Apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging having a planar strip array antenna including systems and methods related thereto

A device for detecting magnetic resonance signals, comprising a strip array antenna, wherein the strip array antenna includes:

• X conductors arranged so a long axis of each is in parallel and spaced from each other, where X is an integer≧2, each of the X conductor forming an independent detector element of the strip antenna;
• wherein a length of each conductor is set to be equal to be about nλ/4, where n is an integer≧1 and λ is the wavelength of the signal to be detected, thereby reducing coupling of a magnetic resonance signal in one of the X conductors to an adjacent conductor(s) independent of the spacing between adjacent conductors;
• an encapsulation member, wherein the encapsulation member includes:
• a substrate, on one surface of which is disposed the X conductors, a ground plane that is disposed on an opposing surface of the substrate, an overlay that covers the X conductors disposed on the substrate, and wherein the substrate and the overlay are of a material having a dielectric constant so the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave on each conductor is reduced so as to be in a desired range;
• and wherein each of the X conductors is terminated in a manner so that electromagnetic wave on each of the conductors is one of a standing wave or traveling wave.

An MRI excitation and detection apparatus to scan a region of an object comprising:

• a near field electromagnetic signal detection apparatus positioned to detect MRI signals from the region being scanned;
• an excitation signal generation apparatus that generates and transmits electromagnetic signals at an excitation frequency into the region being scanned;
• and
• wherein the near field electromagnetic signal detection apparatus, comprises:
• a strip array antenna,
• Y receivers, where Y is an integer≧1,
• wherein the strip array antenna includes:
• X conductors arranged so a long axis of each is in parallel and spaced from each other, where X is an integer≧2 and where each of the X conductors form an independent detector element of the strip array antenna,
• ground plane that is arranged so that each of the X conductors is spaced from one side of the ground plane, and
• wherein a length of each conductor is set so as to substantially reduce coupling of a signal in one of the X conductors to an adjacent conductor(s) independent of the spacing between adjacent conductors, and
• wherein the Y receivers are operably coupled to the X conductors so as to receive output signals from the X conductors.

An MR imaging system to scan a region of an object, comprising:

• a near field electromagnetic signal detection apparatus positioned to detect MRI signals from the region being scanned;
• an excitation signal generation apparatus that generates and transmits electromagnetic signals at an excitation frequency into the region being scanned;
• wherein the near field electromagnetic signal detection apparatus, comprises:
• a strip array antenna,
• Y receivers, where Y is an integer≧2,
• wherein the strip array antenna includes:
• X conductors arranged so a long axis of each is in parallel and spaced from each other, where X is an integer≧2 and where each of the X conductors forms an independent detector element of the strip array antenna,
• a ground plane that is arranged so that each of the X conductors is spaced from one side of the ground plane, and
• wherein a length of each conductor is set so as to substantially reduce coupling of a signal in one of the X conductors to an adjacent conductor(s) independent of the spacing between adjacent conductors, and
• wherein the Y receivers are operably coupled to the X conductors so as to receive output signals from the X conductors;
• and
• an image reconstruction device, operably coupled to the near field electromagnetic signal detection apparatus that processes the detected MR signals and provides an output representative of the reconstructed image.