CN215678729U

CN215678729U - Local coil with electronic component housing

Info

Publication number: CN215678729U
Application number: CN202120902913.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: S.津克
Original assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
Current assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
Priority date: 2020-05-04
Filing date: 2021-04-28
Publication date: 2022-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-28
Also published as: DE202020102476U1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a local coil and a magnetic resonance device. The local coil comprises at least one electronic component having at least one electronic component and at least one rigid housing for enveloping the at least one electronic component. The at least one housing includes a housing lower component and a housing upper component. The at least one electronic component is arranged at least partially between the lower housing part and the upper housing part of the at least one housing.

Description

Local coil with electronic component housing

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a local coil and a magnetic resonance device.

Background

In medical technology, Imaging by Magnetic Resonance (MR), also referred to as Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT), is distinguished by a high soft tissue contrast. High-frequency excitation pulses are emitted into the patient by means of a magnetic resonance device. 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 to reconstruct a magnetic resonance image.

The reception of magnetic resonance signals is usually carried out by so-called magnetic resonance local coils (local coils), which are also often referred to as surface coils (surface coils). This is typically an antenna system that is placed against the patient. 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 shape of the patient.

Although a local coil can be designed in a flexible manner as a whole, it usually comprises rigid electronic components in some locations. These electronic components may be, for example, signal amplifiers, diodes, capacitors and/or inductors. In order to protect these electronic components from damage or contact, such electronic components are usually surrounded by one or more rigid housings. Conventional housings generally require a high space requirement, which adversely affects the flexibility of the local coil as a whole. Furthermore, conventional housings can usually only be mounted on the partial coil with great effort.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to overcome the defect of the traditional shell. The object is achieved according to the utility model by a local coil and a magnetic resonance device.

A local coil is proposed, which comprises at least one electronic component having at least one electronic component and at least one rigid housing for enveloping the at least one electronic component. The at least one housing includes a housing lower component and a housing upper component. The at least one electronic component is arranged at least partially between the lower housing part and the upper housing part of the at least one housing.

The at least one electronic component may comprise, for example, a printed circuit board. Furthermore, the at least one electronic component may comprise at least one electronic component (e.g. a signal amplifier, a diode, a capacitor and/or an inductor), for example, which is arranged on a printed circuit board.

The division of the housing into an upper part and a lower part enables a compact design and a simple mounting of the housing. Possible forces acting on the local coil, for example during use and/or handling, can be absorbed by the rigid design of the housing.

The housing lower part and the housing upper part are preferably designed to be detachably (or releasably) connected to one another. The connection between the housing lower part and the housing upper part can advantageously be released without damage. In particular, the housing can be opened and closed several times. This makes it possible in particular to repair the local coil more easily, since the electronic components can be accessed more easily.

The housing lower part and the housing upper part are preferably designed to be connected to each other by means of a rotation of the housing upper part relative to the housing lower part. Such a rotation for connecting the housing lower part with the housing upper part can advantageously be achieved without the use of tools. The housing upper part is preferably shaped such that it can be grasped and rotated by a human hand. The housing comprises, for example, a bayonet lock connection, by means of which the housing lower part and the housing upper part can be connected.

The at least one housing preferably has a twist-stop device which ensures that the housing upper part cannot be accidentally (or inadvertently) rotated relative to the housing lower part. Such a rotation stop device advantageously does not prevent the desired rotation (or rotation) of the housing upper part relative to the housing lower part, but only reduces the probability of such rotation being carried out accidentally. This can improve the safety of the operation of the local coil in particular.

In particular, the housing upper part can be locked to the housing lower part in the first twisted state. By applying the force to be overcome, the housing upper part can be brought into a twisted second state, in which it is no longer locked on the housing lower part. The force to be overcome is preferably set such that an unintentional rotation can be avoided.

The rotation stop can in principle be provided with any strength. The rotation-blocking device is, for example, locked in a fixed manner in the first state, so that the housing upper part and the housing lower part can only be separated from each other in the event of damage.

The rotation-blocking means may comprise, for example, a projection fixed to the upper housing part and a recess fixed to the lower housing part; alternatively, the projection can also be fastened to the housing lower part and the recess can be fastened to the housing upper part. The projection can be latched in the recess in a first twisted state (in which the housing upper part is locked on the housing lower part); the projection can be rotated out of the recess by applying a force to be overcome, in order to achieve a twisted second state in which the housing upper part is no longer locked on the housing lower part. The force to be overcome can be adjusted, for example, by the shape of the recess and/or the projection. The shape of the recess may in particular comprise a chamfer, which may be described, for example, by the slope and/or height of the recess.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the rotation stop is achieved by lateral pressing or by pressing by the housing lower part. The rotation prevention device is advantageously designed such that the rotation prevention device can only be opened by trained personnel. In particular, the housing does not comprise an opening-inducing screw which is visible from the outside in the installed state.

