# US 7,609,063 B2 · Mobile positioning device for MRI inductively coupled coil > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,063 B2 - Document ID: US7609063B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/018,923 - Filed: 2008-01-24 - Published: 2008-07-31 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-24 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Ting Qiang Xue; Jian Min Wang; Yan Hong Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609063B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/3642: {Mutual coupling or decoupling of multiple coils, e.g. decoupling of a receive coil from a transmission coil, or intentional coupling of RF coils, e.g. for RF magnetic field amplification} - G01R 33/307: {specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer} - G01R 33/34007: {Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system} - G01R 33/341: comprising surface coils - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A mobile positioning device for an MRI inductively coupled coil, has at least one pair of coupled coils which are coupled with each other for transmitting signals, wherein one of the at least one pair of coupled coils is deployed on a surface of a patient's bed. A moveable platform is provided that can move in a direction parallel to the patient's bed, and the other one of the at least one pair of coupled coils is deployed on the moveable platform opposite to the coupled coil deployed on the patient's bed. The device can be driven by a motor or a spring. When the patient's bed needs to be placed at different positions for an examination, the coupled coil deployed on the moveable platform can be aligned completely and in parallel to the coupled coil fixed on the patient's bed by moving the moveable platform, so as to achieve the best coupling effects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile positioning device for a local magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil configured to radiate energy into or to receive detected signals from a patient on a moveable patient bed, said local MRI coil having a signal path associated therewith in which feed signals are supplied to the local MRI to cause the local MRI coil to radiate said energy and in which the detected signals received from the patient are conducted from the local MRI coil, said mobile positioning device comprising: a pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils in said signal path that are inductively coupled with each other to transmit said feed signals or said detected signals therebetween; a first of said inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being configured for deployment on a surface of a patient bed; a moveable platform separate from and configured for movement parallel to the patient bed; and a second of said inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being deployed on said moveable platform opposite to said first of said inductively coupled signal transmitting coils. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils is a first pair, and comprising a second pair of inductively coupled inductively coupled signal transmitting coils with a first coil of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being configured for deployment on said patient bed and a second coil of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being deployed on said moveable platform, each of said first and second coils of said first pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils and each of said first and second coils of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils having a width X, and said first pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils and said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils having a distance Y therebetween, and wherein said moveable platform has a maximum moving distance relative to the patient bed that is greater than or equal to X/2 plus Y/2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a threaded nut attached to said moveable platform and a rotatable screw threaded in said nut, with rotation of said screw causing movement of said moveable platform parallel to said patient bed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said moveable platform has a hole therein, and wherein said mobile positioning device comprises a guide rail extending through said hole to guide said moveable platform linearly parallel to said patient bed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 3 comprising a motor connected to one end of said screw that rotates said screw to move said movable platform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said motor comprises an encoder that detects and controls a rotational angle of the motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable platform comprises a roller configured to allow the moveable platform to roll on a housing of a magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 7 comprising two stops respectively provided at opposite sides of said moveable platform that restrict a movement range of said moveable platform parallel to the patient bed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 8 comprising a tension spring between one end of said moveable platform and one of said stops, a moveable pin facing toward the patient bed disposed at an opposite end of said moveable platform, and a plug facing toward said movable platform being configured to be fixed on the patient bed, said first moveable platform, when said moveable pin is pressed against said plug, being kept in an unchanging position relative to the patient bed by a tension force produced by said tension spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said moveable pin and said plug each has an end with an inclined face, and when said first moveable pin is pressed against said plug, the respective inclined faces are back-to-back. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said moveable pin is a first moveable pin, and comprising a second moveable pin located along a moving direction of said moveable platform by a pulley block and traction belt, said second moveable pin being attached at a side of said moveable platform along which said first moveable pin is farther from said tension spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first moveable pin and said second moveable pin each have an end connected to a spring and, when said second moveable pin is pressed against one of said stops, said first moveable pin is contracted by said pulley block and traction belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A mobile positioning device as claimed in claim 12 wherein, when the respective inclined faces of said first moveable pin and said plug are back-to-back, said first moveable pin is disengaged from said plug due to extraction of said first moveable pin, and when the respective inclined faces of said first moveable pin and said plug are face-to-face, the inclined face of said plug compresses the inclined face of said first moveable pin by an external force, said plug slips over said first moveable pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A mobile position device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pair of inductive coupled signal transmitting coils is a first pair, and wherein a first coil of said first pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils is configured for deployment at said local MRI coil and wherein a second coil in said first pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils is configured for deployment on said patient bed, and wherein said mobile positioning device comprises a second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils with a first coil of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being configured for deployment on said patient bed and a second coil of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils being deployed on said movable platform, and wherein said mobile positioning device further comprises a cable proceeding through said patient bed that electrically connects said second coil in said first pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils with said first coil of said second pair of inductively coupled signal transmitting coils.