JPH04354934A - Rf coil for magnetic resonance imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provided an RF coil for an MRI system which is easy to attach to or detach from a leg part of a person to be inspected and give a good mounting. CONSTITUTION:This coil includes a cylindrical coil part 1 which is arranged to be a mechanical and electric structure divided vertically detachably from a joint part of a person to be inspected and a switching lock mechanism which is allowed to lock and unlock a lower groove body 5 and an upper structural body 6 of the cylindrical coil part 1 mutually.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Purpose of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as " MRI machine)
The present invention relates to RF coils for medical use, and particularly relates to improvements in so-called RF coils for knee use, which are attached to the joints of subjects.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a knee RF coil is a receive-only RF coil used to collect magnetic resonance signals excited in a joint region of a subject's leg, and is a cylinder that covers the entire joint region. It is said to have a cylindrical structure. Thereby, magnetic resonance signals can be received with high sensitivity near the joint site.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of the conventional knee RF coil, since it is an integrated RF coil that does not change its shape, when it is attached to the joint part of the leg of the subject, it is difficult to It is necessary to move the subject on the bed in the length direction of the bed, insert the feet into the internal space of the RF coil, and relatively move the patient up to the knees. Therefore, during this work, the subject is forced to keep his/her legs slightly elevated, and at the same time, the doctor is also burdened with the labor of keeping the patient's legs elevated. Particularly if the subject is unable to straighten his or her knees with their knees bent, the labor burden will be heavy on both the subject and the doctor. Furthermore, it is very inconvenient when it is desired to slightly shift the area to be imaged, and there are various other inconveniences such as the same burden that occurs when taking it off as when putting it on.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and its purpose is to provide an RF coil for an MRI apparatus that can be easily attached to and detached from the leg of a subject and can be attached in a good condition. It's about doing. [Structure of the invention]

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a cylindrical shape having a mechanical or electrical structure divided into upper and lower halves so as to be detachable and detachable from the joint region of a subject. It is characterized by comprising a coil part and an opening/closing lock mechanism that can lock and unlock the upper and lower structures of the cylindrical coil part.

[0006]

[Operation] With the configuration of the RF coil for an MRI apparatus according to the present invention, the cylindrical coil part can be separated into the lower structure and the upper structure when the opening/closing lock mechanism is released. The lower structure from which the structures are separated has an upwardly open shape. Therefore, positioning is completed by the subject sitting on the bed of the MRI apparatus simply placing the joint region on the lower structure. Thereafter, when the upper structure is butted against the lower structure and the opening/closing lock mechanism is locked, the RF coil is attached to the joint region of the subject.

[0007]

[Example] Figure 1 shows an MRI of an example to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the RF coil for the MRI apparatus is being attached to the subject. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of the RF coil for the MRI apparatus.

The RF coil for an MRI apparatus according to this embodiment is generally referred to as a knee coil, and includes a cylindrical coil portion 1 and an opening/closing lock mechanism 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. . In addition, in FIG. 1, 3 is a bed, 4 is a connector, and P is a subject.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical coil section 1 has a mechanical or electrical structure that is divided into upper and lower halves so that it can be attached to and detached from the joint region of the subject P separately. 5
and an upper structure 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the opening/closing locking mechanism 2 is a combination of a stopper 7 and an operating member 8, and locks and locks the lower structure 5 and upper structure 6 of the cylindrical coil portion 1 to each other. The stopper 7 is attached to the lower structure 5 and the actuator 8 is attached to the upper structure 6. 4(A) and (B) show each state of locking and unlocking. In the locked state, as shown in FIG. It is locked to. When shifting from the locked state to the unlocked state, the actuating metal fitting 8 is opened up about the pivot 8b, and becomes the unlocked state as shown in FIG. 4(B).

When the opening/closing locking mechanism 2 is locked and unlocked, the upper structure 6 of the cylindrical coil portion 1
In the locking operation, it becomes as shown in FIG. 5(A), and in the unlocking action, it becomes as shown in FIG. 5(B). Furthermore, when the opening/closing locking mechanism 2 is unlocked, the connector 4 in the lower structure 5 of the cylindrical coil portion 1 is raised from the state shown in FIG. 6(A) to the state shown in FIG. 6(B). Note that the connectors of both the lower structure 5 and the upper structure 6 may be lifted up, or only the connector of the upper structure 6 may be lifted up. Next, the M of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The operation of the RF coil for RI equipment will be explained.

When the opening/closing lock mechanism 2 is brought into the unlocked state, the cylindrical coil portion 1 can be separated into a lower structure 5 and an upper structure 6. Positioning is completed when the subject P who is sitting on the bed 3 in this separated state simply places the joint part on the lower structure 5. After that, when the upper structure 6 is butted against the lower structure 5 and the opening/closing lock mechanism 2 is locked,
This means that the RF coil is attached to the joint region of the subject P.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the work of inserting the leg of the subject into the RF coil and moving it to the joint position, which was conventionally required, is replaced by simply placing the foot of the subject on the lower structure 5 of the cylindrical coil part 1. In addition, the upper structure 6
Since it is a light work to bring the opening/closing lock mechanism 2 into the locked state by aligning the lower structure 5 with the This greatly reduces the labor burden on both the patient and the doctor. In addition, since it is possible to secure the attachment of the RF coil with the above-mentioned minor work, the work efficiency is greatly improved when you want to slightly shift the area to be imaged, and the setting of the area to be imaged is much easier than before. becomes easier. Furthermore, when removing the RF coil from the subject P, it is only necessary to separate the upper structure 6 from the lower structure 5 and remove the legs of the subject P from above the lower structure 5.

Furthermore, when the opening/closing lock mechanism 2 is in the locked state, the cylindrical coil portion 1 is not separated into the lower structure 5 and the upper structure 6, and furthermore, the locking state can be changed from the locked state to the unlocked state. When the connector 4 is moved, the upper structure 6 can be easily separated and removed from the lower structure 5 due to the rise of the connector 4.

[0015]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the cylindrical coil part is separated into upper and lower parts to transmit RF radiation to the legs of the subject.
Since the coil can be attached and detached, the attachment and detachment work is greatly simplified. In addition, when the RF coil is attached to the leg of the subject, the opening/closing lock mechanism is in the locked state and the cylindrical coil part is in the integrated state, so the RF coil is in a good state of attachment. will be maintained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1: R for an MRI apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the F coil is being attached to a subject.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of an RF coil for a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement and configuration of the opening/closing lock mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the opening/closing lock mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing various states of the upper structure of the cylindrical coil portion as the opening/closing lock mechanism opens and closes.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing various states of the connector in the lower structure of the cylindrical coil portion as the opening/closing lock mechanism opens and closes.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cylindrical coil part 2 Opening/closing lock mechanism 3 Bed 4 Connector 5 Lower structure 6 Upper structure 7 Fasteners 8　Operating metal fittings

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A cylindrical coil portion having a mechanical or electrical structure divided into upper and lower halves so that it can be attached and detached separately from the joint region of a subject; R for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus characterized by comprising an opening/closing lock mechanism capable of locking and unlocking.
F coil. 2. The RF for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing lock mechanism has a structure in which a connector protrudes from either one or both of the upper and lower structures when in an unlocked state. coil.