CN210167603U - Electric connector, electric connector assembly, coil unit and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides an electric connector, electric connector subassembly, coil unit and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system. The electrical connector comprises a housing, on at least one of two opposite lateral engagement surfaces of which a rib extending perpendicularly outwards and a flange extending perpendicularly to the rib are provided so as to define, together with the lateral engagement surface, a sliding groove, the flange being insertable into the sliding groove on another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface and simultaneously inserting the flange on the other electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface into the sliding groove on the electrical connector. According to the utility model discloses, can realize transmitting two way electric signals simultaneously very conveniently.

Description

Electric connector, electric connector assembly, coil unit and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system especially relates to an electric connector that is used for the coil unit of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system, is used for being connected to the electric connector subassembly of the analog-to-digital signal converter of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system with the transmission signal of telecommunication and including the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system of this kind of electric connector subassembly with the coil unit of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system.

Background

The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system is widely used due to the characteristics of high image definition, capability of multi-azimuth thin-layer scanning, high diagnosis rate on difficult and complicated diseases, no pain and no damage to human bodies and the like. When it is desired to scan a patient, the patient is typically required to lie on the bed unit and to secure selected coil units on the patient's body, and then to feed the bed unit, together with the patient lying on the bed unit, into the bore defined by the magnet system for scanning. The electrical connector assembly is used to connect the coil unit to an analog-to-digital signal converter of the magnetic resonance imaging system so that signals obtained from the scan are transferred by the coil unit to the analog-to-digital signal converter for imaging.

The conventional electrical connector assembly generally includes a male connector and a female connector, which are connected to one of the coil unit and the analog-digital signal converter, respectively, by a cable. Such prior art electrical connector assemblies only connect one coil unit at a time when scanning is performed, but in practice it is sometimes necessary to scan a patient with both coil units simultaneously in order to image a larger area. Such prior art electrical connector assemblies have failed to meet this need.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved electrical connectors for coil units of magnetic resonance imaging systems, and electrical connector assemblies such as for connecting a coil of a magnetic resonance imaging system to an analog-to-digital signal converter of the magnetic resonance imaging system for transferring electrical signals.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an electrical connector which can be combined with another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface when necessary and which can be plugged together into a corresponding connector.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an electrical connector assembly which can transmit two electrical signals simultaneously.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a coil unit which can be used simultaneously with at least two such coil units as required for imaging a larger area of the body of a patient.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising a housing, at least one of two opposing lateral engagement surfaces of the housing being provided with a rib extending perpendicularly outwardly and a flange extending perpendicularly to the rib to define a chute with the lateral engagement surfaces, the flange being insertable into the chute on another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface and simultaneously inserting the flange on the other electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface into the chute on the electrical connector. In this way, such an electrical connector can be brought together, if desired, with another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement face and plugged together onto the corresponding connector.

In one embodiment, the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface have the same structure, and the rib, the flange, and the sliding groove on the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface, respectively, are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal center line of a combination of the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface in a state where the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface are combined together. Thus, any two such electrical connector positions can be interchangeably plugged together.

In one embodiment, a locking spring is provided on a lateral engagement surface of the electrical connector and a recess for receiving a locking spring on the other electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface. In this way, two such electrical connectors can be reliably locked together.

In one embodiment, the locking spring comprises a locking spring body having one end fixed to the lateral engagement surface of the electrical connector and a curved portion extending from the other end of the locking spring body, the curved portion forming a corner with the locking spring body. Therefore, the bending part can be prevented from being easily separated from the groove, so that the electric connectors spliced together are not easy to misplace.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first electrical connector;

at least one second electrical connector capable of being plugged onto the first electrical connector; and

at least one third electrical connector capable of being plugged onto the first electrical connector;

wherein the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector are each provided with a rib extending perpendicularly outwardly and a flange extending perpendicularly to the rib on at least one of the respective two opposing lateral engagement surfaces so as to define a slide groove with the lateral engagement surfaces, such that the flange on the second electrical connector can be inserted into the slide groove on the third electrical connector and simultaneously the flange on the third electrical connector is inserted into the slide groove on the second electrical connector. Thus, according to the utility model discloses an electric connector component can transmit two way electric signals simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector have the same structure, and the rib, the flange, and the sliding groove on the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector, respectively, are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal center line of the combination of the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector in a state where the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector are combined together. Thus, any two such electrical connector positions can be interchangeably plugged onto the first connector.

