JP6125205B2 - High frequency coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a high-frequency coil and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

  In recent years, multi-channel type high-frequency coils having a plurality of coil elements have been introduced so that various parts such as limbs and joints can be imaged with one coil. Such a high-frequency coil has flexibility in whole or in part, and is arranged, for example, so as to wind an imaging region while being in close contact with a subject.

  Here, depending on the size of the subject and the shape of the imaging region, the wound coil elements may overlap each other. Since the overlapping coil elements interfere with each other electromagnetically, there is a possibility that the SNR (Signal Noise Ratio) is reduced. For this reason, electromagnetic interference is conventionally reduced by, for example, inserting a spacer between overlapping coil elements to increase the distance between the coil elements. Also, for example, by preparing high-frequency coils of various sizes and selecting a high-frequency coil that matches the imaging region, the overlapping of the coil elements itself is avoided.

JP 2011-36452 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a high frequency coil and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that can easily reduce electromagnetic interference caused by overlapping of coil elements in a single high frequency coil.

A high frequency coil for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a plurality of coil elements. In addition, the high-frequency coil according to the embodiment is a non-tuning that does not resonate at a predetermined frequency from a tuning circuit that resonates at one frequency among coil elements that overlap with each other when arranged with respect to an imaging region. It can be switched to a circuit. Each coil element comprises a parallel resonant circuit having an inductance, a capacitance, and a PIN diode. Each coil element can be selectively connected to a first path for receiving a control signal for controlling on / off of the PIN diode in accordance with the transmission / reception timing of the high-frequency pulse, and a second path different from the first path. The tuning circuit is switched to the non-tuning circuit by being selectively connected from the first path to the second path and receiving a current necessary for controlling the PIN diode to be turned on.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a receiving coil according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the button switch of the receiving coil according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a band of the receiving coil according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of image reconstruction in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a receiving coil according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a receiving coil according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a receiving coil according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a receiving coil according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure for determining an object to be synchronized in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a processing procedure for determining an object to be synchronized in the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of image reconstruction in the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a high-frequency coil and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an MRI apparatus) according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an MRI apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The subject P is not included in the MRI apparatus 100. The static magnetic field magnet 1 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and generates a uniform static magnetic field in an internal space. The static magnetic field magnet 1 is, for example, a permanent magnet or a superconducting magnet. The gradient coil 2 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and generates a gradient magnetic field in the internal space. Specifically, the gradient magnetic field coil 2 is disposed inside the static magnetic field magnet 1 and receives a power supply from the gradient magnetic field amplifier 3 to generate a gradient magnetic field. The gradient magnetic field amplifier 3 supplies electric power to the gradient magnetic field coil 2 in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the sequence control unit 10.

  The bed 4 includes a top plate 4a on which the subject P is placed, and the top plate 4a is inserted into the cavity of the gradient magnetic field coil 2 serving as an imaging port in a state where the subject P is placed. Usually, the bed 4 is installed such that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the central axis of the static magnetic field magnet 1. The couch controller 5 drives the couch 4 to move the couchtop 4a in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction.

  The transmission coil 6 generates a high frequency magnetic field. Specifically, the transmission coil 6 is arranged inside the gradient magnetic field coil 2 and receives a high frequency pulse (hereinafter referred to as RF (Radio Frequency) pulse) from the transmission unit 7 to generate a high frequency magnetic field. The transmission unit 7 transmits an RF pulse corresponding to the Larmor frequency to the transmission coil 6 in accordance with the control signal transmitted from the sequence control unit 10.

  The receiving coil 8 receives a magnetic resonance signal (hereinafter referred to as MR (Magnetic Resonance) signal). Specifically, the receiving coil 8 is disposed inside the gradient coil 2 and receives an MR signal radiated from the subject P due to the influence of the high-frequency magnetic field. The receiving coil 8 outputs the received MR signal to the receiving unit 9.

