Patent Application
20160313419
The invention pertains to a radio frequency antenna device for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system.
In the art of magnetic resonance imaging is well known that employing a plurality of radio frequency antennae configured for simultaneously transmitting radio frequency power and being fed from independent radio frequency channels can lead to improved homogeneity of a radio frequency magnetic field B1 to be applied to nuclei for generating magnetic resonance excitation. This can be especially beneficial in magnetic resonance imaging systems with a static magnetic field strength of more than 1.5 T. The higher the number of independently transmitting radio frequency antennae in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the higher the technical effort for calibration and for safety monitoring and protection with regard to effects of radio frequency power on human tissue (specific absorption rate SAR) and electronic equipment.
Document US 2012/0306499 describes a radio frequency transmit/receive coil assembly in which radio frequency coil elements are electrically connected to a hybrid power splitter/combiner by failsafe safety switches having a variable impedance, changing their impedance in response to electrical control signals that are supplied to the failsafe safety switches if the radio frequency coil assembly is properly connected.
The international application WO2008/001326 concerns an RF coil system for multi-nuclear imaging. The known coil system comprises a transmitter coil, a planar receiver coil and an on-board digital receiver circuit. The planar receiver coil has tuning capacitors and an active and a passive (de)tuning circuit each bridging a tuning capacitor. The active (de)tuning circuit is controlled by control signals form a control unit. Upon appropriate tuning of the planar receiver coil, magnetic resonance signals of the selected nuclei (in dependence of the tuned resonance frequency) are acquired and provided to the digital receiver circuit.
It is an object of the invention to provide a radio frequency antenna device comprising at least one radio frequency antenna for transmitting radio frequency power for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system with a reduced technical effort for calibration and safety monitoring.
This object is achieved by a radio frequency antenna device for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the magnetic resonance imaging system being configured for acquiring magnetic resonance images of at least a portion of a subject of interest and including
an examination space provided to position at least the portion of the subject of interest within, and
a main magnet configured for generating a static magnetic field in the examination space.
The radio frequency antenna device comprises
at least one radio frequency antenna that is configured for being fed with radio frequency power from at least one radio frequency channel and for applying a radio frequency field B1 to nuclei of or within the portion of the subject of interest for magnetic resonance excitation, and
at least one pickup circuit.
The at least one pickup circuit includes
at least one inductor that is magnetically coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna,
at least one capacitor that is electrically conducted in series to the at least one inductor to form a series resonant circuit that is tunable in a range about the Larmor frequency and,
an electric or electronic device having a non-linear current-voltage characteristic with at least one state of high impedance and at least one state of low impedance, wherein the electric or electronic device can reversibly be transferred between the state of high impedance and the state of low impedance by a voltage change between a first voltage that is smaller than a predetermined threshold voltage and a second voltage that is larger than the predetermined threshold voltage, and wherein the electric or electronic device is connected in parallel to the at least one capacitor.
The at least one pickup circuit is configured to provide a trigger signal upon a transfer of the electric or electronic device between the state of high impedance and the state of low impedance, the trigger signal being exploitable for shutting down a supply of radio frequency power to the at least one radio frequency antenna that is magnetically coupled to the at least one inductor.
The phrase “electronic device”, as used in this application, shall be understood particularly as a device in which an electric current is at least partially established by the transport of charge carriers within a semiconductor, within a space filled with gas or in a vacuum.
The phrase “non-linear current-voltage characteristic”, as used in this application, shall particularly encompass electronic devices whose current-voltage characteristic includes a steep rise enabling the use of the electronic device for switching purposes.
The phrase “directly or indirectly connected in parallel”, as used in this application, shall be understood particularly such that terminals of the capacitor and the electric or electronic device are directly electrically connected (directly connected in parallel), or such that the electric or electronic device is a part of an electric path comprising at least one other electric or electronic device, in particular a resistor, and wherein the electric path is directly connected in parallel to the capacitor.
With a suitably selected predetermined threshold voltage, the supply of radio frequency power can automatically and reliably be shut down at a power level that complies with existing safety regulations regarding exposure of the subject of interest to radio frequency fields, and that is nondestructive for electronic equipment of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
In a preferred embodiment, the electric or electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a spark gap, a varistor, a diode, a transistor, a diac, and a triac.
