Claims
- 1. A coil interface for coupling a phased array coil system to a host magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, said host MRI system being equipped with a predetermined number of receivers, said coil interface comprising:
(a) a plurality of signal inputs for coupling to a plurality of coil elements of said phased array coil system; (b) a plurality of output ports for coupling to said predetermined numbers of receivers of said host MRI system; and (c) an interface circuit for selectively interconnecting at least two of said signal inputs to at least one of said output ports and thereby allowing said phased array coil system to be selectively operated in any one of a plurality of operational modes.
- 2. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said interface circuit allows the operational mode in which said phased array system is operating to be remotely changed.
- 3. The coil interface recited in claim 2 wherein said interface circuit includes a combiner circuit for at least one of said coil elements for remotely switching said phased array coil system between said operational modes, said combiner circuit comprising at least one remotely operable PIN diode switch and a 90 degree phase shifting circuit.
- 4. The coil interface recited in claim 2 wherein said interface circuit includes at least one PIN diode switch operable from a console of said host MRI system for switching said phased array coil system between said operational modes.
- 5. The coil interface recited in claim 4 wherein said host MRI system determines which of said operational modes to support by detecting a bias pattern of said at least one PIN diode switch in said receivers of said host MRI system.
- 6. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (e) a fifth signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and (f) a sixth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a first of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports; (ii) said third and said fourth signal inputs to a second of said output ports; (iii) said fifth signal input to a third of said output ports; and (iv) said sixth signal input to a fourth of said output ports.
- 7. The coil interface recited in claim 6 wherein said in-phase and said quadrature signals received by said first and said second signal inputs, respectively, are phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port.
- 8. The coil interface recited in claim 6 wherein said first and said second spine signals received by said third and said fourth signal inputs, respectively, are phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said second output port.
- 9. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; and (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; wherein in a second of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to one of said output ports and (ii) said second signal input to an other of said output ports, thereby allowing said in-phase signal to be applied to said one output port and said quadrature signal to be applied to said other output port.
- 10. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; and (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; wherein in a third of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports with said in-phase and said quadrature signals received by said first and said second signal inputs, respectively, being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port.
- 11. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, a first spine coil element and a second spine coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; and (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; wherein in a fourth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said in-phase signal to be applied to said first output port; (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said quadrature signal to be applied to said second output port; (iii) said third signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said third output port; and (iv) said fourth signal input to a fourth of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said fourth output port.
- 12. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element and a second spine coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(c) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; and (d) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; wherein in a fifth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said first output port; and (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said second output port.
- 13. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said first output port; (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said second output port; (iii) said third signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said first neck signal to be applied to said third output port; and (iv) said fourth signal input to a fourth of said output ports thereby allowing said second neck signal to be applied to said fourth output port.
- 14. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports, with said first and said second spine signals received thereby being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port; (ii) said third signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said first neck signal to be applied to said second output port; and (iii) said fourth signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said second neck signal to be applied to said third output port.
- 15. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element and a neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; and (c) a third signal input for receiving a neck signal from said neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports, with said first and said second spine signals received thereby being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port; and (ii) said third signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said neck signal to be applied to said second output port.
- 16. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element capable of providing an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving said in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; and (b) a second signal input for receiving said quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; wherein said interface circuit is switchable between interconnecting (i) said first and said second signal inputs to one of said output ports with said in-phase and said quadrature signals being phase shifted relative to one another, combined and applied to said one of said output ports; and (ii) said first and said second signal inputs, and applying said in-phase and said quadrature signals received respectively thereby, to a first and a second of said output ports, respectively.
- 17. The coil interface recited in claim 1 wherein a conductive path through said interface circuit between any one of said plurality of signal inputs and any one of said plurality of output ports has an electrical length that is approximately equal to an integer multiple of half wavelengths.
- 18. A method of operating a phased array coil system in a plurality of operational modes, said phased array coil system having a plurality of coil elements capable of operating with a host MRI system, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an interface circuit that has (i) a plurality of signal inputs for coupling to said plurality of coil elements and (ii) a plurality of output ports for coupling to a predetermined number of receivers of said host MRI system; and (b) remotely configuring said interface circuit to selectively interconnect at least two of said plurality of signal inputs to at least one of said plurality of output ports, thereby allowing said phased array coil system to be selectively operated in any one of said plurality of operational modes.
