CN213423448U

CN213423448U - Magnetic resonance local coil and tool for establishing connection at edge thereof

Info

Publication number: CN213423448U
Application number: CN202020345640.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: T.昆德纳; S.津克
Original assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
Current assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
Priority date: 2019-03-18
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2021-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-18
Also published as: DE102019203628B4; DE102019203628A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic resonance local coil and a tool or a mold for establishing a connection at the edge of a magnetic resonance local coil. The magnetic resonance local coil comprises an upper cover layer, a lower cover layer, at least one intermediate layer and at least one edge element. The at least one intermediate layer is arranged between the upper and lower cover layers and comprises at least one coil element. Further, the upper cladding layer has an upper cladding layer edge region and the lower cladding layer has a lower cladding layer edge region. The upper and lower cover layer edge regions have at least one overlapping face. The at least one edge element surrounds, in particular encloses, at least a portion of the at least one overlapping surface such that the enclosed portion of the at least one overlapping surface is arranged between the upper section of the at least one edge element and the lower section of the at least one edge element.

Description

Magnetic resonance local coil and tool for establishing connection at edge thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to a magnetic resonance local coil and a tool or a mold for establishing a connection at the edge of a magnetic resonance local coil.

Background

In medical technology, Imaging by means of Magnetic Resonance (MR), also known as Magnetic Resonance tomography (MRI), has a high soft tissue resolution. In this case, high-frequency excitation pulses are radiated into the patient by means of a magnetic resonance system. Thereby triggering a magnetic resonance signal in the patient. The magnetic resonance signals are received as measurement data by one or more magnetic resonance antennas and used for reconstruction of a magnetic resonance image.

The magnetic resonance signals are usually received by so-called magnetic resonance local coils (also called surface coils). This is typically an antenna system mounted in direct proximity to the patient. Exemplary conventional magnetic resonance local coils are described in patent documents US 9285440B 2, US 7826887B 2, US 20150057527 a1, US 20150057528 a1, US 2012256633 a1, US 20180017643 a1 or US 8244328B 2.

In order to bring the magnetic resonance local coil as close to the patient as possible, it is advantageous if the magnetic resonance local coil can be flexibly adapted to the body contour of the patient. In conventional flexible magnetic resonance local coils, the magnetic resonance antenna arranged on the flexible, planar substrate is embedded in a foam material, i.e. the foam material completely surrounds the substrate layer with the magnetic resonance antenna and is fixedly connected to the entire surface of the substrate layer.

Here, the foam material is usually used on the one hand as a spacer support with respect to the magnetic resonance antenna in order to ensure sufficient patient safety against burns and the like. On the other hand, the foam material constitutes an outer surface that is generally free from sharp edges and also ensures waterproofness, biocompatibility, easy cleanability and insensitivity to scratching.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

However, in order to design the magnetic resonance local coil, it is advantageous to provide separate cover layers as outer surfaces, which are connected to one another at the edges. The object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous embodiment of such an edge and a tool for producing such an edge.

The technical problem is according to the utility model discloses a magnetic resonance local coil solves, magnetic resonance local coil includes:

-an upper and a lower cover layer;

-at least one intermediate layer arranged between the upper and lower cover layers and comprising at least one coil element;

-at least one edge element;

wherein the upper cladding layer has an upper cladding layer edge region,

wherein the lower cover layer has a lower cover layer edge region,

wherein the upper and lower cover layer edge regions have at least one overlapping face,

wherein the at least one edge element encloses at least a portion of the at least one overlapping face such that the enclosed portion of the at least one overlapping face is arranged between the upper section of the at least one edge element and the lower section of the at least one edge element.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by a tool for establishing a connection at the edge of a magnetic resonance local coil, comprising:

an edge receptacle having a grooved surface, wherein the groove is designed for receiving an edge of the magnetic resonance local coil,

-a punch and punch mating piece designed such that when the punch is pressed against the punch mating piece and an edge is positioned between the punch and punch mating piece in the groove of the edge receiver, a force is applied to the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil.