Spark gaps are available as versatile SMD components, offering a range of selectable parameters like surge current and spark-over voltages with a very high insulation resistance, particularly in comparison to semiconductor devices, a low series capacitance and a generally stable temperature behavior. Sparking can occur hundreds of times without any remarkable degradation of the parameters mentioned.
In the lay-out of the pickup circuit, the spark gap may be designed as a readily exchangeable component by providing easy access for maintenance.
The diode may in particular be formed as a fast switching diode or a light emitting diode (LED). The transistor may in particular be formed as a fast switching metal oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
In this way, a technically simple and cost-effective solution for the at least one pickup circuit can be provided.
Preferably, a coupling coefficient k of the magnetic coupling between the at least one radio frequency antenna and the at least one inductor is selected to be less than one percent. The coupling coefficient k shall be understood in the usual sense to be defined by k=M/(L1*L2)1/2, wherein M denotes the mutual inductance between two inductances L1 and L2 that are magnetically coupled. By that, the effect of the inductor of the pickup circuit on a current in the at least one radio frequency antenna coupled thereto is negligible. Mostly preferred, the coupling coefficient k is less than 10−3, providing a safety margin for not affecting the function of the at least one radio frequency antenna.
In another preferred embodiment, the at least one capacitor is formed by a parasitic capacitance inherent to the electric or electronic device. In this case, the series resonant circuit is tunable by the at least one inductor, and by avoiding a lumped capacitor for the at least one capacitor, a simpler solution for realizing the pickup circuit can be provided.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the radio frequency antenna device comprises a plurality of radio frequency antennae, wherein each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae is configured for being fed with radio frequency power at least from the at least one radio frequency channel, and further comprises a plurality of pickup circuits, wherein each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae is coupled to at least one pickup circuit of the plurality of pickup circuits. This enables an individual safety monitoring of each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae with a reduced technical effort.
Preferably, each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae is magnetically coupled to the at least one inductor of the different one of the pickup circuits of the plurality of pickup circuits.
The technical effort is advantageously further reduced if the radio frequency antenna device comprises a multiplexer that is configured to subsequently provide at least one electrical connection between each pickup circuit of the plurality of pickup circuits and an electric or electronic device that is common to the plurality of pickup circuits.
In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one electric or electronic device is formed as a spark gap with a transparent housing, and the trigger signal is at least in a section formed by a light signal. In this way, the trigger signal can be conveyed by non-metallic optical means for being exploited at a remote place.
The radio frequency antenna device may advantageously further comprise a lumped resistor, which is electrically connected in series with the at least one inductor and the at least one capacitor, for adjusting a voltage across the series resonant circuit. The lumped resistor lowers the quality factor of the series resonant circuit, thereby allowing to control the voltage that is inducible by the magnetic coupling to the at least one radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radiofrequency antennae, and to adapt the voltage to the predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device.
In another preferred embodiment, the at least one pickup circuit further comprises a light emitting diode that is electrically connected in series with the electric or electronic device, wherein the trigger signal is formed by light emitted by the light emitting diode. This provides the advantage that the trigger signal can be conveyed by non-metallic optical means for being exploited at a remote place.
In another aspect of the invention, a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided that is configured for acquiring magnetic resonance images of at least a portion of a subject of interest. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises an examination space provided to position the subject of interest within, a main magnet configured for generating a static magnetic field in the examination space, and a magnetic gradient coil system configured for generating gradient magnetic fields superimposed to the static magnetic field. The magnetic resonance imaging system further includes at least one of the disclosed embodiments of the radio frequency antenna device or a combination thereof, and at least one radio frequency antenna device that is provided for receiving magnetic resonance signals from the nuclei of or within the portion of the subject of interest that have been excited by transmission of the radio frequency field. Moreover, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a control unit that is configured for controlling functions of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system as described in the preceding paragraph in a safe manner with regard to effects of emitted radio frequency power is provided.
The method comprises steps of:
couple at least one pickup circuit to at least one radio frequency antenna,
adapt a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit or applicable to the electric or electronic device to the predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device of the at least one pickup circuit,
exploit a trigger signal provided by the at least one pickup circuit by shutting down via the control unit a supply of radio frequency power to the at least one radio frequency antenna that is coupled to the at least one pickup circuit.
