Patent Application
20050043612
The present invention relates to the technical field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging, and also to applications of this technique in the medical field.
More particularly, the invention relates to a universal connector/receiver device making it possible to adapt various types of radiofrequency (RF) receiver coil to a given imager.
In general, nuclear magnetic resonance imagers are associated with a magnetic system that generates a magnetic field that varies in three dimensions, in a space occupied by the item under investigation, so as to obtain a different resonant frequency at each point thereof. A radiofrequency transmission coil is immersed in the magnetic field in order to transmit an electromagnetic wave which, as a function of the frequency of said wave and of the magnetic field at each point of the item under investigation, induces resonance that is accompanied by the transmission of a magnetic signal. A radiofrequency receiver coil serves to detect this signal induced by resonance and to transform it into an electrical signal. The radiofrequency transmitter or receiver coils to which the invention relates comprise means for transforming electrical signals into an electromagnetic wave for a transmitter coil or, vice versa for a receiver coil. These means are also known as antennas.
The radiofrequency transmitter coil and the radiofrequency receiver coil are generally connected respectively to a radiofrequency transmission control system and to a device for building a two- or three-dimensional image of the item under investigation, these means together constituting a nuclear magnetic resonance imager.
In general, the radiofrequency receiver coil is adapted to the shape and/or size of the item under investigation. This item can be any item that is observable using a nuclear magnetic resonance imager. In general, it corresponds to a portion of the body of a patient.
Thus, the radiofrequency receiver coil is often selected from amongst a set of “standard” radiofrequency receiver coils of characteristics and performance that vary as a function of the shape and/or size of the item under investigation.
Each model of imager is often provided with a proprietary connector that can be fitted to connectors coming from the same set of standard radiofrequency receiver coils.
A user possessing one particular model of imager generally cannot fit radiofrequency receiver coils that do not correspond to that model or to the design date of the imager in question. In addition, a set of standard radiofrequency receiver coils corresponding to one particular model of imager generally does not make it possible to cover the entire extent of medical applications of interest to all of the users in a given hospital establishment.
The problem faced by the user is thus associated with lack of compatibility or with the magnitude of the investment required to acquire all of the imagers needed for the intended applications.
It is specifically the object of the invention to propose a device enabling this lack of compatibility to be mitigated.
To satisfy the needs of users of imaging techniques, the invention provides a universal connector/receiver device for a nuclear magnetic resonance imager provided with at least one radiofrequency transmitter coil and with at least one standard radiofrequency receiver coil,
Although the universal connector/receiver device described above enables the field of user applications to be extended, the frequency of the electromagnetic waves used generally constitutes a characteristic that is invariable and predetermined for any particular type of imager used. Thus, the development of nuclear magnetic resonance imagers is tending towards applying stronger magnetic fields, which leads to the need to change the frequency of the electromagnetic waves used. Furthermore, independently of the magnetic field used, the user can be led to envisage working at different frequencies as a function of the type of nucleus that is to be made to resonate. As a result, imagers that are generally suitable for working at a single frequency only, once more constitute a limitation on the fields of application that can be envisaged.
It is specifically an object of a particular embodiment of the invention to use a universal connector/receiver device that makes it possible to transmit an electromagnetic wave at a frequency that can be adapted to the intended application.
This particular embodiment thus provides a universal connector/receiver device as described above, characterized in that it includes at least one independent radiofrequency transmitter coil connected to at least one transmitter coupling loop providing magnetic coupling with the radiofrequency transmitter coil, and in that a frequency synthesizer is interposed between the output of the transmitter coupling loop and an input of the receiver coupling loop in order to transmit an electromagnetic wave having a specific frequency, and to adapt the frequency of the electrical signal coming from the independent radiofrequency receiver coil to a frequency of the imager.
Various other characteristics appear from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings which show embodiments of the invention as non-limiting examples.
The embodiment shown in
The imager 1 may include means enabling different types of radiofrequency coil to be fitted thereto. In addition, it may include other means enabling adjustment parameters of the tuning and matching means 4 and also of the amplifier 3 to be varied.
As shown in
In general, the standard radiofrequency receiver coil 6 forms part of a set of standard radiofrequency receiver coils each of which is provided with a standard connector 11a suitable for fitting to the connector 11b of the model of imager in use. The connection system 11 of the standard radiofrequency receiver coils associated with a particular model of imager can vary as a function of the model and of the design date of said coil and/or of the imager in use.
The imager 1 also includes a radiofrequency receiver 12 provided with the connector 11b enabling the electrical signal coming from the standard radiofrequency receiver coil to be received.
Naturally, the imager 1 includes digital processor means (not shown) for building two- or three-dimensional images of the item under investigation.