- 19. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (e) a fifth signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and (f) a sixth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a first of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports; (ii) said third and said fourth signal inputs to a second of said output ports; (iii) said fifth signal input to a third of said output ports; and (iv) said sixth signal input to a fourth of said output ports.
- 20. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; and (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; wherein in a second of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to one of said output ports and (ii) said second signal input to an other of said output ports, thereby allowing said in-phase signal to be applied to said one output port and said quadrature signal to be applied to said other output port.
- 21. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; and (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; wherein in a third of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports with said in-phase and said quadrature signals received by said first and said second signal inputs, respectively, being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port.
- 22. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a quadrature coil element, a first spine coil element and a second spine coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving an in-phase signal from said quadrature coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a quadrature signal from said quadrature coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; and (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; wherein in a fourth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said in-phase signal to be applied to said first output port; (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said quadrature signal to be applied to said second output port; (iii) said third signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said third output port; and (iv) said fourth signal input to a fourth of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said fourth output port.
- 23. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element and a second spine coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(c) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; and (d) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; wherein in a fifth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said first output port; and (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said second output port.
- 24. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and p1 (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first signal input to a first of said output ports thereby allowing said first spine signal to be applied to said first output port; (ii) said second signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said second spine signal to be applied to said second output port; (iii) said third signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said first neck signal to be applied to said third output port; and (iv) said fourth signal input to a fourth of said output ports thereby allowing said second neck signal to be applied to said fourth output port.
- 25. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element, a first neck coil element and a second neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; (c) a third signal input for receiving a first neck signal from said first neck coil element; and (d) a fourth signal input for receiving a second neck signal from said second neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports, with said first and said second spine signals received thereby being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port; (ii) said third signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said first neck signal to be applied to said second output port; and (iii) said fourth signal input to a third of said output ports thereby allowing said second neck signal to be applied to said third output port.
- 26. The method recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of coil elements includes a first spine coil element, a second spine coil element and a neck coil element, said plurality of signal inputs including:
(a) a first signal input for receiving a first spine signal from said first spine coil element; (b) a second signal input for receiving a second spine signal from said second spine coil element; and (c) a third signal input for receiving a neck signal from said neck coil element; wherein in a sixth of said operational modes said interface circuit interconnects (i) said first and said second signal inputs to a first of said output ports, with said first and said second spine signals received thereby being phase shifted relative to one another before being combined and applied to said first output port; and (ii) said third signal input to a second of said output ports thereby allowing said neck signal to be applied to said second output port.
- 27. The method recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of disabling said coil elements that are unused in accordance with said operational mode currently selected.
- 28. The method recited in claim 18 wherein the step of remotely configuring said interface circuit comprises adjusting a state of at least one PIN diode switch so as to switch said phased array coil system between said operational modes.
- 29. The method recited in claim 28 wherein said MRI system determines which of said operational modes to support by detecting a bias pattern of said at least one PIN diode switch in said receivers of said host MRI system.
- 30. The method recited in claim 18 wherein the step of remotely configuring said interface circuit is carried out by using at least one combiner circuit for remotely switching said phased array coil system between said operational modes, said combiner circuit comprising at least one remotely operable PIN diode switch and a 90 degree phase shifting circuit.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The invention described in this patent application is closely related to the following copending application for patent: U.S. Ser. No. 10/082,818, titled MULTIMODE OPERATION OF QUADRATURE PHASED ARRAY MR COIL SYSTEMS, filed Feb. 25, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. It also is related to U.S. Ser. No. 09/449,255, titled MULTIMODE OPERATION OF QUADRATURE PHASED ARRAY MR COIL SYSTEMS, filed Nov. 24, 1999, which was granted as U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,081 on Mar. 12, 2002. The present application, and the above cited parent applications on which it is based, all claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/109,820, filed Nov. 25, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
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60109820 |
Nov 1998 |
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Continuations (1)
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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