  Here, the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment is a multi-channel high-frequency coil including a plurality of coil elements. Further, it is assumed that the receiving coil 8 has flexibility in whole or in part and whose bending direction is uniformly determined. Furthermore, when the receiving coil 8 is disposed so as to wind the imaging region while being in close contact with the subject P, it is assumed that the coil element disposed on the inside is usually the same coil element. The correspondence relationship between the coil element and the channel is not necessarily limited to one-to-one, and may be appropriately distributed and combined such as many-to-one, one-to-many, N-to-M, and the like.

  The receiving unit 9 generates MR signal data based on the MR signal output from the receiving coil 8 in accordance with the control signal sent from the sequence control unit 10. Specifically, the receiving unit 9 generates MR signal data by digitally converting the MR signal output from the receiving coil 8, and sends the generated MR signal data to the computer system 20 via the sequence control unit 10. Send. The receiving unit 9 may be provided on the gantry device side including the static magnetic field magnet 1, the gradient magnetic field coil 2, and the like.

  The sequence control unit 10 controls the gradient magnetic field amplifier 3, the transmission unit 7, and the reception unit 9. Specifically, the sequence control unit 10 transmits a control signal based on the pulse sequence execution data transmitted from the computer system 20 to the gradient magnetic field amplifier 3, the transmission unit 7, and the reception unit 9.

  The computer system 20 includes an interface unit 21, an image reconstruction unit 22, a storage unit 23, an input unit 24, a display unit 25, and a control unit 26. The interface unit 21 is connected to the sequence control unit 10 and controls input / output of data transmitted / received between the sequence control unit 10 and the computer system 20. The image reconstruction unit 22 reconstructs image data from the MR signal data transmitted from the sequence control unit 10 and stores the reconstructed image data in the storage unit 23.

  The storage unit 23 stores parameter values set as parameters included in the imaging conditions, image data stored by the image reconstruction unit 22, and other data used in the MRI apparatus 100. For example, the storage unit 23 is a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, or the like.

  The input unit 24 receives various instructions for editing imaging conditions, imaging instructions, and the like from the operator. For example, the input unit 24 receives a parameter value setting instruction or the like for a parameter included in the imaging condition. For example, the input unit 24 is a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. The display unit 25 displays an imaging condition editing screen, an image, and the like.

  The control unit 26 comprehensively controls the MRI apparatus 100 by controlling each unit described above. For example, when the editing of the imaging condition is received from the operator, the control unit 26 generates pulse sequence execution data based on the received imaging condition, and transmits the generated pulse sequence execution data to the sequence control unit 10. For example, the control unit 26 is an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or an electronic circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU).

  The multi-channel receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment has a predetermined coil element on the outer side (the far side) as viewed from the imaging part among coil elements that overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging part. A tuning circuit that resonates at a frequency can be switched to a non-tuning circuit that does not resonate at a predetermined frequency.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of coil elements 101 for receiving MR signals. Each coil element 101 includes an LC parallel resonant circuit 201 arranged in series in the coil element 101. In addition to the inductance (L) and the capacitor (C), a PIN diode 301 is disposed in the LC parallel resonant circuit 201. 2 shows an example in which the coil elements 101 are arranged in a row, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and the coil elements 101 may be arranged in a plurality of rows. Further, the number of coil elements 101 is not limited to five.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, each coil element 101 can be selectively connected to the first path 401 and the second path 501 by switching a switch 601 arranged in the coil element 101 unit. The first path 401 is a path for receiving from the main body side of the MRI apparatus 100 a control signal for controlling on / off of the PIN diode 301 in accordance with the transmission / reception timing of the RF pulse. The second path 501 is a path for receiving a current necessary for controlling the PIN diode 301 to be turned on from a fixed power supply voltage (hereinafter referred to as a fixed bias).

  In FIG. 2, a choke coil (RFC (Radio Frequency Choke Coil)) is not shown, but the receiving coil 8 may further include a choke coil in the circuit. The choke coil serves to cut the high frequency so that the pin diode 301 is not damaged by the high frequency energy from the transmission coil 6. For this reason, the choke coils are disposed, for example, before and after each pin diode 301 (on the power supply side and the GND side). Further, the choke coil is also disposed in the second path 501 as necessary. Similarly, in the modified example of the first embodiment to be described later and other embodiments, the choke coil is not shown in each drawing, but the choke coil can be appropriately arranged.

