Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a distributed capacitance loop portion comprising two parallel conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, the two parallel conductor wires maintained separate by the dielectric material along an entire length of the loop portion between terminating ends thereof, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier, and a coil-interfacing cable extending between the coupling electronics portion and an interfacing connector of the RF coil assembly.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap for an MRI apparatus comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a first distance from the central conductor at first and second ends of the length, and wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a second distance larger than the first distance from the central conductor at a midpoint of the length. In this way, coupling and subsequent detuning of common mode traps provided adjacent to one another may be prevented.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a radio frequency (RF) coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, including: a flexible shell including an inner layer; and a plurality of flexible RF coils embedded within the inner layer, with each RF coil of the plurality of RF coils including two distributed capacitance wire conductors. In this way, the RF coil array may deform in order to conform to a body of a patient.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance wire conductors, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier. A coupler slidably connects two adjacent coil loops together. An open area is formed inside the loops enabling tissue manipulation or biopsies from interventional or surgical procedures.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a disconnecting a receive coil from a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance (MR) system during a transmit operation. In one example, a cabling system may include a first line of coil-interfacing cable having a first set of hybrid switches, the first set of hybrid switches including a first switch, a first resonance circuit, and a second switch connected in series, and a second line of the coil-interfacing cable having a second set of hybrid switches, the first line and the second line of the coil-interfacing cable operably coupling one or more radio frequency (RF) coil elements to respective channels of the MR system. By positioning the first and the second sets of hybrid switches along different locations along the coil-interfacing cables, and simultaneously operating each set of hybrid switches, common mode currents may be interrupted along the coil-interfacing cables.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, the first and the second conductors radially spaced a distance from the central conductor, the first and second conductors fixed to a first side of the central conductor; and a third conductor and a fourth conductor counterwound around the length of the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors are radially spaced the distance from the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors fixed to a second side of the central conductor opposite the first side. In this way, the density of common mode trap conductors in a common mode trap may be increased, thereby increasing the mutual inductance between the common mode trap and the central conductor.

Abstract: A continuous common mode trap assembly includes a central conductor and plural common mode traps. The central conductor has a length, and is configured to transmit a signal between a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil and at least one processor of an MRI system. The plural common mode traps extend along at least a portion of the length of the central conductor. The common mode traps are disposed contiguously. The common mode traps are configured to provide an impedance to reduce transmitter driven currents of the MRI system.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a disconnecting a receive coil from a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance (MR) system during a transmit operation. In one example, a cabling system may include a first line of coil-interfacing cable having a first set of hybrid switches, the first set of hybrid switches including a first switch, a first resonance circuit, and a second switch connected in series, and a second line of the coil-interfacing cable having a second set of hybrid switches, the first line and the second line of the coil-interfacing cable operably coupling one or more radio frequency (RF) coil elements to respective channels of the MR system. By positioning the first and the second sets of hybrid switches along different locations along the coil-interfacing cables, and simultaneously operating each set of hybrid switches, common mode currents may be interrupted along the coil-interfacing cables.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a disconnecting a receive coil from a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus during a transmit operation. In one example, a device may include a first device and a second device, each having a first terminal and a second terminal operably coupling different terminals of a radio frequency (RF) coil with one or more data acquisition elements, each device including a pair of switches. In this way, by simultaneously operating each of switches of the devices, the receive coil may be isolated from a transmit RF coil during transmit operation.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) coils configured to produce a static B0 field having non-homogeneous characteristics. The MRI system includes an RF transceiver configured to acquire MR imaging data from the RF coils for an area of interest. The system includes a DC source coupled to at least one of the RF coils to form a shimming RF coil, the DC source configured to force a select DC current through the shimming RF coil to at least partially shim the non-homogeneous characteristics of the B0 field. The shimming RF coil includes first and second conductors that exhibit distributed capacitance along a length thereof. At least one of the first and second conductors have first and second termination ends with an elongated and continuous conductive path therebetween to convey the select DC current from the DC source through the shimming RF coil.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap for an MRI apparatus comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a first distance from the central conductor at first and second ends of the length, and wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a second distance larger than the first distance from the central conductor at a midpoint of the length. In this way, coupling and subsequent detuning of common mode traps provided adjacent to one another may be prevented.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, the first and the second conductors radially spaced a distance from the central conductor, the first and second conductors fixed to a first side of the central conductor; and a third conductor and a fourth conductor counterwound around the length of the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors are radially spaced the distance from the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors fixed to a second side of the central conductor opposite the first side. In this way, the density of common mode trap conductors in a common mode trap may be increased, thereby increasing the mutual inductance between the common mode trap and the central conductor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.

Abstract: A method of parallel imaging for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes producing a longitudinal magnetic field B0 throughout a target volume, producing a transverse magnetic field B1 that is generally perpendicular to B0 throughout the target volume, transmitting a plurality of RF pulses to the target volume, with a surface coil, acquiring first MRI data from a target within the target volume in response to the transmission of RF pulses, and with a body coil, acquiring second MRI data from the target within the target volume in response to the transmission of RF pulses, wherein acquisition of the first MRI data and the second MRI data occurs substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A continuous common mode trap assembly includes a central conductor and plural common mode traps. The central conductor has a length, and is configured to transmit a signal between a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil and at least one processor of an MRI system. The plural common mode traps extend along at least a portion of the length of the central conductor. The common mode traps are disposed contiguously. The common mode traps are configured to provide an impedance to reduce transmitter driven currents of the MRI system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes an RF coil, a preamplifier module, and a hub coupled to the preamplifier module via a transmission line. The preamplifier module includes an amplifier configured to amplify a magnitude of a first signal from the RF coil, the first signal having a first frequency and a diode array coupled to the amplifier. The MRI apparatus also includes an intermediate frequency (IF) circuit coupled to the transmission line and an oscillator circuit coupled to the hub and configured to supply an oscillating signal to the diode array via the transmission line to cause the diode array to mix the oscillating signal with the first signal to generate an IF signal to be received by the IF circuit via the transmission line, wherein the IF signal has a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.

Abstract: A system for inductively communicating signals in a magnetic resonance imaging system is presented. The system in one embodiment includes a first array of primary coils disposed on a patient cradle of the imaging system, and configured to acquire data from a patient positioned on the patient cradle. Additionally, the system includes a second array of secondary coils disposed under the patient cradle, wherein a number of secondary coils is less than or equal to the number of primary coils, wherein the first array of primary coils is configured to inductively communicate the acquired data to the second array of secondary coils.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.