one MR antenna that is arranged in the inner area of the outer casing and is held in position by the frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The magnetic resonance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame is configured in the rigid manner at least in regions between the break points. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The magnetic resonance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the break points are formed by a breaking of intended break points. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The magnetic resonance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame is connected to the outer casing in a liquid-tight manner. ### Claim 18 A method for producing a magnetic resonance (MR) local coil, the MR local coil comprising an outer casing that is configured in a flexible manner and surrounds an inner area, a frame for accommodating an antenna structure, the frame being configured in a rigid manner, at least in regions, and being connected to the outer casing in a fixed manner, and the antenna structure comprising at least one MR antenna that is arranged in the inner area of the outer casing and is held in position by the frame, wherein the frame has multiple intended break points, the method comprising: breaking the frame at the multiple intended break points; and introducing the antenna structure into the inner area of the outer casing along the multiple break points.