  Under such a configuration, in the first embodiment, the coil element 101 used for receiving MR signals is connected to the first path 401 and functions as a tuning circuit at least at the timing of receiving MR signals. On the other hand, the coil element 101 that is not used for receiving the MR signal is connected to the second path 501 and functions as a non-tuned circuit regardless of the transmission / reception timing of the RF pulse.

  The capacitor (C) of the LC parallel resonance circuit 201 is arranged in series with the coil element 101, and is configured with an appropriate capacity for having a resonance frequency specific to the coil element 101. When the PIN diode 301 is controlled to be turned off, the circuit composed of the coil element 101 and the capacitor (C) in the LC parallel resonance circuit 201 resonates at a specific resonance frequency of the coil element 101 and serves as a tuning circuit. Function. The inductance (L) and the capacitor (C) of the LC parallel resonant circuit 201 are adjusted to the same frequency as the tuning circuit including the coil element 101 and the capacitor (C) of the LC parallel resonant circuit 201. For this reason, when the PIN diode 301 is controlled to be on, the impedance of the LC parallel resonant circuit 201 becomes infinite in an ideal state. As a result, the coil element 101 functions as an untuned circuit (not resonating at a specific resonance frequency).

  Normally, each coil element 101 is controlled so as to function as a non-tuned circuit at a timing when an RF pulse is irradiated by the transmission coil 6 and to function as a tuned circuit at a timing when an MR signal is received. That is, at the timing when the RF pulse is irradiated by the transmission coil 6, the PIN diode 301 is controlled to be turned on by the control signal received from the first path 401. On the other hand, at the timing of receiving the MR signal, the PIN diode 301 is controlled to be turned off by the control signal received from the first path 401.

  In the first embodiment, apart from this normal control, among the coil elements 101 that overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging region, the outer coil element 101 as viewed from the imaging region is always during imaging. , Function as an untuned circuit. Therefore, a second path 501 is provided separately from the first path 401, the coil element 101 is selectively connected to the second path 501 by switching the switch 601, and the PIN diode 301 is controlled from the control signal system with a fixed bias. Switch to the system. Then, the coil element 101 is detuned by controlling the PIN diode 301 to be turned on by supplying a current from a fixed bias.

  As shown in FIG. 2, since the switches 601 are arranged in series, when one switch 601 is switched to the second path 501, all the coil elements 101 thereafter are electrically connected. Will be switched to the second path 501. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the “3” switch 601 of the coil element 101 is switched to the second path 501, the subsequent coil elements 101 “4” and “5” are both electrically connected. It is switched to the two paths 501.

  Here, the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment realizes switching of the switch 601 by a mechanical button switch included in the receiving coil 8. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the button switch 602 of the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the button switch 602 is provided on the inner peripheral side (in the coil surface) of some coil elements 101. Then, for example, when the user attaches the receiving coil 8 to the subject and places the receiving coil 8 on the imaging region, the user confirms the overlapping of the coil elements 101 by visual observation, and among the overlapping coil elements 101, What is necessary is just to push the button switch 602 of the coil element 101 positioned outside as viewed from the imaging region.

