Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes an MRI system, either as a stand-alone system or hybrid PET-MRI system. The MRI system includes gradient coils positioned about a patient bore, an RF coil former comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, an RF shield positioned on the outer surface of the RF coil former so as to be formed about the RF coil former, and an RF coil positioned on the inner surface of the RF coil former and about the patient bore, with the RF coil coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence and receive resulting MR signals from a subject of interest. The RF shield includes a plurality of slits formed therein configured to disrupt the formation of gradient field induced eddy currents on the RF shield, so as to prevent the generation of high temperature profiles on the surface of the shield.

Abstract: An RF body coil having enhanced acoustic deadening properties for an MR scanning apparatus is disclosed. The RF body coil includes an RF support form and RF electronics affixed to the RF support form, with the RF electronics comprising a plurality of RF legs. The RF support form further includes an inner structural layer, an outer structural layer, and a middle layer sandwiched between the inner structural layer and the outer structural layer, the middle layer comprising a layer of viscoelastic material configured to increase the mechanical damping of the RF body coil so as to reduce RF body coil vibration.

Abstract: A PET-MR apparatus includes an MR imaging system having an RF coil former having inner and outer surfaces, an RF shield formed about the outer surface of the RF coil former, and an RF coil positioned on the inner surface of the RF coil former. The PET-MR apparatus also includes a PET system having a detector array positioned to encircle the bore to acquire PET emissions of the subject of interest and a plurality of RF power cables to provide power to the RF coil. The RF coil of the PET-MR apparatus comprises an RF body coil including a pair of end rings and a plurality of rungs extending between the end rings, wherein the plurality of RF power cables are coupled to one of the pair of end rings, along an outer edge of the one end ring distal from the plurality of rungs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to reduce noise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are provided. One MRI system includes a gantry having a bore therethrough and at least one radio frequency (RF) coil supported by the gantry for imaging an object within the bore. The MRI system also includes a vacuum space between the at least one RF coil and the bore.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of rungs electrically coupled between the first and second end rings, each rung including a first rung portion formed from a plurality of conductors and a second rung portion formed from a single solid conductor. A resonance assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and an MRI imaging system are also described herein.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus and method is disclosed comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. The RF coil assembly comprises an RF tube, a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed around the RF tube and configured to transmit RF excitation pulses, a plurality of electrical components coupled to the electrically conductive members, and at least one thermally conductive substrate mounted upon the RF tube, wherein one of the plurality of electrically conductive members and the plurality of electrical components is mounted to the at least one thermally conductive substrate and is in thermal contact therewith.

Abstract: An RF body coil having enhanced acoustic deadening properties for an MR scanning apparatus is disclosed. The RF body coil includes an RF support form and RF electronics affixed to the RF support form, with the RF electronics comprising a plurality of RF legs. The RF support form further includes an inner structural layer, an outer structural layer, and a middle layer sandwiched between the inner structural layer and the outer structural layer, the middle layer comprising a layer of viscoelastic material configured to increase the mechanical damping of the RF body coil so as to reduce RF body coil vibration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to reduce noise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are provided. One MRI system includes a gantry having a bore therethrough and at least one radio frequency (RF) coil supported by the gantry for imaging an object within the bore. The MRI system also includes a vacuum space between the at least one RF coil and the bore.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of rungs electrically coupled between the first and second end rings, each rung including a first rung portion formed from a plurality of conductors and a second rung portion formed from a single solid conductor. A resonance assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and an MRI imaging system are also described herein.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a plurality of rungs. Each rung includes a plurality of wires positioned parallel to one another. Each wire has a circular cross section and an insulating material disposed around an outside surface of the wire. Using wires with a circular cross-section reduces the eddy currents produced on a rung. As a result, the amount of eddy current produced heating, vibration and acoustic noise is reduced. The plurality of wires also enables a more uniform current distribution along the width of each rung that in turn produces a more uniform excitation field (B1).

Abstract: An MRI apparatus and method is disclosed comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. The RF coil assembly comprises an RF tube, a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed around the RF tube and configured to transmit RF excitation pulses, a plurality of electrical components coupled to the electrically conductive members, and at least one thermally conductive substrate mounted upon the RF tube, wherein one of the plurality of electrically conductive members and the plurality of electrical components is mounted to the at least one thermally conductive substrate and is in thermal contact therewith.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of rungs disposed around a volume and a first end ring connected to a first end of the plurality of rungs. The first end ring has a first plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a first plurality of RF traps. The RF coil also includes a second end ring connected to a second end of the plurality of rungs. The second end ring has a second plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a second plurality of RF traps. An RF shield is disposed around the plurality of rungs, the first end ring and the second end ring. The RF coil also includes a plurality of transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode tuning capacitors, where each TEM mode tuning capacitor coupled to one of the plurality of rungs. An RF trap is connected to each of the plurality of TEM mode tuning capacitors.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring section containing a plurality of openings and a second end ring section containing a plurality of openings. A plurality of rungs is disposed between the first end ring section and the second end ring section. Each rung has a first end connected to the first end ring section and a second end connected to the second end ring section. Each rung can also include a plurality of openings. The openings in the end rings and rungs reduces eddy currents and improves RF performance of the RF coil.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a plurality of rungs. Each rung includes a plurality of wires positioned parallel to one another. Each wire has a circular cross section and an insulating material disposed around an outside surface of the wire. Using wires with a circular cross-section reduces the eddy currents produced on a rung. As a result, the amount of eddy current produced heating, vibration and acoustic noise is reduced. The plurality of wires also enables a more uniform current distribution along the width of each rung that in turn produces a more uniform excitation field (B1).

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of rungs disposed around a volume and a first end ring connected to a first end of the plurality of rungs. The first end ring has a first plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a first plurality of RF traps. The RF coil also includes a second end ring connected to a second end of the plurality of rungs. The second end ring has a second plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a second plurality of RF traps. An RF shield is disposed around the plurality of rungs, the first end ring and the second end ring. The RF coil also includes a plurality of transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode tuning capacitors, where each TEM mode tuning capacitor coupled to one of the plurality of rungs. An RF trap is connected to each of the plurality of TEM mode tuning capacitors.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring section containing a plurality of openings and a second end ring section containing a plurality of openings. A plurality of rungs is disposed between the first end ring section and the second end ring section. Each rung has a first end connected to the first end ring section and a second end connected to the second end ring section. Each rung can also include a plurality of openings. The openings in the end rings and rungs reduces eddy currents and improves RF performance of the RF coil.

Abstract: A system for detecting electromagnetic noise in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner environment includes an antenna configured to detect electromagnetic noise. The antenna includes a first conducting loop and a second conducting loop oriented perpendicularly to the first conducting loop. The system also includes a noise correction system coupled to the antenna and configured to receive noise signals from the antenna.