Abstract: A device receives during an RF receive cycle a magnetic resonance signal (250) from an area of interest of a patient (20) which is generated in response to a RF transmit signal (350) of an MRI system (100) during an RF transmit cycle. The device includes: an RF receive coil (301); a detector (330); and a first coupling (840) device adapted to couple to an input of the detector (330) a signal (350) which is proportional to a current flowing through the RF receive coil (301) during the RF transmit cycle. The detector (330) outputs a signal (350), which indicates the magnitude and/or phase of the current flowing through the RF receive coil (301) during the RF transmit cycle. The digital signal (350) may be used to stop MR scanning, and/or to notify a system (100) operator, before harm can occur to the patient (20) due to excessive current in the RF receive coil (301) during the RF transmit cycle.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) receive coil (18) includes at least one MR coil element (22) configured to receive MR signals excited in a subject disposed in an MR imaging device (10); an antenna (22, 28) comprising the at least one MR coil element (22) or another antenna (28) that is different from the at least one MR coil element; and electronics (24) configured to detect reception of an electromagnetic pulse of interest by the antenna and to perform a coil function based on the detection. The electromagnetic pulse of interest is a radio frequency (RF) pulse generated by the MR imaging device or a magnetic field gradient pulse generated by the MR imaging device.