  As described above, the switches 601 are arranged in series. For this reason, when the user installs the receiving coil 8, the user may first press the button switch 602 of the outer coil element 101 that causes overlap. Then, the subsequent coil element 101 that causes the overlap also switches to the non-tuned circuit.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the button switch 602 is configured to be simultaneously pressed by the band 603 when the receiving coil 8 is fixed by the band 603 or the like (for example, a band, a belt, a hook, or the like). It may be. For example, the receiving coil 8 shown in FIG. 3 is wound around the subject P, and two bands 603 provided at the end of the receiving coil 8 are arranged in parallel with the coil element 101 indicated by a dotted circle in FIG. Is passed through each of the coil elements 101 arranged in the. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the band 603 of the receiving coil 8 according to the first embodiment. 4A is a side view of the receiving coil 8 wound around the subject P, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the dotted circle shown in FIG. For example, the band 603 is passed through the coil element 101 as shown in FIG. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a mechanism for pressing the button of the button switch 602 with the band 603 may be used. In FIG. 3, the coil element 101 indicated by diagonal lines is formed by passing a band 603 through each of the coil element 101 indicated by a dotted circle and the coil element 101 arranged in parallel thereto, and the button switch 602 is pressed. The coil element 101 which switches to a non-tuned circuit is meant. If the button switch 602 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the coil element 101, there is a possibility that the button switch 602 is inadvertently accidentally pressed. Therefore, it may be preferable to provide the button switch 602 on the inner peripheral side.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the button switch 602 is provided in some coil elements 101. For example, with respect to the coil element 101 that is considered to be physically almost impossible to overlap with another coil element 101 due to the bending radius of the receiving coil 8 or that is considered to be positioned inside as viewed from the imaging region, the button switch 602 is originally used. You can not prepare. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the button switch 602 may be provided in all the coil elements 101. Alternatively, the button switch 602 may be provided for each unit composed of the plurality of coil elements 101. For example, it may be provided for each unit (section) extending over a plurality of rows. 3, the example in which the reception coil 8 includes the band 603 has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the reception coil 8 may not include the band 603. In this case, for example, the user may press the button switch 602 directly.

  Thus, the receiving coil 8 performs a normal operation controlled by the control signal in the coil element 101 that does not overlap and the coil element 101 on the inner side of the overlapping coil elements 101, and the outer side of the overlapping coil elements 101. The coil element 101 functions as an untuned circuit during imaging.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of image reconstruction in the first embodiment. As described above, in the first embodiment, there is the coil element 101 that always functions as an untuned circuit during imaging and does not receive an MR signal to be used for image reconstruction. For this reason, in the first embodiment, such a signal from the coil element 101 is not used for image reconstruction.

  Specifically, the image reconstruction unit 22 acquires MR signal data of each channel from the sequence control unit 10 (step S101). On the other hand, the controller 26 monitors the amount of current flowing through the second path 501 (fixed bias line) after imaging (or during imaging) (step S102).

  Since the amount of direct current flowing through the PIN diode 301 of the LC parallel resonant circuit 201 is substantially constant (for example, i [A (ampere)]), the current is increased by the amount switched from the first path 401 to the second path 501. The amount I [A] is considered to increase. That is, a relational expression of I [A] = i [A] × k (k = 0, 1, 2,...) Holds.

  Therefore, the control unit 26 calculates k that satisfies the relational expression of i [A] × k ≦ I [A] <i [A] × (k + 1) (step S103), and the coil switched to the second path 501. Element 101 is determined. That is, by calculating k, the number of coil elements 101 switched to the second path 501 can be determined. Therefore, from the end coil element 101 positioned on the outer side to the number of coil elements 101, the second path 501 The coil element 101 switched to 501 is identified.

  And the control part 26 judges that the coil element 101 (or unit) connected to the 1st path | route 401 from 1 to (Nk) from the result of step S103, and respond | corresponds to these coil elements 101. The image reconstruction unit 22 is controlled to use the channel signal for image reconstruction (step S104).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, among the coil elements that overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging region, only the outer coil element as viewed from the imaging region can be switched to the non-tuned circuit. Therefore, electromagnetic interference caused by overlapping of coil elements in a single high-frequency coil can be easily reduced.

  For example, since it is not necessary to insert a spacer, it is possible to reduce the labor of the user and improve the throughput, and it is also possible to avoid the possibility that the SNR is lowered due to forgetting to insert the spacer. The decrease in SNR may not always be noticed by the user. In such a case, the image quality is also deteriorated. In this regard, according to the first embodiment, the user's effort is reduced, and the switching mechanism is provided in the high-frequency coil itself, so that there is a high possibility that the switching operation is performed without forgetting. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in SNR and minimize image quality degradation caused by overlapping of coil elements. Moreover, since it is not necessary to prepare high frequency coils of various sizes, it is economical.

  In addition, if the setting of switching can be performed at the same time when the high frequency coil is mounted by a mechanism using a band or the like together, it is possible to further reduce the trouble of the user and further avoid forgetting to switch.