A magnetic resonance local coil, in particular a shrouded magnetic resonance local coil, is therefore proposed. The magnetic resonance local coil comprises an upper cover layer, a lower cover layer, at least one intermediate layer and at least one edge element. The at least one intermediate layer is arranged between the upper and lower cover layers and comprises at least one coil element. Further, the upper cladding layer has an upper cladding layer edge region and the lower cladding layer has a lower cladding layer edge region. The upper and lower cover layer edge regions have at least one overlapping face. The at least one edge element surrounds, in particular surrounds, at least a portion of the at least one overlapping surface in a surrounding manner, such that the surrounded portion of the at least one overlapping surface is arranged between the upper section of the at least one edge element and the lower section of the at least one edge element.

By means of such a design, it is possible, for example, for a magnetic resonance local coil with an upper and a lower cover layer to have less sharp edges, i.e. sharp cut edges can be avoided. The edge element is advantageously flexible, so that a flexible edge is obtained. Advantageously, the edge element forms a ridge and/or a thickening extending along the edge of the cover layer.

A further possible advantage may be that such edges are aesthetically pleasing. The edges of conventional magnetic resonance local coils, which are produced by the combination of the upper and lower cover layers, are usually trimmed manually, so that the visual effect is very dependent on the skill of the operator. This less reproducible, manual influence can be eliminated by mounting the edge element.

In addition, the effort for possible reworking of the edge, for example by trimming and/or gluing, can advantageously be reduced.

Furthermore, the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil can be reinforced and/or stabilized by the at least one edge element. The risk of possible separation of the fusion lines can thus be reduced.

Furthermore, the magnetic resonance local coil with the proposed edge embodiment can advantageously be easily cleaned and can therefore be used without disadvantages in terms of hygiene.

The cover layer may be understood in particular as a layer and/or a film and/or a skin. Preferably, the cover layer closes the magnetic resonance local coil outward, i.e. for example toward the patient. The cover layer may thus be understood in particular as an outer skin.

The magnetic resonance local coil is designed in particular for examining the pelvis, hip, abdomen and/or chest of a patient.

A coil element may be understood to mean, in particular, an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting high-frequency signals (HF signals; Radio Frequency (RF) signals). The coil elements may for example have the form of loops or splays. The high-frequency signal may be, for example, a magnetic resonance signal (i.e. a magnetic resonance signal) or an excitation signal.

The magnetic resonance local coil is advantageously flexible and particularly flexible. Thereby, the magnetic resonance local coil can be better adapted to the anatomy of the patient, such as the pelvis, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest.

The magnetic resonance local coil is preferably designed as a planar coil. The magnetic resonance local coil has in particular a surface which extends by a significantly greater amount than the layer thickness perpendicular to the surface, in particular by more than 10 times, in particular by more than 100 times. Preferably, the cover layer extends along the surface, so that the cover layer also increases the layer thickness of the magnetic resonance local coil. The cover layer is preferably designed to be thin. Preferably, the thickness of the upper cover layer and/or the thickness of the lower cover layer is more than 4 times, in particular more than 10 times, smaller than the layer thickness of the magnetic resonance local coil.

The cover layer is in particular designed to be stretchable and/or flexible, in particular flexible. Thereby, the cover layer can, for example, be better adapted to the at least one intermediate layer.

Each of the at least one intermediate layer may be optimized for a respective specific use. In particular, a sandwich structure can be provided which better meets the various requirements for magnetic resonance local coils.

The upper and lower cover layer edge regions can have a plurality of, in particular discontinuous, partial regions. For example, a local region may extend along an outer edge of the magnetic resonance local coil, which outer edge delimits the magnetic resonance local coil to the outside. The further possible local region can extend along an inner edge of the magnetic resonance local coil, which defines, in particular, a boundary of the recess of the magnetic resonance local coil.