In accordance with the invention, the nuclear magnetic resonance imager is associated with a universal connector/receiver device 13 comprising at least one independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14. This coil is independent in that it does not constitute a component of the imager 1 as described above. The independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 is fitted with a coil proper 15 for transforming said signal induced by resonance into an electrical signal. This coil 14, and in particular the coil proper 15, is adapted to the shape and/or size of the item under investigation. The independent radiofrequency receiver coil can be positioned so as to surround the item under investigation. It may also be placed close to the item under investigation. Generally, like the item under investigation, it is disposed within the magnetic field generated by the magnet associated with the imager. In addition, it may advantageously be disposed inside the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5.
The independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 preferably comprises tuning and matching means 16 to which the coil proper 15 is attached. In particular, said independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 may include decoupling means 17. These decoupling means 17, also referred to as isolating devices, serve to minimize coupling between the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5 and the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14. Such coupling has two harmful consequences:
In an advantageous embodiment, an electronic control circuit 18 is connected to the tuning and matching means 16 and/or to the decoupling means 17. The electronic control circuit 18 serves in particular to adjust the tuning and matching means 16 and the decoupling means 17.
The device preferably comprises a monitor loop 19 providing magnetic coupling with the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5 and connected to the electronic control circuit 18. The monitor loop 19 serves in particular to servo-control the decoupling means 17 of the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 relative to the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5, and to do so by means of the electronic circuit 18.
The magnetic coupling of the monitor loop 19 with the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5 can be implemented in any way. This coupling makes it possible to transfer, in the form of an electrical signal, the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the radiofrequency transmitter coil 5 to the electronic control circuit 18.
In a particular embodiment, the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 is selected from standard radiofrequency receiver coils that are available on the market.
In accordance with the invention, the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 is connected to a receiver coupling loop 20 providing magnetic coupling with the standard radiofrequency receiver coil 6.
It follows that for a given imager, it is possible to use any type of independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14, regardless of the model and the design date of the imager.
The receiver coupling loop 20 can be positioned close to or preferably inside the standard radiofrequency receiver coil 7 proper.
Generally, the receiver coupling loop 20 and the standard radiofrequency receiver coil 6 are both located outside the magnetic field generated by the magnet associated with the imager. Under such circumstances, the function of the receiver coupling loop 20 is to transfer an electrical signal coming from the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14.
In another method of use, the receiver coupling loop 20 and the standard radiofrequency receiver coil 6 are located within the magnetic field generated by the magnet associated with the imager. The receiver coupling loop 20 and the coil 7 then serve not only to transfer an electrical signal coming from the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14, but also to receive the electromagnetic signal induced by nuclear magnetic resonance in the item under investigation.
A coupling preamplifier 21 is preferably inserted between the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 and the receiver coupling loop 20.
It is possible to envisage a device having a plurality of independent radiofrequency receiver coils 14 connected by magnetic coupling via as many receiver coupling loops 20 with as many standard radiofrequency receiver coils 16 themselves connected to the imager.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, two independent radiofrequency receiver coils 14 disposed in quadrature are connected to two receiver coupling loops 20 providing magnetic coupling with two standard radiofrequency receiver coils 6 of the imager 1. By placing the independent radiofrequency receiver coils 14 in quadrature, each of them is disposed in such a manner that the main axes of the fields form an angle of approximately 90°. In this particular configuration, it is generally necessary to provide a device that enables the electrical signals coming from the standard radiofrequency receiver coils 6 to be added together.
In a variant of the preceding embodiment, two independent radiofrequency receiver coils 14 placed in quadrature are connected to the inputs of an adder device (not shown) having at least two inputs and one output, said output being connected to the receiver coupling loop 20. This embodiment enables a single receiver coupling loop 20 and a single standard radiofrequency receiver coil 6 to be used. It should be observed that it is possible to envisage using a number of independent radiofrequency receiver coils 14 that is greater than two.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the universal connector/receiver device enables an electromagnetic wave to be transmitted at a specific frequency different from the frequency of the imager, and to adapt the frequency of the electrical signal coming from the independent radiofrequency receiver coil 14 to the frequency of the imager. This also makes it possible to cause nuclei other than those of hydrogen atoms to enter into resonance, where the resonant frequency of hydrogen is approximately 42 MHz, for a magnetic field of 1 T. As a result, it is possible to envisage causing the nuclei of molecules such as phosphorus or helium to enter into resonance. In addition, progress in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is tending towards using ever stronger magnetic fields, e.g. 3 T fields, such that the frequencies of the transmitted electromagnetic waves need to be adapted accordingly.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the frequency adapter device 33 is connected to an independent radiofrequency transmitter coil 30 via an amplifier 35.
In another preferred embodiment, the independent radiofrequency transmitter coil 30 includes tuning and matching means.
The invention makes it possible, advantageously, to use electromagnetic waves of frequency that can be adapted to a specific frequency which is different from the frequency of the imager. This makes it possible to cause nuclei of atoms other than hydrogen, e.g. atoms of phosphorus or helium to be caused to enter into resonance. This also makes it possible to adapt the frequency of the electromagnetic waves to magnetic fields that are stronger than those commonly in use.
The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various modifications can be applied thereto without going beyond the ambit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/12361 | Sep 2001 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR02/03264 | 9/25/2002 | WO |