The housing lower part preferably comprises a housing base and a housing frame, wherein the at least one electronic component is fixed between the housing base and the housing frame. The at least one electronic component can be clamped, for example, between the housing base and the housing frame. This advantageously enables a more secure and simple fixing of the electronic component to the housing.

The housing upper part and the housing frame are preferably designed to be connected, in particular detachably connected, to each other. The housing frame preferably forms the connection point of the housing lower part to the housing upper part.

The local coil preferably comprises a planar and flexible antenna element, wherein the antenna element comprises at least one antenna for receiving and/or transmitting high-frequency (HF, english RF) signals and two outer layers. At least one antenna is arranged here between the two outer layers. At least one of the two outer layers comprises at least one opening, and at least one housing is arranged in the region of the at least one opening. Openings are understood to be, in particular, recesses and/or openings. The outer layer can be understood in particular as a skin.

The antenna component may for example have the shape of a cover that can be placed around a body part of a patient. The at least one antenna may be disposed on the substrate, for example. The at least one antenna can be attached to a flexible printed circuit board as a base body, for example in the form of a copper line (Kupferbahn). The base body can, for example, run parallel to the outer layer, so that the base body forms a sandwich structure with the outer layer. The outer layer is preferably not connected to the base body in a planar manner. In particular, no thermal processes are required to cover the local coil, in particular to connect the sheath to the housing.

The at least one antenna is preferably connected to an electronic component enclosed by the housing. The possibly high-frequency signals can be received interactively by the at least one antenna and/or further processed, in particular amplified by an amplifier as part of the at least one electronic component, for example.

The outer layer is preferably designed to protect the at least one antenna from external influences, such as contamination. The outer layer is advantageously easy to clean and/or elastic, so that it can be flexibly adapted. The sheath is advantageously not fixedly connected to the at least one antenna, so that the sheath can be replaced. Preferably, a closure mechanism, for example a zipper and/or a hook and loop fastener and/or a snap fastener, is attached to the edge of the outer skin, by means of which closure mechanism the edge can be repeatedly closed and opened.

Preferably only one of the two outer layers has at least one opening so that the housing projects on only one side of the antenna component. The at least one housing can advantageously be inserted through the at least one opening such that a portion of the at least one housing is located outside the antenna component and another portion of the at least one housing is located inside the antenna component.

The housing frame preferably comprises a frame lower part and a frame upper part, wherein an outer layer comprising at least one opening is arranged between said frame lower part and frame upper part.

The outer layer comprising the at least one opening is for example clamped between the frame lower part and the frame upper part. This makes it possible in particular to seal the opening particularly effectively. Optionally, an additional sealing ring can also be provided between the frame lower part and the frame upper part.

A further embodiment of the local coil provides that the outer layer comprising the at least one opening has a particularly elastic thickening adjacent to the at least one opening. This makes it possible in particular to seal the opening particularly effectively to the outside.

The housing base and the frame upper part preferably have at least one fastening element, which fastens the housing base to the frame upper part. The fixing member includes, for example, a hook fixed to the bottom of the housing and a hook receiving portion fixed to the upper member of the frame for receiving the hook. The hooks can engage in the receptacles and thereby fix the housing base on the frame upper part.

At least one housing preferably has guides which determine the relative orientation of the housing base, the lower frame part and/or the upper frame part. The guide can be combined with a fixing element, for example. The hook can be arranged in particular on a lever, wherein the lever is arranged in the mounted state in a guide groove arranged on the housing frame. The guide advantageously enables easier mounting of the housing.

Furthermore, a magnetic resonance apparatus having at least one of the aforementioned local coils is proposed.

Drawings

Further advantages, features and details of the utility model emerge from the following description of an embodiment and from the drawings. Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a magnetic resonance apparatus with a local coil in a schematic view;

fig. 2 shows a top view of a local coil with a housing in a schematic view;

fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a local coil with a housing in a schematic view;

FIG. 4 shows the housing bottom of the lower housing part in a detail view;

FIG. 5 shows the frame lower part of the housing frame in a detail view;

FIG. 6 shows the housing upper part of the housing frame in a detail view;

FIG. 7 shows the housing upper part in a detail view;

FIG. 8 shows the lower housing part in a detail view;

fig. 9 shows the housing in an unlocked state;

fig. 10 shows the housing in a locked state.

