| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 600422000 | Coil | 66 |
| 20080214930 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE BREAST - The present invention provides a fat saturation device to be used in conjunction with a magnetice resonance imaging (MRI) breast coil, which provides padding for the comfort of the patient being imaged while eliminating the skin-air interface, thereby reducing the level of artefacts in the image. The device comprises a coil surface pad that contacts the surface of the coil, the pad having apertures therein through which the patients breasts extend when the patient is positioned on the coil for imaging. Aperture sleeves that are removable or retractable extend from the bottom surface of the coil surface into the apertures of the breast coil. The device comprises a fat saturation material. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20100106008 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - It is an object of the present invention to provide a MRI technique, in which the influence of physiological factors such as respiration and cardiac pulsation on MRI results is reduced or removed. The object of the present invention is achieved by a magnetic resonance imaging system ( | 04-29-2010 |
| 20090124889 | Vertical Field MRI Breast Coil - The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's breast region. The design described herein generally includes a housing that includes two coil cups. The coil housing will generally encase the coil elements. In general, the breast coil of certain embodiments of the invention will include loop elements surrounding each side of each of the coil cups, a saddle element at the bottom of each cup, and an element that spans the width of the coil, wrapping at least partially up both sides of the coil. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the breast coil design may include additional elements. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090030305 | MR Coil With Fiber Optical Connection - An MRI coil system ( | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090234222 | System for magnetic resonance imaging assisted surgery - A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging assisted surgery. The system includes an antenna support assembly and an antenna that are used to acquire real time images of the surgical site that may be used by a surgeon to more accurately perform the surgical procedure. The method comprises acquiring real time images of the surgical site and feeding back the images to a surgeon performing the surgical procedure. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090012389 | ARRANGEMENT AND SUPPORT DEVICE FOR ATTACHING LOCAL COILS IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - An arrangement and a support device for attaching local coils to a patient for a magnetic resonance examination includes at least one local coil that is designed to acquire magnetic resonance signals and a support device. The support device is designed to accommodate the at least one local coil and to attach the at least one local coil on the patient. The support device is designed as a gas-filled cushion that changes its shape dependent on the gas pressure therein. The gas-filled cushion has a device for changing the gas pressure, such when a gas pressure change occurs the local antenna is pressed on the patient due to the resulting change in shape of the cushion. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090012388 | INTERVENTIONAL DEVICE - An interventional device includes a base having an upper surface, a cup-shaped frame, a probe positioner, and a radio frequency coil. The cup-shaped frame is mounted to the base and configured to receive a body part. The probe positioner is mounted to at least one of the base and the cup-shaped frame, and is capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. The radio frequency coil is mounted to the cup-shaped frame and is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20130123612 | MRT SURFACE COIL ARRAY - A surface coil for an imaging system includes a spine coil array that includes a plurality of coil elements. The surface coil also includes a cardiac coil array including a plurality of coil elements. The spine coil array and the cardiac coil array are both arranged in the same housing. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20100222667 | COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR ENHANCING NORMAL/ABNORMAL TISSUE CONTRAST IN MRI INCLUDING DEVICES AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - Featured are a device for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency, hi further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired during a single compression and prior to recovery of magnetization. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20090076377 | SIMPLE DECOUPLING OF A MULTI-ELEMENT RF COIL, ENABLING ALSO DETUNING AND MATCHING FUNCTIONALITY | 03-19-2009 |
