JP2003210432A - Surface coil unit with display means and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an SC (surface coil) unit with a display device, an interface (I/F) device, and a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging device capable of visually observing a image adjacent to a part to be examined with the SC applied thereto. <P>SOLUTION: This SC unit 5 with the display is provided with the surface coil (SC) 53, an LCD device 51, a sub operation command part 52, a liquid crystal display driver PCB 55, and a sub operation signal output PCB 56. The I/F part 32A is installed in such a position neither affecting a magnetic field of a magnet system 21 of the NMR imaging device nor being affected by the magnetic field as much as possible. The I/F part 32A is connected to a control part 25 and a data processing part 27 via a data collection/data output part 31. The SC 53 is disposed adjacent to the part to be examined by a doctor or an inspecting engineer. The detecting signal of the SC 53 is transmitted to the data processing part 27 via the I/F part 32A and the image pickup signal produced in the data processing part 27 is displayed on the LCD device 51 of the SC unit 5 with the display. The sub operation command part 52 is used for the operation command using the SC unit 5 with the display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (MRI apparatus) and a surface coil unit with display means used for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (MRI apparatus) is
The subject is introduced (accommodated) into the magnetic field space formed by the main magnetic field magnet section, the RF coil, and the gradient coil, and the magnetic resonance phenomenon is used to image the subject site of the subject. In such imaging of a subject, a signal detected by the RF coil is usually processed to generate a captured image. However, since the RF coil has a large size, it is not suitable for imaging a detailed examination site of a subject, for example, a part of the built-in body. As such an application, it has been attempted to bring a surface coil close to a region to be inspected of an object to be imaged.

[0003]

The surface coil is usually used by a doctor or an inspection technician in a scan room to bring the imaged image of a desired site to be examined by approaching the desired site to be examined. The captured image obtained by scanning the region to be examined using the surface coil has been displayed on the display unit in the operation room adjacent to the scan room so far. Therefore, the doctor or laboratory technician in the scan room cannot visually observe the captured image of the site to be examined on the spot, and after generating the imaged image by scanning various sites to be examined using the surface coil, It is necessary to return to the operation room and check the captured image displayed on the display section in the operation room, which takes time.

Therefore, a doctor or a technician who holds a surface coil directly in his / her hand and arranges the surface coil in the vicinity of the site to be inspected for scanning is currently using his / her own surface coil. It is desired to be able to confirm the picked-up image of the site to be inspected on the spot where the inspection is performed. By doing so, it is possible to determine on the spot whether or not the imaging result scanned using the surface coil is the desired result, and if the imaging result is insufficient, it is sufficient to perform the scanning using the surface coil. If a good picked-up image is obtained, the scan can be terminated and an efficient inspection can be realized.

An object of the present invention is to allow a doctor or an inspection technician who scans a region to be examined with a surface coil in his hand to immediately view a captured image as a result of scanning using the surface coil. It is to provide a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface coil unit with a display means applied to such a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surface coil unit with display means for use in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, which has a surface coil and a display means. Preferably, the display means has a liquid crystal display and its driver circuit.

[0007] Preferably, in the surface coil unit portion with the display means, settings and operation instructions relating to an operation for performing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging using the surface coil are performed, and display processing to the display means is performed. It further has a sub-operation instructing means for performing either or both. The sub-operation instructing means is for setting or changing a protocol for scanning, means for instructing scanning operation, means for selecting contents to be displayed on the display means, and display contents displayed on the display means. It includes any one of display instruction means for performing either movement or scrolling.

Specifically, the signals of the surface coil and the sub-operation instruction means are output via a cable, and the display signal to the display means is input via the cable, and used in the surface coil unit with display means. Power is supplied via a cable.

Further, specifically, the output signal of the surface coil, the display input signal to the display means, and the output signal of the sub operation instructing means are communicated by a wireless system using an optical signal. Preferably, the surface coil unit with display means has a light emitting means, a light receiving means, an amplifying means for amplifying a detection signal of the surface coil, and a converting means for converting the amplified signal into a digital signal. Means, sub-operation signal adjusting means for processing the signal of the sub-operation instructing means, signal output means for outputting the signals of the surface coil signal adjusting means and the sub-operation signal adjusting means via the light emitting means, A reception signal processing means for signal-processing a signal for operating the display means received via the light receiving element and outputting the signal to the display means; and a power supply means for supplying power used in the surface coil unit with the display means. Have. Also preferably, the light emitting means includes a light emitting diode or a laser, and the light receiving means includes a photodiode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, main magnetic field magnet means, RF coil means, gradient coil means,
First data collecting means for collecting a signal detected by the RF coil means when a subject is introduced into a magnetic field formed by the main magnetic field magnet means, the RF coil means, and the gradient coil means; First data processing means for signal-processing the data collected by the first data collecting means to generate a picked-up image of the subject detected by the RF coil means, and first data processing means 1
And an output means for outputting a captured image of the above, a surface coil unit with a display means according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is placed in the magnetic field, and the RF coil means and the gradient coil means. The receiving means for receiving the signal detected by the surface coil of the surface coil unit with display means and the output signal of the sub-operation instructing means, and outputting the display signal to the display means of the surface coil unit with display means. An interface unit having a display signal output unit and a signal of the sub-operation instruction unit from the reception unit of the interface unit are input, and a signal detected by the surface coil is input according to the instruction of the sub-operation instruction unit. Image processing is performed to generate an image signal, and the display signal output means of the interface means is used. And displays the image signal generated in the display means of the serial display surface coil unit with means, and second data processing means, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided.

Specifically, the interface and the surface coil unit with display means are connected by cable means, and the interface has a power supply unit for supplying power to be used in the surface coil unit with display means. The signals of the surface coil of the surface coil unit with display means and the sub-operation instructing means are output via the cable in the cable means, and the display signal to the display means is output via the cable in the cable means. The power supply unit of the interface is connected to the power supply using section of the surface coil unit with display means via the cable in the cable means.

More specifically, the output signal of the surface coil, the display input signal to the display means, and the output signal of the sub operation instructing means are communicated by a wireless system using an optical signal. Preferably, the surface coil unit with display means has a light emitting means, a light receiving means, an amplifying means for amplifying a detection signal of the surface coil, and a converting means for converting the amplified signal into a digital signal. Means, sub-operation signal adjusting means for processing the signal of the sub-operation instructing means, signal output means for outputting the signals of the surface coil signal adjusting means and the sub-operation signal adjusting means via the light emitting means, A reception signal processing means for signal-processing a signal for operating the display means received via the light receiving element and outputting the signal to the display means; and a power supply means for supplying power used in the surface coil unit with the display means. Have. Also preferably, the light emitting means includes a light emitting diode or a laser, and the light receiving means includes a photodiode.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (M
A preferred embodiment of an RI apparatus) and a surface coil unit with display means (SC unit with display means) used therefor will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Configuration of MRI Apparatus With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the MRI apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the MRI apparatus of the present invention. The MRI apparatus 2 includes an operator console 2B and a scan room 3A in which a main body 2A of the MRI apparatus is placed, which forms a magnetically closed space for preventing leakage of electromagnetic waves emitted from a magnet and invasion of disturbance electromagnetic waves. It is arranged in the operation room 3B which is closed. Usually, the scan room 3A and the operation room 3B are adjacent to each other, the operator in the operation room 3B, while looking through the glass window between the scan room 3A and the operation room 3B, for example, via a speaker. While inspecting the subject 4 to be inspected while riding on the cradle 26 in the scan room 3A, the subject 4 is instructed to perform the inspection. When a doctor or an inspection technician wants to inspect a specific part to be inspected of the subject 4 using the surface coil unit 5 with display means, the doctor or inspection technician works in the scan room 3A.

