JPH11197130A - Opposed signal detection coil for mri system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the position and from of a coil element set at the optimum position from being changed and to facilitate setting by preventing the position and form of the coil element from being changed by mutually connecting the free terminals of opposed coil elements while using a coil fixer. SOLUTION: Concerning the opposed signal detection coil for MRI system composed of a coil tuner part 4 and a coil fixer 3 for connecting an upper coil element 1 and a lower coil element 2, when setting this coil on the neck of a patient, the body of the patient is surrounded with two opposed coil elements 1 and 2, and the coil elements 1 and 2 are connected by fitting their free terminals to the coil fixer 3. Then, the free terminals of the coil elements 1 and 2 are not bound up and even when flexibility is not enough, setting is easily enabled. Besides, the head of a patient 6 is fixed on a head rest 5 and the position or form of the opposed signal detection coil is prevented from being changed by moving the patient during an examination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a facing signal detection coil used in an MRI apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanism for holding a setting position and a shape thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a concept of a conventional opposed signal detection coil of an MRI apparatus. The upper coil element 1 and the lower coil element 2 are opposed to each other, and a test portion of the patient's body is placed between the upper coil element 1 and the lower coil element 2. The position and shape of the coil element of the opposed-type signal detection coil are set so that the coil element floats from the patient's body by about 10 mm so as to have a shape along the patient's subject. The position and shape of the coil element are set by utilizing the plasticity of the coil element, and are maintained by the rigidity of the coil element.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned opposed signal detection coil, the coil element upper part 1 and the coil element lower part 2 are arranged in the coil tuner section 4.
Since the opposite side of the point connected to is a free end,
If the plasticity of the coil element is not sufficient, there is a disadvantage that the free end is likely to jump up and the setting is difficult to be performed even if the coil element is to be made to conform to the shape of the portion to be examined of the patient.

In some cases, the position and shape of the set coil element are changed by the weight of the coil element or by touching the coil element when the patient moves his body.

[0005] If the coil element is too close to the patient's body, the signal strength will be too strong, if too far, the signal strength will be too weak, and if the shape of the coil element changes, the electrical characteristics will change and the detection signal will change. Care has to be taken to keep the position and shape of the coil element from changing so that it cannot be transmitted normally.

Further, when the opposed-type signal detection coil is used for a long period of time, the rigidity of the coil element is reduced due to repeated bending, and it becomes more difficult to maintain the position and shape of the coil element.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for easily setting a facing-type signal detecting coil on a patient and preventing a change in the position and shape of the set coil element.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the opposed signal detection coil of the MRI apparatus according to the present invention, the free ends of two opposed coil elements are mutually connected using a coil fixture. By connecting, the positional relationship between the coil elements is fixed, so that the position and shape of the coil element set on the patient's subject are prevented from changing.

In the opposed signal detection coil of the MRI apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of cutouts for fitting the coil element are provided in the coil fixture, and the coil element is fitted according to the body shape of the patient. The notches to be attached are selected and connected to each other by fitting the free ends of the opposing coil elements. Further, in the opposed signal detection coil of the MRI apparatus according to the present invention, the coil fixture is formed of an elastic body, and the shape of the notch is adjusted to the shape of the cross section in the axial direction of the coil element. Can be easily and surely fitted.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG.
An example is shown in which the opposed signal detection coil of the present invention, which comprises a coil element lower part 2, a coil tuner part 4 for connecting those coil elements, and a coil fixture 3, is set on the neck of a patient. Two opposite coil elements 1 and 2 take the shape of surrounding the patient's body, and the free ends of the two coils 1 and 2 are fitted to the coil fixture 3 to form the two coil elements 1 and 2. Connected. As is clear from the figure, since the free end of the coil element does not jump up, the setting can be easily performed even if the plasticity of the coil element is not sufficient.
The head of the patient 6 is fixed to the headrest 5 to prevent the patient 6 from moving during the examination and changing the position or shape of the opposed signal detection coil.

FIG. 2 shows a coil fixture 3 of the opposed signal detection coil according to the present invention. The coil fixture 3 is provided with five notches on the notch 7. These five cutouts are for fitting the upper part 1 on the coil element. By selecting the position of the notch for fitting the coil element in accordance with the size of the patient's body, the coil element can be moved along the patient's body to a distance of about 10 mm from the body.
It can be set floating.

The number and position of the notches of the coil fixture 3 are as follows.
It is not limited to the number and position shown in FIG. 2, and the lower part 8 of the notch may be a plurality of notches, and the number of notches may be increased or decreased. In addition, by adjusting the shape of the notch to the outer shape of the cross section in the axial direction of the coil element, the coil element can be fitted in close contact with the coil fixture, so that the coil element can be securely fixed. .

By making the coil fixing member 3 of elastic rubber or plastic, the notch can be widened as shown in FIG. 3, so that the work of fitting the coil element to the coil fixing member becomes easy. . The same effect can be obtained even if the coil element is made of an elastic body. The shape of the coil fixing device is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 2 and may be straight or arc-shaped.

[0014]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it prevents the change of the position and the shape of the coil element set at the optimum position with respect to the patient's body when setting the opposed type signal detection coil. can do. In addition, settings suitable for the size of the patient's body shape can be easily performed. Further, since the coil element and the coil fixing device can be easily fitted, the setting operation of the opposed-type signal detection coil can be facilitated, and the coil element and the coil fixing device can be closely fitted and fitted. Thus, the effect of preventing the position and shape of the coil element from changing can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a facing signal detection coil of the present invention is set on the neck of a patient.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a coil fixture of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a method of fitting a coil fixture and a coil element formed of an elastic body.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the concept of a conventional opposed signal detection coil.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Above coil element 2 Below coil element 3 Coil fixing device 4 Coil tuner part 5 Headrest 6 Patient 7 Above cutout 8 Below cutout 9 hands

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. The free end of an opposing coil element is
An opposed signal detection coil of an MRI apparatus, wherein the coil element is connected to each other using a coil fixture to prevent a change in the position and shape of the coil element. 2. The coil fixing device is provided with a plurality of cutouts for fitting the coil elements, and the cutouts are selected according to the body shape of the patient, and the free ends of the coil elements are fitted. The opposed-type signal detection coil of the MRI apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coils are connected to each other. 3. The MR according to claim 1, wherein the coil fixture is formed of an elastic body, and the shape of the notch is adjusted to the outer shape of the cross section in the axial direction of the coil element.
Opposite signal detection coil of I device.