Abstract: The invention provides for a subject support assembly (125) for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100, 200, 300, 400, 500). The subject support is operable for supporting a subject (118) within an imaging zone (108) of a magnet (104) of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The subject support is operable for supporting at least one radio frequency amplifier (124, 124?, 124?) outside of the imaging zone. The subject support is operable for supplying DC electrical power to the at least one radio frequency amplifier.

Abstract: An inductively coupled magnetic resonance local prostate radio frequency coil (10) includes at least two connected electrically conductive loops (50) and an interface device (80). The at least two connected electrically conductive loops (50) are tuned to receive magnetic resonance radio frequency signal components along an axis of a subject disposed in a main magnetic field (B0) orthogonal to the axis of the subject (i.e. an open MRI system having a vertical magnetic field) and generate one or more currents indicative of the received magnetic resonance signal components. The interface device (80) connected to the at least two conductive loops transmits measures of the one or more currents to a signal processing system.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array with multiple RF coil elements for a magnetic resonance examination system is disclosed. The decoupling of RF coil elements involves sets (pairs) of transformers and may also include geometrical overlap of adjacent coils. The mutual coupling between the transformers is adjustable. This provides additional degrees of freedom to fully decouple the RF coil elements from each other.

Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (10) comprising a cryostat (12), a two-stage cryogenic cold head (24) and at least one thermal connection member (136; 236; 336; 436) that is configured to provide at least a portion of a heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) from the second stage member (30) to the first stage member (26) of the two-stage cryogenic cold head (24). The heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) is arranged outside the cold head (24). A thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the second cryogenic temperature is larger than a thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the first cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A radio frequency volume coil (136; 236) for use in a magnetic resonance examination system (10), comprising:—a radio frequency shield (148; 248),—a pair of radio frequency conductive loop members (138; 238) spaced along a common longitudinal axis (140; 240),—a plurality of axially arranged radio frequency conductive members electrically connected to at least one of the radio frequency conductive loop members (138; 238), wherein—at least two axially arranged radio frequency conductive members electrically interconnect the radio frequency conductive loop members (138; 238) as interconnecting members (144; 244), and—at least two of the axially arranged radio frequency conductive members are axially arranged in an aligned manner at an azimuthal position within the range between azimuthal positions of the at least two interconnecting members (144; 244), and electrically serve as shield-connecting members (146; 246) for one of the two radio frequency conductive loop members (138; 238) to the radio frequency shield

Abstract: The radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly has sets of antenna conductors that leave an opening between the sets. A radiotherapy beam path may pass through the opening so that the antenna conductors are at most minimally exposed to the radiation. Each set of antenna conductors has a surface conductor loop and a transverse conductor loop. The surface conductor loop is arranged on cylindrical surface and generates an RF field mostly in its axial range. The transverse conductor loop extends radially and generates an RF field in the axial range of the opening. In this way a homogeneous RF field within the RF antenna assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides for a multi-element transmit coil (100) for a magnetic resonance imaging system (300). The multi-element transmit coil comprises multiple surface coil elements (102) with a coil circuit (104) that has an integrated a radio-frequency sensor (106, 604, 704, 804). The multi-element transmit coil further comprises a power monitoring unit (108) with an analog-to-digital converter (808). The power monitoring unit comprises a processor connected to each analog to digital converter that is operable for receiving a radio-frequency measurement for generating specific absorption rate data (348) for each of the multiple surface coil elements. The multi-element transmit coil further comprises an optical data transmission system (110) connected to the processor. The optical data transmission system is operable for connecting to a magnetic resonance imaging system controller (312, 330).

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna device (140) applies an RF field to an examination space (116) of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110). The RF antenna device (140) has a tubular body and is segmented in its longitudinal direction (154). Each segment (162, 164) has at least one activation port. The result is that each mode, corresponding to an activation port, may be controlled individually. Accordingly, the inhomogeneity of the subject of interest in the longitudinal direction of the RF antenna device can directly be addressed. There are different ways to build up a z-segmented RF antenna device.

Abstract: The invention provides for a system (200) for generation of a radio frequency, RF, excitation signal for excitation of nuclei via an RF excitation coil (114) in a magnetic resonance system (100). The system comprises power generation units (203-206) each comprising a synthesizer (211-214), an RF amplifier (231-234), and a first feedback loop (251-254) unit adapted to configure the synthesizer to generate an RF signal which after amplification by the RF amplifier has a predefined first signal characteristic and a combiner (261) adapted for combining the RF signals amplified by the RF amplifiers for obtaining the RF excitation signal.

Abstract: An endorectal coil (1) includes a tube (40), a spreader (44), and one or more electrically conductive elements (64). The tube (40) is configured for insertion into the rectum (42). The spreader (44) is configured to be positioned at a distal end of the tube (40) and mechanically spread to compress surrounding tissue after the tube (40) is inserted. The one or more electrically conductive elements (64) are tuned to receive magnetic resonance data disposed on at least one of the tube (40), the spreader (44), and adjacent the tube and spreader.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) comprising at least one magnetic resonance radio frequency antenna device (30) and at least one metal detector unit (38) for detecting metal within the subject of interest (20) including at least one metal detector coil (40), wherein the at least one magnetic resonance radio frequency antenna device (30) and the at least one metal detector coil (40) mechanically or electrically or spatially form an integral unit (34); and a method of operating, with regard to detecting metal-comprising implants (36) and selecting magnetic resonance pulse sequences, such magnetic resonance imaging system (10).