The MRI apparatus main body 2A in the scan room 3A has a magnet system 21. Magnet system 21
Are the main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b and the RF coil sections 214a and 214b, which are vertically separated with a gap 211 into which the subject 4 placed on the cradle 26 is introduced.
And gradient coil portions 213a and 213b, which form a magnetic field in the gap 211. Main magnetic field magnet section
212a, 212b, gradient coil sections 213a, 213b, RF coil section 21
Details of 4a and 214b will be described later. MR in scan room 3A
The I device main body 2A has a control unit 25, an RF coil driving unit 22, and a gradient coil driving unit 23, and the control unit 25 controls driving of the gradient coil units 213a and 213b and the RF coil units 214a and 214b. The RF coil driving unit 22 and the gradient coil driving unit 23 drive the RF coil units 214a and 214b and the operator gradient coil units 213a and 213b in accordance with the control signal. Details of these will be described later. The MRI apparatus main body 2A in the scan room 3A has a data collection unit 24 that collects detection signals of the RF coil units 214a and 214b.

The operator console 2B in the operation room 3B is
The data processing unit 27, the operation unit 28, and the display unit 29 are included. The data processing unit 27 functions as the first data processing means and the second data processing means of the present invention. The display unit 29 functions as the output means of the present invention.

The scan room 3A further includes a surface coil unit 5 with display means, an interface device 32, and a data collection / data output section 31. The surface coil unit 5 with display means is used when a doctor or an inspection technician holds it in his / her hand and directly scans a region to be examined of the subject 4 to obtain its captured image. The data collection / data output unit 31 functions as the second data collection means and data output means of the present invention. Details of the surface coil unit with display means 5, the data collection / data output unit 31, and the interface device 32 will be described later.

The main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b are gaps.
A static magnetic field is formed in 211. The direction of the static magnetic field is usually the direction orthogonal to the body axis direction of the subject 4, and forms a vertical magnetic field. The main magnetic field magnet units 212a and 212b are usually configured by using permanent magnets.

The gradient coil sections 213a and 213b are RF coil sections.
In order to add position information to the magnetic resonance signals received by 214a and 214b, a gradient magnetic field that gives a gradient to the intensity of the static magnetic field formed by the main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b is generated. The magnetic field generated by the gradient coil units 213a and 213b is composed of three types of gradient coils because the control unit 25 generates a slice gradient magnetic field, a read-out gradient magnetic field, and a phase encode gradient magnetic field. Gradient coil driver 23
Applies a drive signal corresponding to a protocol based on a command from the control unit 25 to the gradient coil units 213a and 213b to generate any one of the above gradient magnetic fields.

The RF coil sections 214a and 214b form a high frequency magnetic field for exciting spins in the body of the subject 4 in the static magnetic field space formed by the main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b.
Forming a high-frequency magnetic field is called transmission of an RF excitation signal. The RF coil units 214a and 214b receive electromagnetic waves generated by spins excited in the body of the subject 4 as magnetic resonance signals. As described above, the RF coil units 214a and 214b have a transmission function and a reception function, and the same coil may serve both functions, or the reception coil and the transmission coil may be separated.

The RF coil sections 214a and 214b receive a drive signal corresponding to a protocol by the RF coil drive section 22 based on a command from the control section 25 and form a high frequency magnetic field. In magnetic resonance imaging processing, one repetition time (repetition t
The number of scan sequences (pulse sequences) used for each ime (TR) differs depending on the protocol set corresponding to each examined region of the subject 4. For example, the imaging data of 64 to 512 views is obtained by repeating each different number of times, for example, 64 to 512 times, for each protocol according to the site to be examined such as the head of the subject 4.

The RF coil drive unit 22 sends a drive signal corresponding to a protocol based on a command from the control unit 25 to the RF coil unit 214.
An RF excitation signal is generated from the RF coil units 214a and 214b by being applied to a and 214b to excite spins in the body of the subject 4.

The data collecting unit 24 is an RF coil unit 214a, 214b.
The received signals received by are input, the signals are collected as view data and output to the data processing unit 27.

The control unit 25 repeats a predetermined pulse sequence a predetermined number of times within a predetermined repetition time TR according to the protocol to be executed corresponding to the region of the subject 4 sent from the data processing unit 27. The RF coil drive unit 22 is driven so as to apply the drive signal to the RF coil units 214a and 214b. Further, the control unit 25 drives the gradient coil driving unit 23 so as to apply a pulse signal of a predetermined parameter to the gradient coil units 213a and 213b within 1TR according to the protocol to be executed. Further, the control unit 25 collects the signals received by the RF coil units 214a and 214b as view data and outputs the view data to the data processing unit 27.
To control.

The pulse sequence for magnetic resonance imaging differs depending on various imaging methods such as spin echo (SE) method, gradient echo method, fast spin echo method, fast recovery spin echo method, and echo planar imaging method. . However, since the pulse sequence itself is not the subject of the present invention, these detailed descriptions are omitted.

The data processing unit 27 stores the received signals of the RF coil units 214a and 214b collected by the data collecting unit 24 in a memory (not shown). A data space is formed in the memory, and this data space constitutes a two-dimensional Fourier space (k space). The data processing unit 27 performs a two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform on the data in the two-dimensional Fourier space of the memory, performs a conversion process from the Fourier frequency space to the real space, reconstructs the image of the subject 4, and displays it graphically. An image or the like is output to the possible display unit 29.

The operation unit 28 has a keyboard equipped with a pointing device, a mouse, and / or a tracking ball, and the operator operates them to cause the data processing unit 27 to perform desired MRI processing.

Of surface coil unit with display means
First Embodiment With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a surface coil unit 5 with a display means and a data collection / data output section 31 illustrated in FIG.
And the interface device 32, and the data processing unit 27.
The first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a magnet system illustrated in FIG.
It is the figure which expanded and abbreviate | omitted the peripheral part of 21 and the cradle 26. The magnet system 21 including the main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b, the gradient coil sections 213a and 213b, and the RF coil sections 214a and 214b is an upper magnet system.
21A and lower magnet system 21B are not shown. The surface coil unit 5 with display means illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated as a first SC unit 5A with display means, and the data collection / data output unit 31 illustrated in FIG. The interface device 32 illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated as a first interface unit 32A. Other components illustrated in FIG. 1, eg, RF coil driver 22, gradient coil driver
23, the data collection unit 24, the control unit 25, the cradle 26, etc. are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.