The at least one edge element preferably comprises a different material than the upper and/or lower cover layer. The at least one edge element is preferably of one-piece, in particular one-piece, construction. The edge element of each partial area of the upper and/or lower covering layer edge area is in particular formed from one piece.

The edge region of the cover layer is preferably located at the edge of the cover layer, which edge defines the boundary of the cover layer in the layer plane. The edge region of the cover layer preferably extends over a width of less than 2cm, in particular less than 1 cm. The edge region of the cover layer is preferably bounded on the one hand by an edge boundary of the cover layer and on the other hand by an imaginary line which is spaced less than 2cm, in particular less than 1cm, from the edge of the cover layer.

The upper and lower cover layer edge regions preferably overlap in at least one overlapping plane. The cover layer edge regions preferably overlap such that the inner surfaces of the upper and lower cover layers face each other. The cover layer edge regions preferably overlap such that the inner surfaces of the upper and lower cover layers are arranged parallel to one another.

Preferably, the upper and lower cover layers form a cover layer edge on a line that outwardly defines a boundary of the upper and lower cover layers. The at least one edge element is preferably arranged around the edge of the covering layer such that the upper section of the at least one edge element and the lower section of the at least one edge element are arranged on different sides of the at least one overlapping face.

The edge element preferably extends only in the upper or lower cover layer edge region. Preferably, the at least one edge element extends perpendicular to a line which outwardly delimits the upper and lower cover layers by less than 2cm, in particular by less than 1 cm.

In a further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil, the upper and lower cover layer edge regions are connected to one another in a particularly planar and fixed manner in the at least one overlapping plane.

The upper cladding layer edge region can be arranged immovably relative to the lower cladding layer edge region, in particular by a fixed connection to one another.

Sharp edges which may be produced by this type of connection of the upper and lower cover layers can be avoided by the surrounding edge elements. Furthermore, a stable connection can be established by a fixed, in particular planar, connection.

In the planar connection of the upper and lower cover layers, the connecting surface may occupy part or the entire overlapping surface.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the upper and lower cover layers have a smaller distance from one another in the overlap region of the upper and lower cover layer edge regions than in the region in which the at least one intermediate layer is arranged.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the at least one intermediate layer is not arranged between the upper and lower cover layer edge regions. Preferably, the at least one intermediate layer is arranged outside, in particular beside, the upper cover layer edge region and the lower cover layer edge region.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that a connecting layer, in particular an adhesive layer, is arranged between the upper and lower cover layer edge regions. The resulting edge can thus be designed more firmly.

The connecting layer may in particular comprise a foam material. Advantageously, the connection layer may improve the thermal welding of the upper and lower cover layers.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the upper and lower cover layers completely surround the at least one intermediate layer. The at least one intermediate layer can thereby advantageously be protected better against damage and/or contamination.

Further embodiments of the magnetic resonance local coil provide that the at least one edge element is designed to be elastic, in particular flexible, spring-loaded, movable, flexible, adaptable, flexible, stretchable and/or soft. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve a particularly soft, particularly haptically pleasant edge.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the at least one edge element comprises a foam material. The at least one edge element may in particular consist solely of foam material. The foam material is particularly soft and therefore comfortable to the touch. The foam is also easy to process. The foam material is particularly suitable for thermal welding, since the foam material is advantageously heat deformable and/or stampable. In addition, the foam material may also be used in different densities.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the upper and lower cover layer edge regions are connected to one another by a thermal joining process. The upper and lower cover layer edge regions are in particular heat-welded to one another. The thermal joining process can be carried out simply and with greater reproducibility.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the edge element and the upper and/or lower cover layer edge region are connected to one another by a thermal joining process.

The upper and lower cover layer edge regions and the edge element are preferably connected to each other in a common thermal joining step.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the magnetic resonance local coil has at least one recess, in particular through a through-opening, a hole and/or a cutout, which is delimited by at least one edge element. The at least one edge element forms in particular at least one hollow edge.

