JPH02246929A - Surface coil holder for mri device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To fix a surface coil at any place of a subject to be examined by incorporating a spherical joint mechanism at least one side of spaces between a base part fixed to a bed or gantry and a flexible long-length member and between a holding part to hold the surface coil and the flexible long-length member. CONSTITUTION:The holder of a surface coil 3 is composed of a top board base 5A to be slidably fitted to a fitting appliance 2B provided in the lengthwise direction of a top board 2A in a bed 2, a coil holder 5C to hold a handle 3A of the surface coil 3 and two flexible pipes 5Ba and 5Bb to execute the connection between the top board base 5A and coil holder 5C, and spherical joint mechanisms (5Ce, 5Cf and 5Cg) are provided between the flexible pipes 5Ba and 5Bb and the coil holder 5C and, simultaneously, in the coil holder 5C. Consequently, by the works of the members, the surface coil 3 can be fixed at any place of a subject P to be examined.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to magnetic resonance (MR)
The present invention relates to a holder for setting a surface coil of an MRI apparatus at a desired part of a subject to obtain morphological information such as a slice image of a subject (living body) and functional information such as spectroscopy using the phenomenon (sonance).

(Prior art) Magnetic resonance is a phenomenon in which an atomic nucleus with non-zero spin and magnetic moment placed in a static magnetic field resonantly absorbs and emits only electromagnetic waves of a specific frequency. The angular frequency ω0 (ωo−2πshi0.ν0
; Larmor frequency).

ω0−γHO Here, γ is the gyromagnetic ratio specific to the type of atomic nucleus,
Further, Ho is the static magnetic field strength.

This type of MRI performs biological diagnosis using the above principles.
The device processes the electromagnetic waves of the same frequency as above that are induced after the above-mentioned resonance absorption, and calculates nuclear density, longitudinal relaxation time TI, transverse relaxation time T2 . flow.

Diagnostic information that reflects information such as chemical shifts, such as slice images of a subject, is obtained non-invasively.

Collecting diagnostic information by magnetic resonance can excite all parts of a subject placed in a static magnetic field and collect signals, but there are limitations in the equipment configuration and clinical requirements for imaging images. Therefore, in an actual device, a specific part is excited and its signal is collected.

In this case, the specific region to be imaged is generally a sliced region with a certain thickness;
Magnetic resonance signals (MR multiplied signals) of echo signals and FID signals from this slice site are collected by performing a data encoding process many times, and these data groups are subjected to image reconstruction processing using, for example, a two-dimensional Fourier transform method. By doing so, an image of the specific slice region is generated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of this type of MRI apparatus, in which a static magnetic field generating magnet consisting of a normal conducting magnet or a superconducting magnet and a gradient magnetic field coil are installed in the gantry 1.

An implantable whole-body transmitting/receiving coil, etc. is built in, and these generate a superimposed magnetic field of a static magnetic field, a gradient magnetic field, and a high-frequency magnetic field for excitation in the cylindrical patient introduction cavity IA formed in the same gantry 1. .

A bed 2 is installed facing the opening of the cylindrical cavity IA of the gantry 1. A patient (not shown) is placed on the slide top plate 2A of the bed 2, and the patient is placed inside the cylindrical cavity IA. It can be positioned in the vertical magnetic field region within the cylindrical cavity IA. Note that 4 in the figure is a console.

With this configuration, during imaging, a subject (not shown) is introduced into the cylindrical cavity IA, a static magnetic field is applied, and a gradient magnetic field is applied by a gradient magnetic field coil, and a high-frequency excitation wave is applied by an implantable whole-body transmitting/receiving coil. Apply a magnetic field to each. During reception, magnetic resonance signals induced by an implantable whole-body transmitting/receiving coil are generally detected, but in particular, a surface coil 3 is used for highly sensitive detection of localized areas.
In some cases, magnetic resonance signals induced using a magnetic resonance sensor are detected.

There are various kinds of surface coils 3, but one that has a general shape of an inner drum type is well known. There are also rectangular types and saddle-shaped types for the head and neck. For example, in the case of an inner drum-shaped type, the operator grasps the handle 3A and places the coil portion 3B on the part of the subject to be photographed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) This surface coil 3 can be placed at a highly sensitive detection target site as desired by the operator, but in this case, in order to detect signals from a local site with higher sensitivity, , it needs to be placed precisely and closely on the site during the imaging time. Therefore, a holder is used to achieve this requirement.

However, the holders that have appeared in the past mainly have the function of simply fixing the coil, and can be fixed in a fixed position anywhere on the human body (subject). Nothing like it had appeared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a holder that allows the surface coil of an MRI apparatus to be fixed in place anywhere on a subject.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a structure in which the following means are taken to solve the above problems and achieve the objects. That is, the present invention provides a holder for setting a surface coil of an MRI apparatus at a desired part of a subject, which includes a base portion fixed to a bed or a gantry, a holder portion holding the surface coil, and the base. and a flexible elongated member that connects between the base portion and the flexible elongated member, and between the base portion and the flexible elongated member and between the holding portion and the flexible elongated member. It is characterized by incorporating a spherical joint mechanism into at least one side between the two.

