Patent Application
20220087563
The present disclosure relates to the field of MRI, in particular to a magnetic resonance coil assembly capable of being wound and having an adjustable degree of fitting, an MRI apparatus, and a method of using the magnetic resonance coil assembly.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technology in which the phenomenon of magnetic resonance is used to perform imaging. An MRI system generally comprises: a cavity-shaped superconducting magnet, encircling gradient coils within the superconducting magnet, a cavity-shaped body coil located within the gradient coils, an examination platform bed board on which a patient is placed, and a local coil for covering some part of the patient, such as a knee coil, shoulder coil, spine coil, hand/wrist coil, foot/ankle coil, body array coil and head/neck coil, etc.
In order to receive magnetic resonance signals more effectively and achieve higher image quality, those skilled in the art have long been working hard to find a better implementation scheme for local coils.
In view of the above, in aspects of the present disclosure, a magnetic resonance coil assembly and an MRI system are proposed in one aspect, and a method for using the magnetic resonance coil assembly is proposed in another aspect, for the purpose of improving magnetic resonance imaging quality.
The magnetic resonance coil assembly provided in aspects of the present disclosure comprises: a flexible coil, constructed to cover a tissue under test in a wound fashion; a pressure adjustment unit, constructed to be integrated with the flexible coil, for the purpose of applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil such that the flexible coil fits the covered tissue under test; a pressure control unit, constructed to control the pressure applied to the flexible coil by the pressure adjustment unit; and a connection member, constructed to connect the pressure control unit to the pressure adjustment unit.
In one aspect, the pressure adjustment unit is an airbag; the connection member is an inflation tube; the pressure control unit is a hollow latex ball, or an electronic controller with a gas pump and a pressure relief means.
In one aspect, the magnetic resonance coil assembly further comprises: a fixed support, used to accommodate the flexible coil and the tissue under test that is covered by the flexible coil in a wound fashion, and to fix and position the flexible coil and the tissue under test when the airbag expands under inflation to fill the fixed support.
In one aspect, the pressure adjustment unit is an elastic element; the connection member is a pulling element; the pressure control unit is a tension control element.
In one aspect, the flexible coil comprises: a flexible coil body, comprising multiple rows of flexible antenna units for receiving magnetic resonance signals; a flexible protective base layer, comprising two protective base layers arranged on two sides of the flexible coil body, and used to carry and protect the flexible coil body; and a nylon clasp, arranged at two ends of the flexible protective base layer, in order to lock the position of the flexible coil covering the tissue under test in a wound fashion.
In one aspect, the magnetic resonance coil assembly further comprises: an electronics box, a first electric cable, a second electric cable and a current plug, wherein the electronics box is constructed to accommodate a printed circuit board and electronic components; the first electric cable is constructed to electrically connect the electric cable plug to the electronics box; the second electric cable is constructed to electrically connect the electronics box to the flexible coil.
An MRI apparatus proposed in aspects of the present disclosure comprises: the magnetic resonance coil assembly as described in any one of the aspects above.
Proposed in aspects of the present disclosure is a method of using the magnetic resonance coil assembly as described in any one of the aspects above, the method comprising: covering the tissue under test with the flexible coil in the magnetic resonance coil assembly in a wound fashion; controlling the pressure adjustment unit in the magnetic resonance coil assembly to apply uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil by operating the pressure control unit in the magnetic resonance coil assembly, so that the flexible coil fits the covered tissue under test.
In one aspect, the pressure adjustment unit is the airbag, the connection member is the inflation tube, and the pressure control unit is the hollow latex ball; the step of controlling the pressure adjustment unit in the magnetic resonance coil assembly to apply uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil by operating the pressure control unit in the magnetic resonance coil assembly, so that the flexible coil fits the covered tissue under test, comprises: inflating the airbag by squeezing the hollow latex ball, the airbag applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil while expanding under inflation, so that the flexible coil fits the covered tissue under test.
In one aspect, the method of use further comprises: putting the flexible coil and the tissue under test into a fixed support; inflating the airbag by squeezing the hollow latex ball, until the airbag fills the fixed support.
It can be seen from the above solution that because, in aspects of the present disclosure, the flexible coil is provided with a pressure adjustment unit integrated with the flexible coil and capable of applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil 1, and is also provided with a pressure control unit for controlling the pressure applied by the pressure adjustment unit, the flexible coil can fit the tissue under test in a relatively comfortable fashion, and hence the quality of magnetic resonance imaging can be improved.
In addition, the use of an airbag-style pressure adjustment unit based on the principle of gas pressure adjustment enables the pressure applied to the flexible coil to be gentle and uniform. Furthermore, because the amount of inflation is adjustable, it is possible to provide pressure that makes the tissue under test feel comfortable. At the same time, an elastic bandage-style pressure adjustment unit based on the principle of elastic adjustment can also achieve a similar effect.
In addition, because the adhesion position of the nylon clasp is adjustable, the use of the nylon clasp on the flexible coil for fixing makes the flexible coil suitable for tissues under test of various sizes and shapes.
Furthermore, when the flexible coil and tissue under test are put into the fixed support, by adjusting the amount of inflation of the airbag so that it fills the fixed support, the flexible coil and the tissue under test can be conveniently and stably fixed on the fixed support, making it easier to ensure the stability of the tissue under test when magnetic resonance imaging is subsequently performed.
