NMR radio-frequency coil
AssigneeToshiba America MRI, Inc.
InventorKevin A. Derby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the present invention, an NMR radio-frequency coil suitable for head imaging is disclosed. The coil has a first current path for the generation of the magnetic field. The first current path lies in a first plane and has an arcuate region which is adapted to arch over the head of the patient. A second current path supplies current to the first current path. The second current path lies in a second plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The coil is suitable for use in a coupled resonator system.
Claims21
An NMR radio-frequency coil suitable for use in a coupled resonator system to generate a magnetic imaging field in a volume of space, comprising:
- a first current path for the generation of the magnetic imaging field in the volume of space, said first current path lying in a first plane said first current path including a first end and a second end and an arcuate region therebetween;
- and
- a single closed loop second current path for supplying current to said first current path, said second current path lying in a second plane, substantially perpendicular to said first plane said second current path conductively connected to said first end and to said second end at the intersection of said first plane and said second plane.
An NMR radio-frequency coil suitable for generating a magnetic imaging field in a volume of space for imaging the head of a patient in the volume of space, comprising:
- a single closed conductive loop element lying in a plane;
- a plurality of conductive segments, each having two ends and an arcuate region therebetween for the generation of the magnetic imaging field in the volume;
- one of said ends connected to one location of said loop element;
- another of said ends connected to another location of said ends connected to another location of said loop element, spaced apart from said one location, the arcuate regions of said conductive segments inductively coupled to each other;
- and
- a reactive element electrically connected in series in each of said conductive segments.
An NMR radio-frequency coil comprising:
- a single closed conductive loop element lying in a plane;
- a plurality of conductive segments, each having two ends, the first end of said conductive segments connected to said loop element, spaced apart from one another;
- a plurality of arcuate connecting conductive segments;
- each electrically connecting the second end of two of said conductive segments to form a plurality of current flowing loops for the generation of a magnetic imaging field in a volume of space;
- and
- a plurality of reactive elements, each reactive element electrically connected in series with one current flowing loop.
An NMR radio-frequency coil comprising:
- a plurality of arcuate magnetic field generating paths for generating a magnetic imaging field in a volume of space, each arcuate field generating path lying in a single plane;
- means for changing the current flow in each of said magnetic field generating paths;
- and
- single common current supply means for supplying current to said plurality of arcuate magnetic field generating paths.
A method of generating a magnetic imaging field in a volume of space from a first and a second arcuate field generating path each lying in a plane substantially parallel to one another comprising the steps of:
- supplying current to said first arcuate field generating path along a single supply path;
- and
- supplying current to said second arcuate field generating path along said same supply path, to generate said magnetic imaging filed in said volume of space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.