The at least one recess can better dissipate heat from the magnetic resonance local coil. For example, during an examination using the magnetic resonance local coil, the electronics of the magnetic resonance local coil may heat up. In order to prevent heat accumulation, the heat can be discharged through the at least one recess. Thus, the circulation and/or exchange and/or discharge of the generated heat can be advantageously assisted by the at least one recess.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the at least one intermediate layer is arranged at least partially loosely, in particular floatingly and/or not fixedly attached, between the upper and lower cover layers. The at least one intermediate layer can in particular be fixedly connected to the upper and/or lower cover layer in some regions, but not in other regions. However, it is also conceivable for at least one intermediate layer to be arranged completely loosely between the upper and lower cover layers.

The at least one intermediate layer may in particular be arranged loosely with respect to the surface of the upper and/or lower cover layer, in particular parallel to the surface of the upper and/or lower cover layer.

Thereby, the at least one intermediate layer may for example move along the upper and/or lower cover layer. This results in particular in the advantage that the magnetic resonance local coil can be geometrically better adapted to the patient, since the restoring forces due to the fixed connection between the upper and/or lower cover layer and the at least one intermediate layer are reduced.

A further embodiment of the magnetic resonance local coil provides that the at least one intermediate layer comprises a coil layer having at least one coil element and two coil spacing layers, wherein the coil layer is arranged in particular at least locally relaxed between the two coil spacing layers.

The coil spacer layer may for example improve patient safety against e.g. burns. The relaxed arrangement may, for example, increase the flexibility of the magnetic resonance local coil.

Furthermore, a tool for establishing a connection at the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil is proposed. The tool includes an edge receiver having a grooved surface, wherein the groove is designed to receive an edge of a magnetic resonance local coil. The tool further includes a punch and a punch mating piece configured such that when the punch is pressed against the punch mating piece and the edge is positioned between the punch and the punch mating piece in the groove of the edge receiver, a force is applied to the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil. Such a tool enables simplified installation of the magnetic resonance local coil. The multiple layers of the magnetic resonance local coil, which are designed as a sandwich structure, can be positioned in particular more simply.

The punch is preferably designed to move along a surface of the edge holder, in particular perpendicular to the recess of the groove of the edge holder, in the direction of the punch counterpart. The force is applied in particular when the punch is moved along a surface of the edge holder, in particular perpendicularly to a recess of a groove of the edge holder, in the direction of the punch counterpart.

In the slots, the edges of a magnetic resonance local coil can be accommodated, which includes, in particular, an upper cover layer, a lower cover layer and/or edge elements. The connection between the upper covering layer, the lower covering layer and/or the edge element can be established in particular by applying a force to the edge.

A further embodiment of the tool provides that the edge holder and the punch counter piece are fixedly connected, in particular are in one piece. This makes it possible, for example, to achieve a particularly simple manufacture of the tool.

A further embodiment of the tool provides that the edge holder is elastically supported.

A further embodiment of the tool provides that the groove is designed to receive a hollow edge of the magnetic resonance local coil over the entire circumference. This enables connections to be established particularly efficiently at the edge.

The edge receivers are preferably of cylindrical design. This is particularly suitable for accommodating the hollow edge of the magnetic resonance local coil.

The base of the cylinder may be, in particular, circular or have another shape that corresponds to the shape of the recess of the magnetic resonance local coil.

Furthermore, a method for producing an edge of a magnetic resonance local coil is proposed, which comprises an upper cover layer, a lower cover layer and an edge element. Wherein the edge region of the upper cover layer is arranged flat on the edge region of the lower cover layer, so that a common edge region is produced, wherein the edge element is bent around the common edge region of the upper and lower cover layers and is connected to the upper and/or lower cover layers under pressure and/or temperature.

