System, method and apparatus for tuning an rf volume coil
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDaniel Lynch, Peter Thomas, Deependra Gangakhedkar, David Keren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for tuning a radio frequency coil of a magnetic resonance imaging system includes disposing a plurality of probes at selected portions of a fixture, disposing the fixture proximate to the radio frequency coil at a first location, and obtaining a first set of measurements of an output of the radio frequency coil using an automated test equipment.
Claims22
A method for tuning a radio frequency coil of a magnetic resonance imaging system, the radio frequency coil comprising a bore, the method comprising:
- disposing a plurality of probes at selected portions on a fixture, the fixture being separate and independent of the radio frequency coil;
- removably disposing the fixture proximate to the radio frequency coil at a first location within the bore of the radio frequency coil;
- and
- obtaining a first set of measurements of an output of the radio frequency Coil using an automated test equipment;
- wherein the first set of measurements are taken to tune the radio frequency coil.
A system for tuning a radio frequency coil of an imaging system having a bore for inserting an object, the system including:
- an automated test equipment configured to measure an output of the radio frequency coil to allow the tuning of the radio frequency coil;
- and
- a probe assembly in electrical communication with the automated test equipment, the probe assembly including a plurality of probes configured to receive the output of the radio frequency coil and translate the output to the automated test equipment;
- wherein the probe assembly is separate and independent of the radio frequency coil;
- and
- wherein the plurality of probes are configured to be removably disposed within the bore.
A probe assembly adapted to connecting with an automated test equipment for tuning a radio frequency coil of an imaging system having a bore for inserting an object, the probe assembly comprising:
- a probe fixture having a first end, a second end and a middle portion;
- a rotator mechanically connected to the second end and configured to enable rotation of the probe fixture;
- and
- a cart mechanically connected to the rotator, wherein the probe fixture comprises:
- a fixture body adapted to inserting within the bore;
- a plurality of probes fixed with respect to the fixture body, each probe being disposed at an interval from each other probe around a circumference of the first end of the probe fixture, each of the probes being disposed such as to be arranged substantially parallel to an axis of the radio frequency coil;
- and
- a plurality of connecting cables, each connecting cable being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of probes,
A computer program product for tuning a radio frequency coil of an imaging system, the product comprising:
- a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for:
- obtaining a first set of measurements of an output of the radio frequency coil using an automated test equipment;
- and
- obtaining a second set of measurements of the output of the radio frequency coil using the automated test equipment, wherein the first and second sets of measurements are measured using a plurality of probes disposed at an interval around the circumference of a fixture disposed proximate to the radio frequency coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.