Magnetic resonance scanner with improved packaging for circuitry within the magnetic field

A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:

• a means for creating a magnetic field through an examination region;
• a means for exciting nuclei of a subject within the examination region to emit radio frequency magnetic resonance signals;
• a radio frequency receiving coil means disposed in the examination region for receiving the magnetic resonance signals, the coil means including at leas one coil segment and a magnetic resonance signal processing circuit constructed using chip and wire hybrid technology, the signal processing circuit including:
• a substrate having lead lines defined thereon,
• a plurality of ferrous-free dice bonded to the substrate, the dice including unpackaged microprocessor, diode, and transistor dice;
• metal whiskers for wire bonding the dice to the substrate, the whiskers being bonded to the substrate lead lines and to electrically conductive portions of the microprocessor, diode, and transistor dice;
• a radio receiver for receiving magnetic resonance signals form the resonance signal processing circuit, the receiver means being disposed outside of the examination region;
• a data reconstruction means operatively connected with the receiver means for processing the received data;
• a memory means for storing the processed data for selected display on a video monitor.

A receiving coil which is configured to be received within an examination region of a magnetic resonance apparatus for receiving radio frequency resonance signals emanating from an adjacent subject in the examination region, the receiving coil comprising:

• an insulating sheet;
• at least one coil segment supported by the insulating sheet;
• a magnetic resonance signal processing circuit mounted on the insulating sheet and connected with the coil segment for processing signals received by the coil segment, the signal processing circuit including:
• a substrate,
• lead lines defined on the substrate,
• a plurality of ferrous-free unpackaged dice including unpackaged diode, transistor, and microprocessor dice, mounted to the substrate and electrically connected to the lead lines.

A receiving coil which is configured to be received within an examination region of a magnetic resonance apparatus for receiving radio frequency resonance signals emanating from an adjacent subject in the examination region, the receiving coil comprising:

• a polymeric material;
• at least one coil segment supported by the polymeric material;
• a magnetic resonance signal processing circuit mounted on the polymeric material and connected with the coil segment for processing signals received by the coil segment, the signal processing circuit including:
• a substrate,
• lead lines defined on the substrate,
• a plurality of ferrous-free unpackaged dice mounted to the substrate and electrically connected to the lead liens, and
• a shielding conductive layer on at least one of the substrate and a protective covering.