Preferably, the edge element is designed in the form of a disc and/or ring before being connected to the lower and/or upper cover layer.

Preferably, the edge element has a recess before the connection, which is designed to accommodate a common edge region of the upper and lower cover layers.

Preferably, the method is carried out by means of the aforementioned tool.

Preferably, the edge element is connected on one side with the upper or lower cover layer before being machined with the aforementioned tool.

The aforementioned advantages of the magnetic resonance local coil can be transferred to the tool and/or the method, whereas the aforementioned advantages of the tool and/or the method can also be transferred to the magnetic resonance local coil.

Drawings

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the embodiments described below and from the figures. Parts that correspond to each other are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a magnetic resonance apparatus with a magnetic resonance local coil,

figure 2 shows a magnetic resonance local coil with improved margins,

figure 3 shows a partially obtained cross-sectional view through a magnetic resonance local coil with modified margins,

fig. 4 shows a tool for manufacturing an edge, which is in an open state,

fig. 5 shows a tool for manufacturing an edge, which is in a closed state,

figure 6 shows a further tool for making an edge,

figures 7 to 9 show different exemplary edge elements,

fig. 10 shows the cover layer together with the edge element fixed thereto.

Detailed Description

A magnetic resonance system 10 with a magnetic resonance local coil 100 is schematically illustrated in fig. 1. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a magnet unit 11, the magnet unit 11 having a main magnet 12 for generating a strong and in particular temporally constant main magnetic field 13. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a patient receiving region 14 for receiving a patient 15. In the present exemplary embodiment, the patient receiving region 14 is cylindrical in design and is cylindrically enclosed by the magnet unit 11 in the circumferential direction. In principle, however, different designs of the patient receiving region 14 can be considered at any time. The patient 15 can be pushed into the patient receiving region 14 by means of the patient support 16 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. For this purpose, the patient support 16 has an examination table 17 which is movably arranged within the patient receiving region 14.

Furthermore, the magnet unit 11 has a gradient coil unit 18 for generating magnetic field gradients for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 18 is controlled by a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The magnet unit 11 also comprises a high-frequency antenna unit 20, which high-frequency antenna unit 20 is designed in the present exemplary embodiment as a body coil that is fixedly integrated in the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The high-frequency antenna unit 20 is designed for the excitation of the nuclei, which is established in the main magnetic field 13 generated by the main magnet 12. The radio-frequency antenna unit 20 is controlled by a radio-frequency antenna control unit 21 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 and emits radio-frequency magnetic resonance sequences into an examination space, which is essentially formed by the patient accommodation region 14 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The high-frequency antenna unit 20 is also designed for receiving magnetic resonance signals.

The magnetic resonance local coil 100 is also designed for receiving magnetic resonance signals. It is also conceivable that the magnetic resonance local coil 100, like the high-frequency antenna unit 20, is also designed for excitation of the nuclei. For receiving magnetic resonance signals and/or transmitting excitation signals, the magnetic resonance local coil 100 comprises one or more coil elements. The magnetic resonance local coil 100 is also connected to the high-frequency antenna control unit 21 in order to transmit the received magnetic resonance signals to the high-frequency antenna control unit 21 and/or to receive control signals for exciting the nuclei.

The magnetic resonance local coil 100 is arranged directly on the body of the patient 15 in order to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio of the received measurement data. In order to position the magnetic resonance local coil 100 as close to the body as possible, it is designed to be flexible so that it can adapt to the shape of the body. The magnetic resonance local coil 100 is designed here in the form of a cover and is therefore suitable for examining the pelvis, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest of the patient 15. The magnetic resonance local coil 100 here comprises a plurality of recesses which provide good ventilation of the patient's body.