| 20100121180 | HEAD COIL FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A head coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a supporting body that carries a number of antenna elements. The supporting body has an end section that is shaped as a spherical cap. A butterfly antenna is mounted at the end section, and is annularly surrounded by at least one group antenna that overlaps the butterfly antenna. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20090171188 | FLEXIBLE POLYMER ELECTRODE FOR MRI-GUIDED POSITIONING AND RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION - An electrode for use on a medical device is disclosed. The electrode may have a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and may have a proximal end and a distal end. The electrode may also include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil disposed in the body. The MRI tracking coil may comprise electrically insulated wire. A catheter including an electrode, as well as a method for determining the location of an electrode, are also disclosed. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20100099978 | Breast coil arrangement for magnetic resonance applications - A breast coil arrangement for magnetic resonance applications has a placement web that is designed to allow an examination subject to lie with her sternum on the placement web. Pot-like breast receptacles for each breast of the examination subject are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the placement web. The breast receptacles have limiting elements whose spacing from one another can be adjusted. Multiple array coils are respectively arranged in the limiting elements and are stationary relative to the limiting elements. Each breast receptacle is surrounded by a volume coil that is stationary relative to the placement web. The volume coils are arranged centrally and orthogonally relative to the array coils and surround the array coils. The volume coils are decoupled from the array coils. A spectroscopy phantom can be arranged in proximity to the placement web. The breast receptacles as a structural unit can be detached individually or together from the placement web, and volume-reducing inserts can be inserted into the breast receptacles. Lateral supplementary placement elements carrying axilla coils can be provided and may be separately deactivated depending on an input option of a user. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20110172518 | Method for Non-Invasive Measurement of Cardiac Output - A comparatively light and compact permanent magnet arrangement for an MRI apparatus has a pair of opposed permanent magnet arrays with a shimming system to adjust the uniformity and strength of a magnetic field in a central chamber of the apparatus. The MRI apparatus is used to examine the extremities of a patient to determine cardiovascular characteristics from an analysis of the blood flow through selected arteries in the extremity. The information collected can be used to calculate such characteristics as total cardiac output, blood flow, arterial wall thickness and elasticity and the presence of plaque. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20090299173 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT RELATING TO TESTING OBJECTS - The invention relates to an arrangement ( | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100280361 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CRYOGENICALLY COOLING A COIL ON A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20080275332 | Head Coil and Neurovascular Array for Parallel Imaging Capable Magnetic Resonance Systems - A head coil for use with a parallel-imaging compatible MR system is disclosed, as is a method of making, and a neurovascular array (NVA) equipped with, same. The head coil includes conductive rings and rods configured to produce a plurality of electrically-adjacent primary resonant substructures about a birdcage-like structure, with each such primary resonant substructure including two rods neighboring each other and the short segment of each of the first and second rings interconnecting them. The primary resonant substructures are isolated from each other via a preamplifier decoupling scheme and an offset tuning scheme thereby enabling each primary resonant substructure (i) to receive an MR signal from tissue within its field of view and (ii) to be operatively couplable to one processing channel of the MR system for conveyance of the MR signal received thereby (iii) while being simultaneously decoupled from the other primary resonant substructures. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090118611 | COILS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY AND IMAGING OF HUMAN BREAST - System(s) and method(s) for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are provided. A unified heteronuclear coil system includes a volume coil tuned to detect a first nuclei and a butterfly coil tuned to detect a second nuclei for simultaneous detection of both the first nuclei and the second nuclei signals from human breast tissue and perform MRIS. First nuclei and second nuclei each include | 05-07-2009 |
| 20080287775 | ARRANGEMENT FOR AFFIXING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE RF COIL TO A PATIENT - In an arrangement to affix RF coils (in particular local coils) on a patient in examinations with a magnetic resonance apparatus, using a horizontal board to accommodate the patient for a magnetic resonance examination to be implemented; with the RF coil that has coil electronics; a fastening strap is fashioned to affix the coil on the patient and the fastening strap has an connection cable integrated therewith. The coil electronics are supplied with energy via the integrated connection cable. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090264735 | Automated Patient Localization in a Medical Imaging System - Described herein is a process for patient localization within a medical imaging system, having a first and second signal means for identifying patient position. The patient is manually positioned on a patient table at an initial position outside the system. A first signal means is manually positioned adjacent an area of interest on the patient in the initial position and the first signal means communicates that initial patient position to a detection means. The second signal means communicates a desired final patient position location to the detection means. The detection means either essentially continuously monitors and compares said initial and subsequent positions to the final position, or calculates the distance between the initial position and the final position and causes the patient to move from the initial position to the final position when the positions are not essentially the same. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20080275333 | LOCAL MRI BREAST COIL AND METHOD OF USE - A local breast coil is designed to be tightly coupled to the natural shape of the pendant breast to provide high SNR for diagnostic MR imaging applications, while still providing access for interventional procedures through openings in the coil. In accordance with one configuration, the coil has a symmetrical design, such that the coil can be rotated about the breast to position an opening in the coil proximate to a desired portion of the breast without incurring registration or other alignment or artifact errors due to inhomogeneous B1 excitation. Furthermore, the coil is designed to facilitate medial and lateral imaging of the breast. The coil is combined with a patient support system that facilitates rotation of the coil and interchangeability of the coil to match the configuration of the coil to the position of the breast being imaged. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20100137704 | MEDICAL MATS WITH ELECTRICAL PATHS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME - The disclosure describes medical mats that provide electrical paths with connectors that connect to various electronic medical or surgical tools. The medical mats can reduce the lengths of cables and define routes that preventing cross-over, looping and/or bunching of loose lengths of long cables. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20090048508 | Rf coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance imaging - An RF coil assembly for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus is described. The RF coil assembly comprises one or more coil elements capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation and is capable of being directly attached to a stereotactic base ring. The RF coil assembly may comprise a localiser box having fiducial markers. A corresponding attachment apparatus is also described for optimising the attachment position of a stereotactic base ring to a subject's head. The attachment apparatus comprises one or more fixing elements that allow the attachment apparatus to be releasably attached to a stereotactic base ring. In one embodiment, the internal dimensions of the attachment apparatus are selected to be substantially the same as the internal dimensions of an RF coil assembly. Corresponding methods are also described. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090082663 | HORIZONTAL FIELD MRI SHOULDER COIL - The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a horizontal field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20080306377 | OPEN ARCHITECTURE IMAGING APPARATUS AND COIL SYSTEM FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Apparatus and method for using radio frequency coil systems for magnetic resonance imaging within an open architecture apparatus is provided. The MRI coil system includes a support structure with an open architecture in which secondary support structures, compression systems and plates containing RF coil systems may be introduced. These structures and RF coils can be moved relative to the patient, or removed entirely from the system. In one embodiment the system consists of a tabletop coil system, while another embodiment consists of a dedicated stretcher design. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090082664 | Endorectal Coil for Magnetic Resonance Tomograph - An endoscopic RF coil arrangement for magnetic resonance imagers is provided which include a handle with a shaft and a coil with a balloon arranged distally. An inner cover is further provided which is pulled over the shaft and over the coil with balloon. An outer cover is provided over the inner cover. The outer cover comprises a formed part for a balloon on the distal side over the coil in which a liquid and/or a gas can be introduced. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090209848 | GEL MATERIAL FOR USE IN MRI - In MR imaging of a body part of a patient in an intra-operative procedure, the body part is supported using gel pads where the gel material is arranged such that the presence of the gel material does not generate an image in the analysis of the RF signal from the location so that the pad is invisible in the MR image. This can be obtained by using a water based gel material and providing an additive such as manganese chloride to reduce the relaxation time of the water molecules to a value which is sufficiently short that the molecules relax before the acquisition of the signals by the RF receive coil. This can be achieved by using a non-water based gel or a heavy water based gel. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090221906 | WRIST COIL FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A wrist coil for magnetic resonance imaging has a tubular coil formed by a number of coil splicing units spliced together in succession, and an annular coil unit that is wound around the surface of the tubular coil. Since the annular coil unit is wound around the surface of the tubular coil, and the current direction in the annular coil unit is perpendicular to the current direction in each of the coil splicing units, when some of the coil splicing units in the tubular coil do not acquire signals due to the fact that their magnetic field direction is parallel to that of the main magnetic field direction, the annular coil unit will carry out signal acquisition. Furthermore, since the magnetic flux of the annular coil unit is relatively large, this ensures a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio in the acquired signals no matter whatever layout position is adopted for the wrist coil, thus reducing equipment costs and eliminating restrictions for clinical applications in the prior art. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090105583 | Method for determining attenuation values for pet data of a patient - A method is disclosed for determining attenuation values for PET data of a patient. In at least one embodiment, the method includes detecting at least one accessory of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and detecting the position and/or alignment of the accessory by way of an imaging measuring method; comparing the detected accessory with data from a database; and assigning an attenuation map, which is contained in the database, to attenuation values of the detected accessory and adapting the attenuation map to the detected position and/or alignment of the accessory. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090054759 | Inherently Decoupled Solenoid Pair Elements - The present invention relates to an element configuration within an RF coil for use for MRI. The invention provides for an inherently electromagnetically decoupled solenoid element pair for receiving radio frequency magnetic resonance signals within a vertical field MRI system. The elements of the solenoid element pair described herein are typically positioned in a coplanar, side-by-side position. The decoupling of the solenoid pair can be accomplished through numerous methods including but not limited to an overlapping between the elements of the solenoid pair, use of a capacitor shared between the elements of the solenoid pair, or the use of overlapped inductors between the elements of the solenoid pair. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20110040174 | HEAD COIL FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS WITH INTERCHANGEABLE OPERATING ELEMENTS - An assembly for mounting and unmounting a surface coil of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus includes an upper part, a lower part, a locking element to fix the upper part and the lower part to one another, and contact elements at the upper part and at the lower part. The contact elements at the upper part can be brought into an electrically conductive connection with contact elements at the lower part and the upper part and the lower part can be fixed to one another by a movement of the locking element. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110152674 | MRT antenna - The disclosure relates to a device and a method for detecting electromagnetic fields, in particular fields occurring in imaging magnetic resonance tomography. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20120277575 | COIL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING VOLUMETRIC PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS - A coil device is provided having a member adapted to extend around and conform to an outer surface of a subject and a conductor adapted to extend only once around a first portion of the subject. The coil device can be positioned about the subject in order to measure a volume of the subject. When placed about the subject in the presence of a relatively homogeneous magnetic field, the conductor can generate a signal indicative of a volume of the first portion of the subject. The coil device may also include two or more conductors separately generating signals indicating volumes of two or more corresponding portions of the subject. In some cases the coil device includes associated authorization data that can limit use of the coil device. Systems and methods incorporating the coil device are also provided. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20080221433 | Single coil parallel imaging - An imaging apparatus for an object in change includes an MRI system having a computer, a first channel which produces images of the object in change using alternate lines of k-space applied along each of the two phase encoding directions. The computer combines the individual images into a composite 3D image of the object. The MRI system acquires alternate lines of temporally resolved data along each of the phase encoding directions, such that at any one time point at least 25% of full data are acquired. A method for imaging an object in change includes the steps of producing an individual image of the object in change with a first channel of an MRI system using alternate lines of k-space applied for each phase encoding direction. There is the step of producing an individual image of the object in change with at least a second channel of the MRI system independent of the first channel by acquiring alternate lines of temporally resolved data using alternate lines of k-space. There is the step of combining the individual images into a composite 3D image of the object with a computer of the MRI system. