Rf coil array for an mri system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsCeara Delmore Stack, Fraser John Laing Robb, Victor Taracila, Robert Steven Stormont, Luke Charles Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a radio frequency (RF) coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, including: a flexible shell including an inner layer; and a plurality of flexible RF coils embedded within the inner layer, with each RF coil of the plurality of RF coils including two distributed capacitance wire conductors. In this way, the RF coil array may deform in order to conform to a body of a patient.
Claims20
A radio frequency (RF) coil array assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- a flexible shell including an inner layer;
- and
- a plurality of flexible RF coils embedded within the inner layer, wherein each RF coil of the plurality of flexible RF coils includes two distributed capacitance wire conductors.
A method, comprising:
- positioning inner surfaces of a flexible shell of a radio frequency (RF) coil array assembly in contact with a body of a patient;
- flowing gas through a valve of the flexible shell to conform the inner surfaces of the flexible shell against the body;
- operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to scan the body of the patient in a region enclosed by the RF coil array;
- and
- receiving magnetic resonance (MR) signals at a processing system of the MRI system from at least some of a plurality of flexible RF coils disposed within the flexible shell, each RF coil of the plurality of flexible RF coils including two distributed capacitance wire conductors.
A radio frequency (RF) coil array assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
- an anterior RF coil array including a first plurality of flexible RF coils, a first sealed outer chamber with a first loose fill disposed therein, and an opening shaped to encircle a face of a patient;
- and
- a posterior RF coil array including a second plurality of flexible RF coils and a second sealed outer chamber with a second loose fill disposed therein, the posterior RF coil array removably coupled to the anterior RF coil array;
- wherein each RF coil of the first and second pluralities of flexible RF coils includes two distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.