Patent ID: 7826887
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A magnetic resonance head coil comprising: a helmet-shaped head coil housing comprising a frontal opening therein that, when said head coil housing is worn on the head of a patient, frees the patient's field of view; a plurality of magnetic resonance antenna elements mounted at said head coil housing, each of said magnetic resonance antenna elements being configured to at least receive magnetic resonance signals originating in the head of the patient; said plurality of antenna elements including two antenna elements each comprising a first antenna element part fixedly mounted to said head coil housing adjacent said frontal opening, and a second antenna element part mounted to said head coil housing for sliding movement relative to the first antenna element part, each of said first and second antenna element parts having an arcuate shape and each comprising a first free end and a second free end; for each of said two antenna elements, the second antenna element part thereof being slidably movable along an arcuate path from a standby position on or in said head coil housing to an operating position in said frontal opening that does not substantially obstruct the patient's field of view; and for each of said two antenna elements, the first and second antenna element parts thereof comprising a slip contact, at the respective first ends of said first and second antenna element parts, that makes an electrical connection between the first and second antenna element parts while allowing sliding movement therebetween, and a plug connection, at the respective second ends of said first and second antenna element parts, that forms a closed loop between said first antenna element part and said second antenna element part in said operating position.