JP6173676B2 - High frequency coil unit and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a radio frequency (RF) coil unit and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus.

  The MRI apparatus magnetically excites the nuclear spin of a subject placed in a static magnetic field with an RF signal of Larmor frequency, and reconstructs an image from the magnetic resonance (MR) signal generated by this excitation. This is an image diagnostic apparatus.

  Conventionally, an integrated coil in which an RF coil for a head and an RF coil for a spine are connected is commercially available as an RF receiving coil for a child used in an MRI apparatus. A conventional pediatric RF receiving coil has a structure in which a plurality of coil elements are arranged in a plane on the back side of a subject. For this reason, if necessary, another auxiliary RF coil is installed to compensate for the sensitivity on the anterior side of the subject.

  However, when the subject is a child, it is not desirable to apply a large load to the subject. Therefore, the supplementary RF coil is installed on the anterior side of the subject using the installation table and the support mechanism.

JP 2008-253410 A

  However, in the conventional imaging method for children, the gap between the auxiliary RF coil installed on the anterior side of the subject and the subject becomes large. For this reason, it may be difficult to ensure a sufficient SNR (signal to noise ratio).

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an RF coil unit and an MRI apparatus capable of receiving MR signals from a necessary region with a more suitable sensitivity without imposing a large load on the subject.

A high-frequency coil unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support unit that supports a subject and a fixture. The fixture is provided on the support portion, and includes a first portion that straddles the subject and a second portion that partitions between both feet of the subject. The support portion is configured to support the entire subject.
The high-frequency coil unit according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a support unit that supports the subject and a fixture. The fixture is provided on the support portion, and includes a first portion that straddles the subject and a second portion that partitions between both feet of the subject. An attachment structure for attaching an abdominal coil element to the support portion is provided.
The high-frequency coil unit according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a support for setting a subject and setting the subject, a plurality of coil elements, and a fixture. The support unit is configured to support the subject from the back side. The plurality of coil elements are provided in the support portion and are arranged at least at different positions in the vertical direction. The fixture includes a support surface of the support portion that supports the back side of the subject, and at least one of the two end portions of the support portion that are on both sides of the subject, between the crotch of the subject. Connect via.
The high-frequency coil unit according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a support for setting a subject and setting the subject on a bed, a plurality of coil elements, and a coil element for the abdomen of the subject. The plurality of coil elements are provided in the support portion and are arranged at least at different positions in the vertical direction. As the coil elements on the abdomen side of the subject, a plurality of coil elements having a number different from the number of the plurality of coil elements provided on the support portion on the back side of the subject are provided.
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the high-frequency coil unit and an imaging system. The imaging system performs magnetic resonance imaging of a subject using the high-frequency coil unit.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the RF coil unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The bottom view of RF coil unit which shows arrangement | positioning of the several coil element provided in the support part shown in FIG. The right view of RF coil unit which shows arrangement | positioning of the several coil element provided in the support part and head coil shown in FIG. The top view of RF coil unit which shows arrangement | positioning of the several coil element provided in the fixing tool and head coil shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows an example of the structure in the surface of the support part shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows another example of the structure in the surface of the support part shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example which provided the coil for independent heads, and comprised the RF coil unit. The top view of RF coil unit which shows the example which increased the number of coil elements in the abdomen side of a subject. The perspective view which shows the example which attached the coil for independent abdomen to the abdomen side of the subject, and comprised the RF coil unit. The figure which shows the example which changed the opening / closing direction of the coil for heads shown in FIG. The figure which shows another example which changed the opening / closing direction of the coil for heads shown in FIG.

  An RF coil unit and an MRI apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an RF coil unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the RF coil unit showing the arrangement of a plurality of coil elements provided in the support shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the RF coil unit showing the arrangement of a plurality of coil elements provided in the support portion and the head coil shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is provided in the fixture and the head coil shown in FIG. It is a top view of RF coil unit which shows arrangement of a plurality of coil elements.

  The RF coil unit 1 is configured by providing a plurality of coil elements 3 on a support 2 for setting the subject O and setting it on a bed. The plurality of coil elements 3 are arranged at least at different positions in the vertical direction. The support 2 can further be provided with a fixture 4 and a head coil 5 for fixing the subject O from the abdomen side.

  The size of the support unit 2 in the longitudinal direction can be determined in accordance with the size of the subject O so that the entire subject O can be supported by the support unit 2. However, the size of the support unit 2 may be determined so that the limb of the subject O is outside the support unit 2 without being limited to the illustrated example. The illustrated example shows an example in which the subject O is an infant.