Preferred aspects of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, to give those skilled in the art a clearer understanding of the abovementioned and other features and advantages of the present disclosure. Drawings:
1 flexible coil
11 flexible coil body
12 flexible protective base layer
13 nylon clasp
2 pressure adjustment unit
3 pressure control unit
4 connection member
5 electronics box
6 first electric cable
7 second electric cable
8 electric cable plug
9 arm
10 fixed support
The aspects of the present disclosure take into consideration the fact that at the present time, certain local coils are unable to achieve close contact with a patient's body; this is particularly true of coils for the four limbs, such as knee coils, hand/wrist coils, foot/ankle coils, etc. Consequently, the antenna unit is quite far away from the body tissue being scanned; moreover, the distance from the tissue to the antenna unit varies depending on the position of the tissue, and this will have an adverse effect on image quality. For this reason, in the aspects of the present disclosure, we consider providing a flexible coil assembly with an adjustable degree of fitting to body tissue. For example, first of all, a flexible coil capable of covering tissue under test in a wound fashion is provided. A pressure adjustment unit integrated with the flexible coil is then provided, for the purpose of applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil such that the flexible coil fits the covered tissue under test. To control the pressure applied to the flexible coil by the pressure adjustment unit, a pressure control unit is further provided, as well as a connection member connecting the pressure control unit to the pressure adjustment unit.
In particular implementation, the implementation of the pressure adjustment unit and pressure control unit can be based on the principle of gas pressure adjustment, or on the principle of elastic adjustment, or on another suitable principle. No restrictions are imposed here in this respect.
In order to clarify the object, technical solution and advantages of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is explained in further detail below by way of aspects.
The flexible coil 1 may be a corresponding local coil, such as a knee coil, hand/wrist coil, foot/ankle coil or shoulder coil, etc., being used to cover in a wound fashion the tissue under test, e.g. a knee, hand/wrist, foot/ankle or shoulder, etc.
In particular implementation, the flexible coil 1 may be implemented in various ways; exemplary structural drawings of the flexible coil 1 in an example of the present disclosure are shown in
The pressure adjustment unit is integrated with the flexible coil 1, for the purpose of applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil 1 such that the flexible coil 1 fits the covered tissue under test.
The pressure control unit is used to control the pressure applied to the flexible coil 1 by the pressure adjustment unit 2.
The connection member is used to connect the pressure control unit 3 to the pressure adjustment unit 2.
In particular implementation, the pressure adjustment unit, pressure control unit and connection member can have different specific structures based on different implementation principles. For example,
In addition, there may be an active connection between the inflation tube 4 and the airbag 2; thus, when the airbag 2 has been inflated, the inflation tube 4 and the hollow latex ball 3 or electronic controller can be removed, to facilitate magnetic resonance imaging. As another example, in other aspects, the pressure adjustment unit may also be an elastic element, such as an elastic bandage. Correspondingly, the pressure control unit may be a tension control element, and the connection member may be an intermediate pulling element.
The electronics box 5 is configured to accommodate a hard, large printed circuit board and associated electronic components, so as to avoid a reduction in the flexibility of the flexible coil 1 which would occur if the hard, large printed circuit board or electronic components were positioned on the flexible coil 1.
The first electric cable 6 is used for electrically connecting the flexible coil 1 to the electronics box 5.
The second electric cable 7 is used for electrically connecting the electronics box 5 to the electric cable plug 8.
The electric cable plug 8 is used for connecting the coil to an MRI system via the electric cables.
In addition, in other aspects, the electronics box 5, first electric cable 6, second electric cable 7 and electric cable plug 8 may also be replaced by other forms of implementation; no restrictions are imposed here in this respect.
Also proposed in the aspects of the present disclosure is an MRI apparatus, which may comprise the flexible coil assembly in any one of the aspects above.
It can be seen from the above analysis that because, in aspects of the present disclosure, the flexible coil is provided with a pressure adjustment unit integrated with the flexible coil and capable of applying uniform pressure to the entire flexible coil 1, and is also provided with a pressure control unit for controlling the pressure applied by the pressure adjustment unit, the flexible coil can fit the tissue under test in a relatively comfortable fashion, and hence the quality of magnetic resonance imaging can be improved.
In addition, the use of an airbag-style pressure adjustment unit based on the principle of gas pressure adjustment enables the pressure applied to the flexible coil to be gentle and uniform. Furthermore, because the amount of inflation is adjustable, it is possible to provide pressure that makes the tissue under test feel comfortable. At the same time, an elastic bandage-style pressure adjustment unit based on the principle of elastic adjustment can also achieve a similar effect.
In addition, because the adhesion position of the nylon clasp is adjustable, the use of the nylon clasp on the flexible coil for fixing makes the flexible coil suitable for tissues under test of various sizes and shapes.
Furthermore, when the flexible coil and tissue under test are put into the fixed support, by adjusting the amount of inflation of the airbag so that it fills the fixed support, the flexible coil and the tissue under test can be conveniently and stably fixed on the fixed support, making it easier to ensure the stability of the tissue under test when magnetic resonance imaging is subsequently performed.
The aspects above are merely preferred aspects of the present disclosure, which are not intended to limit it. Any amendments, equivalent substitutions or improvements etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall be included in the scope of protection thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202011006810.X | Sep 2020 | CN | national |