Preferably, the at least one radio frequency antenna is magnetically coupled to the at least one inductor of the at least one pickup circuit. By that, a voltage is inducible across the series resonant circuit.
As a further aspect of the invention, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system as described in the preceding paragraph with regard to calibration of a magnitude of an emitted radio frequency magnetic field, is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system includes a radio frequency antenna device that comprises a plurality of pickup circuits, wherein each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae is coupled to at least one pickup circuit of the plurality of pickup circuits.
The method comprises steps of:
selecting a first radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae for feeding radio frequency power to,
adapt a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit or applicable to the electric or electronic device to a first predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device of the pickup circuit that is coupled to the first radio frequency antenna,
ramping up a level of radio frequency power that is fed to the first radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae,
exploiting a trigger signal that is provided by the pickup circuit by relating the level of radio frequency power that had been fed to the first radio frequency antenna at the point in time of the occurrence of the trigger signal to an intended magnitude of radio frequency magnetic field generated by the first radio frequency antenna,
shutting down a supply of radio frequency power to the first radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae,
selecting a second radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae for feeding radio frequency power to
adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit or applicable to the electric or electronic device to a second predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device of the pickup circuit that is coupled to the second radio frequency antenna and carry out the steps of ramping up, exploiting a trigger signal, and shutting down the supply of radio frequency power,
repeating the precedent step for the remaining radio frequency antennae of the plurality of radio frequency antennae.
In this way, radio frequency reference power for generating a desired radio frequency magnetic field B1 can be determined for each individual radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae for a given loading of the radio frequency antennae by the subject of interest. By that, the magnetic resonance imaging system including a radio frequency antenna device having at least one radio frequency antenna that is configured for being fed with radio frequency power from at least one radio frequency channel can be calibrated with a reduced technical effort. A much larger reduction of technical effort unfolds, of course, for a magnetic resonance imaging system including a radio frequency antenna device having a plurality of radio frequency antennae that are configured for being fed with radio frequency power from at least two independent radio frequency channels.
Preferably, each radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae is magnetically coupled to the at least one inductor of at least one pickup circuit. By that, a voltage is inducible across the series resonant circuit of the pickup circuit.
In an alternative approach, the steps of selecting a first (second) radio frequency antenna may be modified to selecting a first (second) radio frequency antenna for not feeding radio frequency power to, and the step of ramping up a level of radio frequency power may be modified to ramping up a level of radio frequency power that is fed to all but the first (second) radio frequency antennae of the plurality of radio frequency antennae.
Also alternatively, at least one of the pickup circuits of the plurality of pickup circuits may comprise two electric or electronic devices that can optionally, for instance by a switch, the connected in parallel to the at least one capacitor. One of the two electric or electronic devices may have a lower predetermined threshold voltage and may be used for calibration purposes only. In this way, a larger safety margin with regard to specific absorption rate is maintained during calibration.
In a preferred embodiment, the step of adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device of a specific pickup circuit is carried out by adjusting the magnetic coupling between the at least one inductor of the specific pickup circuit and the radio frequency antenna. As is commonly known, the parameters determining the mutual inductance between two inductors are their specific shape and their arrangement relative to each other, so that methods of adjusting the magnetic coupling are obvious to the person skilled in the art and need not be described in detail herein.
The step of adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit to a predetermined threshold voltage of the electric or electronic device of a specific pickup circuit can preferably also be carried out by selecting a resistance value of a lumped resistor which is electrically connected in series with the at least one inductor and the at least one capacitor. The lumped resistor lowers the quality factor of the series resonant circuit and thereby allows controlling the voltage that is inducible by the magnetic coupling to the specific radio frequency antenna of the plurality of radio frequency antennae.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
In the drawings:
Further, the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 comprises a radio frequency antenna device 30 designed as a whole-body coil. The radio frequency antenna device 30 includes a plurality of eight radio frequency antennae 321-328 that are configured for being fed with radio frequency power from a radio frequency transmitter unit 24 comprising eight independent radio frequency channels 341-348, wherein each of the radio frequency channels 341-348 includes a radio frequency source and a radio frequency power amplifier (
Although in this embodiment the radio frequency antenna device is described to include eight radio frequency antennae, the one skilled in the art would appreciate that the radio frequency antenna device may also comprise a different number of radiofrequency antennae. Also, the number of independent radio frequency channels may be different for other embodiments.
