Patent · US Expired

Flexible, region-selectable inherently de-coupled sandwiched solenoidal array coil

US6701177B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
33References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 2002
Grant dateMar 2, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R33/3415
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An inherently de-coupled sandwiched solenoidal array coil (SSAC) is disclosed for use in receiving nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) radio frequency (RF) signals in both horizontal and vertical-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In its most basic configuration, the SSAC comprises two coaxial RF receive coils. The first coil of the array has two solenoidal (or loop) sections that are separated from one another along a common axis. The two sections are electrically connected in series but the conductors in each section are wound in opposite directions so that a current through the coil sets up a magnetic field of opposite polarity in each section. The second coil of the SSAC is disposed (“sandwiched”) between the two separated solenoidal sections of the first coil in a region where the combined opposing magnetic fields cancel to become a null. Due to the winding arrangement and geometrical symmetry, the receive coils of the array become electromagnetically “de-coupled” from one another while still maintaining their sensitivity toward receiving NMR signals. The multiple coil array arrangement also allows for selecting between a larger or smaller fie…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.