Neurological electrode system for magnetic resonance environments
Inventors
Kronberg, James W. • Floyd, Harrison M. • McCoy, Daniel E • ORSINGER, Gabriel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12232875-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electrode system includes an electrode, a connector, and a cable with an in-line radio-frequency filter module comprising resistors and inductors without any deliberately added capacitance. The resistors are arranged in an alternating series of resistors and inductors, preferably with resistors at both outer ends, and connected electrically in series. The in-line module is located at a specific location along the wire, chosen through computer modeling and real-world testing for minimum transfer of received RF energy to a patient's skin, such as between 100 cm and 150 cm from the electrode end of a 240 centimeter cable. The total resistance of the resistors plus cable, connectors and solder is 1000 ohms or less; while the total inductance is roughly 1560 nanohenries. The inductors do not include ferrite or other magnetic material and are, together with the resistors, stock components thereby simplifying manufacture and reducing cost.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a neurological electrode system for use in a magnetic resonance environment having a radio frequency (RF) field. The system includes an electrode configured for neurological monitoring, a connector configured to connect to an amplifier, and a cable having a first end in electrical connection to the electrode and a second end in electrical connection to the connector. The system addresses RF heating associated with the RF field in the magnetic resonance environment, including heat generation in the electrode.
An inline filter module is configured along the cable to reduce radio frequency power in the electrode system and to limit heat generation in the electrode. The inline filter module includes one or more inductors and one or more resistors in series. The document describes using an RF power reducing inline series network and explicitly states that the module limits heat generation in the electrode.
The inline filter module configuration emphasizes series inductors and resistors with no added capacitance, rather than a tank filter using a capacitor. The module is described as ferrite-free and implemented in a compact nonmagnetic housing along the cable. Its placement is selected to minimize RF energy delivered to patient skin and to reduce burn risk across multiple RF frequencies, based on antenna modeling and testing.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a neurological electrode system in a magnetic resonance environment with an RF field, where an inline filter module placed along the electrode cable reduces radio frequency power and limits heat generation in the electrode using inductors and resistors in series. The claim coverage is centered on an inline series RL filter module integrated along the cable between the electrode and the connector to the amplifier, with further structural and electrical constraints in dependent claims.
Neurological electrode system with inline rl filter
A neurological electrode system comprising a magnetic resonance environment with a radio frequency (RF) field; an electrode for neurological monitoring; a connector configured to connect to an amplifier; a cable having a first end in electrical connection to the electrode and a second end in electrical connection to the connector; and an inline filter module configured along the cable comprising one or more inductors and one or more resistors in series, configured to reduce radio frequency power in the electrode system and limit heat generation in the electrode.
Inline resistors-and-inductors series module limiting heat generation
A neurological electrode system in which the inline filter module comprises one or more resistors and one or more inductors configured in series along the cable, and the inline filter module limits heat generation in the electrode.
The independent claim set is directed to integrating an inline filter module along a neurological electrode cable used in a magnetic resonance environment so that series inductors and resistors reduce radio frequency power and limit heat generation in the electrode. Dependent claims further constrain electrical properties, including a total resistance requirement and exclusion of a capacitor from the inline filter module.
Stated Advantages
Reduces radio frequency power in the electrode system.
Limits heat generation in the electrode.
Documented Applications
Neurological monitoring in a magnetic resonance environment having a radio frequency (RF) field.
Reducing burn risk by minimizing RF energy delivered to patient skin in an MRI environment across multiple RF frequencies.
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