For controlling the main magnet 12, the gradient control unit 19 and for controlling the high-frequency antenna control unit 21, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a system control unit 22. The system control unit 22 centrally controls the magnetic resonance apparatus 10, for example, to carry out a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence. Furthermore, the system control unit 22 comprises an analysis unit, not shown in detail, for analyzing the medical image data acquired during the magnetic resonance examination. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a user interface 23 connected to the system control unit 22. The control information, e.g. the imaging parameters and the reconstructed magnetic resonance image, may be displayed for the medical operator on a display unit 24, e.g. at least one monitor, of the user interface 23. Furthermore, the user interface 23 has an input unit 25, by means of which input unit 25 information and/or parameters can be input by a medical operator during a measurement procedure.

The magnetic resonance local coil 100 with the four recesses 101 is illustrated in exemplary detail in fig. 2 and 3, wherein a detail of the cross section is shown in fig. 3. The magnetic resonance local coil includes an upper cover layer 110 and a lower cover layer 120. Three

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142 are disposed between the upper cladding layer 110 and the lower cladding layer 120.

The three

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142 comprise a coil layer 140 and two coil spacer layers 141, 142, the coil layer 140 comprising at least one coil element (not shown here). The coil layer 140 is disposed between the coil spacer layers 141, 142. Here, the coil layer 140 is loosely laid between the coil spacing layers 141, 142. However, it is also conceivable for the coil layer 140 to be fixedly connected locally and/or in a planar manner to one or both of the coil spacing layers 141, 142.

Further, the upper coil spacer layer 141 may be at least partially loosely disposed on the upper cladding layer 115, and/or the lower coil spacer layer 141 may be at least partially loosely disposed on the lower cladding layer 125. It is therefore conceivable for the

coil spacers

141, 142 to be not fixedly connected at all, or to be fixedly connected locally and/or in a planar manner to the

respective cover layer

110, 120.

The layer structure of the magnetic resonance local coil thus provides the coil layer 140 with at least one coil element in the neutral axis, with one (optionally several) coil spacing layers 141, 142 and one

cover layer

110, 120 each being connected as outer surfaces on both sides from the coil layer 140, the coil spacing layers 141, 142 having preferably optimized properties, for example with respect to ductility, pressure stability, softness, elasticity, respiration capacity.

The magnetic resonance local coil 100 further comprises edge elements 130 which bound the magnetic resonance local coil outwardly, and for each recess 101 one edge element 131 each, the edge elements 131 bound the respective recess 101 inwardly. The

edge elements

130, 131 can, for example, be designed to be elastic and, for example, comprise a foam material.

At the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 100, the upper cladding layer 110 has an upper cladding layer edge region 115 and the lower cladding layer 120 has a lower cladding layer edge region 125. The upper cover layer edge region 115 and the lower cover layer edge region 125 overlap such that they have an overlap plane L, which is marked here for the sake of clarity only in one location.

The

edge elements

130, 131 enclose at least a part of the overlap plane L, such that the enclosed part of the overlap plane L is arranged between the

upper section

130u, 131u and the lower section 130L, 131L of the

edge elements

130, 131. The

edge elements

130, 131 can be connected to one another, in particular with the upper and/or lower cover layer edge regions, by means of a thermal joining process.

Here, the upper cover layer edge region 115 and the lower cover layer edge region 125 are fixedly connected to one another in the overlap plane L. Such a fixed connection may be, for example, planar, in particular over the entire overlapping area L, but may also be provided only at several points within the overlapping area L. The upper cladding layer edge region 115 and the lower cladding layer edge region 125 may be connected to each other, for example, by a thermal bonding process.

The

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142 are not arranged between the upper cover layer edge region 115 and the lower cover layer edge region 125, but rather outside these edge regions.

For example, the edge element 130 is arranged along a circumferential edge, in the region of which a connection layer 135 is arranged between the upper cover layer edge region 115 and the lower cover layer edge region 125.

The upper and lower cladding layers 110, 120 completely surround the

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142. These cover layers thus provide protection against, for example, penetration of liquids into the magnetic resonance local coil 100.