Abstract: A feeding circuit arrangement (18) supplies a radio frequency signal to a plurality of coil elements (14) of a magnetic resonance coil system (12). The circuit arrangement (18) includes a main line (20) for connecting a radio frequency signal source (16); a plurality of feeding lines (22), each feeding line (22) for connecting a corresponding coil element (14) of the coil system (14); a power divider (24) arranged between the main line (20) and the plurality of feeding lines (22) for distributing the signal on the main line (20) to each of the feeding lines (22). At least one of the feeding lines (22) includes a controllable switching circuit (26) with a switching element (28) for connecting/disconnecting of two resulting line sections (30, 32) of the feeding line (22), a first line section (30) on the divider side and a second line section (32) on the side connectable to the coil element (14).

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna device (40) applies an RF field to an examination space (16) of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (10). The RF antenna device (40) includes a plurality of rungs (42, 44) arranged substantially parallel and in an azimuthally substantially equally spaced relationship along an outside of a virtual cylinder (50) with a cylinder axis (52) running parallel to main directions of extension (48). At least one transversal antenna member (54) electromagnetically is coupled to at least one rung (42, 44) of the plurality of rungs (42, 44). The at least one transversal antenna member (54) is arranged within a plane substantially perpendicular to the main directions of extension (48) of the plurality of rungs (42, 44). At least one RF circuit (62, 64, 66) is provided for each rung (42, 44) of the plurality of rungs (42, 44) for mutual decoupling and for individually feeding RF power into the at least one transversal antenna member (54).

Abstract: In an MR imaging method and apparatus, a portion of a body placed in an examination volume of an MR device is subjected to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients. The imaging sequence is a stimulated echo sequence including i) two preparation RF pulses (?) radiated toward the portion of the body during a preparation period (21), and ii) reading RF pulses (?) radiated toward the portion of the body during an acquisition period (22) temporally subsequent to the preparation period (21). FID signals (I1) and stimulated echo signals (I2) are acquired during the acquisition period (22) with equal T2*-weighting. A B1 map indicating a spatial distribution of the RF field of the preparation RF pulses within the portion of the body is derived from the acquired FID (I1) and stimulated echo (I2) signals.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200, 400, 500) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202), a transducer (222) for mechanically vibrating at least a portion of the subject within the imaging zone. Instructions cause a processor (236) controlling the medical instrument to: control (100) the transducer to vibrate; control (102) the magnetic resonance imaging system to repeatedly acquire the magnetic resonance data (252) using a first spatially encoding pulse sequence (250); control (104) the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire navigator data (256) using a second spatially encoding pulse sequence (254); construct (106) a set of navigator profiles (258, 804, 904, 1004, 1108, 1208, 1308) using the navigator data; determine (108) at least one parameter (260) descriptive of transducer vibrations using the set of navigator profiles; and reconstruct (110) at least one magnetic resonance rheology image (262) from the magnetic resonance data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (300, 400) acquires magnetic resonance data (342). The magnetic resonance imaging system includes a coil assembly (319) configured for radiating and/or receiving radio frequency energy from an imaging zone. The coil assembly has a first surface (315) configured for being directed towards the imaging zone and includes at least one coil element (317). The coil assembly further comprises a radio frequency shield (319) switchable between an RF blocking state (804) and an RF transparent state (802). The at least one coil element is between the first surface and the radio frequency shield. The switchable radio frequency shield includes at least two conductive elements (322). The radio frequency shield includes at least one radio frequency switch (324) configured for electrically connecting the at least two conductive elements in the blocking state and disconnecting the at least two conductive elements in the transparent state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multichannel radio frequency (RF) receive/transmit system (200) for use in an magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110), comprising a RF coil array (202) with multiple RF coil elements (204) for emission and reception of RF signals, whereby each RF coil element (204) is provided with tuning means (206), and a tuning/matching circuit (208) for comparing forward power provided to at least one of the RF coil elements (204) with reflected power at the respective RF coil element (204) of the at least one of the RF coil elements (204), and for tuning the at least one of the RF coil elements (204) based on a comparison of the forward power and the reflected power at least one of the RF coil elements (204). The present invention further provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) comprising the above multichannel RF receive/transmit system (200).

Abstract: Patient headphones (50) for use in a medical scanning modality, comprising a frame member (52), two ear cups (54) that, in an operational state of the patient headphones (50), are arranged to be in contact with one of the patient's ears, and a sensor system (60), the sensor system (60) including optical emitters (64) that are configured for directing electromagnetic radiation to a portion of the patient's skin, and optical sensors (68) that are configured for receiving the electromagnetic radiation being returned from the portion of the patient's skin, and for providing an output signal that corresponds to the received electromagnetic radiation, wherein the output signal is indicative of at least one physiological parameter of the patient and serves as a basis for determining the at least one physiological parameter of the patient; —a patient headphones system (48) for use in a medical scanning modality (10), comprising an embodiment of such patient headphones (50) and a data acquisition and analysis unit (76

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) coil (140) for applying an RF field to an examination space (116) of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) and/or for receiving MR signals from the examination space (116), whereby the RF coil (140) is provided having a tubular body (142), the RF coil (140) is segmented in a longitudinal direction (154) of the tubular body (142) into two coil segments (146), and the two coil segments (146) are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (144) of the tubular body (142), whereby a gap (148) is formed between the two coil segments (146). The present invention further provides a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) coil (140) as specified above.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receive coil unit (140) comprising a receive coil array (142) for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system (110) with multiple antenna units (144) sensitive to magnetic resonance signals, i.e. antenna units (144) sensitive to B-field signals, whereby each antenna unit (144) comprises a coil element (146) sensitive to B-field signals, and each antenna unit (144) comprises an E-field antenna (148) sensitive to E-field signals. The present invention also provides a magnetic resonance imaging system (110) comprising a receive coil unit (140) with a receive coil array (142) having multiple antenna units (144) sensitive to magnetic resonance signals, i.e. antenna units (144) sensitive to B-field signals, whereby the receive coil unit (140) is provided as a receive coil unit (140) as specified above.