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20100004529 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRAPING BREAST MRI IMAGING COILS - A draping provides at least partial and preferably complete coverage of MRI coils, an MRI table and an MRI support system thereby protecting a patient and the equipment. Draping notch fold down flaps may be pushed into shaped apertures of an MRI apparatus by the patient's breast due to the design of the draping. This offers a barrier between the patient and the equipment pad providing the patient with warmth, comfort and protection from infectious diseases such as Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The draping reduces the clean up and improves the procedure turnaround time for the technologist. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090149738 | Chest Wall Coil Array for Breast Imaging - A RF coil array is provided for imaging a chest wall of a patient including a breast. The RF coil array includes a rigid cup-shaped element and a flexible, substantially flat portion. The rigid cup-shaped element is sized and dimensioned to receive a small breast, such as a post mastectomy breast or a male breast, and the flexible portion is configured to be conformed to the patient adjacent the breast to allow for imaging of the breast, and adjacent areas while facing the chest wall. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20110257515 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE RF COIL ASSEMBLY FOR IMAGING OF THE CERVICAL REGION - A radio-frequency (RF) coil for obtaining magnetic resonance data for imaging the cervical region of a patient has a loop coil contained in a housing of an applicator assembly that is adapted for placement against the cervix of the patient, and a loopless antenna contained in a tandem applicator of the assembly, that is adapted for intracorporeal placement in the cervix of the patient. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20100286505 | Irradiating Coil And Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus Using The Same - An irradiating coil includes a first ring conductor located on a plane, a second ring conductor having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first ring conductor and located substantially on the plane of the first ring conductor, a plurality of first line conductors connected the first ring conductor and to the second ring conductor, and an arrangement for making uniform a radio-frequency-pulse that is transmitted by the irradiating coil. The pulse uniforming arrangement includes a diverger which diverges a current flow of the first line conductors. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20090171189 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE COIL FIXED IN PLACE BY AIR PRESSURE - An air pressure fixed coil for magnetic resonance imaging has a surface on which an air pressure fixing device is arranged. The air pressure fixing device is in communication with a control switch, that is operable to actuate the air pressure fixing device to generate a negative pressure or to restore a normal air pressure, so that the air pressure fixing device is suctioned and fixed onto an object, or is released from the object. Since the coil is fixed in place by using air pressure, the coil can be fixed onto a patient bed without arranging any fixing structure on the patient bed, and therefore the coil can be positioned and fixed at any place on the patient bed for carrying out a scanning operation according to needs. At the same time, since there is no need to pre-arrange any fixing structure on the patient bed, such as slots, holes etc., the structural strength of the patient bed will not be affected, and the appearance of the patient bed can be kept simple, clean and neat. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20120071750 | METHOD FOR AFFIXING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE RF COIL TO A PATIENT - In a method to affix RF coils (in particular local coils) on a patient in examinations with a magnetic resonance apparatus, a horizontal board accommodates the patient for a magnetic resonance examination to be implemented, an RF coil that has coil electronics is affixed with a fastening strap on the patient, and the fastening strap has a connection cable integrated therewith. The coil electronics are supplied with energy via the integrated connection cable. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20100016708 | MRI RF ENCODING USING MULTIPLE TRANSMIT COILS - A common method of RF encoding assumes that the Bi field generated by the RF coils is linear, which is likely not the case in many situations. It is therefore desirable to have a method of operating an MR system to reconstruct an image of a subject, wherein the method is capable of also handling arbitrary Bi fields used for RF encoding. Accordingly, such an MR system employing one or more RF coils is disclosed herein. The method comprises obtaining transmit sensitivities and weighting factors for individual RF coils. Each RF coil is activated based on its respective weighting factor to apply RF excitation to a subject under examination in the MR system. MR signals—such as free induction decays (FID) signals or echo signals—generated from the subject in response to the RF excitation are received and processed based on the transmit sensitivities to generate an MR image or spectrum representative of the subject. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20110306872 | COMBINED FIELD LOCATION AND MRI TRACKING - A composite tracking system for a medical device comprises a field location tracking system including at least one field location sensor structured to be coupled to a medical device, a magnetic resonance tracking system including at least one tracking coil structured to be coupled to a medical device, and a composite tracking processor operably coupled to the field location tracking system and the magnetic resonance tracking system. The composite tracking processor is operable to receive and process field location parameters from the field location tracking system and positional coordinates from the magnetic resonance tracking system to register a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110306871 | Multiple-People MRI Scanner That Can Simultaneously Scan More Than One Person - A system and method perform magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) on more than one people simultaneously with one MRI scanner. The system may include a superconducting or non-superconducting magnet, a set of three dimensions of magnetic field gradients, RF coils, and magnetic field shimming coil set that can accommodate more than one people within one scanner. The system and method may be used for performing MRI on more than one interacting or non-interacting people for anatomic, functional, metabolic, and/or molecular imaging and studies. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20090088627 | MRI-COMPATIBLE HEAD FIXATION FRAME WITH COOPERATING HEAD COIL APPARATUS - A head support assembly includes a base configured to be removably secured to an MRI scanner gantry, a head support frame attached to the base, and a longitudinally extending head coil apparatus adjustably secured to the head support frame. The head support frame includes a pair of elongated arms that extend outwardly in adjacent, spaced-apart, substantially co-planar relationship to form an area for receiving the head of a patient. Each arm includes a respective free end, and a head engagement rod is adjustably associated with each respective arm free end. The head engagement rods are configured to engage a patients head within the head support frame. One or more additional head engagement rods may extend outwardly from the head support frame between the pair of arms. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20120004532 | IRRADIATING COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An irradiating coil includes a first ring conductor located on a plane, a second ring conductor having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first ring conductor and located substantially on the plane of the first ring conductor, a plurality of first line conductors connected the first ring conductor and to the second ring conductor, and an arrangement for making uniform a radio-frequency-pulse that is transmitted by the irradiating coil. The pulse uniforming arrangement includes a diverger which diverges a current flow of the first line conductors. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20100280360 | TWO-PART LOCAL SHOULDER COIL, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND METHOD EMPLOYING SAME - Improved patient comfort is provided by a local coil arrangement designed to support the production of an MRT image of a shoulder, wherein the housing of the local coil arrangement is composed of two separable parts. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20120123248 | DARK BLOOD DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE VIABILITY IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING SUBENDOCARDIAL INFARCTS - The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20090099444 | Microstrip Coil Designs for MRI Devices - A microstrip-based RF coil for use in an MRI apparatus constructed to perform human head and extremity imaging according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a coil former defined by an inner core member and a shield support that surrounds the inner core member. An outer surface of the shield support supports a conductive segmented shield and a plurality of conductive strip lines are disposed on an inner surface of the inner core module and extend parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention, all of the strip lines are not homogenous so as to introduce asymmetry into the coil design. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20110046475 | TECHNIQUES FOR CORRECTING TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE THERMOMETRY - Techniques for correcting temperature measurement in MR thermometry are disclosed. In particular, phase shifts that arise from factors other than temperature changes are detected, facilitating correction of temperature measurements. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20120323113 | LOCAL SHIM COIL WITHIN A LOCAL COIL FOR LOCAL B0 HOMOGENIZATION IN AN MRT EXAMINATION - A local coil for an imaging system, in particular an MRI scanner. The local coil is an MRI scanner local coil within which the head of a patient may be positioned, and that includes at least one shim coil. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20110257516 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SEPARATE DEPICTION OF A TRACKED ITEM FROM SURROUNDING ANATOMY OF A PATIENT, USING A TRANSMIT ARRAY SYSTEM - In a method for detecting rotational orientation and position tracking of an inductively coupled RF (ICRF) coil using a transmit array system, a conventional body birdcage coil is used, but the quadrature hybrid is eliminated to use the two excitation-channels separately. The transmit array system provides RF excitations such that the body birdcage coil creates linearly polarized and circulating RF pulses instead of a conventional rotational forward polarized excitation. Inductively coupled RF (ICRF) coils can be constructed on catheters for detecting rotational orientation and tracking purposes. The modifications on anatomy and ICRF coil images are different due to the RF excitation scheme such that the ICRF coil can be separated from the anatomy in real-time. After separating the ICRF coil from the anatomy, a color-coded image can be reconstructed, for example. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120089011 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCANNING CONTROL AND DISPLAYING IMAGES IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SCANNING CHAMBER - A method and apparatus for scanning control and displaying an image in a magnetic resonance scanning chamber are disclosed. An apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging system, a scanning chamber computer, an operating chamber computer, and a communication connection device; the scanning chamber computer and the magnet are disposed in the scanning chamber together; the operating chamber computer is disposed in the operating chamber; the scanning chamber computer and the operating chamber computer are connected via the communication connection device. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120283551 | COIL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING VOLUMETRIC PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS - A coil device is provided having a member adapted to extend around and conform to an outer surface of a subject and a conductor adapted to extend only once around a first portion of the subject. The coil device can be positioned about the subject in order to measure a volume of the subject. When placed about the subject in the presence of a relatively homogeneous magnetic field, the conductor can generate a signal indicative of a volume of the first portion of the subject. The coil device may also include two or more conductors separately generating signals indicating volumes of two or more corresponding portions of the subject. In some cases the coil device includes associated authorization data that can limit use of the coil device. Systems and methods incorporating the coil device are also provided. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20130023756 | ADAPTER FOR A DIRECT-CONNECTION HEAD COIL WITH ADJUSTABLE TILT ANGLE - An adapter for a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device is provided. The adapter is placeable on a patient support for the magnetic resonance tomography device. The adapter includes an adapter upper part that is removably connectable to the local coil. The adapter also includes an adapter lower part that is removably connectable to the patient support. The adapter also includes a tilt device, by which the adapter upper part is movable relative to the adapter lower part. | 01-24-2013 |
| 600423000 | With means for inserting into a body | 12 |
| 20110196229 | ADAPTATION PROBE FOR INSERTION INTO IMPLANTED ELECTRODE DEVICES OF ACTIVE MEDICAL IMPLANTS AND SET COMPOSED OF AN IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE DEVICE AND AN ADAPTATION PROBE - An adaptation probe for insertion into implanted electrode devices of active medical implants to enable them for use in high-frequency magnetic alternating fields of MRI systems comprises an elongated, flexible probe body, and at least one electrical assembly, which has one or more electrical components connected to an interface, in the probe body, and which can be electrically connected to a supply lead of the electrode device such that the electrically properties of the electrode device can be adapted, in particular the frequency-dependent resistance, impedance, capacitance, or inductance thereof. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20120226143 | CATHETER ELECTRODE THAT CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY EMIT ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND FACILITATE VISUALIZATION BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A catheter comprises an elongate body extending along a first longitudinal axis and having an outermost radial surface; a coil wound in a substantially cylindrical shape and extending along a second longitudinal axis that is coincident with the first longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the coil is proximate to the outermost radial surface of the elongate body. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20090264736 | DEVICE WITH 3D ARRAY OF STEERING COILS - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with remotely controlling a catheter configured with a 3D array of steering coils are described. One example magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus may include logic to remotely control a catheter. The 3D array of coils may include, for example, one axial coil and two side coils. The MRI apparatus may independently control current provided to members of the 3D array of coils. The MRI apparatus may also selectively produce different pulse sequences to mitigate and/or take advantage of signal voids present in an acquired image due to susceptibility effects from a field(s) generated by a member(s) of the 3D array of coils. Independently controlling the current provided to the 3D array of coils facilitates bending the catheter in a desired position as a result of a magnetic torque associated with a magnetic moment induced in a member of the 3D array of coils. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20110230757 | ACTIVE DEVICE TRACKING USING LIGHT WITH ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM TO INDUCE A HYPERPOLARIZED MRI - One or more light beam endowed with photonic orbital angular momentum generating devices ( | 09-22-2011 |
