JPS63264050A - Magnetic resonace imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to magnetic resonance (MR)
res.

Regarding a magnetic resonance imaging device that images information such as the spin density distribution and chemical shift of a specific atomic nucleus in a specific part of a subject (living body) by signal processing using the This invention relates to an improved magnetic resonance imaging device.

(Prior art) For example, in a magnetic resonance imaging device for medical diagnosis,
A bed on which a subject is placed, a static magnetic field generator, a gradient magnetic field generator coil device for generating gradient magnetic fields, and a transmitting/receiving system for transmitting the rotating high-frequency magnetic field and detecting the induced MR multiplied signal. The main body is composed of a probe coil device, a static magnetic field power supply device, a gradient magnetic field power supply device, a transmitting/receiving unit, a sequencer that drives the gradient magnetic field power supply device and the transmitting/receiving unit in a desired pulse sequence, and a detection signal that controls these and drives the transmitting/receiving unit. It is composed of a computer system that performs signal processing and display thereof.

In such a configuration, a subject on a bed is placed in a static magnetic field generated by a static magnetic field generator, and a transmitting unit is driven by a pulse sequence generated by the operation of a sequencer to generate a rotating magnetic field from a transmitting coil of a probe coil device, for example. A 90-degree pulse and a 180-degree pulse are applied, and a gradient magnetic field power supply device is driven to apply a gradient magnetic field from a gradient magnetic field generating coil device. Then, an MR phenomenon occurs in the subject, and the induced MR multiplied signal is detected by the receiving coil of the probe coil device, and is imported into a computer system and subjected to signal processing such as image reconstruction processing, thereby creating a cross-sectional H image. The system obtains imaging information such as the following, and displays images.

In the above description, a case will be considered in which a portable surface coil that is held and operated by an operator is used as a probe coil device to photograph various parts of a subject.

In this case, in order to cover the entire area from the head to the feet of the subject, the cord connected to the coil body is long enough to cover the entire area. However, this long code has the following problems. That is, the probe coil device consists of a coil main body, a cord connected at one end to the coil main body, and a male connector connected to the other end of the cord. By fitting the male connector into the female connector, the aforementioned rotating magnetic field is applied to the subject and the MR multiplied signal is detected. At the time of imaging, the cord hangs down on the floor or is placed on a bed, and the operator grasps the coil body and applies it to a desired area.

With the above configuration, there is a risk that the cord may become entangled with the operator's legs during imaging, causing the operator to fall, or the cord may become entangled with the subject's head, neck, ears, hands, and feet. There is a risk of injury to the subject. In addition to these problems that cause harm to people, there are other problems with coil systems that can cause cosilica to act on the connector when the cord gets tangled, causing damage to the connector or causing disconnection. It can also create inductance and cause detuning.

The above-mentioned problems with people and coils are caused by long cords, so in order to make it possible to photograph the whole body even with short cords, we developed a system in Figures 5 (a) and (b).
) is possible.

In the same figure, a head connector C1, an abdominal connector C2, and a foot connector C3 are provided along the longitudinal direction (direction of the subject's body axis) of the top plate of the bed B, and these connectors CI
, C2, and C3 are each connected to a transmitting/receiving unit (not shown). Then, a surface coil SFC is used in which a connector C4 is provided at one end of the short cord S and a coil main body SC is provided at the other end.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the surface coil SFC
By fitting the connector C4 into the foot connector C3, the foot of the subject P can be imaged even with a short cord S.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5(b), by fitting the connector C4 of the surface coil SFC to the abdominal connector C2, even with a short cord S, the abdomen (in the illustration, the back) of the subject P can be connected. Can be photographed.

However, in the configuration in which a connector is provided for each imaging site as described above, the configuration is complicated by providing multiple connectors, and the operation is complicated because the connector must be replaced for each imaging site. At these points, it was impractical to attempt to image a desired part of the whole body using a single surface coil.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional technology, in order to image a desired part of the whole body using a single probe coil device (surface coil), using a long cord poses a danger to humans. However, if a short code is used, the configuration becomes complicated and the operation becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that is simple in configuration and easy to operate, and can image the whole body with a single probe coil device without causing any harm to the subject or the operator. The purpose is one.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a structure in which the following measures are taken to solve the above problems and achieve the object. That is, the present invention provides for a subject placed in a static magnetic field to receive a high-frequency magnetic field generated by a probe coil device that performs at least one of generating a high-frequency magnetic field and detecting a magnetic resonance signal, and a high-frequency magnetic field generated by a gradient magnetic field generating coil device. In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, information such as the spin density and chemical shift of a specific atomic nucleus is obtained by applying a gradient magnetic field according to a predetermined pulse sequence, detecting the induced magnetic resonance signal, and performing signal processing. The present invention is characterized in that the cord connecting between the coil body and the transmitting side or the receiving side of the coil device is wound non-inductively and stored on a retractable cord reel.

(Function) According to this configuration, the cord can be stored in the cord reel in a non-inductively wound manner and can be drawn out and pulled out, eliminating the need for cords to get tangled and allowing one probe coil device to be used to measure the entire body as desired. It is possible to transmit the image of the body part, and self-inductance is not formed by the cord, so
No tuning fluctuation occurs.