(Function) According to this configuration, the flexible elongated member and the spherical joint mechanism allow the holding portion, and by extension the surface coil, to be fixed in place anywhere on the subject. Become.

(Example) An example of a surface coil holder for an MRI apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing how the holder of this embodiment is installed on the top plate of a bed, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the holder of the same embodiment, and Fig. 3 is taken from direction A in Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the coil holder and the surface coil.

As shown in the figure, the holder of this embodiment holds a top plate base 5A that is attached in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 2A of the bed 2 and that is slidably attached to the fixture 2B, and a handle 3A of the surface coil 3. The coil holder 5C that connects the top plate base 5A and the coil holder 5C is composed of two flexible vibes 5Ba and 5Bb in the illustration.
A, a spherical joint mechanism (5Ce) is located between the coil holder 5C and the coil holder 5C.

5Cf, 5Cg).

The top plate base 5A has a base portion 5Aa that slides onto the fixture 2B and has a screw hole formed therein, and flexible vibes 5Ba, 5.
It consists of a pipe connecting part 5Ac that connects Bb, and a set screw 5Ab that is screwed into the screw hole.Tighten this screw 5Ab/! By attaching the top plate base 5A to the top plate 2 of the bed 2.
It can be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction of A.

Flexible vibe 5Ba (5Bb) has hose 5Bal
A tube 58a2 is inserted into the tube 5.
A sphere 5Ba3 made of resin or the like is communicated with Ba2. A screw with a nut 58a4 is provided at both ends of the tube 5Ba2, and this screw with a nut 5Ba4
It is screwed and fixed to the vibe connecting portion 5Ab of the top plate base 5A and the pipe connecting portion 5Cc of the coil holder 5C using nuts 5Ba5.

The coil holder 5C includes a main member 5Ca that mainly supports the handle 3A of the surface coil 3, and a secondary member 5C that secondarily supports the handle 3A.
b, a pipe connecting portion 5Cc, a screw 5Cd that is screwed onto the main member 5Ca and clamped and fixed between the handle 3A@main member 5Ca and the secondary member 5Cb by tightening/loosening the screw, and the end of the pipe connecting portion 5Cc. The amount of spheres that receive the spheres 5Ce in the main member 5Ca that forms the spherical joint mechanism is the amount of spheres that receive the spheres 5Ce in the part 5Cf and the secondary member 5Cb that forms the spherical joint mechanism. consists of part 5Cg.

According to such a configuration, the top plate base 5A is similar to the top plate 2A.
It can be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the flexible vibes 5Ba and 5Bb can direct the coil holder 5C in almost any direction on the fixed top plate base 5A.

Furthermore, spherical joint mechanism (5Ce, 5Cf, 5Cg
) can fix the coil holder 5C at almost any position. By the action of these members, the surface coil 3 can be fixed in a fixed position anywhere on the subject P, as shown in FIG.

In addition, the surface coil 3 can be removed by tightening/loosening the screw 5Cd, resulting in good operability.

Note that the spherical joint mechanism may be incorporated into the top plate base 5A side. Further, instead of being attached to the top plate 2A, it may be attached to the bed 2 itself or inside the gantry.

The invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes a base portion fixed to a bed or a gantry, a holding portion holding the surface coil, and a flexible length connecting the base portion and the holding portion. and a spherical joint mechanism is incorporated between the base portion and the flexible elongated member and between the holding portion and the flexible elongated member, The flexible elongate member and spherical joint mechanism allow the retainer, and thus the surface coil, to be fixed in place anywhere on the subject.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a holder that allows the surface coil of an MRI apparatus to be fixed in place anywhere on the subject.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a situation in which an embodiment of the surface coil holder of the MR+ apparatus according to the present invention is installed on the top plate of a bed; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the holder of the same embodiment; The figure is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the coil holder and the surface coil seen from direction A in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the operation of the same embodiment, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. It is. 2A...Top plate 2A, 3...Surface coil, 3A...
Handle, 5A...Top plate base, 5Ba, 5Bb...Flexible vibe, 5C...Coil holder. 5Ce, 5Cf'
. 5Cg... Spherical joint mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A holder for setting a surface coil of an MRI apparatus at a desired part of a subject, the base part being fixed to a bed or a gantry, the holder part holding the surface coil, the base part and the holder part. a flexible elongated member connecting between the base portion and the flexible elongated member, and a spherical surface on at least one of the base portion and the flexible elongated member and between the holding portion and the flexible elongated member. M characterized by incorporating a joint mechanism
Surface coil holder for RI equipment.