| 20090076378 | INTRACAVITY PROBES AND INTERFACES THEREFOR FOR USE IN OBTAINING IMAGES AND SPECTRA OF INTRACAVITY STRUCTURES USING HIGH FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEMS - An intracavity probe for use with an MR system allows images or spectra of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient to be obtained. The probe includes a shaft, a balloon at one end thereof, and a coil loop within the balloon. The coil loop preferably includes two drive capacitors and a tuning capacitor, all of which in series. A junction node between the drive capacitors serves as a ground for electrically balancing the coil loop. Diametrically opposite the junction node, the tuning capacitor enables the coil loop to resonate at the operating frequency of the MR system. Across each drive capacitor is connected an output cable having an electrical length of S | 03-19-2009 |
| 20110125005 | Interface Devices For Use With Intracavity Probes For High Field Strength Magnetic Resonance Systems - An MR system features an intracavity probe and associated interface device. The probe includes a shaft, a balloon at one end thereof, and a coil loop within the balloon. The loop has two drive capacitors and a tuning capacitor, all of which in series. A junction node between the drive capacitors serves as a ground for electrically balancing the loop. Diametrically opposite the node, the tuning capacitor enables the loop to resonate at the operating frequency of the MR system. The interface allows the MR system to couple the loop to a port of the MR system during a receive cycle thereof and decouple it from the port during a transmit cycle thereof. With its balloon inserted and inflated within a cavity of a patient, the probe allows the MR system to generate images and/or spectra of the region of interest using the MR signals received by the loop. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20100168555 | Interventional devices for chronic total occlusion recanalization under MRI guidance - Disclosed is a guide catheter that includes one or more RF antennas to enhance the visibility of the guide catheter in MR imagery. One embodiment of the guide catheter includes a loop coil at the distal end of the guide catheter and a loopless antenna between the distal end and the proximal end. By combining a loop coil and a loopless antenna on the catheter, the shaft of the catheter may be visible in MR imagery while the distal end may appear in the MR imagery more brightly than the shaft. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20120150020 | Microcoil Construction - A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by ajoining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20080234569 | Mri Probe for Prostate Imaging - A rectal probe adapted for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, comprising: a) an ultrasound imaging probe; b) an MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the rectal probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; and c) a link joining the ultrasound probe and the MRI probe. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20120310080 | Interventional Instrument Tracking Device Imageable with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Method for Use Thereof - A tracking device configured to be coupled to an interventional instrument and tracked by a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The tracking device includes, for example, paramagnetic and diamagnetic components that form first and second tracking members. When the tracking device is adjusted into a first arrangement, the tracking device will produce a local magnetic field in the presence of the magnetic field of an MRI system that is measurable by the MRI system. However, when the tracking device is adjusted into a second arrangement, the local magnetic field produced by the tracking device is reduced relative to the first arrangement, wherein the reduced local magnetic field produces substantially no magnetic field disturbances detectable by the MRI system. Images may be acquired of a patient in which the tracking device has been introduced and, using a numerical fitting method, an accurate location of the tracking device can be determined. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120316429 | Catheter Device with Local Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coil and Methods for Use Thereof - A catheter device for deploying a local magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil is provided. The catheter device includes an outer catheter shaft having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and an inner catheter shaft having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The outer and inner catheter shafts are movably engaged such that one can move relative to the other. A plurality of non-metallic filaments are coupled on one end to the outer catheter shaft and coupled on another end to the inner catheter shaft. The plurality of non-metallic filaments are intertwined to form a braid, to which a local MRI coil is coupled. The local MRI coil is configured to have a circular shape when the braid is in a deployed position. Additionally, motion tracking coils can be coupled to the braid to provide motion tracking information for motion compensation. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130023757 | INTERCONNECT FOR AN MRI DETECTOR COIL MOUNTED ON A CATHETER - An interconnect for an RF detector coil comprises a substrate comprising strip of insulating material, a conducting layer formed on a first side of the substrate, and a ground layer formed on a second side of the substrate. At least one of the layers has a periodic pattern so that the conducting layer alternates along its length between capacitive regions which are opposite regions of the ground layer, and non-capacitive regions. | 01-24-2013 |
