Abstract: A mechanically commutated motor (200) configured for use with an external magnetic field (240) is disclosed. The motor (200) includes an axle (208) formed of anon-magnetic material. A rotor (206) is coupled to the axle (208), the rotor (206) including three or more actuator units (205) spaced about the axle (208). Each actuator unit (205) comprises a non-magnetic material, a coil winding (214) along each of the three or more actuator units (205), and a commutator (216) coupled to the axle (208) and electrically associated with the coil windings (214). The motor (200) further includes two or more resilient contacts (210) oriented to direct a current through the commutator (216) to one of the coil windings (214) to induce a current in the coil winding (214) to form an electromagnet that rotates the rotor (206) relative to the external magnetic field (240) from a magnet located external to the mechanically commutated motor (200).

Abstract: The present invention is a dual resonant breast coil design for combined sodium and proton breast MRI with increased SNR at 3T when compared to a coil with a single proton and sodium channel. The coil consists of a 7-channel sodium receive phased array, a large sodium transmit coil, and a 4-channel hydrogen transceive array. An interleaved overlapping coil layout is used to reduce coupling between sodium and proton coil elements. The new composite array coil demonstrates a 2-5× improvement in SNR for sodium imaging when compared to a simple single-loop dual resonant design.

Abstract: The present invention is a dual resonant breast coil design for combined sodium and proton breast MRI with increased SNR at 3T when compared to a coil with a single proton and sodium channel. The coil consists of a 7-channel sodium receive phased array, a large sodium transmit coil, and a 4-channel hydrogen transceive array. An interleaved overlapping coil layout is used to reduce coupling between sodium and proton coil elements. The new composite array coil demonstrates a 2-5× improvement in SNR for sodium imaging when compared to a simple single-loop dual resonant design.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods provide an RF coil which produces a field having linear phase variation across an imaging volume. In one embodiment, a coil comprises multiple microstrip elements configured to have an increased effective electrical length. This increase in electrical length allows for a larger linear phase shifts over the length of the microstrip element which in turn increases linear phase variation capabilities. This may be accomplished by increasing the effective dielectric properties of the microstrip element. Increasing the effective dielectric may be accomplished by utilizing distributed capacitors along the length of a microstrip element (e.g. lumped element capacitors), by altering the materials used to fabricate the microstrip element, etc. Additionally, increasing the effective dielectric may be accomplished using a combination of these means.

Abstract: A catheter-mounted, expandable or set in position, coil for magnetic resonance imaging. The coil having a catheter sheath including an elongated tube with a central axis, the catheter sheath having an opening at an end thereof; an expandable coil including a conductive material connected to an expansion mechanism which, when deployed, maintains the expandable receive coil shape; and a cable running through the catheter sheath, the cable being electrically connected to the coil inductive loop.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods provide an RF coil which produces a field having linear phase variation across an imaging volume. In one embodiment, a coil comprises multiple microstrip elements configured to have an increased effective electrical length. This increase in electrical length allows for a larger linear phase shifts over the length of the microstrip element which in turn increases linear phase variation capabilities. This may be accomplished by increasing the effective dielectric properties of the microstrip element. Increasing the effective dielectric may be accomplished by utilizing distributed capacitors along the length of a microstrip element (e.g. lumped element capacitors), by altering the materials used to fabricate the microstrip element, etc. Additionally, increasing the effective dielectric may be accomplished using a combination of these means.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system that allows for the easy substitution of imaging elements attached to an anatomical positioning device. One or more imaging elements may be mounted to the anatomical positioning device in such a way that the placement of the imaging elements in relation to the anatomical positioning device and the subject can be easily controlled by the operator.