JPH0568255B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that uses a temporal resonance phenomenon to obtain an image that reflects the spin density, relaxation time constant, etc. of a specific atomic nucleus existing in a specimen; In particular, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that is optimal for imaging a subject's head.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] An example of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as an MRI apparatus) will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the MRI apparatus,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pedestal. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the mount 1 of the MRI apparatus is provided with an opening 2, and a top plate 3 that can move in and out from the opening end 2A of the opening 2 along the direction A in the drawings is arranged. . As shown in FIG. 4, the top plate 3 is movable up and down along the direction B in the figure, making it convenient to place the subject 4 on the top plate 3. A gradient magnetic field coil (not shown) is disposed within the opening 2, and a high frequency coil 5 for the body part of the subject 4 is also disposed. When collecting an image of a desired cross section of the body part of the subject 4, the subject 4 is guided into the opening 2 by moving the top plate 3, and the desired cross section position is set at the imaging position (as shown in FIG. 5). (position a)).

By the way, when collecting a cross-sectional image of the head of the subject 4, a high-frequency head coil 6 must be installed around the head. When photographing the head, the desired cross-sectional position of the head must be set at the photographing position a, so conventionally, after the position setting is completed, the head high-frequency coil 6 is manually inserted into the opening 2 from the other opening end 2b side. It was inserted into the patient's head and placed on the subject's head.

However, in recent years, there has been a trend to increase the depth L (see FIG. 5) of the pedestal 4 in order to create a strong magnetic field. Therefore, it has become extremely complicated and difficult to set the head high-frequency coil 6 at the imaging position a located at the center of the mount. In addition, since the high-frequency coil 6 for the head must be manually set and removed, the above operation is required every time the head imaging and body imaging are switched, which has the disadvantage of requiring time and effort to prepare for imaging. .

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides easy setting of a head high-frequency coil for head imaging, and switching between head imaging and body imaging. The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that can perform rapid imaging.

[Summary of the Invention] The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a mount having an opening and capable of performing magnetic resonance imaging within the opening, and a mount on which a subject is placed and moved in the longitudinal direction. This supports a top plate that can be inserted into the pedestal and a high-frequency coil that transmits or receives high-frequency signals to or from the subject, and is arranged within the opening of the pedestal and supports the top plate in the direction of movement of the top plate. It is characterized in that it is movable in the same direction and has a coil support member that is detachable from the end of the top plate.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an MRI apparatus according to the present invention. In addition, in Figure 1, Figures 4 and 5
Members having the same functions as those shown in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In the MRI apparatus according to this embodiment, a head high-frequency coil 6 is disposed on the open end 2A side of the opening 2, and a coil support member 7 that supports the head high-frequency coil 6 is disposed. The coil support member 7 is connected to the top plate 3 manually or by an automatic mechanism when the top plate 3 is inserted into the opening end 2A of the opening 2, and after being connected, the coil support member 7 is connected to the top plate 3 by a manual or automatic mechanism. It is designed to be able to move within the opening 2 integrally with the top plate 3. In addition, this coil support member 7
supports the head high-frequency coil 6 movably, and when connected to the top plate 3, the head high-frequency coil 6 can be set around the head of the subject 4 on the top plate 3. It's becoming like that. Further, the wiring between the head high-frequency coil 6 and the main body of the apparatus can be connected and disconnected by a connector (not shown), and can be connected only when photographing the head. An image fiber 8 is provided on the coil support member 7. This image fiber 8
In this example, the entrance end 8A is located above the face of the subject 4 placed on the top plate 3 when the coil support member 7 and the top plate 3 are connected. The image fiber 8 is made of a nonmagnetic material that does not affect the magnetic field.

The operation of the MRI apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

First, the operation of photographing the body part of the subject 4 in this apparatus will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. First, the top plate 3 on which the subject is placed is moved toward the open end 2A of the opening 2. When the moving tip of the top plate 3 comes into contact with one end of the coil support member 7, the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7 are connected at this position. This coupling operation may be performed manually or may be locked by an automatic mechanism. In the case of body imaging, the head high-frequency coil 7 is not required, so the head high-frequency coil 6 is held at a position separate from the subject's head. Also, the unillustrated connector of the head high-frequency coil 6 is also removed. When the top plate 3 is further moved after the connection between the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7 is completed, the top plate 3 moves within the opening 2 integrally with the coil support member 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the driving of the top plate 3 is stopped at the position where the desired cross section of the body part of the subject 4 reaches the photographing position a. Then, at this position, high frequency waves are transmitted from the body part high frequency coil 5 to photograph the body part of the subject 4. After photographing is completed, the top plate 3 is driven together with the coil support member 7 toward the open end 2A, and the connection with the coil support member 7 is released when the top plate 3 reaches the open end 2A. After the top plate 3 is completely removed from the opening 2, the top plate 3 is lowered and the subject 4
is lowered from the top plate 3 to complete the photographing operation.

