Intracavity probe and interface device for MRI imaging and spectroscopy

An insertable intracavity probe for use in a magnetic resonance system for obtaining images or spectra of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient, the probe comprising:

• a flexible support member;
• an inflatable balloon connected to the flexible support member and having an anterior saddle shaped surface for conformably fitting to the rectal prostatic bulge of the patient;
• and
• a flexible coil adjacent to said inflatable balloon for receiving an RF signal from the region of interest.

An insertable intracavity probe for use in a magnetic resonance system for obtaining images of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient, the probe comprising:

• a flexible support member;
• an inflatable planar balloon connected to the flexible support member and having undulating folds;
• and
• a flexible coil attached to the interior perimeter of the balloon;
• such that when the balloon is inflated, the undulating folds press against a wall of the cavity generally opposite the region of interest to secure the balloon adjacent the region of interest.

A method for obtaining magnetic resonance information from a region of interest within a cavity of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an insertable probe comprising a flexible support member, an inflatable planar balloon connected to the flexible support member and having posterior undulating folds, and a flexible RF receiving coil attached to the interior perimeter of the balloon;
• (b) inserting the insertable probe into a position in the cavity of the patient adjacent the region of interest;
• (c) inflating the insertable probe, thereby unfolding the undulating folds against a wall of the cavity generally opposite the region of interest, and securely positioning the flexible RF receiving coil proximate the region of interest;
• (d) inducing RF signals in the region of interest;
• (e) sensing RF signals with the RF receiving coil;
• (f) producing a magnetic resonance image by processing the received RF signals.

A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

• an intracavity probe insertable within a cavity of a patient proximate a region of interest, the probe comprising a flexible support member having a distal tip and a shaft, said tip being substantially more flexible than said shaft;
• an inflatable inner balloon connected to the flexible support member;
• a flexible outer balloon completely enclosing said distal tip of the flexible support member and the inner balloon and for use in positioning the inner balloon within the cavity of the patient;
• and means for receiving RF signals from the region of interest substantially contained between the inner balloon and the outer balloon;
• a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for producing data corresponding to an MRI image of the region of interest from the RF signals received by said RF receiving means;
• and
• an interface means electrically connected to said scanner for electrically connecting the RF receiving means to the scanner, the interface means including an impedance matching means for matching an output impedance of the RF receiving means with an input impedance of the scanner, and a tuning means for tuning the resonant frequency of the RF receiving means to the Larmour frequency of the scanner.