In one embodiment, a locking spring and a groove for receiving a locking spring on the other of the second connector and the third connector are provided on the lateral engagement surface. In this way, the second connector and the third connector can be reliably locked together.

In one embodiment, the electrical connector assembly further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the second and third electrical connectors in position relative to the first electrical connector, respectively. Thus, the second connector and the third connector can be prevented from coming off the first connector.

In one embodiment, the latching mechanism is disposed on the housing of the first electrical connector, the latching mechanism including a button pivotably disposed on the housing of the first electrical connector and having a protruding hook portion, and a spring that always tends to pivot the button away from the housing of the first electrical connector. The locking mechanism has simple structure and easy operation.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coil unit, including:

a coil unit for receiving magnetic resonance imaging signals;

an electrical connector for connecting the coil unit to a first electrical connector at a magnetic resonance system end, characterized in that the electrical connector is an electrical connector as described above. At least two such coil units can be used in combination, if desired, for imaging a larger area of the patient's body.

In one embodiment, the electrical connector further comprises a pin header assembly for insertion into any one of a plurality of female header assemblies of a first electrical connector at the end of the magnetic resonance system.

In one embodiment, the coil unit further comprises a locking mechanism to lock the electrical connector in position relative to the first electrical connector at the magnetic resonance system end. Therefore, the electrical connector can be prevented from falling off the first electrical connector.

In one embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a button pivotally disposed on the housing of the magnetic resonance system end electrical connector and having a protruding hook portion, and a spring that always tends to pivot the button away from the housing of the magnetic resonance system end electrical connector. The locking mechanism has simple structure and easy operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprises the electrical connector assembly as described above, the electrical connector assembly is used to connect the coil of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system to the analog-to-digital signal converter of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system to transmit an electrical signal.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic perspective view an electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the second and third electrical connectors of the electrical connector assembly are plugged onto the first electrical connector;

fig. 2 is a side view from the right side of the electrical connector assembly of fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the third electrical connector omitted for clarity;

fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of fig. 1 to show the locking mechanism of the electrical connector assembly;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of fig. 1 with the second electrical connector unplugged from the first electrical connector;

fig. 6 shows a second electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view from the bottom side;

fig. 7 shows in cross-sectional schematic view a state in which the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are coupled together;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view of FIG. 7 showing the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector interlocked;

fig. 9 shows in perspective a process of separating the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector shown in fig. 7 plugged together;

fig. 10 shows in a schematic perspective view an electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector have been individually unplugged from the first electrical connector in a separated state;

fig. 11 shows in a schematic perspective view an electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the second and third electrical connectors have been pulled together from the first electrical connector in a joined state; and

fig. 12 shows in a schematic perspective view two coil units having a second electrical connector and a third electrical connector, respectively, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector are joined together.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to examples. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these exemplary embodiments are not meant to limit the invention in any way.

Fig. 1 shows an electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view, wherein the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly are plugged onto the first electrical connector. Fig. 2 is a side view from the right side of the electrical connector assembly shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector assembly shown in fig. 1, with the third electrical connector omitted for clarity. As shown in fig. 1-3, an electrical connector assembly 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a single electrical connector

A first electrical connector 3, a second electrical connector 5 which can be plugged onto the first electrical connector 3, and a third electrical connector 7 which can be plugged onto the first electrical connector 3.

As shown in fig. 3, the first electrical connector 3 in the preferred embodiment is a female connector comprising a first row of female assemblies 9 and a second row of female assemblies 11 side by side, the first row of female assemblies 9 and the second row of female assemblies 11 being connected to a first electrical connector cable 13, respectively. The first electrical connector 3 further comprises two first electrical connector half-shells 15 which can be snapped together and can be fixed together by means of screwed screws 17, thus holding the first row of female assemblies 9 and the second row of female assemblies 11 in a fixed position with respect to the first electrical connector housing formed by the two first electrical connector half-shells 15 and protecting the first electrical connector cables 13. A first electrical connector cable sheath 19 is provided at a position where the first electrical connector cable 13 is drawn out from the first electrical connector housing. After screwing the screws 17 into the first electrical connector half-shell 15, a rubber cover 21 can be applied in place of the screws 17.

