CN215910624U

CN215910624U - MR spine coil

Info

Publication number: CN215910624U
Application number: CN202023036063.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.齐甘
Original assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
Current assignee: Siemens Medical Ag
Priority date: 2019-12-19
Filing date: 2020-12-16
Publication date: 2022-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-16
Also published as: DE202019107120U1

Abstract

The utility model relates to an MR spine coil (1) having a base part, a cover part (5) and at least one functional component, wherein the at least one functional component (9) is arranged on an inner side (13) of the cover part (5), an inner side wall (7) of the base part (3) is shaped such that it has at least one recess (8) for accommodating the at least one functional component (9) and a projection (10) for surface contact with the inner side (13) of the cover part (5), and the base part (3) has at least one cavity (12) between a base part outer side wall (2) and a base part inner side wall (7), which is filled with a supporting core material (11).

Description

MR spine coil

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an MR spine coil.

Background

For Magnetic Resonance (MR) systems, it is often desirable to use a higher channel MR spine coil (also referred to as a "spine coil") that is as long as possible to enable examination of the entire body of a patient(s) (MR)

-Patienten-Untersuchung) and nevertheless light enough to be removed from the patient table and easy to handle.

Up to now, MR spine coils are known which have a hollow injection-molded plastic housing, wherein a massive support is formed in the cavity, which massive support acts as a force transmission between its planar sides (bottom and top). The electronic component is fixed in the cavity by a fixing device. Such MR spine coils are relatively heavy and therefore inconvenient to use. Furthermore, the assembly effort is large.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide an MR spine coil which is particularly lightweight, but nevertheless stable.

The above technical problem is solved by the features according to the present invention. In particular, advantageous embodiments can also be obtained from the present invention.

The above technical problem is solved by an MR spine coil comprising a base part, a cover part and at least one functional component, wherein

At least one functional component is arranged on the inner side of the cover part,

the inner side wall of the base part is shaped such that it has at least one recess for accommodating at least one functional component and a projection for surface-contacting the inside of the cover part; and

the base part has at least one cavity between the base part outer side wall and the base part inner side wall, which cavity is filled with a core material providing support.

Due to the "sandwich structure" of the base part, the MR spine coil has the advantage that it can be formed particularly lightweight. Due to the light weight, good operability or workability can be achieved even in the case of larger dimensions, in particular larger lengths. Furthermore, despite the low weight, a high stiffness or strength of the coil can advantageously be achieved. Furthermore, the heavy support required hitherto in injection-molded structures in the base part can be dispensed with due to the high rigidity or strength, as a result of which less PET weakening occurs, and the MR spine coil can be used with particular advantage for combined MR-PET examinations (positron emission tomography). A further advantage is that the weight exerted on the lid part (e.g. the weight of the patient) is transferred directly from the lid part to the base part, so that the lid part can be designed to be thin and thus also lightweight, thereby also reducing PET weakening. Furthermore, good maintainability results in an advantageous manner, since only the base part needs to be removed to inspect the functional assembly. It is also advantageous that no new production process is required in MR production, since already installed or embedded base parts can be provided.

In particular, the inner side of the cover part may be understood as the flat side of the cover part opposite the base part in the assembled state of the cover part and the base part. The inner side of the base part is formed by an inner side wall which thus in the assembled state of the cover part and the base part is opposite to the cover part. The cavity is in particular defined by an inner side wall of the base part and an inner side of the cover part.

The inner side is in particular inaccessible in the assembled state of the cover part and the base part.

In one embodiment, at least one functional component is an electronic component. In one embodiment, the at least one functional component is an MR antenna or an MR monocoil. The at least one MR antenna may be arranged on a thin flat substrate arranged between the cover part and the base part. The substrate may be, for example, 0.3mm thin. In one embodiment, the at least one functional component is a module, in particular a packaged module.

The arrangement of the at least one functional component on the inner side of the cover part may in particular comprise: at least one functional component can be attached to or in a position provided for this purpose on the inner side, in particular in a position formed in a matching manner with the functional component, for example in or on a recess. The contour of the inner side of the cover part is thus designed or shaped in particular such that one or more functional components, in particular one or more electronic components, can be arranged, in particular inserted, into the assigned position.

