Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system 10 includes at least one cable (30, 32, 34) that has at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B) and an optical monitoring unit (37) in communication with the at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B). The optical monitoring unit (37) is configured to determine temperatures at each of a plurality of positions along the at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B). The optical monitoring unit (37) is further configured to halt an operation of the MR system (10) in response to at least one determined temperature. In accordance with the invention, the temperature of one or more cable traps forming part of the cable can be monitored and a faulty cable trap can be detected.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system 10 includes at least one cable (30, 32, 34) that has at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B) and an optical monitoring unit (37) in communication with the at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B). The optical monitoring unit (37) is configured to determine temperatures at each of a plurality of positions along the at least one optic fiber component (31C, 31E, 33B, 35B). The optical monitoring unit (37) is further configured to halt an operation of the MR system (10) in response to at least one determined temperature. In accordance with the invention, the temperature of one or more cable traps forming part of the cable can be monitored and a faulty cable trap can be detected.

Abstract: It is proposed herein to improve the specifications of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) by integrating it in a chip. In order to cover a range of operating frequencies using a single chip, the integrated-circuit amplifier proposed herein comprises an input port configured to receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from a radio-frequency (RF) coil, one or more LNAs configured to amplify the received MR signal, and an output port configured to output the amplified MR signal from the one or more LNAs. The operating frequency of the RF coil depends on the field strength. The matching circuit, if present, needs to be tuned to operate at the operating frequency of the RF coil, and depends on the component values in the loop, thus on loop size. In contrast, the proposed integrated-circuit amplifier is capable of directly connecting to RF coils with different loop sizes, without the need for a matching circuit.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising a resonant pickup circuit (102) arranged to pick up a magnetic resonance signal, an analog-to-digital converter (105) arranged to convert the magnetic resonance signal to digital data, and a frequency converter arranged to convert a primary band of frequencies of the digital data. By upshifting the frequency of the transmitted bit-stream, it is possible to RF-trap the transmission channel (109) by simple high-pass filtering techniques. In case the transmitted bit pattern has frequency components that approach the resonance frequency, an encoding technique like Manchester encoding can be used to eliminate unwanted signals.

Abstract: It is proposed herein to improve the specifications of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) by integrating it in a chip. In order to cover a range of operating frequencies using a single chip, the integrated-circuit amplifier proposed herein comprises an input port configured to receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from a radio-frequency (RF) coil, one or more LNAs configured to amplify the received MR signal, and an output port configured to output the amplified MR signal from the one or more LNAs. The operating frequency of the RF coil depends on the field strength, The matching circuit, if present, needs to be tuned to operate at the operating frequency of the RF coil, and depends on the component values in the loop, thus on loop size. In contrast, the proposed integrated-circuit amplifier is capable of directly connecting to RF coils with different loop sizes, without the need for a matching circuit.

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: A radio-frequency (RF) coil array for receiving magnetic resonance (MR) signals wherein the RF coil array (402) comprises at least one RF receive coil with an associated electronic circuit, a rechargeable electrical storage device arranged to supply electrical power to the associated electronic circuit, and a charging circuit arranged to charge the rechargeable electrical storage device, wherein the charging circuit includes a switching circuit (102SW1, 102SW2, 104SW1, 104SW2, 106SW1, 106SW2, 108SW1, 108SW2) configured to electrically isolate the charging circuit from the RF coil array at least when the RF receive coil is receiving MR signal. During a time period when the RF receive coil is not receiving MR signal and/or when another RF coil is not transmitting RF signals in the presence of the RF receive coil, the switching circuit switches the charging circuit to an ON state which enables the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable electrical storage device.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising a resonant pickup circuit (102) arranged to pick up a magnetic resonance signal, an analog-to-digital converter (105) arranged to convert the magnetic resonance signal to digital data, and a frequency converter arranged to convert a primary band of frequencies of the digital data. By upshifting the frequency of the transmitted bit-stream, it is possible to RF-trap the transmission channel (109) by simple high-pass filtering techniques. In case the transmitted bit pattern has frequency components that approach the resonance frequency, an encoding technique like Manchester encoding can be used to eliminate unwanted signals.

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 proposed MRI apparatus provides a solution to the problem of a limited number of receiver channels. The main idea is to make use of the imaging parameters when selecting and/or combining the RF signals of at least two RF coils into separate receiver channels. Such an imaging parameter may be, for example, the phase encoding direction.

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 an MR coil module for use in an MR imaging system for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals.

Abstract: The proposed MRI apparatus provides a solution to the problem of a limited number of receiver channels. The main idea is to make use of the imaging parameters when selecting and/or combining the RF signals of at least two RF coils into separate receiver channels. Such an imaging parameter may be, for example, the phase encoding direction.