The second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 may have the same structure, and in a preferred embodiment both the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are male connectors, and the structure of the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 will be described below by taking the second electrical connector 5 as an example only. The second electrical connector 5 includes one pin header assembly 23 that can be plugged onto either of the first row female assembly 9 and the second row female assembly 11, the pin header assembly 23 being connected with a second electrical connector cable 25. The second electrical connector 5 further comprises two second electrical connector half shells 27 which can be snapped together and can be secured together by means of screwed screws 29, thereby holding the pin header assembly 23 in a fixed position relative to the second electrical connector housing formed by the two second electrical connector half shells 27 and protecting the second electrical connector cable 25. A second electrical connector cable sheath 29 is provided at a position where the second electrical connector cable 25 is led out from the second electrical connector housing. After screwing the screws 30 into the second electrical connector half-shell 27, a rubber cover 31 may be applied in place of the screws 30.

Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of fig. 1 to show the latching mechanism of the electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises two locking mechanisms 33 provided on the first electrical connector 3. In fig. 1, 3 and 4 only one locking mechanism 33 is visible, the other locking mechanism 33 being on the bottom side and not visible. The latch mechanism 33 comprises a push button 35 having a protruding hook 37 at one end facing the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7, and a pivot 39 provided on the two first electrical connector housing halves 15 allows the push button 35 to be pivotally mounted to the first electrical connector housing through a hole (not visible in the figures) in a protrusion on the underside of the push button 35. The locking mechanism 33 further comprises a spring 41 arranged on the underside of the button 35. The spring 41 may be, for example, a leaf spring and is arranged on the underside of the button 35, for example by passing a boss on the underside of the button 35 through an aperture in the leaf spring. The spring 41 always tends to pivot the button 35 about the pivot 39 away from the first electrical connector housing when mounted in place. In order to prevent the push button 35 from pivoting about the pivot 39 by the spring 41 too far away from the first electrical connector housing, thereby interfering with the mating of the second and third electrical connectors 5 and 7 with the first electrical connector 3, a stopper portion 35a extending to both sides may be provided on the push button 35 at a position close to the projecting hook portion 37. When the locking mechanism 33 is mounted in place, the limiting portion 35a extends to the inside of the two first electrical connector half shells 15.

When it is desired to mate the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 with the first electrical connector 3, the button 35 is pressed and the protruding hook 37 is pivoted toward the inside of the first electrical connector housing so that the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 can be moved toward the first electrical connector 3 and plugged onto the first electrical connector 3. Releasing the button 35, the protruding hook 37 of the button 35 pivots towards the outside of the first electrical connector housing under the action of the spring 41 into close contact with the inner wall of the housing of the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7, thereby locking the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 in position relative to the first electrical connector 3. The protruding hook 37 of the button 35 is provided with a slope 37a to facilitate the plugging of the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7. Furthermore, recesses (not visible in the figures) may be provided on the inner wall of the housing of the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 for receiving the protruding hooks 37 of the push button 35 in order to more securely lock the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 in position relative to the first electrical connector 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the process of unplugging the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly shown in fig. 1. When it is desired to pull the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 off the first electrical connector 3, as shown in fig. 5, the button 35 is pressed in the direction of arrow a1, the button 35 is pivoted in the direction of arrow a2, and the protruding hook 37 of the button 35 is disengaged from the inner wall of the housing of the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7, so that the second electrical connector 5 and/or the third electrical connector 7 can be pulled off the first electrical connector.

Fig. 6 shows a second electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view from the bottom side. As shown in fig. 6, the second electrical connector 5 further comprises two ribs 43a extending perpendicularly to the lateral engagement surface 42 on one lateral engagement surface 42 of the second electrical connector housing facing the third electrical connector 7 and a flange 43b extending substantially perpendicularly to each rib 43a so as to define a slide groove 43c together with the lateral engagement surface 42. Although in the preferred embodiment, the flange 43b extends along the entire length of the rib 43a, it should be understood that it is also possible for the flange 43b to extend along a portion of the length of the rib 43 a. When it is desired to join the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 together or to simultaneously plug the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 onto the first electrical connector 3, as shown in fig. 2 and 9, the flange 43b on the second electrical connector 5 may be inserted into the slide slot on the third electrical connector 7 and simultaneously the flange on the third electrical connector 7 may be inserted into the slide slot 43c on the second electrical connector 5, and then slid into a mutually aligned position or both plugged onto the first electrical connector. In order to securely lock the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 together, a locking spring 45 and a groove 47 for receiving a bent portion of the locking spring on the third electrical connector may be provided between the two ribs 43 a. The locking spring 45 comprises a locking spring body 45a fixed at one end to the second electrical connector housing and a curved portion 45b extending from the other end of the locking spring body 45a, the curved portion 45b and the locking spring body 45a forming an uneven corner 45 c. As can be seen from fig. 2, in the state where the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are joined together, the rib 43a, the flange 43b, and the sliding groove 43c defined by the rib 43a and the flange 43b, which are respectively located on the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7, are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centerline (i.e., the centerline perpendicular to the paper surface in fig. 2) O of the joined body of the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7, so that it is possible to ensure the position-interchangeable insertion of the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 onto the first electrical connector.