In the assembled state of the cover part and the base part, the functional component area of the at least one functional component protruding from the inner side of the cover part is located in the at least one recess of the inner side wall of the base part. The functional component is thus arranged in the region of the recess between the cover part and the base part. In the assembled state, on the other hand, the projection of the base part bears in a surface-like manner against the inner side of the cover part and supports the cover part on the resulting contact surface.

The base part has at least one cavity between its outer side wall and its inner side wall, which cavity is filled with a filler material or core material that provides support, which can also be stated as the base part is designed in a sandwich structure.

In one embodiment, the base part and/or the cover part are separate parts, i.e. can be used in particular as a unit or in a single piece. This achieves the advantage that in the case of maintenance, the base part and/or the cover part can be easily replaced and only new parts need to be fixed to the respective further parts.

In one embodiment, the functional element is encapsulated, which has the advantage that, if the inner side walls of the cover part and the base part are optionally designed to be of a fire-resistant or fire-resistant type (e.g. fire-resistant, highly fire-resistant, etc.), a greater variety of designs, for example a multiplicity of material choices, can be achieved in respect of the core material and the outer side walls of the base part. In particular, the functional element may be enclosed by the inner side walls of the cover part and the base part themselves. In particular, the inner side walls of the lid and base members may be made of a material that conforms to UL 94.

In one embodiment, the core material is a homogeneous core material, for example a foam or paper layer. The advantage of such a core is that it causes a particularly low PET attenuation.

In one embodiment, the core material is a heterogeneous or heterogeneous core material, for example a honeycomb structure ("honeycomb") or a tubular structure, which is made, for example, of plastic, foam or cardboard. Such a core material can advantageously be very light.

In one embodiment, the core material has at least one support element extending from the outer side wall to the inner side wall. The following advantages are thereby achieved: the base part can be supported more strongly against the cover, which is advantageous in particular in the case of high weight loads, for example caused by a heavier patient. In particular, the at least one support element has a low wall thickness, so that advantageously the penetration for PET examinations is not significantly reduced and therefore only as little PET weakening as possible results. Such support elements may be formed, for example, as honeycomb structures or tubular structures.

In one embodiment, the at least one supporting element is arranged in at least one projection of the base part. It is thereby advantageously achieved that the forces acting from the cover part directly to the base part take up a higher proportion, which in turn reduces the mechanical loading of the functional component. Furthermore, the introduction of forces, such as the weight of the patient, may be more evenly distributed over the base part, which in turn helps to prevent damage to the base part. This advantage is further enhanced if the at least one supporting element is arranged only in the at least one projection of the base part and, thus, not in the region of the receptacle, in particular in the region below the receptacle.

In order to reduce the mechanical load on the functional component and/or to achieve a more uniform force introduction, the inner side wall is likewise designed in an advantageous embodiment in a reinforced manner on at least one contact surface with the cover part.

In one embodiment, the inner side wall and/or the outer side wall of the base part are formed by means of layers or as layers and are therefore particularly thin. This also results in a large weight reduction of the base part. This layer may also be referred to as a sheet, sheet material. This layer is in particular a sheet, film or "skin". In one embodiment, the thickness or wall thickness of the layer (except for the reinforced regions if necessary) is not greater than 2mm, in particular not greater than 1 mm.

In one embodiment, the inner and/or outer side walls of the base part are made of or comprise a material suitable for MR, in particular a plastic material.

In one embodiment, the inner side wall and/or the outer side wall of the base part are formed by means of a tensile layer. A particularly high rigidity or strength of the base part is thereby achieved. The stretch-resistant material may be, for example, a glass fiber reinforced plastic or an aramid fiber reinforced plastic. The layer may be particularly impact resistant.

In one embodiment, the inner and outer side walls are connected to the core material in a material-fit manner, for example by adhesive bonding, thermal welding or the like, whereby the rigidity or strength is further increased.

