Radio frequency coil methods and apparatus
Inventors
Poole, Michael Stephen • Charvat, Gregory L. • Rearick, Todd • Rothberg, Jonathan M.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11850075-B2
Publication Date
2023-12-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Aspects relate to providing radio frequency components responsive to magnetic resonance signals. According to some aspects, a radio frequency component comprises at least one coil having a conductor arranged in a plurality of turns oriented about a region of interest to respond to corresponding magnetic resonant signal components. According to some aspects, the radio frequency component comprises a plurality of coils oriented to respond to corresponding magnetic resonant signal components. According to some aspects, an optimization is used to determine a configuration for at least one radio frequency coil.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a radio frequency coil design for magnetic resonance imaging at low-field B0 strengths. A first coil generates magnetic field components and includes a first conductor arranged in a plurality of turns having non-uniform spacing within a three-dimensional geometry about a region of interest. A second coil is configured to be responsive to magnetic resonance signal components so that the RF component is suited to low-field magnetic resonance signal detection.
The coil geometry is generated and configured using magnetic field synthesis and optimization with a modeled coil, including a triangulated mesh model. The optimization satisfies magnetic field criteria including a homogeneity/strength criterion and additional coil criteria including resistance/inductance and spacing, and it is used to generate optimized conductor geometries. The described approach includes contouring/level-set methods to produce conductor geometries from the optimization.
The invention further describes principal-axis-based coil orientation for detecting orthogonal components of circularly polarized MR signals using quadrature or dual coils with orthogonal principal axes. Embodiments include helmet/head and leg coils that incorporate grooves/support structures, including multi-layer/offset to reduce coupling, and an extension to multifunction coils that can act as both gradient and RF transmit/receive coils.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims define two main inventive aspects: a low-field MRI RF component with a first non-uniformly spaced multi-turn conductor and a second responsive coil, and an MRI apparatus integrating such an RF component with a patient support structure having grooves to accommodate both conductors. Across these, the claims specify that the first coil generates magnetic field components and that both coils are tuned to resonate at a frequency corresponding to a B0 field strength less than or equal to 0.1 T, while the apparatus claim adds a grooved support structure for patient accommodation.
Non-uniformly spaced multi-turn first conductor for low-field MRI resonance
A radio frequency component for MRI comprising a first coil configured to generate magnetic field components, the first coil including a first conductor arranged in a plurality of turns having non-uniform spacing.
Responsive second coil for magnetic resonance signal components
A radio frequency component for MRI comprising a second coil configured to be responsive to magnetic resonance signal components.
Tuned to resonate at a frequency corresponding to ≤0.1 T B0
The first and second coils are tuned to resonate at a frequency corresponding to a B0 field having a field strength of less than or equal to 0.1 T.
Grooved support structure accommodating first and second conductors
An apparatus including a radio frequency component for MRI comprising a first coil with non-uniformly spaced turns and a second coil responsive to magnetic resonance signal components, and a support structure configured to accommodate a portion of a body of a patient, the support structure having grooves configured to accommodate the first conductor and the second conductor.
In combination, the claims require a low-field MRI RF component with a non-uniformly spaced multi-turn first conductor and a second responsive coil tuned to a resonance frequency corresponding to a B0 field strength of ≤0.1 T, and they further require, in the apparatus claim, a patient support structure with grooves configured to accommodate both conductors.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Helmet/head coil implementation of the radio frequency component mounted on a helmet-shaped support structure to accommodate a human head.
Leg/knee coil implementation of the radio frequency coil with described support/groove structures and coupling reduction features.
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