  6-8 is a figure for demonstrating the receiving coil 8 which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment. Although FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which each coil element 101 is configured to be connectable to the second path 501 different from the first path 401, the embodiment is not limited thereto.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, another LC parallel resonance circuit 701 is connected to each coil element 101, and LC parallel resonance is performed by physical contact without using a current from a PIN diode 301 or a fixed bias. The on / off state of the circuit 701 may be controlled. When the LC parallel resonant circuit 701 is controlled to turn on, the coil element 101 is detuned. In such a configuration, the LC parallel resonance circuit 701 may be provided for each coil element 101 individually, so that the configuration can be simplified compared to the method of providing the second path 501.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the switches for switching between the first path 401 and the second path 501 may be arranged so as to operate independently instead of being arranged in series.

  In the first embodiment described above, an example in which the control unit 26 monitors the amount of current flowing through the PIN diode 301 and identifies the coil element 101 switched to the non-tuned circuit based on the monitored amount of current. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 26 may monitor the voltage of the second path 501 and specify the coil element 101 switched to the non-tuned circuit based on the monitored voltage. For example, the receiving coil 8 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a switch 801. When the switch 801 is switched so that each coil element 101 is connected to the second path 501 side (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 8), the circuit on the first path 401 side is simultaneously grounded. Is switched (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 8).

For example, the control unit 26 may monitor the voltage of the second path 501 (bias line) in the receiving coil 8 shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the second path 501 (bias line) is a constant current circuit. In addition, when a current necessary for controlling the PIN diode 301 of the LC parallel resonant circuit 201 to be turned on is supplied to the second path 501, the voltage observed on the second path 501 is “V ₂ ”. The maximum value of the voltage “V ₂ ” is “Vmax”.

When there is no switch 801 switched to the second path 501 side, that is, when there is no overlap between the coil elements 101, the voltage observed on the second path 501 becomes the maximum value “Vmax”. On the other hand, when the k-th coil element 101 is switched to the second path 501 side, the voltage observed on the second path 501 is V ₂ = I × R × (N−k + 1). Here, “R” is the resistance per pin diode 301, and “N” is the total number of coil elements 101. In practice, the resistance of a choke coil or the like is also considered. For example, when the “3” coil element 101 is switched to the second path 501 side, the voltages observed on the second path 501 are the three coil elements 101 “3”, “4”, and “5”. Is a voltage “V ₂ ” for causing the current I [A] to flow through the capacitor.

Therefore, when the voltage “V ₂ ” is the maximum value “Vmax”, the control unit 26 determines that there is no coil element 101 switched to the second path 501. In other cases, the control unit 26 calculates k that satisfies the relational expression V ₂ = I × R × (N−k + 1), and determines the coil element 101 switched to the second path 501. Thereafter, the control unit 26 determines that the coil elements 101 connected to the first path 401 are 1 to (N−k) from the calculated result of k, which is the same as in the first embodiment described above. Then, the image reconstruction unit 22 is controlled so that the signals of the channels corresponding to these coil elements 101 are used for image reconstruction.

(Second Embodiment)
The MRI apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the MRI apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The receiving coil 8 according to the second embodiment is also assumed to have flexibility in whole or in part and whose bending direction is uniformly determined. Furthermore, when the receiving coil 8 is disposed so as to wind the imaging region while being in close contact with the subject P, it is assumed that the coil element disposed on the inside is usually the same coil element. However, the receiving coil 8 according to the second embodiment automatically detects the overlapping coil element 101 by detecting a change in the noise level, and automatically detunes the coil element 101. Do.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the receiving coil 8 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in the receiving coil 8 according to the second embodiment, each coil element 101 (or a unit composed of a plurality of coil elements 101) is individually connected to a path of a control signal system. The This is because, in the second embodiment, a technique is used in which the noise level is measured while automatically increasing the number of coil elements 101 operating as tuning circuits instead of manually. This is because a mechanism for transmitting the message is required. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the control signal system is integrated into one, a mechanical switch may be provided individually.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing procedure for determining the object to be untuned in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing procedure for determining the object to be unsynchronized in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, first, the user attaches the receiving coil 8 to the subject and selects the receiving coil 8 to be used on the user interface (step S201).

