Detunable coil assembly and method of detuning RF coil for MRI
AssigneeVarian, Inc.
InventorsWai Ha Wong, Alan R. Rath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A detunable coil assembly includes a main coil which resonates at a specified resonance frequency and a switchable detuning coil which, when switched on, becomes inductively coupled to the main coil and serves to detune it from its resonance frequency. The detuning coil and the main coil are electrically insulated from each other. The main coil may be of a multiply tuned kind and it may be detuned from more than one of its specified resonance frequencies at the same time by switching on the detuning coil.
Claims13
A detunable coil assembly comprising:
- a cylindrical main coil which resonates at a specified frequency;
- and
- a detuning coil comprising a switch and at least one loop proximate said main coil and electrically insulated therefrom, said at least one loop electrically terminating at said switch for establishing continuity through said at least one loop whereby said detuning coil is inductively coupled to said main coil and said main coil in coupled combination with said detuning coil exhibits a resonance frequency different from said specified resonance frequency.
A method of detuning a main coil for MRI, said main coil resonating at one or more specified resonance frequencies, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a switchable detuning coil which is electrically insulated from said main coil but is disposed with respect to said main coil so as to inductively couple therewith when switched on;
- and
- switching on said detuning coil and thereby inductively coupling said detuning coil with said detuning coil, wherein said main coil is detuned from the specified resonance frequencies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.