The first SC unit 5A with display means is connected to the first interface section 32A via the cable unit 6A, and the first interface section 32A is installed in the lower magnet system 21B. The first interface unit 32A and the data collection / data output unit 31 are connected by a cable. Data collection / data output section 31
Is connected to the data processing unit 27 via the control unit 25, as illustrated in FIG. In the magnetic field space of the gap 211, it is desirable not to place a magnetic substance or the like so as not to disturb the magnetic field generated by the coil or the like. Therefore, it is desirable that the first interface unit 32A including an electronic circuit or the like is installed outside the magnetic field space of the gap 211 as much as possible, or has a configuration that does not substantially affect the magnetic field.

FIG. 3A is an external view of the SC unit 5A with the first display means illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is the first display means illustrated in FIG. 3A. It is an internal schematic diagram of SC unit 5A. SC unit 5A with first display means
Is a body 50, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 51, and a sub operation instruction unit.
52, surface coil 53, connector plug 54,
LCD driver / printed circuit board (PCB)
55, sub operation signal output PCB 56, LCD power supply terminal 57
And a connector receptacle 58. The sub-operation instructing section 52 is called because the operation by the operation section 28 is mainly the operation by the first SC unit 5A with display means. Conventionally, the surface coil was only a coil wound one turn,
The first display means-equipped SC unit 5A has an LCD display 51, a sub-operation instruction section 52, and a driver circuit for these, in addition to the surface coil 53 wound one turn.

The sub-operation instruction section 52 includes a first sub-operation button 521.
, Second sub-operation button 522, third sub-operation button 523 and tracking ball 524. Sub operation instruction section 52
Is used by a doctor or an inspection technician who uses the first SC unit 5A with display means in the scan room 3A as a substitute for the operation unit 28 in the operation room 3B. First to third
The sub operation buttons 521 to 523 are used, for example, when a doctor or a technician using the first SC unit 5A with display means sets or changes the protocol. The tracking ball 524 is used when the image displayed on the LCD display 51 is moved or when the content displayed on the LCD display 51 is scrolled.

The sub-operation signal output PCB 56 is a sub-operation instruction section.
It is a circuit that converts a plurality of signals of 52 into digital signals of a signal level that can be transmitted from the LCD display 51 by the first interface section 32A and sends them out at a predetermined cycle. The sub-operation signal output PCB 56 sends the first sub-operation button 521 to the third sub-operation button 523, which are shown in the on or off state, as digital signals to the multiplexer 322 of the first interface section 32A.

The sub operation signal output PCB 56 detects the movement of the tracking ball 524, that is, the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation as an analog amount. Preferably, the sub operation signal output PCB 56 converts the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the tracking ball 524 detected as an analog amount by the AD converter into a digital signal and sends it to the multiplexer 322 of the first interface section 32A.

The sub-operation signal output PCB 56 mounted in the first SC unit 5A with display means placed in the magnetic field.
It is preferable that the circuit (1) does not include an AD converter as much as possible. In this case, the sub operation signal output PCB 56 can also output the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the tracking ball 524 to the first interface unit 32A as an analog signal. In that case, it is not necessary to provide an analog / digital converter in the sub operation signal output PCB 56. In that case, the multiplexer 322 of the first interface unit 32A is also used.
It is also possible to input the data directly to the data collection / data output unit 31 without converting the data into a digital signal and convert it into a digital signal in the data collection / data output unit 31.

The liquid crystal display driver PCB 55 receives the display signal indicating the image and character information and the like, and receives the display signal from the LCD display 51.
It is a circuit for displaying as an image and character information on. Liquid crystal display driver PCB 55 and LCD display 51
May be the same as that used in a portable information processing terminal device such as a mobile phone.

The connector receptacle 58 is a connector plug
It is connected to 54 and sends the signal from the surface coil 53 and the signal from the sub operation signal output PCB 56 to the preamplifier 321 and the multiplexer 322 in the first interface section 32A via the cable unit 6A. The connector receptacle 58 receives the display signal from the display signal output section 323 of the first interface section 32A and outputs it to the liquid crystal display driver PCB55. Further, the connector receptacle 58 receives power supply from the DC power supply unit 324 of the first interface unit 32A, supplies power to the liquid crystal display driver PCB 55 via the LCD power supply terminal 57, and supplies power to the sub operation signal output PCB 56.

Since the first SC unit 5A with display means is used in the magnetic field in the gap 211, it is made of a material that does not affect the magnetic field as much as possible except the surface coil 53 and is not affected by the magnetic field. For example, it is desirable to be manufactured with a non-magnetic material. The body 50 is made of, for example, hard plastic. Since the LCD display 51 uses liquid crystal, unlike a CRT display device or the like that uses a magnetic field, in principle, the LCD is not affected by the magnetic field and does not affect the magnetic field. Liquid crystal display driver PC
B55 and the sub-operation signal output PCB56 include a conductor and an electronic circuit, but since they are small in size, they have little influence on the magnetic field of the gap 211 and do not malfunction due to the influence of the magnetic field.

FIG. 4 shows the first SC unit 5A with display means.
, Cable unit 6A, and first interface unit 32
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship with A and a configuration. The cable unit 6A includes a coaxial cable 611, a signal output flat cable 612, a display signal flat cable 613,
It has a power cable 614. The signal output flat cable 612 and the display signal flat cable 613 are used to transmit a plurality of signals in parallel.

The first interface section 32A includes a preamplifier 321, a multiplexer 322, and a display signal output section 323.
And a DC power supply unit 324. DC power supply unit
Reference numeral 324 supplies electric power used in the first SC unit 5A with display means. LCD display for such power
A backlight 51, a driving power source for the liquid crystal display driver PCB 55, and a driving power source for the sub operation signal output PCB 56. The preamplifier 321 amplifies the signal of the surface coil 53 input via the coaxial cable 611 and outputs it to the data collection / data output unit 31. The multiplexer 322 multiplexes a plurality of signals of the sub operation instruction unit 52 from the sub operation signal output PCB 56 input via the signal output flat cable 612 and outputs the multiplexed signals to the data collection / data output unit 31. Multiplexing by the multiplexer 322 is performed by the first interface unit 32A and the data acquisition
This is to reduce the number of cables connected to the data output unit 31. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, when the number of signals of the sub operation instructing unit 52 is small, the multiplexer 322 may not be provided in the first interface unit 32A and multiplexing may not be performed. The display signal output unit 323 applies the captured image signal generated by the data processing unit 27, which will be described later, to the liquid crystal display driver PCB 55 via the display signal flat cable 613 to display it on the LCD display 51.

