Patent ID: 9116214
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A radio frequency (RF) coil array system that is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising: a plurality of coil elements, each coil element of the plurality of coil elements being functional in transmitting or receiving radio frequency signals, with a first switch and a second switch physically built into each coil element, of the plurality of coil elements, such that a first loop capacitor is connected to the first switch at a first end of a second coil portion, while an impedance matching capacitor is connected to the second switch at a second end of the second coil portion; wherein one terminal of the first loop capacitor is coupled to a first end of a first coil portion, along with one terminal of the impedance matching capacitor being coupled to a second end of the first coil portion; wherein in a first mode, the first switch and the second switch are turned off in order to split each coil element, of the plurality of coil elements, into a first coil portion and a second coil portion, the first coil portion and the second coil portion of each coil element, within the plurality of coil elements, thereby transmit first radio frequency signals in the first mode; and wherein in a second mode, the first switch and second switch are turned on in order to transform each coil element, of the plurality of coil elements into a loop coil, and the loop coils that have been transformed from the plurality of coil elements, then operate in order to simultaneously transmit or receive multiple second radio frequency signals, as part of the second mode.