(Example) An example of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the device of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the probe coil device in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the relationship between the rotary plate and the stopper in FIG. 2. This is a cross section showing .

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of this embodiment includes a bed B on which a subject P is placed, a static magnetic field generating device 1-1G, and a gradient magnetic field generating coil device GC for generating a gradient magnetic field. A surface coil type probe coil device PC, which is a transmitting/receiving system for transmitting a rotating high frequency magnetic field and detecting an induced MR multiplied signal, is derived from the bed B. In addition, a sequencer (not shown) that drives the static magnetic field power supply, the gradient magnetic field power supply, the transmitting/receiving unit, the gradient magnetic field power supply, and the transmitting/receiving unit in a desired pulse sequence, controls these, and processes the detection signal and displays it. Equipped with computer system.

In such a configuration, the basic operations such as excitation and signal detection are the same as those of the prior art, but the configuration of the probe coil device ffPc and its function are different. That is, the probe coil device PC stores the cord 2 connecting the probe coil main body 1 and the bed B-shaped connector Ca on the transmitting side or the receiving side in a non-inductively wound manner on a retractable cord reel 3. However, a connector Cb is provided at the end of the cord 2 on the side opposite to the coil.

A cord reel 3 is provided at one end, and a cord entrance/exit port 5 is provided at the end thereof. One end of the cord 2 is connected to the coil body 1, non-inductively wound around a cord reel 3, and led out to the outside through an opening 5, and a connector cb is connected to the end thereof.

The cord reel 3 includes a fixed part 3a, a rotatable ring-shaped rotary plate 3b arranged on the outer periphery of the fixed part 3a and which stores the cord 2 in a non-inductive manner, and a fixed part 3a and the ring-shaped rotary plate 3b. A tension member 3c, such as a rubber string or a spring, which is fixedly provided between them and obtains tension to pull back the rotation of the ring-shaped rotary plate 3b, and an arc-shaped cord guide 3d provided on the outer periphery of the ring-shaped rotary plate 3b. and a fixing member 3e that fixes the cord 2 to the ring-shaped rotating plate 3b. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ring-shaped rotary plate 3b has a saw blade shape in cross section, and a stopper 3f is attached to the saw blade.
1 and a stopper 3f1 of a latching member 3f having a spring 3f2. That is, the ring-shaped rotary plate 3b is closed by the stopper 3fl against movement in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the stopper 3f1 is lifted against movement in the opposite direction, so that movement is not blocked. Further, a stopper release member (not shown) is provided, and by operating the stopper release member, the stopper 3f1 is raised unconditionally, and the cord 2 can be returned.

According to this embodiment configured as described above, the following effects are achieved. That is, by gripping the case 4 and pulling the cord 2 by hand, an operator (not shown) can pull out the cord 2 from the cord reel 3 by a desired length corresponding to a desired diagnosis site. Since it is held by the stopper 3f1, imaging can be performed by applying the coil body 1 to a desired diagnosis site in this state. Furthermore, when you want to set the cord 2 to a different length to diagnose another region, operate the stopper release member (not shown) to rewind the cord 2, and then set the cord 2 to the desired diagnosis region again. Pull it to the desired length.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the cord 2 can be pulled out by the length required for diagnosis with a simple manual operation by the operator, so that the cord 2 does not get tangled with the test subject or the operator. do not have.

Further, since the cord 2 is stored in a non-inductively wound manner within the cord reel 3, the cord 2 does not form self-inductance and does not lose its original tuning state. Figure 4(a) shows the retracted state, Figure 4(b)
is a diagram showing a drawn out state.

Furthermore, it is a simple configuration in which one connector Ca is provided on the bed B as the transmitting and receiving system side, which is advantageous.

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 has a configuration in which the cord connecting between the coil main body and the transmitting side or the receiving side in a probe coil device is wound non-inductively and stored on a retractable cord reel. Since the cord is stored in a cord reel with no induction winding, and can be freely pulled out and pulled out,
Since the cords are not entangled, a desired part of the whole body can be imaged using one probe coil device, and since no self-inductance is formed by the cords, tuning fluctuations do not occur. Therefore, it is possible to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that has a simple configuration, is easy to operate, and can image the whole body with one probe coil device without causing any harm to the subject or operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a probe coil device in the same embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the rotary plate and the stopper, FIG. 4 is a view showing the operation of the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a view explaining a conventional example. HC... Static magnetic field generator, GC... Gradient magnetic field generator coil device, PC... Probe coil device, 1... Coil body, 2... Cord, 3... Cord reel. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue District 1, Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A high-frequency magnetic field generated by a probe coil device that performs at least one of generating a high-frequency magnetic field and detecting a magnetic resonance signal and a gradient magnetic field generated by a gradient magnetic field generating coil device are applied to a subject placed in a static magnetic field. In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that obtains information such as the spin density and chemical shift of a specific atomic nucleus by applying a pulse according to a pulse sequence, detecting the induced magnetic resonance signal, and performing signal processing, the coil body in the probe coil apparatus is used. 1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus characterized in that a cord connecting between a transmitting side or a receiving side is wound non-inductively and stored on a retractable cord reel.