The tool for establishing the connection at the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 100 is shown in the open state in fig. 4 and in the closed state in fig. 5. The tool comprises an edge receiver 220, the edge receiver 220 having a surface with a slot 225, wherein the slot 225 is designed to receive an edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 100. In particular, the slot 225 is designed to receive the edge of the recess 101 of the magnetic resonance local coil 100 over the entire circumference.

In addition, the tool includes a punch 210 and a punch mating piece 220, the punch mating piece 220 being integrally constructed with the edge receiver 220. The punch 210 and punch mating piece 220 are designed such that when the punch 210 presses against the punch mating piece 220 and the edge is positioned between the punch and punch mating piece in the groove of the edge receiver, a force is applied to the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 210.

The edge element 131 is arranged here on an edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 100. The edge elements can have different designs as shown in fig. 7 to 9.

In fig. 7, the edge element 131 is designed with a circumferential groove and thus with a rim-like structure. The groove is a recess which is designed to accommodate a common edge region of the upper and lower cover layers. If the edge element 131 is arranged on the hollow 101, the inner side of the rim is the inner wall of the hollow 101 and is preferably circular, since the patient 15 may be in contact with this inner side.

The foam sheet 131 may be inserted into the groove 225 of the edge receiver 220. The layers of the arrangement of the magnetic resonance local coil are preferably inserted in the order of the upper cover layer 110, the upper spacer layer 141, the

intermediate layers

141, 140, 142 and the lower cover layer 120 onto the edge holder 220, the upper cover layer 110 being, for example, the visible side of the magnetic resonance local coil 100 facing away from the patient 15 when in use. The edge holder 220 is cylindrical here, and therefore fits very well into a circular recess 101, for example.

In this layer structure, the cover layers 110, 120 protrude from the other

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142 in order to provide moving clearance, but also to show the raised height of the coil. For this purpose, the recesses of the prefabricated cover layers 110, 120 have a smaller size, in particular a smaller diameter, than the recesses of the

intermediate layers

140, 141, 142.

Thus, the cover layers 110, 120 are laid or extended into the foam rim 131 and held in the groove 225 of the edge receiver 220. If the tool is closed and the desired process temperature is applied, the foam rim 131 is baked and/or heat bonded only behind the foam bumps and the edges of the hollow 101 are not visible in the end result as sharp, cut-off outer surfaces. Furthermore, the edge design is soft and free of film surfaces and can produce a very good appearance without manual trimming. The welding of the inner side with respect to the edge creates a soft bulge and does not stiffen the edge.

If the magnetic resonance local coil comprises a plurality of recesses 101, this procedure is required in each recess 101.

According to fig. 8, the edge element 131 is designed as a disk. As shown in fig. 10, the edge element 131 may be fixed on one of the cover layers, for example the lower cover layer 120. In particular, the edge element 131 can be fixed on one side with the upper or lower cover layer before machining with one of the tools. The fixing can be effected, for example, by gluing, thermal bonding or snap-on connection. In this case, the edge element 131 need not be inserted separately into the slot 225, but the edge element 131 is turned up when placing the cover layer on which the edge element is fixed. Additional layers are threaded onto the edge receiver 220 in a string, wherein another cover layer, here the lower cover layer 120, pulls the edge element 131 into the slot 225. If the tool is closed, the punch 210 carries the protruding edge element 131 along and welds the recess as described above.

The edge element 131 in the form of a disc has the advantage that it can be manufactured more cheaply than a foam rim and that steps in positioning the layer in the tool can be saved.

According to fig. 9, the edge element 131 is designed as a ring. The ring may be considered as a simplified variant of a foam rim. An annular edge element 131, for example a foam ring, can be machined in particular with the tool shown in fig. 6. The tool here includes a punch 210, a punch engaging member 220, an edge accommodating member 230 having a groove 225, and a spring unit 240, so that the edge accommodating member 230 is elastically supported. In contrast to the embodiment according to fig. 4 and 5, the punch counterpart 220 and the edge receiver 230 are therefore designed in two parts.

