Method and system to dynamically configure transmit receive coils to calibrate a magnetic resonance imaging system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPhillip Edward Steen, Ceylan Celil Guclu, Tsinghua Zheng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems including a coil system and methods for controlling the coil system are described. A described system includes a coil system for MRI. The coil system includes a local volume coil configured to transmit and receive MRI signals and an array of surface coils configured to receive MRI signals.
Claims20
A coil system for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured to operate in a scan mode and a calibration mode, said coil system comprising:
- a local volume coil configured to transmit and receive MRI signals;
- and
- an array of surface coils configured to receive MRI signals, wherein the local volume coil includes a plurality of coil elements, wherein a first one of the coil elements of the local volume coil is configured to form a loop configured to remain open in a receiving state in the scan mode and configured to remain closed in a receiving state in the calibration mode.
A control system for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured to operate in a scan mode and a calibration mode, said control system comprising:
- a first switching member configured to control transmit and receive operations of a local volume coil and an array of surface coils of the MRI system during the scan mode of operation, wherein the local volume coil includes a plurality of coil elements, wherein a first one of the coil elements of the local volume coil is configured to form a loop configured to remain open in a receiving state in the scan mode and configured to remain closed in a receiving state in the calibration mode;
- and
- a second switching member configured to switch between the scan mode of operation and the calibration mode of operation.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured to operate in a scan mode and a calibration mode, the MRI system comprising:
- a surface coil array;
- a local volume coil, wherein the local volume coil includes a plurality of coil elements, wherein a first one of the coil elements of the local volume coil is configured to form a loop configured to remain open in a receiving state in the scan mode and configured to remain closed in a receiving state in the calibration mode;
- and
- a controller configured to control operation of the surface coil array and local volume coil in each of the calibration mode and the scan mode, wherein the controller provides (i) in the calibration mode for both transmitting and receiving by the local volume coil to acquire calibration information and (ii) in the scan mode for transmitting by the local volume coil and receiving by the surface coil array to acquire images of an object.
A method for controlling coils in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured to operate in a scan mode and a calibration mode, the system, said method comprising:
- providing a local volume coil and an array of surface coils, wherein the local volume coil includes a plurality of coil elements, wherein a first one of the coil elements of the local volume coil is configured to form a loop configured to remain open in a receiving state in the scan mode and configured to remain closed in a receiving state in the calibration mode;
- configuring the local volume coil to transmit and receive in the calibration mode of operation;
- and
- configuring the local volume coil to transmit and the array of surface coils to receive during the scan mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.