Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one embodiment, an RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a first end including a first set of flexible RF coil elements having a first shape, a second end including a second set of flexible RF coil elements having the first shape, and a central section extending between the first end and the second end and including a saddle shaped RF coil element. The first and second ends are bendable to the central section and the saddle shaped RF coil element is a different shape than the first shape. The saddle shaped RF coil element and each RF coil element of the first and second sets of RF coil elements includes a coupling electronics portion and at least two parallel, distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) system with reduced power dissipation during decoupling. In one example, the RF coil includes a loop portion with distributed capacitance which comprises two conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material and a feed board including a decoupling circuit configured to decouple the distributed capacitance of the loop portion during a transmit operation, an impedance inverter circuit, and a pre-amplifier.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one example, a method includes selecting a contour topology for operating a configurable radio frequency (RF) coil assembly, wherein the configurable RF coil assembly includes an array of conductive segments coupled via a plurality of switches, and the contour topology defines a configuration of one or more RF coil elements formed on the configurable RF coil assembly. The method further includes, during a receive mode, at least partially activating one or more subsets of switches of the plurality of switches according to the selected contour topology to form the one or more RF coil elements.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and lowcost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a distributed capacitance loop portion comprising at least three distributed capacitance conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, a coupling electronics portion including a preamplifier, and a coil-interfacing cable extending between the coupling electronics portion and an interfacing connector of the RF coil assembly.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one example, a method includes selecting a contour topology for operating a configurable radio frequency (RF) coil assembly, wherein the configurable RF coil assembly includes an array of conductive segments coupled via a plurality of switches, and the contour topology defines a configuration of one or more RF coil elements formed on the configurable RF coil assembly. The method further includes, during a receive mode, at least partially activating one or more subsets of switches of the plurality of switches according to the selected contour topology to form the one or more RF coil elements.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for radio frequency coil assemblies for a magnetic resonance imaging system. In one example, a method comprises: flowing air through a plurality of airflow passages formed in a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system; and receiving magnetic resonance (MR) signals from an RF coil array of the RF coil assembly, wherein the RF coil array comprises a plurality of RF coil elements, each RF coil element having a loop portion which comprises two distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.

Abstract: Various systems are provided for neck radio frequency (RF) coil assemblies for a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) system. In one example, a neck RF coil assembly includes a central RF coil array including a first plurality of RF coils configured to cover a neck of a subject to be imaged, an upper RF coil array including a second plurality of RF coils extending upward from the central RF coil array and configured to cover a lower head region of the subject, and a lower RF coil array including a third plurality of RF coils extending downward from the central RF coil array and configured to cover an upper shoulder region of the subject, wherein each RF coil of the first, second, and third pluralities of RF coils comprises a loop portion comprising two distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) system with reduced power dissipation during decoupling. In one example, the RF coil includes a loop portion with distributed capacitance which comprises two conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material and a feed board including a decoupling circuit configured to decouple the distributed capacitance of the loop portion during a transmit operation, an impedance inverter circuit, and a pre-amplifier.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one embodiment, a radio frequency coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes: a flexible spine; and at least two RF coil sections each coupled to the flexible spine and movable relative to each other, each RF coil section comprising at least one flexible RF coil, each RF coil including a loop portion comprising a coupling electronics portion and at least two parallel, distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one embodiment, an RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a posterior end including a first set of flexible RF coils; an anterior end including a second set of flexible RF coils; a central section extending between the posterior end and anterior end, wherein the posterior end and the anterior end are bendable to the central section. Each flexible RF coil of the first set and second set of flexible RF coils includes a loop portion comprising a coupling electronics portion and at least two parallel, distributed capacitance wire conductors encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a distributed capacitance loop portion comprising two parallel conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, the two parallel conductor wires maintained separate by the dielectric material along an entire length of the loop portion between terminating ends thereof, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier, and a coil-interfacing cable extending between the coupling electronics portion and an interfacing connector of the RF coil assembly.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap for an MRI apparatus comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a first distance from the central conductor at first and second ends of the length, and wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a second distance larger than the first distance from the central conductor at a midpoint of the length. In this way, coupling and subsequent detuning of common mode traps provided adjacent to one another may be prevented.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a radio frequency (RF) coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, including: a flexible shell including an inner layer; and a plurality of flexible RF coils embedded within the inner layer, with each RF coil of the plurality of RF coils including two distributed capacitance wire conductors. In this way, the RF coil array may deform in order to conform to a body of a patient.

Abstract: An MRI system for imaging one or more subjects is provided. The MRI system includes a magnet assembly and an MRI controller. The magnet assembly includes an RF coil for transmitting a first set of RF pulses into the one or more subjects at an initial Larmor frequency. The MRI controller is configured to electronically communicate with the RF coil and to adjust a resonant frequency of the RF coil such that the RF coil transmits a second set of RF pulses into the one or more subjects at one or more subsequent Larmor frequencies that are different from the initial Larmor frequency.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a disconnecting a receive coil from a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance (MR) system during a transmit operation. In one example, a cabling system may include a first line of coil-interfacing cable having a first set of hybrid switches, the first set of hybrid switches including a first switch, a first resonance circuit, and a second switch connected in series, and a second line of the coil-interfacing cable having a second set of hybrid switches, the first line and the second line of the coil-interfacing cable operably coupling one or more radio frequency (RF) coil elements to respective channels of the MR system. By positioning the first and the second sets of hybrid switches along different locations along the coil-interfacing cables, and simultaneously operating each set of hybrid switches, common mode currents may be interrupted along the coil-interfacing cables.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, the first and the second conductors radially spaced a distance from the central conductor, the first and second conductors fixed to a first side of the central conductor; and a third conductor and a fourth conductor counterwound around the length of the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors are radially spaced the distance from the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors fixed to a second side of the central conductor opposite the first side. In this way, the density of common mode trap conductors in a common mode trap may be increased, thereby increasing the mutual inductance between the common mode trap and the central conductor.

Abstract: A system for magnetic resonance imaging of anatomy including a head is provided. The system includes a base member, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of articulable reception units. The plurality of support members are movably fixed to the base member and configured to translate across a surface of the base member. Each support member is releasably securable to the base member in a plurality of positions along the surface of the base member. The articulable reception units are movable from an open position to a plurality of closed positions. Each reception unit comprises at least one radio frequency (RF) receive coil disposed within a body, with the body configured for abutment with a portion of a head. Each of the plurality of articulable reception units is releasably secured in the plurality of closed positions by at least one of the plurality of support members.

Abstract: An MRI system for imaging one or more subjects is provided. The MRI system includes a magnet assembly and an MRI controller. The magnet assembly includes an RF coil for transmitting a first set of RF pulses into the one or more subjects at an initial Larmor frequency. The MRI controller is configured to electronically communicate with the RF coil and to adjust a resonant frequency of the RF coil such that the RF coil transmits a second set of RF pulses into the one or more subjects at one or more subsequent Larmor frequencies that are different from the initial Larmor frequency.