  Next, the control unit 26 first transmits a control signal to the coil elements (or units) 1 to n so as to operate as a normal tuning circuit (step S202). Coil elements (or units) up to n + 1 to N (N is the maximum number) may be operated as an untuned circuit. Note that the initial value “n” is physically almost impossible to overlap with the other coil elements 101 due to the bending radius of the receiving coil 8, or the coil element 101 considered to be positioned inside as viewed from the imaging region. Should be set. For example, in FIG. 11, if the coil elements 101 “N1” to “N3” do not overlap with other coil elements 101 no matter what imaging region is wound, the initial value “n” is It becomes “3”. The initial value “n” may be stored in the storage unit 23 in advance.

  In this state, the control unit 26 measures the noise level N1 (n) of the coil element 101 at the end opposite to the coil element 101 that may overlap (step S203), and the measured noise level N1 (n ) Is stored in the storage unit 23 (step S204). For example, in FIG. 11, the coil element 101 at the end is a coil element 101 “N1”.

  Subsequently, the control unit 26 sets a value obtained by adding 1 to n to n ′ (step S205), and operates as a normal tuning circuit for the coil elements 101 (or units) 1 to n ′. A control signal is transmitted (step S206). That is, the control unit 26 increases the coil elements 101 that operate as normal tuning circuits one by one. For example, in FIG. 11, the coil elements 101 “N4”, “N5”, “N6”, and “N7” are increased in this order.

  In this state, the control unit 26 again measures the noise level N1 (n ′) of the first coil element 101 at the end (step S207), and the noise level N1 stored in the storage unit 23 in step S204. N1 (n ′) / N1 (n) is calculated using (n) (step S208).

  If the coil elements 101 overlap each other and electromagnetic interference occurs, it is considered that the noise level becomes extremely large and the value of N1 (n ′) / N1 (n) also becomes extremely large. Therefore, the control unit 26 compares the predetermined threshold value with the value of N1 (n ′) / N1 (n) (step S209).

  When the value of N1 (n ′) / N1 (n) is less than the threshold value (step S209, No), it is considered that the overlapping coil element 101 is still not operating as a tuning circuit. Therefore, the control unit 26 determines whether n ′ is the maximum number “N” of coil elements (or units) (step S210), and when it is not the maximum number “N” (step S210, No). The process returns to step S205. And the control part 26 repeats the process of step S205 to step S209. When n ′ is the maximum number “N” (step S210, Yes), the control unit 26 ends the process. For example, a case where no overlap occurs in the coil element 101 can be considered.

  On the other hand, when the value of N1 (n ′) / N1 (n) is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes in step S209), it is considered that the overlapping coil element 101 is in a state where electromagnetic interference has occurred as a result of operating as a tuning circuit. It is done. Therefore, the control unit 26 transmits a control signal that causes all the coil elements 101 subsequent to n ′ to operate as non-tuning circuits, and ends the process.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of image reconstruction in the second embodiment. As described above, also in the second embodiment, there is the coil element 101 that always functions as a non-tuned circuit during imaging and does not receive an MR signal to be used for image reconstruction. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, such a signal from the coil element 101 is not used for image reconstruction.

  Specifically, the image reconstruction unit 22 acquires MR signal data of each channel from the sequence control unit 10 (step S301). On the other hand, the control unit 26 acquires information on the coil element 101 determined by the processing shown in FIG. 10 from, for example, the storage unit 23 and selects a channel corresponding to the coil element 101 operating as a tuning circuit ( Step S302). Then, the control unit 26 controls the image reconstruction unit 22 so as to use the signal of the channel selected in step S302 for image reconstruction (step S303).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, among the coil elements that overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging region, only the outer coil element viewed from the imaging region is non- Since the tuning circuit can be switched, it is possible to easily reduce electromagnetic interference caused by overlapping of coil elements in a single high-frequency coil. Further, according to the second embodiment, since everything from determination of overlapping coil elements to switching to a non-tuned circuit can be automated, it is possible to reduce time and forgetting to switch.