Fig. 7 shows in a schematic cross-sectional view a state in which the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are coupled together. Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial schematic view of fig. 7 showing an interlocked state of the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, when the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are joined together, the curved portion 45b of the locking spring 45 provided on the housing of the third electrical connector 7 is received exactly in the recess 47 on the housing of the second electrical connector 5, while the curved portion of the locking spring provided on the housing of the second electrical connector 5 is also received exactly in the recess on the housing of the third electrical connector 7 (the latter case being not visible in fig. 7 and 8). In this way, the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are not only joined together, but also reliably locked together. The corner 45c of the locking spring 45 can also prevent the bending portion 45b from easily falling out of the groove when the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are plugged together and then plugged onto the first electrical connector, so that the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 are not easy to be dislocated.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective a process of separating the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector shown in fig. 7 plugged together. To separate the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 locked together from each other, a force is applied to the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 in opposite directions indicated by arrows A3 and a4, and the bent portions 45a of the locking spring pieces 45 are gradually flattened so that the second electrical connector 5 and the third electrical connector 7 can slide relative to each other to be separated from each other.

Fig. 12 shows in a schematic perspective view two coil units having a second electrical connector and a third electrical connector, respectively, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector are joined together. As shown in fig. 12, the first coil unit 51 includes a first coil 51a and a second electrical connector 5 connected to the first coil 51a by a cable 51b, and the second coil unit 53 includes a second coil 53a and a third electrical connector 7 connected to the second coil 53a by a cable 53 b. The first coil unit 51 and the second coil unit 53 may be spliced together and have respective second and third electrical connectors also joined together for insertion into the first electrical connector for use in imaging a larger area of the patient's body, while the first coil unit 51 and the second coil unit 53 each still have a small size and retain respective flexibility of storage and use.

In the above preferred embodiment, although the first electrical connector is a female connector having two pin header assemblies and the second and third electrical connectors are male connectors having pin header assemblies, it will be appreciated that the first electrical connector may be a male connector having two pin header assemblies and the second and third electrical connectors are female connectors having pin header assemblies. The locking mechanism may also be provided not on the first electrical connector but on the second and third electrical connectors, respectively. The second and third electrical connectors have the same structure for ease of manufacture and management, but they may be of different structures. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, only the second and third electrical connectors are plugged onto the first connector, it being understood that there may be more inter-mateable interlocking connectors plugged onto the first connector, in which case each of the plurality of inter-mateable interlocking connectors is provided with the ribs, the flanges and the runners defined thereby on two opposing lateral engagement faces. It is also possible that the locking mechanism is provided on the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector. In addition to being used for the magnetic resonance imaging system, according to the utility model discloses a connector subassembly also can be used for needing simultaneously to transmit the other equipment of two way signals of telecommunication.

According to the utility model discloses an electric connector assembly, because second electric connector and third electric connector can be pegged graft simultaneously on the first electric connector, this kind of electric connector assembly can realize transmitting two way electric signals simultaneously very conveniently as shown in fig. 1. Such an electrical connector assembly can also advantageously be used to transmit only one electrical signal, as shown in fig. 5, if desired. Further, the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector may be individually pulled out of the first electrical connector one after another as shown in fig. 10, or may be individually plugged into the first electrical connector one after another. The second and third electrical connectors may also be simultaneously unplugged from the first electrical connector in a ganged manner as shown in fig. 11, or plugged into the first electrical connector in a ganged manner. Thus, the combination of the second and third connectors can be realized in any state, for example plugged into the first connector state or unplugged therefrom. When the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector are combined together as shown in fig. 11, the locking function of the locking spring piece and the groove enables the positions of the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector to be relatively locked, so that an independent connector with a stable structure formed by combining a plurality of connectors is formed. As shown in fig. 9, the independent connector can be easily disassembled into a plurality of connectors for separate use, and the separation can be realized when the independent connector is plugged in the first connector state or not plugged in the first connector state. The flexible connector usage and the resulting flexibility of scanning will simplify coil placement by the operator during the magnetic resonance scan and save scan time.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Claims (15)