Here, the foam ring is placed in a floating edge receptacle 230 with a circumferential groove 225. The layers of the magnetic resonance local coil 100 are then inserted into the tool as described above. The cover layer of the magnetic resonance local coil has smaller holes than the intermediate layer and pulls the foam ring 131 into the slot 225.

In this solution, the protrusions of the foam ring 131 to be clamped by the upper and lower halves of the tool can be better monitored. The reason is that the ends of the foam ring do not need to be stretched much compared to a foam ring in which the inner edge of the ring is placed around the tool cylinder 230 with the grooves 225 with greater stress due to greater elongation.

The tool according to fig. 6 is constructed modularly. Thereby ensuring that the foam ring 131 can always be repeatedly accurately positioned. This enables the manufacture of particularly attractive edges.

The method for producing the edge of the magnetic resonance local coil 100 can be carried out by two tool variants, the magnetic resonance local coil 100 comprising an upper cover layer 110, a lower cover layer 120 and an edge element 131. In this case, the edge region of the upper cover layer 110 is arranged flat on the edge region of the lower cover layer 120, so that a common edge region results. The edge element 131 is bent around a common edge region of the upper and lower cover layers. The edge element 131 is connected to the upper and/or lower cover layer under pressure and/or temperature.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance local coil comprises

-an upper and a lower cover layer;

-at least one edge element;

wherein the upper cladding layer has an upper cladding layer edge region,

wherein the lower cover layer has a lower cover layer edge region,

2. The magnetic resonance local coil according to claim 1, characterized in that in the at least one overlapping face the upper and lower cover layer edge regions are fixedly connected to each other.

3. The magnetic resonance local coil according to claim 2, wherein the at least one intermediate layer is not disposed between the upper and lower cover layer edge regions.

4. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a connection layer is arranged between the upper and lower cover layer edge regions.

5. The magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper and lower cover layers completely surround the at least one intermediate layer.

6. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one edge element is designed to be elastic.

7. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one edge element comprises a foam material.

8. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper and lower cover layer edge regions are connected to each other by a thermal bonding process.

9. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the edge element and the upper and/or lower cover layer edge region are connected to each other by a thermal joining process.

10. The magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magnetic resonance local coil has at least one recess, which is bounded by at least one edge element.

11. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the magnetic resonance local coil is flexible.

12. The magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one intermediate layer is at least partially loosely arranged between the upper and lower cover layers.

13. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one intermediate layer comprises a coil layer with at least one coil element and two coil spacer layers, wherein the coil layer is arranged between two coil spacer layers.

14. The magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an edge region of the upper cover layer is arranged flat on an edge region of the lower cover layer, so that a common edge region is produced, wherein the edge element is bent around the common edge region of the upper and lower cover layers, wherein the edge element is connected to the upper and/or lower cover layers under pressure and/or temperature.

15. The magnetic resonance local coil according to claim 14, characterized in that the edge element is designed disc-shaped and/or ring-shaped before being connected with the lower and/or upper cover layer.

16. A magnetic resonance local coil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the at least one overlapping surface the upper and lower cover layer edge regions are fixedly connected to one another in a planar manner.

17. The magnetic resonance local coil according to claim 13, characterized in that the coil layer is at least locally loosely arranged between two coil spacer layers.

18. A tool for establishing a connection at an edge of a magnetic resonance local coil, the tool comprising:

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the edge receiver and the punch mating element are fixedly connected.

20. A tool according to any one of claims 18 to 19, wherein the edge receiver is resiliently supported.

21. The tool of any one of claims 18 to 19, wherein the slot is designed to receive a recessed edge of a magnetic resonance local coil around its entire circumference.

22. The tool of claim 19, wherein the edge receiver and punch mating piece are integral.