# US 2024/0201290 A1 · Local coils with integrated excitation field sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201290 A1 - Document ID: US20240201290A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/521,072 - Filed: 2023-11-28 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Applicants: Siemens Healthcare GmbH - Inventors: Stephan Biber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201290A1 ## CPC - G01R 33/34: Constructional details, e.g. resonators {, specially adapted to MR} - G01R 33/341: comprising surface coils - G01R 33/246: {Spatial mapping of the RF magnetic field B1} - G01R 33/3664: {Switching for purposes other than coil coupling or decoupling, e.g. switching between a phased array mode and a quadrature mode, switching between surface coil modes of different geometrical shapes, switching from a whole body reception coil to a local reception coil or switching for automatic coil selection in moving table MR or for changing the field-of-view (G01R33/3671 takes precedence)} - G01R 33/288: {Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room} - G01R 33/422: of the radio frequency field - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A local coil apparatus of a magnetic resonance system including a first sensor facility for detecting magnetic resonance signals. The local coil apparatus includes a second sensor facility for detecting an excitation signal of the magnetic resonance system. The excitation signal is configured for exciting the magnetic resonance signal by way of the magnetic resonance system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A local coil apparatus for a magnetic resonance system comprising: a first sensor facility for detecting magnetic resonance signals; and a second sensor facility for detecting an excitation signal of the magnetic resonance system; wherein the excitation signal is configured for exciting nuclear spins that produce the magnetic resonance signals by way of the magnetic resonance system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The local coil apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility jointly share at least one antenna coil, the first sensor facility includes a first electronic unit for processing the magnetic resonance signals that are detected by the antenna coil and the second sensor facility includes a second electronic unit that is different from the first electronic unit for signal processing the detected excitation signal, and the local coil apparatus includes a switching facility with which the antenna coil may be switched alternately between the first or second sensor facility. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The local coil apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electronic unit provides a lower attenuation or a higher amplification than the second electronic unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The local coil apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor facility includes a first antenna coil and the second sensor facility includes a second antenna coil that is different from the first antenna coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The local coil apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility include a common electronic unit for signal processing and a common signal output. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The local coil apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first antenna coil of the first sensor facility is arranged together with the second antenna coil of the second sensor facility on a common printed circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The local coil apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a signal output path, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility may be switched via a switch on the signal output path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The local coil apparatus of claim 1, wherein all antenna coils of the first sensor facility and all antenna coils of the second sensor facility are switched via a common frequency multiplexer on a common signal output path of the local coil apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The local coil apparatus of claim 1, wherein an evaluation facility is connected in terms of signaling to the local coil apparatus and is configured for a non-exclusively binary, quantitative determination of a signal strength of the excitation signal of the magnetic resonance system that is detected by the local coil apparatus within a predetermined signal strength range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The local coil apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second sensor facility includes one or more antennas, and a respective relative position of each antenna within the local coil apparatus is provided for the evaluation facility so as to optimize homogeneity of the excitation signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The local coil apparatus of claim 9, which in a first state of detection using the first sensor facility and in a second state of detection using the second sensor facility, wherein the evaluation facility is configured so that a resolution bandwidth of the evaluation facility is automatically parameterized in dependence upon the respective state. ### Claim 12 A method for operating a local coil apparatus for a magnetic resonance system that includes a first sensor facility for detecting magnetic resonance signals, the method comprising: detecting an excitation signal of the magnetic resonance system by a second sensor facility of the local coil apparatus; wherein the excitation signal is configured for exciting nuclear spins that produce the magnetic resonance signals by way of the magnetic resonance system. ### Claim 13 A magnetic resonance system comprising: a local coil apparatus comprising: a first sensor facility for detecting magnetic resonance signals; and a second sensor facility for detecting an excitation signal of the magnetic resonance system, wherein the excitation signal is configured to excite nuclear spins that produce the magnetic resonance signals by way of the magnetic resonance system; and a transceiver unit that is connected in terms of signaling via a signal output path to the local coil apparatus, wherein the transceiver unit is configured to selectively evaluate a magnetic resonance signal, an excitation signal, or the magnetic resonance signal and the excitation signal detected by the local coil apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The magnetic resonance system of claim 13, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility jointly share at least one antenna coil, the first sensor facility includes a first electronic unit for processing the magnetic resonance signals that are detected by the antenna coil and the second sensor facility includes a second electronic unit that is different from the first electronic unit for signal processing the detected excitation signal, and the local coil apparatus includes a switching facility with which the antenna coil may be switched alternately between the first or second sensor facility. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The magnetic resonance system of claim 14, wherein the first electronic unit provides a lower attenuation or a higher amplification than the second electronic unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The magnetic resonance system of claim 13, wherein the first sensor facility includes a first antenna coil and the second sensor facility includes a second antenna coil that is different from the first antenna coil. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The magnetic resonance system of claim 16, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility include a common electronic unit for signal processing and a common signal output. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The magnetic resonance system of claim 16, wherein the first antenna coil of the first sensor facility is arranged together with the second antenna coil of the second sensor facility on a common printed circuit board. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The magnetic resonance system of claim 16, further comprising a signal output path, wherein the first sensor facility and the second sensor facility are configured to be switched via a switch on the signal output path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The magnetic resonance system of claim 13, wherein all antenna coils of the first sensor facility and all antenna coils of the second sensor facility are switched via a common frequency multiplexer on a common signal output path of the local coil apparatus.