Detailed Description

A magnetic resonance apparatus 10 is schematically shown in fig. 1. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a magnetic 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. The patient receiving region 14 is designed in the present exemplary embodiment in the form of a cylinder and is surrounded in the circumferential direction in the form of a cylinder by the magnet unit 11. In principle, however, different designs of the patient receiving region 14 can also be considered at any time. The patient 15 can be moved into the patient receiving region 14 by means of the patient support 16 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The patient support 16 has a patient table 17 designed to be movable within the patient receiving region 14.

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

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 execute a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence (gradientenechosequesnz). Furthermore, the system control unit 22 comprises an analysis unit, not shown in detail, for analyzing medical image data detected 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 can be displayed for the medical operator on a display unit 24, e.g. at least one display, of the user interface 23. Furthermore, the user interface 23 has an input unit 25, by means of which information and/or parameters can be input by a medical operator during the measurement process.

Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnetic resonance local coil 100. The magnetic resonance local coil is arranged on the patient 15 and is connected to a radio-frequency antenna control unit 21. The magnetic resonance local coil 100 is designed for transmitting high-frequency magnetic resonance sequences and/or for receiving magnetic resonance signals.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a local coil 100 comprising an electronic component 130 with an electronic component 131 arranged on a printed circuit board, and a rigid housing 101 for enveloping the electronic component 130. The local coil also comprises a planar and flexible antenna component 150 having an antenna 151 for receiving and/or transmitting high-frequency signals.

Fig. 3 shows that antenna element 150 includes an upper outer layer 152 and a lower outer layer 153 that outwardly define the antenna element 150. The antenna 151 is located between the two

outer layers

152, 153.

Furthermore, the upper outer layer 152 comprises an opening, wherein the housing 101 is arranged in the region of the opening. The housing 101 comprises a housing lower part 111 and a housing upper part 120, wherein the electronic components 130 are arranged between the housing lower part 110 and the housing upper part 120 of the housing 101. The housing lower part 110 and the housing upper part 120 are designed to be detachably connected to each other.

The housing lower part 110 includes a housing bottom 111 and a housing frame 112, wherein the electronic component 130 is fixed between the housing bottom 111 and the housing frame 112. The housing frame 112 comprises a frame lower part 112a and a frame upper part 112b, wherein an upper outer layer 152 is arranged between said frame lower part 112a and said frame upper part 112 b.

Fig. 4 to 7 show in exemplary detail the different individual components of the housing. The housing 101 is configured as follows from bottom to top: the housing base 111 shown in fig. 4 is first guided through the opening of the antenna component 150 and the electronic component 130, here in the form of a printed circuit board assembly (flexbaurude), is inserted. The electronic component 130 is fixed to the housing frame.

The housing base 111 and the frame upper part 112b shown in fig. 6 have fastening elements which fasten the housing base 111 to the frame upper part 112 b. The fixing member includes a hook 1113 fixed to the housing bottom 111 and a hook accommodating portion 1124 fixed to the frame upper part 112b for accommodating the hook 1113. A hook 1113, which may also be referred to as a snap switch (Schnapper), is arranged on a rod which is guided by a guide 1121 arranged on the frame lower part 112 a. This simultaneously effects a preassembly or an orientation for fastening the housing bottom 111 to the frame upper part 112b, since the hook arrangement will orient (or align) the housing frame 112 via the guides 1121 and easily catch or snap in. As shown in fig. 8, the snap-in is brought into the final position by the frame upper part 112b, i.e. the individual parts of the housing lower part 110 are pressed against one another and held.

Where frame upper member 112b may have been pre-assembled to skin 152. It is also conceivable for the outer skin 152 to have a thickened portion, for example in the form of a flange, adjacent to the opening, which is clamped between the frame lower part 112a and the frame upper part 112b and seals the outer skin 152 with respect to the housing 101.

The housing upper part 120 shown in fig. 7 has the shape of a cover for the housing 101. The housing lower part 110, in particular the frame upper part 112b and the housing upper part 120, are designed to be connected to one another by means of a rotation of the housing upper part 120 relative to the housing lower part 110.

The housing 101, in particular the housing upper part 120 and the frame upper part 112b, has a twist-stop device which ensures that the housing upper part 120 cannot be accidentally twisted relative to the housing lower part 110. The rotation-blocking means has a projection 1203 arranged on the housing upper part 120 and a recess 1126 arranged on the housing lower part 110, to be precise on the frame upper part 112 b.