The operation of the MRI apparatus 2 using the first SC unit 5A with display means will be described.

Operation instruction In the scan room 3A, for example, a doctor or an inspection technician operates the sub operation instruction section 52 of the first SC unit 5A with display means illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. A designated button, for example, the first sub operation button 521 is operated.
The operation signal of the first sub operation button 521 is a sub operation signal output PC
The signal is output to the connector receptacle 58 together with the signals of other buttons of the sub operation instructing section 52 via B56, and the first interface via the signal output flat cable 612 in the cable unit 6A via the connector plug 54. Part 32
Transmitted to multiplexer 322 in A. The multiplexer 322 multiplexes the plurality of signals of the sub operation instructing unit 52 and sends them to the data collecting / data output unit 31. As described above, when the number of signals of the sub operation instruction unit 52 is small, the signal of the sub operation instruction unit 52 may be directly transmitted to the data collection / data output unit 31 without providing the multiplexer 322.

The data collection / data output unit 31 inputs the signal from the multiplexer 322 and sends it to the control unit 25.
The control unit 25 sends the input signal from the data collection / data output unit 31 to the data processing unit 27.

The second data processing means data processing section 27 operates the sub operation instruction section 52 of the first SC means 5A with display means 5A inputted via the control section 25 and the data collection / data output section 31. The instruction is recognized and the same processing as the operation instruction from the operation unit 28 is performed. In this case, scan processing and image display processing are performed using the first SC5A with display means described below. In the present embodiment, the data processing unit 27 operates as the first data processing unit that performs the imaging process received by the RF coil units 214a and 214b based on the operation instruction from the operation unit 28. It also operates as second data processing means for performing scanning and image display processing using the SC unit 5A with display means. Therefore, in the memory of the data processing unit 27, in addition to the two-dimensional Fourier space (k space) for storing the data received by the RF coil units 214a and 214b described above,
A second two-dimensional Fourier space similar to the one-dimensional Fourier space is also constructed. The data processing unit 27 has a second memory
Two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform is performed on the data in the three-dimensional Fourier space, the Fourier frequency space is converted into the real space, the image of the region to be examined of the subject 4 is reconstructed, and the image is displayed on the LCD display 51. Is generated and output to the SC unit 5A with display means.

Surface coil (SC) unit with display means
Scan operation by knit An operator such as a doctor or an inspection technician who holds the SC unit 5A with the first display means in hand holds the first sub operation button.
After the operation instruction such as the setting of the protocol illustrated above by 521, the surface coil 53 of the SC unit 5A with display means is placed on the examined site of the subject 4 on the cradle 26, for example, the open abdominal part. Located and
SC unit with display means so that the captured image displayed on the LCD display 51 of the SC unit 5A with display means can be viewed.
With 5A. This causes the surface coil 53 to be placed in the magnetic field created by the magnet system 21.
Detects the magnetic field excited in the region to be examined of the subject 4.

The weak signal detected by the surface coil 53 is input to the preamplifier 321 in the first interface section 32A via the coaxial cable 611 in the cable unit 6A, and the preamplifier 321 outputs a predetermined level. Is amplified up to. Further, preferably, the amplified signal is subjected to noise removal processing, for example, filter processing, and sent to the data collection / data output unit 31. The data collection / data output unit 31 transmits the signal of the region to be examined of the subject 4 detected by the surface coil 53 via the control unit 25 to the data processing unit 27.
Send to.

The data processing unit 27 has a surface coil 53.
The signal detected in step 2 is stored in the second two-dimensional Fourier space in the memory, the data in the second two-dimensional Fourier space is subjected to the two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform, and the conversion processing from the Fourier frequency space to the real space is performed. Then, the image of the examined region of the subject 4 is reconstructed. The reconstructed image signal is sent from the data processing unit 27 to the data collection / data output unit 31, and the first image signal is output via the display signal output unit 323 in the first interface unit 32A.
LCD display driver P in SC unit 5A with display means
It is applied to the CB 55 and displayed on the LCD display 51 as a captured image.

As described above, when the first SC unit 5A with display means is used, a doctor or an inspection technician or the like applies the surface coil 53 to the test region of the subject 4 to detect the detection signal of the test region. The captured image is displayed on the LCD display 51 on the spot. Incidentally, conventionally, the captured image of the surface coil 53 is visually observed by the operator in the operation room 3B on the display unit 29 in the operation room 3B, or after the work, the doctor or the technician returns to the operation room 3B and displays it. According to the present embodiment, although it was confirmed in the section 29, the doctor or the examination who is working by applying the first SC unit 5A with display means to the test site of the subject 4 in the operation room 3B. The technician can immediately confirm the captured image of the site to be examined without moving to the operation room 3B. That is, the doctor or the technician performing the scan using the SC unit 5A with display means can immediately determine on the spot whether or not the desired captured image of the desired site to be examined has been obtained. If it is confirmed on the LCD display 51 of the SC unit 5A with display means that the desired picked-up image is obtained, the sub-operation instructing section 52 is operated to terminate the inspection and save the result. To do. On the contrary, when the desired captured image is not obtained, the doctor or the technician continues the scan using the SC unit 5A with display means.

For example, when the doctor or the technician wants to save the picked-up image, for example, the second sub-operation button 522 in the sub-operation instruction section 52 is operated to save the picked-up image in the data processing section 27. Instruct that. in this way,
The data operated by the surface coil 53 can be saved in the same manner as the data detected by the RF coil units 214a and 214b.

The doctor or the laboratory technician also uses the display means S.
To move the image displayed on the LCD display 51 of the C unit 5A, for example, the tracking ball 524
Is operated to set a desired image display state via the data processing unit 27.

The picked-up image displayed on the LCD display 51 is
If necessary, for example, by operating the third sub operation button 523 of the sub operation instructing section 52, an instruction can be given to the data processing section 27 and displayed on the display section 29.

Although only three operation buttons are illustrated in the sub operation instructing section 52 of the first SC unit 5A with display means, the protocol can be set and changed using the operation section 28. Sub-operation instruction section of SC unit 5A with first display means
Also as 52, it is possible to increase the number of buttons and perform the necessary operation by the doctor or the technologist in the scan room 3A holding the first SC unit 5A with display means in hand.

As described above, by using the first SC unit 5A with display means and the first interface section 32A illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a doctor or an inspection technician in the scan room 3A can be used. However, by operating the sub-operation instructing section 52 of the first SC unit 5A with display means, the LC of the SC unit 5A with display means can be used to display the imaging state of the desired site of the subject 4 to be examined.
Since it can be displayed on the D display unit 51, the captured image of the site to be examined can be visually observed without looking at the display unit 29 of the operation room 3B as in the conventional case.

