Abstract: Some radio-frequency coils comprise three or more electrical conductors that form a radio-frequency coil element. Each of the three or more electrical conductors extends along at least a respective part of a length of the radio-frequency coil element, and, along the length of the radio-frequency coil element, the three or more electrical conductors are separated from each other by respective distances and by one or more dielectric materials.

Abstract: Some radio-frequency coils comprise three or more electrical conductors that form a radio-frequency coil element. Each of the three or more electrical conductors extends along at least a respective part of a length of the radio-frequency coil element, and, along the length of the radio-frequency coil element, the three or more electrical conductors are separated from each other by respective distances and by one or more dielectric materials.

Abstract: Some radio-frequency coils comprise three or more electrical conductors that form a radio-frequency coil element. Each of the three or more electrical conductors extends along at least a respective part of a length of the radio-frequency coil element, and, along the length of the radio-frequency coil element, the three or more electrical conductors are separated from each other by respective distances and by one or more dielectric materials.

Abstract: Some radio-frequency coils comprise three or more electrical conductors that form a radio-frequency coil element. Each of the three or more electrical conductors extends along at least a respective part of a length of the radio-frequency coil element, and, along the length of the radio-frequency coil element, the three or more electrical conductors are separated from each other by respective distances and by one or more dielectric materials.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a vacuum cleaner having a motor and an agitator includes a belt coupled to the motor and the agitator to drive the agitator, and a belt tensioner operable to selectively tension the belt. The belt tensioner includes an arm movable relative to the belt, a shaft coupled to the arm, a pulley rotatably coupled to the shaft, a bearing positioned substantially within the pulley and around a portion of the shaft, and a member fixed to the pulley to retain the bearing within the pulley.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a vacuum cleaner having a motor and an agitator includes a belt coupled to the motor and the agitator to drive the agitator, and a belt tensioner operable to selectively tension the belt. The belt tensioner includes an arm movable relative to the belt, a shaft coupled to the arm, a pulley rotatably coupled to the shaft, a bearing positioned substantially within the pulley and around a portion of the shaft, and a member fixed to the pulley to retain the bearing within the pulley.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array includes a plurality of RF coil sections arranged in a superior-inferior direction. Each RF coil section includes a first linear coil element, a loop-saddle coil quadrature pair and a second linear coil element configured in an overlapping arrangement in a left-right direction. The position of the first linear coil element and the second linear coil element on the left and right may be shifted in the superior-inferior direction with respect to the center loop-saddle coil quadrature pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's breast region. The design described herein generally includes a housing that includes two coil cups. The coil housing will generally encase the coil elements. In general, the breast coil of certain embodiments of the invention will include loop elements surrounding each side of each of the coil cups, a saddle element at the bottom of each cup, and an element that spans the width of the coil, wrapping at least partially up both sides of the coil. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the breast coil design may include additional elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an element configuration within an RF coil for use for MRI. The invention provides for an inherently electromagnetically decoupled solenoid element pair for receiving radio frequency magnetic resonance signals within a vertical field MRI system. The elements of the solenoid element pair described herein are typically positioned in a coplanar, side-by-side position. The decoupling of the solenoid pair can be accomplished through numerous methods including but not limited to an overlapping between the elements of the solenoid pair, use of a capacitor shared between the elements of the solenoid pair, or the use of overlapped inductors between the elements of the solenoid pair.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array includes a plurality of RF coil sections arranged in a superior-inferior direction. Each RF coil section includes a first linear coil element, a loop-saddle coil quadrature pair and a second linear coil element configured in an overlapping arrangement in a left-right direction. The position of the first linear coil element and the second linear coil element on the left and right may be shifted in the superior-inferior direction with respect to the center loop-saddle coil quadrature pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a horizontal field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region. The design described herein generally includes a solenoid element that wraps around the patient's shoulder, at least two loop elements that encompass the superior section of the patient's shoulder, and at least two saddle elements, wherein one saddle element encompasses the posterior section of the patient's shoulder and one saddle element encompasses the anterior section of the patient's shoulder. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the shoulder coil design may include additional elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's breast region. The design described herein generally includes a housing that includes two coil cups. The coil housing will generally encase the coil elements. In general, the breast coil of certain embodiments of the invention will include loop elements surrounding each side of each of the coil cups, a saddle element at the bottom of each cup, and an element that spans the width of the coil, wrapping at least partially up both sides of the coil. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the breast coil design may include additional elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a housing for a radiofrequency receive coil for magnetic resonance imaging. The housing is designed for a coil wherein the patient lies on top of the coil in the prone position. The housing includes a base portion, a body portion and at least two wing portions. The base and body portions are generally constructed from a rigid material, while the wing portions are constructed from a flexible material. The wing portions may be connected using a connection strap, that applies tension to the wing portions to flex the wing portions in closer vicinity to the patient's body for optimal imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region. The design described herein generally includes a solenoid element that wraps around the patient's shoulder, at least two loop elements that encompass the superior section of the patient's shoulder, and at least two saddle elements, wherein one saddle element encompasses the posterior section of the patient's shoulder and one saddle element encompasses the anterior section of the patient's shoulder. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the shoulder coil design may include additional elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a horizontal field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an element configuration within an RF coil for use for MRI. The invention provides for an inherently electromagnetically decoupled solenoid element pair for receiving radio frequency magnetic resonance signals within a vertical field MRI system. The elements of the solenoid element pair described herein are typically positioned in a coplanar, side-by-side position. The decoupling of the solenoid pair can be accomplished through numerous methods including but not limited to an overlapping between the elements of the solenoid pair, use of a capacitor shared between the elements of the solenoid pair, or the use of overlapped inductors between the elements of the solenoid pair.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of processing images, and in particular aligning and orienting grids from a fluorescent array of signal sources, by linking nearest neighbor sources to form a hexagon, and then using the hexagon lines for alignment and orientation of the grid. Also disclosed are methods and algorithms for aligning image with grid and correcting for signal beads which are smaller than a grid field and the shift in a grid field. These methods can be used where the signal sources are fluorescent images from a microarray. Also disclosed are methods of automated watershed clustering following transformation.

Abstract: An open peripheral vascular coil and method of providing peripheral vascular imaging are provided. The peripheral vascular coil includes a base coil section having a plurality of coil elements and a plurality of coil sections configured for removable attachment to the base coil section. Each of the plurality of coil sections includes a plurality of coil elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of processing images, and in particular aligning and orienting grids from a fluorescent array of signal sources, by linking nearest neighbor sources to form a hexagon, and then using the hexagon lines for alignment and orientation of the grid. Also disclosed are methods and algorithms for aligning image with grid and correcting for signal beads which are smaller than a grid field and the shift in a grid field. These methods can be used where the signal sources are fluorescent images from a microarray. Also disclosed are methods of automated watershed clustering following transformation.