The plurality of eight radio frequency antennae 321-328 of the radio frequency antenna device 30 is also provided for receiving magnetic resonance signals during radio frequency receive phases from the nuclei of or within the portion of the subject of interest 20 that have been excited by the transmitted radio frequency field B1. In an operational state of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10, radio frequency transmit phases and radio frequency receive phases are taking place in a consecutive manner. The plurality of eight radio frequency antennae 321-328 has a center axis that, in the operational state, is arranged concentrically within the bore of the main magnet 14 such that the center axis of the plurality of eight radio frequency antennae 321-328 and the center axis 18 of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 coincide. As is well known in the art, a cylindrical metal radio frequency screen 28 is arranged concentrically between the magnetic gradient coil system 22 and the plurality of eight radio frequency antennae 321-328.
As shown in
The radio frequency antenna device 30 further includes a plurality of eight pickup circuits 461-468 (
A diagram of one of the pickup circuits 46n and a part of the radio frequency antenna 32n is shown in
The pickup circuits 46n of the plurality of eight pickup circuits 461-468 are identically designed and each include an inductor 48n that is magnetically coupled to the flat rectangular coil of the radio frequency antenna 32n in whose vicinity it is arranged. The relative position and orientation of each pickup circuit 46n of the plurality of eight pickup circuits 461-468 and the radio frequency antenna 32n it is magnetically coupled to is selected such that a coupling coefficient k between the inductor 48n of the pickup circuit 46n and the flat rectangular coil of the radio frequency antenna 32n is less than one percent, namely about 0.0005. A magnetically coupling to the more remote radio frequency antennae 321-328 is much lower due to the greater distance, and therefore negligible.
Each pickup circuit 46n further comprises a capacitor 50n that is electrically connected in series to the inductor 48n to form a series resonant circuit that is tuned to a resonance frequency that lies in a range about the Larmor frequency. Electrically connected in parallel to the capacitor 50n, each pickup circuit 46n includes an electronic device formed by an SMD-type spark gap 52n and a reference resistor 54n of low resistance, e.g. of 0.1 Ohm. Alternatively, the electronic device could be selected from a group consisting of a varistor, a diode, a transistor and a diac. In principle, any electronic device having a non-linear current-voltage characteristic that appears to be suitable to the person skilled in the art could be employed, provided that the pickup circuit was suitably modified.
The spark gap 52n has a non-linear current-voltage characteristic with a state of high impedance of more than 100 MOhm and a state of low impedance. The spark gap 52n can reversibly be transferred between the state of high impedance and the state of low impedance by a voltage change between a first voltage that is smaller than a predetermined threshold voltage and a second voltage that is larger than the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n. The predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n is given by a spark-over voltage of 250 V for radio frequencies of about the Larmor frequency.
In this way, the pickup circuit 46n is configured to provide a trigger signal 56n upon a transfer of the spark gap 52n between the state of high impedance and the state of low impedance, wherein the trigger signal 56n is formed by the rise in the voltage across the reference resistor 54n.
In an alternative approach (not illustrated), the pickup circuit 46n of
Further, and also alternatively (not illustrated), the radio frequency antenna device 30 may comprise a multiplexer that is configured to subsequently provide at least one electrical connection between the at least one capacitor 50n of each pickup circuit 46n of the plurality of pickup circuits 461-468 and an electric or electronic device that is common to the plurality of pickup circuits 461-468.
It is appreciated by the person skilled in the art that a tuning of the resonance frequency of the series resonant circuit relative to the Larmor frequency is a viable option for adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit to the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n.
A second viable option for adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit to the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n is given by selecting a resistance value of a lumped resistor 58n which is electrically connected in series with the at least one inductor 48n and the at least one capacitor 50n. Such a lumped resistor 58n is indicated in
A third option for adapting a desired level of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuit to the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n is given by adjusting the magnetic coupling between the inductor 48n of the pickup circuit 46n and the radio frequency antenna 32n which the inductor 48n is coupled to. This option is viable as long as the current in the radio frequency antenna 32n is affected only within specified limits, for instance within 0.2%.