Further, by increasing the number of buttons of the sub-operation instruction section 52, the same operation instruction as the operation section 28 can be given. For example, the protocol setting performed by the operation section 28,
A doctor or an inspection technician who holds the SC unit 5A with the first display means in his hand can make changes.

Similarly, the first SC unit with display means 5A
Can be used as one type of information terminal device. For example, by increasing the number of buttons of the sub operation instructing section 52, for example, a picked-up image based on the result detected by the RF coil sections 214a and 214b is called to call the first SC unit with display means.
The data is displayed on the LCD display 51 of 5A, or the data processing unit 27
The standard captured image stored in the memory of the LCD
Since operations such as displaying on the display 51 can be performed in the scan room 3A, in addition to the effects described above,
More convenient.

The first surface coil unit with display means 5A and the first interface section 32A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described by exemplifying the illustrations of FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4. However, the first SC unit with display means 5A
The first interface unit 32A is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, a DC power supply unit 324 provided in the first interface unit 32A, for example, a battery is provided in the first SC unit 5A with display means, the DC power supply unit 324 is excluded from the first interface unit 32A, and a cable is provided. The power cable 614 in the unit 6A can also be deleted.

The arrangement of the surface coil 53 is not limited to the positions shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and may be large along the inner peripheral edge of the body 50, for example.

As described above, the method of using the SC unit 5A with the first display means is not limited to the case where the abdominal organ is placed close to the body surface of the subject 4 or the purpose. Depending on the situation, various usage forms are possible. In particular,
Since the first SC unit 5A with display means is small and light and can be operated freely, it can be brought close to any part of the subject 4 to be examined, and its operability is special compared to the case where only the surface coil is used. It never falls.

No. 1 of surface coil unit with display
Second Embodiment A second surface coil (SC) unit 5 with a display, a data collection / data output unit 31, an interface device 32, and a second data processing unit 27 illustrated in FIG. 1 with reference to FIGS. An embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and schematic view of the periphery of the magnet system 21 and the cradle 26 illustrated in FIG. 1, similar to FIG. Similar to FIG. 2, a magnet system including main magnetic field magnet sections 212a and 212b, gradient coil sections 213a and 213b, and RF coil sections 214a and 214b.
The illustration of the upper magnet system 21A and the lower magnet system 21B is omitted for 21. In the second embodiment, the surface coil (SC) unit 5 with display means illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated as a second SC unit 5B with display means, and the data collection / data output unit illustrated in FIG. 31 is a data collection / data output unit 31, FIG.
The interface device 32 illustrated in Figure 2 is illustrated as a second interface section 32B. Other components illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, an RF coil driving unit 22, a gradient coil driving unit 23, a data collecting unit 24, a control unit 25, a cradle 26.
Etc. are the same as those described above with reference to FIG.

The first SC unit 5A with display means and the first interface section 32A of the first embodiment, and the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second embodiment of the second embodiment.
In comparison with the interface unit 32B of the first embodiment, in the first embodiment, the SC unit 5A with the first display means and the first interface unit 32A were connected via the cable unit 6A, but the second embodiment In the configuration, the cable unit 6A is not used, that is, the cable unit 6A is wireless. In the first embodiment, since the first display unit-equipped SC unit 5A and the first interface unit 32A are connected via the cable unit 6A, the cable unit 6A is somewhat connected to the first display unit-equipped SC unit. It may also hinder the operability of the unit 5A. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the cable unit 6A is not used. Other matters are basically the same as those described in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a surface appearance view and an internal cross-sectional view of the second SC unit 5B with display means.
The illustration of FIG. 6A is substantially the same as the illustration of FIG. 3A, and includes a body 50, an LCD display 51, and a first display.
The SC unit 5B with the second display means including the sub operation buttons 521 to the third sub operation buttons 523 and the tracking ball 524 can be visually observed. LCD display 51 and sub operation instruction section
52 is the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, in the second embodiment, the connector plug 54 and the cable unit 6A illustrated in FIG. 3A do not exist.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the SC unit 5B with the second display means includes a surface coil 53, a liquid crystal display driver PCB55, a sub operation signal output PCB56, L.
In addition to the CD power supply terminal 57, a battery 61, a photodiode (PD) 62, a light emitting diode (LED) 63, a reception signal processing unit 6
4, signal output unit 65, surface coil signal adjustment unit 66,
It has a sub operation signal adjusting unit 67. The second SC unit 5B with display means further has an LED driver circuit 68 and an amplifier circuit 69 as illustrated in FIG.

The battery 61 is an LCD in the sub-operation instruction section 52.
It is a DC battery that supplies power to the display 51, the liquid crystal display driver PCB 55, the sub operation signal output PCB 56, the surface coil signal adjustment unit 66, the sub operation signal adjustment unit 67, and the like. Unlike the first embodiment, since the cable unit 6A does not exist between the sub operation instructing section 52 and the second interface section 32B, the cable unit 6A is provided in the second SC unit 5B with display means. There is.

The PD 62 receives the optical signal from the second interface section 32B. The light reception signal of the PD 62 is amplified by the amplification circuit 69 and output to the reception signal processing unit 64. The reception signal processing unit 64 is the second interface unit received by the PD 62.
The signal sent from 32B is used for the liquid crystal display driver PCB55
To display on the LCD display 51.

The surface coil signal adjusting section 66 amplifies the weak signal detected by the surface coil 53 and converts it into a digital signal. Therefore, the surface coil signal adjusting unit 66 includes a preamplifier circuit and an AD converter. The sub operation signal adjusting unit 67 is a sub operation instruction unit.
The signal of 52 is transmitted as a digital signal. Since the first sub operation button 521 to the third sub operation button 523 are ON / OFF signals, they are digital signals of a predetermined level as they are. The rotation direction and the rotation amount of the tracking ball 524 are first detected as an analog amount and converted into a digital signal by the AD converter. Preferably, the sub operation signal adjusting unit 67,
The digital signals of the first sub operation button 521 to the third sub operation button 523 and the digital signal indicating the direction and amount of rotation of the tracking ball 524 are multiplexed and output. The signal output unit 65 converts the digital signal from the sub operation signal adjusting unit 67 and the surface coil signal adjusting unit 66 into a pulse signal at a predetermined cycle and outputs the pulse signal to the LED driver circuit 68. The LED driver circuit 68 urges the LED 63 to emit light in response to the pulse signal from the signal output unit 65. The LED 63 sends the signal of the second SC unit 5B with a display as an optical signal to the second interface section 32B.

Since the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B are connected by a wireless system using an optical signal, as shown in FIG. 7, the second interface section 32B is Photodiode (PD) 331 and
Amplifier circuit 332, signal separation circuit 333, and light emitting diode
It has an (LED) 335, an LED driver circuit 336, and a display signal output section 323. The display signal output unit 323 is the same as that provided in the first interface unit 32A of the first embodiment. In particular, when the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B are connected by a wireless method using an optical signal, the magnetic field in the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is not affected at all, and the magnetic field is not affected at all. It has no effect,
For example, it is preferable as compared with the case of using radio waves.