When mounting the housing upper part 120 on the frame upper part 112b as shown in fig. 9 and 10, care should be taken to fit the twist-stops to each other. After the housing upper part 120 has been placed, it is brought into the position shown in fig. 9 relative to the frame upper part 112 b. From this position, the housing upper part is slightly twisted, wherein the rotation-blocking means is brought from the initial position into the final position shown in fig. 10. When the housing upper part 120 is twisted into the locked state, the projection 1203 is lifted by a bevel in the frame upper part 112b and is locked in the groove-like recess 1126.

Upon twisting, the lug engages around into the frame upper part 112b and locks the housing upper part 120 relative to the frame upper part 112 b. The webs 1125 are twisted in this case, which in the final position lock the free grid, i.e. the grid structure (rasterng) cannot be released any more in the locked final position of the housing upper part 120. The housing 101 can only be opened by rotating the housing upper part 120 back past the latching point of the twist-stop. Thereby making the possibility of inadvertently opening the housing 101 very low.

In summary, it is ensured that a threaded connection which cannot be lost, in particular during servicing, can be dispensed with by the proposed construction. Furthermore, the proposed design allows a space-saving, reversible locking of the printed circuit board while at the same time securing it. The proposed stack of housing parts enables a plurality of functions in one space (in particular protection of the electronics, securing, fixing of the outer skin, easy preassembly and subsequent final assembly of the housing upper part, maintenance of the integrated components, e.g. printed circuit board, antenna component, outer skin, without loss of fixing means).

Finally, it should again be mentioned that the local coil described in detail above is only an embodiment, which can be related in different ways by a person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the utility model. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article "a (positive, neutral)" or "an (negative)" does not exclude that the technical features involved may also be present in a multiplicity of forms. Likewise, the term "unit" does not exclude that the electronic component concerned is composed of a plurality of cooperating sub-components, which may also be spatially distributed, if desired.

Claims

1. A local coil (100) comprising

At least one electronic component (130) having at least one electronic component (131),

at least one rigid housing (101) for enveloping the at least one electronic component (130),

wherein the at least one housing (101) comprises a housing lower part (110) and a housing upper part (120),

wherein the at least one electronic component (130) is arranged at least partially between a housing lower part (110) and a housing upper part (120) of the at least one housing (101).

2. The local coil (100) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the housing lower part (110) and the housing upper part (120) are designed for being detachably connected to each other.

3. The local coil (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the housing lower part (110) and the housing upper part (120) are designed to be connected to each other by means of a rotation of the housing upper part (120) relative to the housing lower part (110).

4. The local coil (100) according to claim 3,

characterized in that the at least one housing (101) has a twist-stop device which ensures that the housing upper part (120) cannot be twisted accidentally relative to the housing lower part (110).

5. The local coil (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the housing lower part (110) comprises a housing bottom (111) and a housing frame (112),

wherein the at least one electronic component (130) is fixed between the housing bottom (111) and the housing frame (112).

6. The local coil (100) according to claim 5,

characterized in that the housing upper part (120) and the housing frame (112) are designed to be connected to each other.

7. The local coil (100) according to claim 6,

characterized in that the local coil comprises a planar and flexible antenna component (150),

wherein the antenna component (150) comprises at least one antenna (151) for receiving and/or transmitting high-frequency signals and two outer layers (152, 153),

wherein the at least one antenna (151) is arranged between the two outer layers (152, 153),

wherein at least one of the two outer layers (152) comprises at least one opening,

wherein the at least one housing (101) is arranged in the region of the at least one opening.

8. The local coil (100) according to claim 7,

characterized in that the housing frame (112) comprises a frame lower part (112a) and a frame upper part (112b),

wherein an outer layer (152) comprising at least one opening is arranged between the frame lower part (112a) and the frame upper part (112 b).

9. The local coil (100) according to claim 8,

characterized in that the outer layer (152) comprising at least one opening has a thickening adjacent to the at least one opening.

10. The local coil (100) according to claim 8,

the housing bottom (111) and the frame upper part (112b) have at least one fastening element, which fastens the housing bottom (111) to the frame upper part (112 b).

11. The local coil (100) according to claim 10,

characterized in that said at least one fixing element comprises:

-a hook (1113) fixed on the housing bottom (111),

-a hook receiving portion (1124) for receiving the hook (1113), the hook receiving portion being fixed to the frame upper part (112 b).

12. The local coil (100) according to claim 8,

characterized in that the at least one housing (101) has a guide (1121) which determines the relative orientation of the housing base (111), the frame lower part (112a) and/or the frame upper part (112 b).

13. A magnetic resonance apparatus (10) having at least one local coil as claimed in one of the preceding claims.