Multiple channel, cardiac array for sensitivity encoding in magnetic resonance imaging

A multiple channel cardiac array coil for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• an anterior section;
• a posterior section;
• and
• said anterior and posterior sections symmetrically arranged and displaced from one another about a first direction, both of said anterior and posterior sections further comprising a left portion and a right portion symmetrically arranged and displaced from one another about a second direction, with each of said left and right portions further comprising a superior coil element and an inferior coil element displaced from one another about a third direction;
• wherein each of said superior and inferior coil elements are generally rectangular in shape and are formed from a generally flat, conductive material.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• a computer;
• a magnet assembly for generating a polarizing magnetic field;
• a gradient coil assembly for applying gradient waveforms to said polarizing magnetic field along selected gradient axes;
• and
• a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system for applying RF energy to excite nuclear spins of an object to be imaged, and for thereafter detecting signals generated by excited nuclei of said object to be imaged, said RF transceiver system further comprising:
• a multiple channel cardiac array coil having an anterior section and a posterior section;
• said anterior and posterior sections displaced from one another about a first direction, and both of said anterior and posterior sections further comprising a left portion and a right portion displaced from one another about a second direction, with each of said left and right portions further comprising a superior coil element and an inferior coil element displaced from one another about a third direction;
• wherein signals detected by said multiple channel array coil are processed by said computer to produce MR images of said object to be imaged.

A method for configuring a multiple channel array coil suitable for use in sensitivity encoding for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:

• arranging a first set of individual coil elements into an anterior section;
• and
• arranging a second set of individual coil elements into a posterior section;
• wherein said anterior and posterior sections are displaced from one another about a first direction, and wherein both of said anterior and posterior sections are further arranged into a left portion and a right portion that are displaced from one another about a second direction, with each of said left and right portions further being arranged from a superior coil element and an inferior coil element displaced from one another about a third direction.

A method for implementing sensitivity encoding for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:

• generating a polarizing magnetic field;
• applying gradient waveforms to said polarizing magnetic field along selected gradient axes;
• and
• applying RF energy generated by an RF transceiver system to excite nuclear spins of an object to be imaged, and thereafter detecting signals generated by excited nuclei of said object to be imaged, wherein said RF transceiver system further includes:
• an anterior section;
• and
• a posterior section;
• said anterior and posterior sections displaced from one another about a first direction, and both of said anterior and posterior sections further comprising a left portion and a right portion displaced from one another about a second direction, with each of said left and right portions further comprising a superior coil element and an inferior coil element displaced from one another about a third direction.