Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a main magnet (122) adapted for generating a main magnetic field; at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (144) for acquiring magnetic resonance signals in a receiver coil radio frequency band (202) from an examined object (124); means (140) for inductively (wirelessly) supplying electric power to an electric component of the apparatus, wherein the electric component is adapted to be powered by inductively supplied electric power, wherein the power transfer frequency (200) and the higher-harmonics (206) of the power transfer frequency (200) for inductively supplying the electric power are located outside the receiver coil radio frequency band (202).

Abstract: A radio frequency coil comprises: a coil unit (30, 100) including one or more conductive radio frequency receive elements (32, 110) tuned to receive a magnetic resonance signal and an on-board active electronic component (34, 114, 118) operatively coupled with the one or more conductive radio frequency receive elements; and a power coupling element (40, 46, 134, 138, 140) configured to non-conductively receive electrical power from a power delivery element (44, 132, 136) during a magnetic resonance acquisition session to power the on-board active electronic component (114, 118) during the magnetic resonance acquisition session (e.g. wirelessly by inductive coupling or by capacitive coupling). In some embodiments, the power coupling element (134, 138, 140) is a component of the coil unit (102), and the radio frequency coil further comprises a base coil unit (104) including the power delivery element (132, 136) operatively combinable with the coil unit (102) to define an annular coil.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system (10) includes a wireless local coil (22) which functions as a transmit only or a transmit and receive coil. The local coil includes an RF coil (50) with a plurality of coil elements (501, 50a). A corresponding number of transmit amplifiers (581, 58a) apply RF signals to the RF coil elements to transmit an RF signal. A peak power supply (56) provides electrical power to the transmit amplifiers to transmit relatively high power RF pulses. A trickle charging device (66) recharges the peak power supply between RF pulses from a local coil power supply (60). A power transfer device (64) wirelessly transfers power to a coil power supply recharging device (62) which recharges the local coil power supply (60).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7) placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone. In order to provide an MR device (1) which is arranged to allow for massive parallel imaging without extensive cabling between the individual receiving coils and the back end electronics, the invention proposes to make provision for a plurality of receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) placed in or near the examination zone, which receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) each comprise a receiving antenna (12a, 12b, 12c) for receiving MR signals from the body, a digitizing means (21a, 21b, 21c) for sampling the received MR signals and for transforming the signal samples into digital signals, and a transmitter (22a, 22b, 22c) for transmitting the digital signals to a central processing unit (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7), comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone, a plurality of wireless receiving units (10a, 10b) placed in or near the examination zone, and sampling means (21a, 21b) operating at a variable sampling frequency for sampling the received MR signals and for converting them into digital signal samples. The invention proposes to make provision for energizing means (17) generating an RF energizing field within the examination zone for inductively supplying electric power to the wireless receiving units (10a, 10b), wherein the frequency of the RF energizing field is an integer multiple of the sampling frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system, to a magnetic resonance imaging method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system and to a computer program for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7) placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone. In order to provide an MR device (1) which is arranged to allow for massive parallel imaging without extensive cabling between the individual receiving coils and the back end electronics, the invention proposes to make provision for a plurality of receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) placed in or near the examination zone, which receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) each comprise a receiving antenna (12a, 12b, 12c) for receiving MR signals from the body, a digitizing means (21a, 21b, 21c) for sampling the received MR signals and for transforming the signal samples into digital signals, and a transmitter (22a, 22b, 22c) for transmitting the digital signals to a central processing unit (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising an electrical coil system (17) for transmitting and receiving a radio-frequency (RF) magnetic field from an examination volume (3) of the MRI apparatus. The electrical coil system (17) comprises at least one surface coil (35) which extends substantially in a plane. The surface coil is used for transmitting and/or receiving a RF magnetic field which is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the surface coil (35). The surface coil (35) has a main coil axis (37). When the MRI apparatus is in use, the main coil axis (37) extends substantially parallel to a main magnetic field in the examination volume (3) of the MRI apparatus. On both sides of the main coil axis (37), the surface coil (35) comprises an electrically conducting element (39) which extends substantially parallel to the main coil axis (37).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7), comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone, a plurality of wireless receiving units (10a, 10b) placed in or near the examination zone, and sampling means (21a, 21b) operating at a variable sampling frequency for sampling the received MR signals and for converting them into digital signal samples.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for uni- or bidirectional wireless communication of signals or data especially in a reflective environment like a MR imaging system, between at least one first transmitter and/or receiver unit (501, 601, 701; T/R1) and at least one second transmitter and/or receiver unit (801; T/R2) is disclosed. The reliability and availability of the communication link especially in a highly reflective environment is improved especially by using spread spectrum technology and ultra wide band carrier frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system, to a magnetic resonance imaging method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system and to a computer program for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining MRI images in a vertical main field while using a sub-sampling scheme like SENSE. The invention proposes a number of coil arrangements such that the advantages of SENSE (high speed acquisition) and vertical field (open view for the patient so as to avoid sensations of fear and claustrophobia) are combined. The coil arrangements preferably include butterfly coils and are arranged in such a way that they offer access to the patient and also allow the patient to be moved into and out of the imaging volume without interference by the RF coils.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR coil module for use in an MR imaging system for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resonance trap (8) for suppressing electromagnetic coupling phenomena for a line (1), which resonance trap includes a conductor (10) which extends parallel to and along a part of the length of the line (1). Conventional resonance traps (8) have the drawback that a direct connection exists between the RF line and the individual resonance traps (8). It is an object of the invention to provide a resonance trap (8) which enables a modular assembly on the line (1). The object is achieved by means of a resonance trap (8) of the kind set forth in which inner conductors (10) extend parallel to the line (1) and in which outer conductors (11) extend parallel to the inner conductors (10), said inner conductors (10) being arranged at a radial distance from the line (1) which is smaller than that at which the outer conductors (11) are arranged and the outer conductors (11) being arranged to cover at least partly the inner conductors (10) in the radial direction relative to the line (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR coil module for use in an MR imaging system for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resonance trap (8) for suppressing electromagnetic coupling phenomena for a line (1), which resonance trap includes a conductor (10) which extends parallel to and along a part of the length of the line (1). Conventional resonance traps (8) have the drawback that a direct connection exists between the RF line and the individual resonance traps (8). It is an object of the invention to provide a resonance trap (8) which enables a modular assembly on the line (1). The object is achieved by means of a resonance trap (8) of the kind set forth in which inner conductors (10) extend parallel to the line (1) and in which outer conductors (11) extend parallel to the inner conductors (10), said inner conductors (10) being arranged at a radial distance from the line (1) which is smaller than that at which the outer conductors (11) are arranged and the outer conductors (11) being arranged to cover at least partly the inner conductors (10) in the radial direction relative to the line (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining MRI images in a vertical main field while using a sub-sampling scheme like SENSE. The invention proposes a number of coil arrangements such that the advantages of SENSE (high speed acquisition) and vertical field (open view for the patient so as to avoid sensations of fear and claustrophobia) are combined. The coil arrangements preferably include butterfly coils and are arranged in such a way that they offer access to the patient and also allow the patient to be moved into and out of the imaging volume without interference by the RF coils.