Instead of employing a spark gap 52n′ with a transparent housing, a spark gap 52n″ with a regular housing could be used in an alternative pickup circuit 46″ if the spark gap 52n″ was electrically connected in series with a light emitting diode 66 and a series resistor 68, the series combination of spark gap 52n″, light emitting diode 66 and series resistor 68 being electrically connected in parallel to the capacitor, as shown in
In the following, a method of operating the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 in a safe manner with regard to effects of emitted radio frequency power is described. In preparation of operating the magnetic resonance imaging system 10, it shall be understood that all involved units and devices are in an operational state, that each radio frequency antenna 32n of the plurality of radio frequency antennae 321-328 is magnetically coupled to the inductor 481-488 of a different one of the pickup circuits 46n of the plurality of pickup circuits 461-468, and that the levels of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuits have been adapted to the predetermined threshold voltages of the spark gaps 521-528.
Initially, all spark gaps 521-528 in the pickup circuits 461-468 are in the state of high impedance. If during one of the radio frequency transmit phases of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 one of the spark gaps 52n is transferred from its state of high impedance to its state of low impedance by the voltage induced in the pickup circuit 46n exceeding the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n, a trigger signal 56n is provided by the pickup circuit 46n in the form of a voltage rise across the reference resistor 54n.
The voltages across the reference resistor 54n of each of the pickup circuits 461-468 are transmitted via suitable means not illustrated in
Upon occurrence of the trigger signal 56 and its detection in the control unit 26, the trigger signal 56 is exploited by shutting down via the control unit 26 the supply of radio frequency power to the radio frequency antenna 32n that is magnetically coupled to the inductor 48n of the pickup circuit 46n that provided the trigger signal 56. In this way, any harm to the subject of interest 20 by excessive exposure to radio frequency power and destruction of sensitive electronic equipment of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 can effectively be prevented.
Next, a method of operating the magnetic resonance imaging system 10 in a safe manner with regard to calibration of a magnitude of an emitted radio frequency field B1 is described. Again, it shall be understood that in preparation of operating the magnetic resonance imaging system 10, all involved units and devices are in an operational state, that each radio frequency antenna 32n of the plurality of radio frequency antennae 321-328 is magnetically coupled to the inductor 48n of a different one of the pickup circuits 46n of the plurality of pickup circuits 461-468, and that the levels of voltage inducible across the series resonant circuits have been adapted to the predetermined threshold voltages of the spark gaps 52n, and all spark gaps 521-528 in the pickup circuits 461-468 are initially in their state of high impedance.
Steps of the method are controlled by the control unit 26 of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10. To this end, the control unit 26 comprises a software module 44 (
The method is automatically carried out upon initiation by input of an operator of the magnetic resonance imaging system 10. The control unit 26 selects a first radio frequency antenna 32n of the plurality of radio frequency antennae 321-328 for feeding radio frequency power to by linearly ramping up a level of radio frequency power. Once the voltage induced in the pickup circuit 46n comprising the inductor 48n that is magnetically coupled to the first radio frequency antenna 32n reaches the predetermined threshold voltage of the spark gap 52n, a trigger signal 56n is provided as described earlier. The trigger signal 56n is exploited by relating the level of radio frequency power that had been fed to the first radio frequency antenna 32n at the point in time of the occurrence of the trigger signal 56n to an intended magnetic magnitude of radio frequency field B1 generated by the first radio frequency antenna 32n. The magnetic coupling between the first radio frequency antenna 32n and the inductor 48n of the pickup circuit 46n ensures that the trigger signal 56n indicates that the same level of magnetic field magnitude of the radio frequency field B1 that is relevant for the magnetic coupling is generated by the radio frequency antenna 32n.
The level of radio frequency power that was fed at the time of occurrence of the trigger signal 56n is read out and stored in the memory unit 40 of the control unit 26. Then, the supply of radio frequency power to the first radio frequency antenna 32n is shut down, and a second radio frequency antenna 32m of the plurality of radio frequency antennae 321-328 is selected for feeding radio frequency power to, and the steps of ramping up, exploiting a trigger signal 56n, storing the level of radio frequency power in the memory unit 40, and shutting down the supply of radio frequency power are carried out as before at the first radio frequency antenna 32n.
These steps are then repeated for the remaining radio frequency antenna 32r (r≠m, n) of the plurality of radio frequency antennae 321-328.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13198897.4 | Dec 2013 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2014/078055 | 12/16/2013 | WO | 00 |