In one embodiment, the inner side wall and the outer side wall are connected to one another at the edges, so that a closed base part (possibly with the exception of a cable sleeve or the like) is obtained.

In one embodiment, the cover part is an injection molded part. Due to the particularly rigid base part, such a cover part can be thinner, and therefore lighter and more transparent for PET examination, than conventional housing wall thicknesses.

The cover part can be manufactured, for example, by milling, additively or by means of injection moulding tools, depending on the planned annual production.

In one embodiment, in the assembled state of the base part and the cover part, the at least one functional component is arranged in a form-fitting manner in the at least one recess (also referred to as "receptacle"). The following advantages are thereby achieved: in order to reliably arrange the functional component in the receptacle, little or no separate fastening means are required, thereby reducing the assembly effort.

In one embodiment, the functional assembly is held between the cover part and the base part in the assembled state in a clamping fit, i.e. a force holding the functional assembly is exerted on the functional assembly by the cover part and the base part. This achieves that the functional component is held particularly reliably in its intended position.

In one embodiment, the at least one recess or receptacle is shaped in such a way that it surrounds the corresponding at least one functional component in a laterally tight manner, i.e. it does not allow or only allows slight lateral play of the functional component. This achieves that the functional assembly is held particularly securely in its intended position and cannot be displaced laterally. A further advantage is that the contact surface of the projection is thus particularly large, which further improves the direct transmission of force through the base part. In particular, the inner side of the base part may be shaped or profiled such that it actually consists only of the projections and (narrow) receptacles for contacting the cover part. Then, in the assembled state, the inner side of the base part, except for the functional elements, is in virtually complete contact with the cover part.

In one design, the MR spine coil is suitable for use in a PET examination. The MR spine coil may also be referred to as an MR-PET spine coil.

In one embodiment, the MR spine coil is a stand-alone MR spine coil, i.e. it is not permanently integrated into other system components of the MR system, such as a patient table. This achieves a particularly high flexibility of use. For example, in the case of a patient table, more useful space remains for applications that do not require an MR spine coil.

In one embodiment, the MR spine coil is integrated into a patient table. The following advantages are thereby achieved: the support structure in the core of the base part can be eliminated and, if necessary, no weakening of the PET by the support structure occurs. Furthermore, a separate MR antenna in the patient table can thereby be eliminated.

Preferably, the MR spine coil described above may be assembled or mounted in the following way:

-inserting at least one functional component at a defined position of the cover part, respectively;

-wiring at least one functional component;

-placing the base part on the lid part; and is

-securing the lid part to the base part.

The lid part and the base part can be fixed, for example, by means of a screw connection, a clamping connection, a locking connection or the like.

Drawings

The above described features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention and its manner of implementation will be more clearly and clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of the embodiments set forth in more detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of clarity, identical or identically acting elements have the same reference numerals here.

Fig. 1 shows an assembled or assembled MR spine coil in a view from obliquely below;

fig. 2 shows a base part of the MR spine coil according to fig. 1 from an oblique upper perspective; and

fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a section of the MR spine coil according to fig. 1 as a sectional view from a side perspective.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an MR spine coil 1 in a view from obliquely below, mainly looking at the outer side wall 2 of the base part 3. A cover part 5 is mounted on the base part 3, visible only at its side edges 4. The cable channel 6 leads electrical wires (not shown) out of the base part 3. The MR spine coil 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape or a plate shape. The MR spine coil 1 is normally lying with its base part 3, while the patient is normally lying on one side of the cover part 5. The MR spine coil 1 may be arranged, for example, on a patient table (not shown) of an MR system (not shown).

Fig. 2 shows the base part 3 of the MR spine coil 1 from a perspective from obliquely above, mainly looking at the inner side walls 7 of the base part. The inner side wall 7 is connected at the edge side to the outer side wall 2, so that the base part 3 is closed.

The inner side wall 7 of the base part 3 is shaped such that it or its contour has at least one recess 8 (see fig. 3) for accommodating a functional component 9 and a plurality of vertically standing projections 10 (see fig. 3) for surface contact with the inner side of the cover part 5.