1. An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises a housing, on at least one of two opposite lateral engagement surfaces (42) of which a rib (43a) extending perpendicularly outwards and a flange (43b) extending perpendicularly to the rib (43a) are provided, so as to define, with the lateral engagement surface (42), a sliding slot (43c), the flange (43b) being insertable into the sliding slot on another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface and simultaneously the flange on the other electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface is inserted into the sliding slot (43c) on the electrical connector.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface have the same structure, and the rib, the flange and the runner on the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface, respectively, are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline (O) of a combination of the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface in a state where the electrical connector and the another electrical connector having the same lateral engagement surface are combined together.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a locking spring (45) and a recess (47) for receiving a locking spring on the other electrical connector having the same lateral engagement face are provided on the lateral engagement face (42) of the electrical connector.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the locking spring (45) comprises a locking spring body (45a) having one end fixed to the lateral engagement face (42) of the electrical connector and a curved portion (45b) extending from the other end of the locking spring body (45a), the curved portion (45b) and the locking spring body (45a) forming a corner portion (45c) therebetween.

5. An electrical connector assembly (1), characterized in that the electrical connector assembly (1) comprises:

a first electrical connector (3);

at least one second electrical connector (5) that can be plugged onto the first electrical connector (3); and

at least one third electrical connector (7) that can be plugged onto the first electrical connector (3);

wherein the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7) are provided with a rib (43a) extending perpendicularly outwardly and a flange (43b) extending perpendicularly to the rib (43a) on at least one of the respective two opposite lateral engagement surfaces (42) so as to define a slide groove (43c) together with the lateral engagement surfaces (42) such that the flange (43b) on the second electrical connector (5) can be inserted into the slide groove on the third electrical connector (7) and simultaneously the flange on the third electrical connector (7) can be inserted into the slide groove (43c) on the second electrical connector (5).

6. The electrical connector assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7) have the same structure, and the rib (43a), the flange (43b) and the sliding groove (43c) on the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7), respectively, are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centerline (O) of the combination of the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7) in a state where the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7) are coupled together.

7. Electrical connector assembly (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a locking spring (45) and a recess (47) for receiving the locking spring (45) on the other of the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7) are provided on the lateral engagement face (42).

8. The electrical connector assembly (1) of claim 7, wherein the locking spring (45) comprises a locking spring body (45a) having one end secured to the lateral engagement surface (42) and a curved portion (45b) extending from the other end of the locking spring body (45a), the curved portion (45b) forming a corner portion (45c) with the locking spring body (45 a).

9. The electrical connector assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the electrical connector assembly (1) further comprises locking mechanisms (33) for locking the second electrical connector (5) and the third electrical connector (7), respectively, in position with respect to the first electrical connector (3).

10. Electrical connector assembly (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the latching mechanism (33) is provided on the housing of the first electrical connector (3), the latching mechanism (33) comprising a push button (35) pivotably provided on the housing of the first electrical connector (3) and having a protruding hook (37), and a spring (41) tending to always pivot the push button (35) away from the housing of the first electrical connector (3).

11. A coil unit comprising:

a coil unit (51a) for receiving magnetic resonance imaging signals;

an electrical connector for connecting the coil unit (51a) to a first electrical connector (3) at a magnetic resonance system end, characterized in that the electrical connector is an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1-4.

12. The coil unit according to claim 11, wherein the electrical connector further comprises a pin header assembly (23) for insertion into any one of a plurality of female header assemblies (9,11) of the first electrical connector (3) at the magnetic resonance system end.

13. The coil unit according to claim 11, further comprising a locking mechanism (33) for locking the electrical connector in position with respect to the first electrical connector (3) at the magnetic resonance system end.

14. A coil unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking mechanism (33) comprises a push button (35) pivotably arranged on the housing of the first electrical connector at the magnetic resonance system end and having a protruding hook (37), and a spring (41) tending to always pivot the push button (35) away from the housing of the first electrical connector (3).

15. A magnetic resonance imaging system, characterized in that the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises an electrical connector assembly (1) according to any one of claims 5-10 for connecting a coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system to an analog-to-digital signal converter of the magnetic resonance imaging system for transferring electrical signals.

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