The photodiode (PD) 331 receives the optical signal from the LED 63, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it. The amplifier circuit 332 amplifies the electric signal output from the photodiode (PD) 331 to a predetermined level. The amplifier circuit 332 is
Preferably, a filter circuit is incorporated to remove noise included in the amplified signal. The signal separation circuit 333 is included in the optical signal received by the photodiode (PD) 331.
The signal of the sub operation instruction unit 52 and the signal of the surface coil 53 are separated and sent to the data collection / data output unit 31.

The display signal output unit 323 receives the display signal to the LCD display 51 in the SC unit 5B with the second display means, which is input via the data collection / data output unit 31, and receives the L signal.
It is sent to the ED driver circuit 336. LED driver circuit
336 displays the output signal from the display signal output section 323 according to
By energizing the light emitting diode (LED) 335, the light emitting diode (LE
D) Make 335 emit light. The light emission signal of the light emitting diode (LED) 335 is received by the PD 62 of the SC unit 5B with the second display means.

As described above, although the cable unit 6A is not provided between the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B of the second embodiment, the LED 63 and the photodiode ( The PD) 331, the light emitting diode (LED) 335 and the PD 62 perform signal communication between the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B. Second SC unit with display means 5B and second
If such an optical wireless system is used between the interface unit 32B and the interface unit 32B, the degree of freedom in operating the second SC unit 5B with display means is increased as compared with the case where the cable unit 6A is used.

The second interface section 32B is capable of communicating with the second SC unit 5B with display means by an optical wireless system and does not affect the magnetic field of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.
It is desirable to be provided at a place that is not affected by the magnetic field, for example, at the periphery of the magnet system 21.

SC unit 5B with the above-mentioned second display means
The functions and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment except that an optical wireless system is used between the second interface unit 32B and the second interface unit 32B.
It is similar to the embodiment. Second interface unit 32B
The data collection / data output unit 31 is connected by a cable as in the first embodiment. The data collection / data output unit 31 is connected to the data processing unit 27 via the control unit 25, as illustrated in FIG.

Operation Instruction Before or during imaging, the operation instruction given by the doctor or the inspection technician who is in the scan room 3A and holds the second SC unit 5B with display means is the above-mentioned first instruction. It is similar to the embodiment.

Second data processing means The image pickup processing of the data processing unit 27 based on the detection result of the surface coil 53 is the same as in the first embodiment.
Similarly to the first embodiment, the captured image information obtained as a result is transmitted from the data processing unit 27 via the control unit 25, the data collection / data output unit 31, and the second interface unit 32B to the second display unit. LCD unit driver PCB for SC unit 5B with
Applied to 55, the LCD display 51 is displayed.

Surface coil (SC) unit with display means
Scan operation by knit The scan method by the doctor or the technician who holds the second SC unit 5B with display means in hand is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

As described above, when the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B are used, the doctor or the technician can surface coil the surface of the subject 4 as in the first embodiment. The reconstructed captured image based on the result of scanning by applying 53 is displayed on the LCD display on the spot.
Displayed at 51.

For example, the operation and the process when the doctor or the technician wants to save the picked-up image displayed on the LCD display 51 are the same as those in the first embodiment. When the doctor or the technician wants to move the image displayed on the LCD display 51, for example, the tracking ball 524
The method of operating the to set a desired image state via the data processing unit 27 is also the same as in the first embodiment. Other,
The method described as the first embodiment can be performed in the second embodiment as in the first embodiment.

The modification of the second SC unit with display means 5B, for example, the number of buttons of the sub operation instruction section 52, the arrangement of the surface coil 53, etc., is the same as the first SC unit with display means of the first embodiment. It can be performed in the same manner as 5A.

As described above, the second embodiment of the second embodiment
By using the SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained except that the optical wireless system is used.

Depending on the positional relationship between the second SC unit 5B with display means and the second interface section 32B, the LED 63
And photodiode (PD) 331 or light emitting diode
(LED) 335 and photodiode (PD) 62 to reduce the possibility of blocking the optical path between LED63 and light emitting diode
The directivity of the (LED) 335 is preferably not so narrow. In particular, since the optical signal is independent of the magnetic field, widening the directivity does not pose a problem.

However, since illumination is also present in the scan room 3A, it is necessary to have a discriminating power from the illumination. Therefore, LED63 and photodiode (PD) 331,
Also, the light emitting diode (LED) 335 and the photodiode (P
It is desirable to use a material having a specific wavelength and intensity that is not affected by the indoor illumination between D) 62. For example, the LED 63 and the light emitting diode (LED) 335 are exemplified as the diode, but such a light emitting element (light emitting means) is not limited to the light emitting diode, and a semiconductor laser or the like may be used. As the light emitting element, for example, using an infrared light emitting diode, a red laser,
A green laser can be used. Although the photodiode (PD) 62 and the photodiode (PD) 331 are exemplified as the light receiving element (light receiving means), these light receiving elements are selected corresponding to the light emitting element.

Even if the directivity of the light emitting element is increased, the second
If the interface unit 32B of the second display unit is provided in only one place, it may be between the second SC unit 5B with the display unit and the second interface unit 32B depending on the usage of the second SC unit 5B with the display unit. There is a possibility that communication by the optical signal of will not be possible. In such a case, the second interface section 32B is provided at a plurality of positions of the magnet system 21 so that it does not depend on the position or the usage pattern of the second SC unit 5B with display means, and any one of the second interface section 32
It is possible to communicate with B. In this case, for example, the data collection / data output unit 31 selects and controls the highest level laser among the signal lasers from the second SC unit 5B with display means received by the plurality of second interface units 32B. It is sent to the data processing unit 27 via the unit 25. In addition, the output of the display signal output unit 323 is output from the plurality of second interface units 32B by shifting the time from the second SC unit 5B with display means.
Then, the second SC unit 5B with display means performs display by using the normally received signal.

The case where an LCD display is used as the display means mounted on the surface coil (SC) unit with the display means of the first and second embodiments has been illustrated, but the influence of the magnetic field of the magnet system 21 is received as much as possible. Of course, the display is not limited to the LCD display as long as the display does not affect the magnetic field. However, since it is used for a handheld type surface coil unit with display means, it is preferable that such an indicator can be operated by a battery. As such a display device, various display devices mounted on a mobile phone, a mobile information device, or the like can be used.