The outer side wall 2 and the inner side wall 7 are each designed as a tensile-resistant, but particularly flexible, layer or skin, for example made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic or aramid-reinforced plastic.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a part of the MR spine coil 1 in the assembled state of the base part 3 and the cover part 5 as a cross-sectional view from a side perspective.

A cavity 12 filled with a non-conductive core 11, such as foam or paper, is located between the outer side wall 2 and the inner side wall 7 of the base part 3. Outer side wall 2 and inner side wall 7 are connected to core 11 in a material-fit manner, for example by gluing, so that base part 3 forms a closed unit.

The cover part 5 is likewise made of plastic and can be present as a thin injection-molded part, a milled plastic part, an additive-manufactured plastic part, etc.

The functional assembly 9 is inserted in a form-fitting manner and laterally or transversely tightly into the recess 8 of the base part 3 and is additionally clamped in place, in particular by the cover part 5 and the base part 3. The functional component 9 rests on the inner side 13 of the cover part 5 and, in a variant, is inserted there into a corresponding flat recess.

The inner side walls 7 bear in each case at the projections 10 face-wise against contact surfaces 14 at the inner side 13 of the cover part 5 and can therefore be subjected directly to the forces exerted by the cover part 5. At least one of the projections 10, the core 11 has electrically non-conductive support elements 15, which each extend from the outer side wall 2 to the inner side wall 7, so that a load path or load-bearing cross-member is formed between these walls 2, 7.

Additionally or alternatively, the inner side wall 7 may be reinforced at least locally at the contact surface 14, for example by having a greater wall thickness there than in the region of the at least one recess 8.

The MR spine coil 1 is particularly suitable for use as an MR-PET spine coil.

In a variant, for assembling the MR spine coil 1, the functional component 9 is first inserted into a corresponding recess of the cover part 5, then the functional component 9 is wired, then the base part 3 is arranged on the cover part 5, and finally the cover part 5 is fixed to the base part 3, for example screwed or locked to the base part 3.

Although the utility model has been illustrated and described in detail by the embodiments shown, the utility model is not limited thereto and other variants can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the utility model.

In general, "a", "an", etc. are to be construed as singular or plural, especially in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", etc., as long as they are not explicitly excluded, for example, by the expression "exactly one" or the like.

The numerical descriptions may also include the numbers specified and the usual tolerance ranges, as long as they are not expressly excluded.

Claims

1. MR spine coil (1) with a base part, a cover part (5) and at least one functional component, characterized in that

-at least one functional component (9) is arranged on the inner side (13) of the cover part (5),

-the inner side wall (7) of the base part (3) is shaped such that it has at least one recess (8) for accommodating at least one functional component (9) and a protrusion (10) for surface contact with the inner side (13) of the cover part (5), and

-the base part (3) has at least one cavity (12) between the outer side wall (2) of the base part and the inner side wall (7) of the base part, which cavity is filled with a core material (11) that can provide support.

2. MR spine coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the core material (11) has at least one support element (15) extending from the outer side wall (2) to the inner side wall (7).

3. MR spine coil (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one support element (15) is arranged in at least one projection (10) of the base part (3).

4. MR spine coil (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner side wall (7) is designed to be reinforced on at least one contact surface (14) with the cover part (5).

5. MR spine coil (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner side wall (7) is constructed by means of a stretch-resistant layer.

6. The MR spine coil (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer side wall (2) is constituted by layers.

7. MR spine coil (1) according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the inner (7) and outer (2) side walls are glued to the core material (11).

8. MR spine coil (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one recess (8) is shaped such that it tightly encloses the corresponding at least one functional component (9) in a lateral direction.

9. MR spine coil (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one functional component (9) is arranged in a form-fitting manner in at least one recess (8) in the assembled state of the base part (3) and cover part (5).

10. The MR spine coil (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the MR spine coil (1) is adapted for use in a PET examination.

11. The MR spine coil (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the MR spine coil (1) is a stand-alone MR spine coil (1).

12. The MR spine coil (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the MR spine coil (1) is integrated in a patient table.