  The support unit 2 can be configured to support the subject O from the back side. In particular, when the support portion 2 is bent in the vertical direction, the plurality of coil elements 3 can be arranged on the support portion 2 along a curved surface that is bent in the vertical direction. For this reason, the subject O can be fitted to the support part 2 while arranging the plurality of coil elements 3 at different positions in the vertical direction. When the subject O is an infant, for example, the support portion 2 can be curved so as to have a depth of about 15 mm in consideration of the thickness of the subject O. Thereby, the whole subject O can be safely protected by the support part 2.

  However, you may comprise the support part 2 so that the test object O may be set face down or sideways, without setting it on its back. In that case, a fixture 4 corresponding to the shape of the subject O can be provided on the support portion 2 so that the subject O can be satisfactorily fixed.

  On the other hand, when the plurality of coil elements 3 are arranged along the curved curved surface on the curved support portion 2 configured to set the subject O on the back, a part of the plurality of coil elements 3 is the subject O. It will be arrange | positioned so that the side surface of this may be covered. For this reason, the sensitivity on the side surface in addition to the back side of the subject O can be ensured. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the plurality of coil elements 3 arranged on the support portion 2 on the anterior side of the subject O is dramatically improved as compared with the conventional spinal coil.

  In the illustrated example, four coil elements 3 are respectively provided along the body axis direction of the subject O and the direction perpendicular to the body axis of the subject O inside the plate-like support portion 2 having a circular cross section. Is stored.

  The fixture 4 has a support surface of the support unit 2 that supports the back side of the subject O and at least one of the two end portions of the support unit 2 on both sides of the subject O between the crotch of the subject O. It is an instrument to be connected via. The fixture 4 is preferably configured to allow both feet of the subject O to pass from the viewpoint of suppressing artifacts due to the movement of the subject O. In the illustrated example, the fixture 4 connects both side surfaces of the subject O and the support surface. In this case, the fixture 4 is T-shaped or Y-shaped.

  By providing the support 2 with the fixture 4 having such a structure, the RF coil unit 1 becomes a child seat type RF coil. However, a fixture that allows only one leg of the subject O to pass through may be provided in the support portion 2. In that case, the fixture has a bent columnar structure without branching.

  It is desirable that at least a part of the fixture 4 is configured to be detachable from the support portion 2. Thereby, the subject O can be easily set. As a specific example, the fixture 4 and the support surface of the support part 2 can be connected by a hinge. Thereby, the fixture 4 can be opened and closed. Alternatively, the entire fixture 4 may be detachable from the support portion 2. Connecting the detachable portion of the fixture 4 to the support portion 2 by a lock mechanism or the like leads to an improvement in safety. Alternatively, the fixture 4 may be attached to the support portion 2 simply and flexibly with a hook-and-loop fastener or the like.

  Furthermore, at least a part of the coil element 3 can be provided in the fixture 4. In the illustrated example, a plurality of coil elements 3 are arranged inside the fixture 4 according to a shape such as a T shape or a Y shape. For this reason, the sensitivity on the anterior side of the subject O can be further improved by the coil element 3 disposed on the abdomen side of the subject O. In the illustrated example, as the coil element 3 on the abdomen side of the subject O, a plurality of coil elements 3 having a number different from the number of the plurality of coil elements 3 provided on the support portion 2 on the back side of the subject O are provided. ing. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the subject O in the vicinity of the hip joint can be improved by the coil element 3 disposed between the crotch of the subject O.

  In the illustrated example, a part of the coil element 3 is further accommodated inside the fixture 4. That is, two coil elements 3 straddling the fixture 4 and the support portion 2 are provided. Accordingly, each coil element 3 functions as a coil in a state in which a part is arranged on the fixture 4 and the support portion 2 and the fixture 4 is attached to the support portion 2. In addition, each coil element 3 is disposed at a position where the foot of the subject O passes through the inside. Therefore, the sensitivity of the subject O in the vicinity of the hip joint can be further improved. It is desirable that the coil straddling the fixture 4 and the support portion 2 is a rigid coil from the viewpoint of fixing the subject O to suppress movement and preventing a large load from being applied to the subject O.

  As shown in the figure, the head coil 5 can be an open / close type coil having a part of the support portion 2 on the back side. In this case, the body surface side of the head coil 5 can be a coil having a curved cross section. The body surface side of the head coil 5 can be connected to the end of the support 2 via a hinge. Thereby, the coil 5 for heads which a body surface side opens and closes can be comprised. A plurality of coil elements 3 for the head can be arranged inside the head coil 5. The coil on the body surface side of the head coil 5 can be a flexible coil having flexibility or a rigid coil having rigidity.