  It should be noted that the processing procedure for determining the object to be unsynchronized can be executed prior to pre-scanning such as positioning image capturing and sensitivity map imaging. On / off of each coil element in positioning image imaging or sensitivity map imaging is determined prior to positioning image imaging or sensitivity map imaging. For example, as described above, the control unit 26 uses the user interface on the user interface to accept selection of the reception coil 8 used for imaging (step S201 described above) as a trigger, and performs the processing procedure for determining the object to be detuned. It can be carried out. In addition, for example, the control unit 26 can perform the processing procedure for determining the object to be unsynchronized prior to the positioning image capturing, triggered by the pressing of the start button for the positioning image capturing that is the first scan. . It is not necessary to perform a pre-scan dedicated for the purpose of determining the object to be untuned.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the receiving coil 8 is assumed as the high-frequency coil, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the high-frequency coil may be a transmitter / receiver having not only a reception function but also a transmission function. In the above-described embodiment, the receiving coil 8 is assumed to have a uniform bending direction, and further, it is assumed that the coil elements arranged on the inner side are usually the same coil element. It is not limited to.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the coil elements on the outer side as viewed from the imaging region among the overlapping coil elements are switched to the non-tuned circuit has been described. This is because it is generally considered that SNR is improved by reconstructing an image using MR signal data received by a coil element close to the subject. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the inner coil element may be switched to the non-tuned circuit.

  According to the high-frequency coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of at least one embodiment described above, electromagnetic interference caused by overlapping of coil elements in a single high-frequency coil can be easily reduced.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MRI apparatus 8 Reception coil 101 Coil element 201 LC parallel resonance circuit 301 PIN diode

Claims (9)

With multiple coil elements,
Of the coil elements overlapping the orbiting when placed against imaging region, one of the coil elements, from the tuning circuit which resonates at a predetermined frequency, Ri can der switched to non-tuning circuit does not resonate at the predetermined frequency,
Each coil element comprises a parallel resonant circuit having an inductance, a capacitance, and a PIN diode;
The first path for receiving a control signal for controlling on / off of the PIN diode in accordance with the transmission / reception timing of the high-frequency pulse can be selectively connected to a second path different from the first path. A magnetic circuit which is selectively connected from one path to the second path and is switched from a tuning circuit to a non-tuning circuit by receiving a current necessary for controlling the PIN diode to be turned on. High frequency coil for resonance imaging equipment . 2. The high frequency coil for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein among the overlapping coil elements, an outer coil element as viewed from the imaging region can be switched to a non-tuned circuit. At least one coil element of the high-frequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises the operable switch for switching the connection from the first path to the second path. 4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein among the plurality of coil elements, the switch is provided in a coil element at a position where it can overlap with another coil element due to a bending radius of the high-frequency coil. high-frequency coil of use. Among the coil elements that have a plurality of coil elements and overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging part, one coil element is changed from a tuning circuit that resonates at a predetermined frequency to a non-tuning circuit that does not resonate at the predetermined frequency. A switchable high frequency coil;
A control unit,
Each coil element includes a parallel resonance circuit having an inductance, a capacitance, and a PIN diode, and includes a first path for receiving a control signal for controlling on / off of the PIN diode in accordance with transmission / reception timing of the high-frequency pulse, A second path different from one path can be selectively connected, and the first path is selectively connected to the second path to supply a current necessary for controlling the PIN diode to be turned on. By receiving, it is switched from the tuning circuit to the non-tuning circuit,
The control unit monitors a current amount or voltage flowing through the second path, identifies a coil element switched to a non-tuning circuit based on the monitored current amount or voltage, and operates as a tuning circuit An image is reconstructed using a signal from the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. Among the coil elements that have a plurality of coil elements and overlap with each other when arranged with respect to the imaging part, one coil element is changed from a tuning circuit that resonates at a predetermined frequency to a non-tuning circuit that does not resonate at the predetermined frequency. A switchable high frequency coil;
A control unit,
The control unit determines an overlapping coil element, and switches one of the overlapping coil elements to an untuned circuit based on the determination result. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit determines an overlapping coil element by measuring a noise level of the coil element. The magnetic resonance according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit determines an overlapping coil element by measuring a noise level of a coil element positioned at an end of the plurality of coil elements. Imaging device. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit reconstructs an image using a signal from a coil element operating as a tuning circuit.

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