Third Embodiment A surface coil unit with display means and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
SC with display means of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.
The unit 5A and the SC unit 5B with display means of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A are sub-operation buttons 521 to 52.
Sub-operation instruction unit consisting of 3 and tracking ball 524
An example in which 52 is provided is shown. However, the sub-operation instructing section 52 is not provided in the surface coil unit 5 with display means according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Of course, when using the surface coil unit 5 with display means in which the sub operation instruction section 52 is not provided, the doctor or the technologist
While holding the surface coil unit 5 with display means in hand, it is not possible to set various operations described above, for example, to set a protocol or change the display state of the liquid crystal display (LCD) 51. However, for example, the protocol can be set in advance in the operation unit 28 in the operation room 3B, and if the surface coil 53 is scanned to display a normal captured image as a result, the operation unit 28 is set in advance.
Can be set using. When a special operation is required, the operability is lowered, but a doctor or an inspection technician may visit the operation room 3B, or the operator in the operation room 3B can be requested.

Like the surface coil unit 5 with display means according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the SC unit 5A with display means according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. SC with display means of the illustrated second embodiment
If the sub-operation button sub-operation instruction section 52 is deleted from the unit 5B, the sub-operation signal output PCB 56 is also unnecessary, the surface coil unit 5 with display means is simplified, and the cable 612 illustrated in FIG. 4 is unnecessary. Therefore, there is an advantage that the multiplexer 322 in the interface 32B is not necessary, or the circuit configuration of the signal output unit 65 illustrated in FIG. 7 is simple and the signal separating unit 333 in the interface 32B is also unnecessary.

The operation of the surface coil unit with display means 5 of the third embodiment and the processing contents of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using the surface coil unit with display means 5 are related to the sub-operation instruction section 52. The configuration is the same as that of the first and second embodiments except the above.

Fourth Embodiment A coil unit with display means and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the surface coil unit with display means and the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of the first to third embodiments, a doctor or an inspection technician holds a surface coil in the vicinity of an arbitrary site to be examined of the subject 4 for scanning. However, the coil unit with a display unit and the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the case where the portable surface coil unit with a display unit described above is used, and a fixed coil is used. Also, the display means can be arranged in the vicinity of such a coil.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show such a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the outline of the coil unit with a display means and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device of embodiment. FIG. 8 is an upper magnet system 21A of the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus illustrated in FIG.
The head and the chest of the subject 4 on the cradle 26 located between the lower magnet system 21B and the lower magnet system 21B are scanned using the head coil unit with display means 5D and the chest coil unit with display means 5E, respectively. It is the figure which illustrated the outline in the case of doing. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the head coil unit with display means 5D and the chest coil unit with display means 5E illustrated in FIG. The head coil unit with display means 5D and the chest coil unit with display means 5E are the coil unit with display means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The head coil unit 5D with display means includes a head coil 5D1 into which the head of the subject 4 is inserted and a display section.
It is composed of 5D2. The head coil 5D1 can use various known head coils or a new head coil proposed from now on. Display 5D
Reference numeral 2 is provided in the vicinity of the head coil 5D1 so that it can be visually seen by a doctor or an inspection technician, and is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the head coil 5D1 which can be easily seen. The detection signal of the head coil 5D1 is connected to the data processing unit 27 via the interface unit 32A connected by a cable. The display unit 5D2 has an LCD display in the surface coil unit with display means according to the first to third embodiments.
LCD display similar to 51 and LCD display driver PCB
A liquid crystal display driver PCB similar to that of 55 is built in, and the reconstructed picked-up image generated by the data processing unit 27 is connected to the interface unit 32A by a cable via the interface unit 32A. To be displayed on the LCD display.

As described in the third embodiment, the display section 5D2 may be composed of only the LCD display and the liquid crystal display driver PCB for the display, and is described as the first and second embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3A, in addition to the LCD display and the liquid crystal display driver PCB for the LCD display, sub-operation buttons 521 to 523,
A sub operation instructing section 52 having a tracking ball 524 may be provided.

When the head coil unit with display means 5D is used, the head coil 5D1 is fixed and cannot be freely moved by the doctor or the technician, but like the first to third embodiments, the head is not moved. The captured image scanned by the coil 5D1 can be confirmed by visually observing the display section 5D2 arranged near the head coil 5D1.

The chest coil unit 5E with display means includes a chest coil 5E1 in which the chest of the subject 4 is inserted and a display unit 5E.
It consists of 2 and. The chest coil 5E1 may be a known various types of chest coils or a novel chest coil to be proposed. The display 5E2 is visible to the doctor or laboratory technician near the chest coil 5E1 and is preferably easily visible.
It is located near 1.

Although the inspection site is different and therefore the shape of the coil is also different, the scanning principle and the method of displaying the resulting captured image are as follows: the head coil 5D1 of the head coil unit with display means 5D, the display section 5D2, and the display means. The chest coil 5E1 and the display unit 5E2 of the chest coil unit with 5E are the same. Therefore, detailed description of the chest coil 5E1 and the display unit 5E2 of the chest coil unit with display means 5E will be omitted.

When the chest coil unit with display means 5E is used, the chest coil 5E1 is fixed, so that the doctor or the technician cannot freely move it.
Similar to the embodiment, a display unit arranged in the vicinity of the chest coil 5E1 shows the captured image scanned by the chest coil 5E1.
It can be confirmed by visually observing 5E2.

Of course, the surface coil unit with display means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the head coil unit with display means 5D and the chest coil unit with display means 5E described above, and other subject to be tested. It is also applied to those inspecting a site using a fixed coil.

In implementing the present invention, the surface coil unit with display means of any of the first to third embodiments and the surface coil unit with display means of the fourth embodiment can be used in combination. .

[0097]

According to the present invention, by providing a surface coil unit with a display unit, an interface device, and a data collection / data output unit, a doctor having a surface coil unit with a display unit in a scan room or Since it is possible to provide the inspection technician or the like with the imaging result of the surface coil applied to the site to be examined on the spot, the convenience is greatly enhanced. In particular, since the surface coil unit with a display of the present invention is small, it can be used by approaching an arbitrary site to be inspected as in the case of using a single surface coil.