In the above-mentioned body imaging operation, the head high-frequency coil 6 is moved from one open end 2A of the opening 2 to the other open end 2B, but the main body of the head high-frequency coil 6 is Since the wiring to the side is disconnected by the connector, the wiring will not become tangled due to the movement of the head high frequency coil 6.
There will be no hindrance to movement. Moreover, since the facial expression of the subject 4 can be monitored by the image fiber 8 over the time that the subject 4 is placed in the opening 2, early detection of abnormalities in the patient becomes possible.

Next, we will explain the third part about the movement of head photography of subject 4.
This will be explained with reference to Figures A and B. The operation up to the connection between the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7 is the same as in the above case. After the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7 are connected, the high frequency coil 6 for the head is connected as shown in FIG. 3A.
is moved and set around the head of the subject 4. This setting movement may be performed manually or by an automatic mechanism. After that, by connecting the connector, the high frequency coil 6 for the head
Connect the wiring to the main unit. When the top plate 3 is moved after the above operation is completed, the top plate 3 moves within the opening 2 integrally with the coil support member 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the subject 4
's head is stopped at photographing position a. Then, at this position, high frequency waves are transmitted from the head high frequency coil 6 to photograph the head of the subject 4. After the photographing is completed, the top plate 3 is moved in the same manner as in the above case, the high-frequency coil 6 for the head is detached from the head, the connector is disconnected, and the connection is released to complete the photographing operation.

In the above-mentioned head photography, preparations for head photography can be made at the opening end 2A of the opening 2, so that it can be easily performed regardless of the length A of the pedestal 1. Moreover, unlike the conventional method, there is no need for labor to newly set the high-frequency coil 6 for the head, and there is no need to set it from the other open end 2B side of the opening 2, so the operator's work range can be reduced. It can be narrowed, improving operability. Furthermore, when photographing the head, the moving distance of the head high-frequency coil 6 is a short distance from the opening end 2A to the photographing position a, so there is a risk that the wiring may become tangled due to the movement of the head high-frequency coil 6. do not have. Furthermore, since the moving distance is short, the length of the wiring cable can be shortened. Note that even during the head imaging operation, the facial expression of the patient (subject 4) can be monitored by the image fiber 8, so that abnormalities in the patient can be discovered at an early stage. Note that monitoring of the patient during the imaging operation has conventionally been carried out using a monitoring camera from outside the opening 2, making it difficult to accurately capture the patient's facial expressions. According to the apparatus of this embodiment, the incident end 8A of the image fiber 8 is always set above the patient's face, so that the patient can be monitored accurately.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7
Various known means can be employed for the connection and release means. The setting of the image fiber 8 is applicable not only to the MRI apparatus mentioned in the above embodiment, but also to an MRI apparatus in which the top plate 3 and the coil support member 7 are integrated, or a conventional MRI apparatus without a coil support member. The same effect can be achieved even if it is installed on the top plate of the machine.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is easy to set up the head high-frequency coil for head imaging, and it is possible to quickly switch between head imaging and body imaging. It is possible to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of performing the following steps. Therefore, operability is greatly improved and the burden on the operator can be reduced. Furthermore, the patient's facial expressions can be accurately monitored by setting the image fiber.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic sectional views for explaining the body part imaging operation of a subject.
3A and 3B are schematic sectional views for explaining the operation of photographing the head of a subject; FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional magnetic resonance imaging device; and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional magnetic resonance imaging device. FIG. 1... Frame, 2... Opening, 2A... Opening end,
3... Top plate, 4... Subject, 6... High frequency coil for head, 7... Coil support member, 8... Image fiber.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pedestal having an opening and capable of performing magnetic resonance imaging within the opening, and a pedestal on which a subject can be placed and inserted into the pedestal by moving in the longitudinal direction. The plate supports a high-frequency coil that transmits or receives high-frequency signals to or from the subject;
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a coil support member disposed within an opening of the pedestal, movable in the same direction as the moving direction of the top plate, and detachable from an end of the top plate. 2. The magnetic resonance device according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency coil is configured to be movable over the top plate and the coil support member when the top plate and the coil support member are connected. Imaging equipment. 3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency coil is a head high-frequency coil for photographing the head of a subject. 4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency coil has a connector that can freely connect and disconnect wiring with the pedestal. 5. The coil supporting member has an image fiber whose input end is arranged above the face of the subject placed on the top plate when connected to the top plate. 2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to item 1.