Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100066361 | METHOD FOR FAST MAGNETIC RESONANCE RADIOFREQUENCY COIL TRANSMISSION PROFILE MAPPING - A system and method for producing an image indicative of characteristics of a radiofrequency (“RF”) coil with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system is disclosed. The method includes acquiring MR signals while performing a pulse sequence with the MRI system and driving the RF coil at a selected transmission power. This process is repeated a plurality of times to drive the RF coil at a different transmission powers during each repetition. A plurality of images are reconstructed from the acquired MR signals and an image indicative of RF reception characteristics of the RF coil is produced from the reconstructed images. Subsequently, an image indicative of RF transmission characteristics of the RF coil is produced using the image indicative of the RF receiver response. More specifically, only one data acquisition is necessary for each RF coil element to produce the image indicative of the RF transmission characteristics for that coil element. | 03-18-2010 |
20110304422 | TRANSFORMER ASSEMBLY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A transformer assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, and a second spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface; the first and second spiral wound inductive coils forming a double spiral arrangement on the first surface such that the first coil is inductively coupled to the second coil. An RF coil including the transformer assembly and a method of fabricating the transformer assembly are also described. | 12-15-2011 |
20120001715 | TRANSFORMER ASSEMBLY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A transformer assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, a second spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, and a third spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, the first, second and third spiral wound inductive coils forming a triple spiral arrangement on the first surface such that the first coil is inductively coupled to the second coil and the third coil. An RF coil including the transformer assembly and a method of fabricating the transformer assembly are also described. | 01-05-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100156411 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SPECTRAL-SPATIAL PARALLEL RF EXCITATION PULSES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A method for producing a spatially and spectrally selective radiofrequency (“RF”) excitation pulse includes establishing a desired spatial RF excitation pattern and establishing a desired spectral RF excitation pattern. The method also includes estimating an RF transmission profile map indicative of the transmission characteristics of an RF coil and determining, from the desired spatial and spectral excitation patterns and the estimated RF transmission profile map, at least one magnetic field gradient waveform indicative of locations in k-space to which RF energy is to be deposited. The method further includes determining, from the established spatial and spectral excitation patterns, the estimated RF transmission profile map, and the determined at least one gradient waveform, at least one RF excitation pulse waveform that will produce the desired spatial and spectral excitation patterns. | 06-24-2010 |
20100289494 | System and Method for Mode Mixing in Magnetic Resonance Imaging - The present invention provides a system and method for using a hardware-based compression of signals acquired with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. This allows a first multi-channel MR signal to be compressed to a second multi-channel MR signal having fewer channels than the first MR signal. This system and method reduces the number of RF receivers needed to achieve the sensitivity encoding benefits associated with highly parallel detection in MRI. Furthermore, the system and method reduces bottlenecks connection an MRI system's RF receiver and reconstruction computer and reduces the computational burden of image reconstruction. | 11-18-2010 |
20110267061 | QUARTER WAVE BALUN FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS - A balun assembly includes a body portion having an opening extending therethrough, the opening sized to receive at least one radio-frequency (RF) cable therethrough, the RF cable transmitting a signal therethrough a signal having a wavelength, and a balun disposed within the body portion, the balun being folded to form a plurality of layers, the combined length of the layers being approximately equal to a quarter wavelength of the signal transmitted through the RF cable. A method of fabricating a balun assembly and an MRI system including a balun are also provided. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267165 | INDUCTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - An inductor assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first spiral electrical conductor formed on the first surface, a second spiral electrical conductor formed on the second surface, at least one opening extending through the first and second surfaces, and a metallic pin configured to be inserted in the opening, the pin coupling the first conductor to the second conductor. An RF coil including the inductor assembly and a method of fabricating an inductor assembly are also described. | 11-03-2011 |
20110309832 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARALLEL TRANSMISSION IN MR IMAGING - A system and method for selectively operating an array of RF receive coils in a transmit mode is disclosed. The system includes an RF transmit coil configured to generate an RF field that excites nuclei of a subject to generate RF resonance signals, an array of RF receive coils to receive the RF resonance signals, and a detuning circuit coupled to each RF receive coil in the array of RF receive coils that is selectively switched between a disabled and an enabled state to control a resonance and impedance of the RF receive coil. Each RF receive coil is caused to receive RF resonance signals when its respective detuning circuit is in the disabled state and is caused to modify an amplitude and phase of the RF field generated by the RF transmit coil when its respective detuning circuit is in the enabled state. | 12-22-2011 |
20130033835 | APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING GROUNDING FOR AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A multi-layer cradle comprises a first layer comprising first and second contact pads configured to be electrically coupled to a signal input and a signal output of the electronic component, respectively. The first layer also comprises a first ground plane configured to be electrically coupled to a ground of the electronic component and a first fence positioned about the first ground plane. The first ground plane is positioned at least between the first and second contact pads. A second layer comprising a second ground plane is also included. The cradle further comprises a first dielectric material positioned between the first and second layers, a ground plane via extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first and second ground planes, and a plurality of fence vias extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first fence and to second ground plane. | 02-07-2013 |