Further, the surface coil unit with a display unit performs an interactive function through the sub-operation instructing unit and the display unit mounted on the surface coil unit with a display unit, like the operation unit in the operation room. Therefore, the operability is greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a surface coil unit with a display unit and an interface device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are an external view and an internal cross-sectional view of a surface coil unit with a display according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a first surface coil unit with a display and a first interface unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a surface coil unit with a display unit and an interface device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 (A) and 6 (B) are an external view and an internal cross-sectional view of a surface coil unit with a display according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a second surface coil unit with a display and a second interface unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a coil unit with display means and a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a head coil unit with display means and a chest coil unit with display means illustrated in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ·· MRI device 2A · · MRI device main body 21 · · Magnet system 21A · · Upper magnet system 21B · · Lower magnet system 211 · · Gap 212a, 212b · · Main magnetic field magnet part 213a, 213b · · Gradient coil part 214a , 214b ・ ・ RF coil unit 22 ・ ・ RF coil driving unit 23 ・ ・ Gradient coil driving unit 24 ・ ・ Data collection unit 25 ・ ・ Control unit 26 ・ ・ Cradle 27 ・ ・ Data processing unit 28 ・ ・ Operating unit , 29 ・ ・ Display unit 2B ・ ・ Operator console 3A ・ ・ Scan room, 3B ・ ・ Operating room 4 ・ ・ Subject 5 ・ ・ Surface coil unit with display 5A, 5B ・ ・ with first and second display Surface coil unit 5D, 5E ··· Coil unit with fourth indicator 50 · · Body, 51 · · Liquid crystal display (LCD) 52 · · Sub-operation instruction section 521 to 523 · · Sub-operation button, 524 · · Tracking Ball 53 ... Surface coil, 5 4 ・ ・ Connector plug 55 ・ ・ Liquid crystal display driver PCB, 56 ・ ・ Sub operation signal output PCB 57 ・ ・ LCD power supply terminal, 58 ・ ・ Connector receptacle 61 ・ ・ Battery, 62 ・ ・ Photo diode (PD) 63 ・ ・Light emitting diode (LED), 64, reception signal processing unit 65, signal output unit, 66, surface coil signal adjustment unit 67, sub-operation signal adjustment unit, 68, LED driver circuit 69, amplification circuit 6A,・ Cable unit 611 ・ ・ Coaxial cable, 612 ・ ・ Flat cable for signal output 613 ・ ・ Flat cable for display signal, 614 ・ ・ Power cable 32A, 32B ・ ・ First and second interface section 321 ・ ・ Preamplifier , 322 ・ ・ Multiplexer 323 ・ ・ Display signal output section, 324 ・ ・ DC power supply unit 331 ・ ・ Photodiode (PD), 332 ・ ・ Amplifier circuit 333 ・ ・ Signal separation circuit, 335 ・ ・ Light emitting diode (LED) 336 ・・ LE Driver circuit

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Nouzaki Atsushi             127, 4-7 Asahigaoka, Hino City, Tokyo             GE Yokogawa Medical System Co., Ltd.             Within F-term (reference) 4C096 AB39 AD10 AD15 AD16 AD19                       CC08 DD02 DD05 DE06 FC17

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A surface coil, Display means, Surface coil unit with display means. 2. The surface coil unit with display means according to claim 1, wherein said display means has a liquid crystal display and its driver circuit. 3. In the surface coil unit portion with display means, settings and operation instructions relating to an operation for performing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging using the surface coil are performed, and display processing on the display means is performed. The surface coil unit with display means according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sub operation instruction means for performing either one. 4. The sub operation instructing means, means for setting or changing a protocol for scanning, means for instructing scan operation, means for selecting contents to be displayed on the display means, and display on the display means. The surface coil unit with display means according to claim 3, further comprising any one of display instruction means for moving or scrolling the displayed display content. 5. A signal from the surface coil and the sub-operation instruction means is output via a cable, a display signal to the display means is input via a cable, and a power supply used in the surface coil unit with display means is provided. The surface coil unit with display means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is supplied via a cable. 6. The output signal of the surface coil, the display input signal to the display means, and the output signal of the sub operation instructing means are communicated by a wireless system using an optical signal. Surface coil unit with the indicated display means. 7. A surface coil signal adjusting means having a light emitting means, a light receiving means, an amplifying means for amplifying a detection signal of the surface coil, and a converting means for converting the amplified signal into a digital signal, and the sub operation. Sub-operation signal adjusting means for processing the signal of the indicating means, signal output means for outputting the signals of the surface coil signal adjusting means and the sub-operation signal adjusting means via the light emitting means, and receiving via the light receiving element 7. The received signal processing means for processing the signal for operating the display means and outputting the signal to the display means, and the power supply means for supplying the power used in the surface coil unit with the display means. Surface coil unit with display means. 8. The surface coil unit with display means according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting means includes a light emitting diode or a laser, and the light receiving means includes a photodiode. 9. A main magnetic field magnet means, an RF coil means, a gradient coil means, a main magnetic field magnet means, and a subject is introduced into a magnetic field formed by the RF coil means and the gradient coil means. At this time, first data collecting means for collecting the signal detected by the RF coil means, and a captured image of the subject detected by the RF coil means by signal processing the data collected by the first data collecting means. A first data processing means for generating the first data processing means, an output means for outputting the first captured image generated by the first data processing means, a surface coil placed in the magnetic field, a display means, and the surface. A sub-operation instructing means for instructing an operation for performing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging using a coil, and making a display request to the display means, or performing either one of them. A surface coil unit with display means, a signal detected by the surface coil of the surface coil unit with display means, and the sub-operation instruction, which are arranged in the vicinity of installation locations of the RF coil means and the gradient coil means. Interface means having receiving means for receiving the output signal of the means, and display signal output means for outputting the display signal to the display means of the surface coil unit with display means, and the sub-operation from the receiving means of the interface means. The signal of the instruction means is input, the signal detected by the surface coil is image-processed in accordance with the instruction of the sub-operation instruction means to generate an image signal, and the display signal is output via the display signal output means of the interface means. Image signal generated on the display means in the surface coil unit with means And a second data processing means for displaying the number. 10. The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display means has a liquid crystal display and a driver circuit thereof. 11. The interface and the surface coil unit with display means are connected by cable means, and the interface has a power supply unit for supplying power to be used in the surface coil unit with display means. A signal of the surface coil of the surface coil unit with means and the sub-operation instruction means is output via a cable in the cable means, a display signal to the display means is input via a cable in the cable means, The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the power supply unit of the interface is connected to a power supply using section of the surface coil unit with display means via a cable in the cable means. 12. The output signal of the surface coil, the input signal for display to the display means, and the output signal of the sub operation instructing means are communicated by a wireless system using an optical signal. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device. 13. The light emitting means includes a light emitting diode, The light receiving means includes a photodiode, The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 12. 14. The surface coil unit with display means, a first light emitting means, a first light receiving means, an amplifying means for amplifying a detection signal of the surface coil, and converting the amplified signal into a digital signal. Surface coil signal adjusting means having a converting means, sub operation signal adjusting means for processing the signal of the sub operation instructing means, and signals for the surface coil signal adjusting means and the sub operation signal adjusting means for the first light emission. Signal output means for outputting via the means, received signal processing means for signal-processing the signal received via the first light receiving element for operating the display means and outputting to the display means, and the display means A power supply unit for supplying power to be used in the surface coil unit, wherein the interface is the light from the first light emitting unit. Second light receiving means for receiving a signal, a second light emitting means for sending an optical signal to the first light receiving means, a signal received by the second light receiving means, and a detection signal for the surface coil, A signal separating unit that separates the signal of the sub operation instructing unit and sends it to the second data processing unit, and an image signal generated by the second data processing unit through the second light emitting unit. 14. The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a display signal output unit that outputs the display signal to the display unit of the surface coil unit with display unit. 15. The first light emitting means includes a light emitting diode or a laser, the first light receiving means includes a photodiode, the second light emitting means includes a light emitting diode or a laser, and the second light receiving means The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means includes a photodiode.