Patent ID: 6211677
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:a main magnet for generating a main magnetic field through an examination region, said examination region having positioned therein a region of interest of a subject to be examined;a gradient coil assembly for generating magnetic gradients in the main magnetic field across the examination region;a body RF coil tuned to a first Larmor frequency corresponding to hydrogen nuclei, the body RF coil being selectively enabled and disabled;a first transmitter for transmitting RF signals at the first Larmor frequency;an insertable RF coil, said insertable RF coil being tuned, while the body RF coil is enabled, to a second Larmor frequency corresponding to a non-hydrogen nuclei;a second transmitter for transmitting RF signals at the second Larmor frequency;a switch array that concurrently electronically switches the body and insertable RF coils between (i) a transmit mode in which the body coil is electronically connected to the first transmitter and the insertable RF coil is electronically connected to the second transmitter for exciting resonance in one of hydrogen nuclei, non-hydrogen nuclei, and both the hydrogen and non-hydrogen nuclei disposed within the examination region, and (ii) a receive mode in which the body RF coil is electronically connected to a first receiver channel and the insertable RF coil is electronically connected to a second receiver channel for receiving and demodulating magnetic resonance signals emitted from excited hydrogen and non-hydrogen nuclei as they relax; and,a reconstruction processor connected with the first and second receiver channels for reconstructing the magnetic resonance signals from excited hydrogen and non-hydrogen nuclei into image representations.