  Thus, by providing the head coil 5, the RF coil unit 1 can be configured as an RF coil for a child's head and spine. Furthermore, by providing the coil element 3 in the fixture 4, sensitivity near the hip joint and the abdomen can be obtained. However, the RF coil unit 1 having a simple structure can be configured by omitting some or all of the coil elements 3 for the head, the abdomen, and the hip joint. Alternatively, the RF coil unit 1 can be configured by providing at least one coil element 3 for the head and abdomen of the subject O.

  Moreover, the magnitude | size, number, and shape of the coil element 3 arrange | positioned at each place are not restricted to the example shown in figure. For example, the coil element 3 having various shapes such as a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, and an 8-shape can be provided.

  In addition to the features described above, it is preferable that the surface that contacts the subject O is made of a cushioning material having irregularities as the material of the support portion 2.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure on the surface of the support portion 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the structure on the surface of the support portion 2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the surface of the support portion 2 is preferably composed of a cushion material having one-dimensional or two-dimensional unevenness. Thereby, when the subject O is an infant whose body temperature control is immature, an increase in body temperature can be prevented by the passage of air. In addition, by making the surface of the support portion 2 a structure without a gap, it is possible to prevent liquid from entering the support portion 2.

  Further, a cushion that fits the neck may be provided at a position corresponding to the neck of the subject O. Furthermore, not only the neck but also the support portion 2 is provided with undulations in accordance with the body shape of the subject O, whereby unnecessary voids can be reduced. Thereby, the sensitivity can be improved and the movement of the subject O can be reduced.

  In addition, the body surface side of the subject O may be fixed with the harness 6 in order to fix the subject O to the support portion 2 more safely. For example, the movement of the upper body of the subject O can be suppressed by providing a Y-shaped belt that can be attached and detached with one touch from the shoulder to the hip joint.

  The above-described RF coil unit 1 can be set on a bed of an MRI apparatus equipped with an imaging system and used as an RF receiving coil for MR imaging. It is practical to set the RF coil unit 1 on a couch top in a state protected by a casing. When the RF coil unit 1 is set on the couch top, the plurality of coil elements 3 provided on the support unit 2 are arranged in the vertical direction of the couch. Therefore, MR imaging of the subject O can be performed using the RF coil unit 1 by the imaging system of the MRI apparatus while maintaining the sensitivity of the subject O on the anterior side.

  Next, variations of the RF coil unit 1 will be illustrated.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the RF coil unit 1 is configured by providing an independent head coil 5.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the lower surface side of the head coil 5 is integrated with the support portion 2, the head coil 5 may be used independently. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, if the width of the head coil 5 is made narrower than the support unit 2 in accordance with the size of the subject O, the sensitivity in the head can be improved.

  FIG. 8 is a top view of the RF coil unit 1 showing an example in which the number of coil elements 3 on the abdomen side of the subject O is increased.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the width in the body axis direction of the portion of the fixture 4 that connects the left and right ends of the support portion 2 as viewed from the subject O is widened, the coil is applied to the chest in addition to the abdomen of the subject O. Element 3 can be arranged. Thereby, the sensitivity in the hip joint vicinity, the abdomen, and the chest can be improved.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which the RF coil unit 1 is configured by attaching an independent abdominal coil to the abdomen side of the subject O. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an attachment structure 10 </ b> A for attaching the abdominal coil element 3 can be provided on the support portion 2. As the attachment structure 10 </ b> A, any structure can be used as long as it can attach the abdominal coil element 3 to the support portion 2, such as a hook or a hook-and-loop fastener. In the illustrated example, linear surface fasteners are attached to the left and right side surfaces of the support portion 2 as viewed from the subject O along the longitudinal direction.

  When the mounting structure 10 </ b> A is provided on the support portion 2 in this manner, a desired abdominal coil 11 having a mounting structure 10 </ b> B corresponding to the mounting structure 10 </ b> A of the support portion 2 can be attached to the support portion 2. For example, a commercially available abdomen coil 11 having flexibility with hook and loop fasteners at both ends can be attached to the support 2. For this reason, the sensitivity of the abdomen and chest can be improved without imposing a large load on the subject O.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which the opening / closing direction of the head coil 5 shown in FIG. 1 is changed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example in which the opening / closing direction of the head coil 5 shown in FIG. 1 is changed.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the head coil 5 that opens and closes in the longitudinal direction of the support portion 2. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the head coil that opens and closes in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support portion 2. 5 may be provided on the support 2.

