Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical power distribution apparatus (100) connectible to one or more loads (119). The electrical power distribution apparatus (100) comprises inter alia one or more taps (112) for supplying the loads (119) with electrical power. On top of circuit breakers (108) to switch off the power supply in order to protect the loads against damage, there is also arranged a second layer of soft fuse switches (110) which are arranged to switch on or off the power supply at the taps (112) to control distribution of the power. The soft fuses (110) operate in dependence on and in response to commands issued from a controller (105) which in turn operates and issues those commands in response to and independence on the voltages and amperages monitored at those taps (112) by way of a monitoring module (111). Switching on/off occurs at amperage and voltages lower than the critical threshold values to which the circuit breakers (108) respond to.

Abstract: An antenna system for an implantable device like a cardiac pacemaker or a cochlear implant. The antenna system includes at least two coil units coupled with their terminals to a control circuit which can selectively connect the coil units in series or in anti-series, corresponding to a “operational mode” and a “safety mode”, respectively. In the operational mode, magnetically induced voltages in the coil units add, while they subtract and therefore completely or partially compensate in the safety mode. Thus the implantable device can be protected from damage due to extraordinarily large changing rates of external magnetic fields as they exist for example during MRI examinations.

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 invention relates to an electrical power distribution apparatus (100) connectible to one or more loads (119). The electrical power distribution apparatus (100) comprises inter alia one or more taps (112) for supplying the loads (119) with electrical power. On top of circuit breakers (108) to switch off the power supply in order to protect the loads against damage, there is also arranged a second layer of soft fuse switches (110) which are arranged to switch on or off the power supply at the taps (112) to control distribution of the power. The soft fuses (110) operate in dependence on and in response to commands issued from a controller (105) which in turn operates and issues those commands in response to and independence on the voltages and amperages monitored at those taps (112) by way of a monitoring module (111). Switching on/off occurs at amperage and voltages lower than the critical threshold values to which the circuit breakers (108) respond to.

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 an antenna system (AS) for an implantable device like a cardiac pacemaker or a cochlear implant. The antenna system comprises at least two DD coil units (L1, L2) coupled with their terminals (T1 1, T21, T 12, T22) to a control circuit (CC) which can selectively connect the coil units in series or in anti-series, corresponding to an “operational mode” and a “safety mode”, respectively. In the operational mode, magnetically induced voltages (U1, U2) in the coil units add, while they subtract and therefore completely or partially compensate in the safety mode. Thus the implantable device can be protected from damage due to extraordinarily large changing rates of external magnetic fields as they exist for example during MRI examinations.

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: The invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device (21), comprising a diagnostic space (25), a main magnetic system (22) for generating a main magnetic field in said diagnostic space, a gradient magnetic coil system (23) comprising a gradient coil for generating at least one gradient of the main magnetic field, and noise reducing means (29, 32) for reducing noise that is generated as a result of vibrations of the gradient coil. The noise reducing means comprise a sound-absorbing panel (29) disposed between the gradient coil and the diagnostic space. The sound-absorbing panel (29) comprises channels having an open end and a closed end.

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 determination of spatial sensitivity profiles of RF transmit and/or receive coils (7, 8, 9) in an examination volume (17) of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging device (1). In accordance with the method of the invention, nuclear magnetization is excited within the examination volume (17) by a sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein the sequence comprises RF pulses with at least two different excitation flip angles. MR signals are acquired and processed so as to form at least two MR images, each corresponding to one of these flip angles. The spatial sensitivity profiles are then computed in the positions of the pixels or voxels of the MR images based upon the dependence of the pixel or voxel values on the respective flip angles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radio-frequent (RF) coil system (17, 17?) for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The RF coil system comprises at least one main coil (35) for transmitting an RF magnetic field (B1) into and/or receiving an RF magnetic field (B1?) from an examination volume (3) of the MRI system. The main coil has a main coil axis (37), which is or is to be oriented parallel to a main magnetic field (B0) in the examination volume, and at least one electrical conductor (39, 41) which extends mainly parallel to the main coil axis. According to the invention, the RF coil system comprises at least two electrical auxiliary coils (51, 53, 55, 57) which are assigned to said conductor of the main coil. The auxiliary coils are arranged on opposite sides of said conductor of the main coil.

Abstract: A combiner/splitter device (100) comprises two transmission lines (23, 24), wound to form a helical coil (55), this helical coil being bent to a toroidal shape. Furthermore, a capacitor (51) is provided, connected in parallel with the two outer conductors (25, 26) of the two transmission lines (23, 24). The combination of the wound transmission lines and said capacitor forms a parallel resonator (56). The combiner/splitter device is suitable for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to combine the output signals of a receiver coil system and/or to split the input signal of a transmission coil system used in the MRI system.