  For example, the head coil 5 shown in FIG. 10 has a structure in which the upper side of the subject O opens and closes from the center to the left and right. That is, the upper side of the head coil 5 is composed of two curved parts, and each part is connected to the lower side of the head coil 5 by a hinge.

  On the other hand, the head coil 5 shown in FIG. 11 has a structure that opens and closes in the left-right direction without separating the upper side when viewed from the subject O. That is, one end of the curved upper side is connected to the lower side of the head coil 5 via the hinge.

  The RF coil unit 1 as described above is configured such that a plurality of coil elements 3 are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction, and the subject O can be fixed and protected without applying an excessive load to the subject O. It is.

  For this reason, according to the RF coil unit 1, sensitivity can be obtained on the back side and the anterior side of the subject O without applying a large load to the subject O. Furthermore, by arranging the coil element 3 along the fixture 4 from the crotch of the subject O to the abdomen, sensitivity in the vicinity of the hip joint and in the abdomen can also be obtained.

  Further, according to the RF coil unit 1, the subject O can be safely protected while suppressing the movement of the subject O by the curved support portion 2 and the fixture 4.

  Therefore, the RF coil unit 1 can be used as an infant spinal RF coil that is easy to set. In addition, sufficient sensitivity can be obtained in regions required for diagnostic imaging such as the heart, abdomen, and hip joints. For this reason, even in inspections such as hip dislocation, imaging can be performed with sufficient sensitivity and SNR by the coil element 3 arranged along the fixture 4 in the vicinity of the hip joint.

  In addition, it is possible to set the conventional abdominal coil without applying a load to the subject O by providing the support structure 2 with the mounting structure 10A.

  Although specific embodiments have been described above, the described embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the scope of the invention. The novel methods and apparatus described herein can be implemented in a variety of other ways. Various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made in the method and apparatus described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents include such various forms and modifications as are encompassed by the scope and spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 RF coil unit 2 Support part 3 Coil element 4 Fixing tool 5 Head coil 6 Harness 10A, 10B Mounting structure 11 Abdominal coil O Subject

Claims (14)

A support for supporting the subject;
A fixture that is provided on the support and has a first part that straddles the subject and a second part that partitions between both feet of the subject;
With
The support portion is a high frequency coil unit which is configured to support the entire subject. A support for supporting the subject;
A fixture that is provided on the support and has a first part that straddles the subject and a second part that partitions between both feet of the subject;
With
The high frequency coil unit which provided the attachment structure for attaching the coil element for abdomen to the said support part. A support unit for setting the subject and setting the subject on the bed, and a support unit configured to support the subject from the back side;
A plurality of coil elements provided in the support portion and disposed at least at different positions in the vertical direction;
The support surface of the support part that supports the back side of the subject is connected to at least one of the two end portions of the support part that are on both sides of the subject via the crotch of the subject. A fixture to perform,
High frequency coil unit having The high-frequency coil unit according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of a coil element is provided on the fixture. The high-frequency coil unit according to claim 3 , wherein at least a part of the fixture is configured to be detachable from the support portion. The high-frequency coil unit according to claim 5 , wherein a coil element is provided, part of which is disposed on each of the fixture and the support, and which functions in a state where the fixture is attached to the support. The high-frequency coil unit according to claim 6 , wherein the coil element that functions in a state where the fixing tool is attached to the support portion is disposed at a position where the foot of the subject passes inside. A support for setting the subject and setting on the bed;
A plurality of coil elements provided in the support portion and disposed at least at different positions in the vertical direction;
A coil element for the abdomen of the subject;
Have
A high-frequency coil unit in which a plurality of coil elements having a number different from the number of the plurality of coil elements provided on the support part on the back side of the subject are provided as coil elements on the abdomen side of the subject. The supporting part, the claim 1 configured to support the subject from the back side, 2 or 8 RF coil unit according. The high-frequency coil unit according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the plurality of coil elements are arranged along a curved surface that is curved in a vertical direction. The high-frequency coil unit according to any one of claims 3 to 8 , wherein a part of the plurality of coil elements is arranged to cover a side surface of the subject. The high frequency coil unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising at least one coil element for the head and abdomen of the subject. The high-frequency coil unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the support portion is formed of a cushioning material having a concavo-convex surface in contact with the subject. A high-frequency coil unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13 ,
An imaging system for performing magnetic resonance imaging of a subject using the high-frequency coil unit;
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

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