Patent ID: 6867593
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A modular local coil system for magnetic resonance imaging comprising: at least three electrically independent multiple loop coil elements sized to assemble along an axis so as to provide a substantially continuous field coverage of a patient along that axis; cables and electrical connectors associated with each of the coil elements providing communications with the multiple loops of each coil element, respectively, the connectors receivable by a connector receptacle on an MRI machine whereby each coil element may be individually and directly connected to the MRI machine; and a switch box providing coil-side connector receptacles receiving the connectors and an MRI machine-side cable and electrical connector receivable by the connector receptacle of the MRI machine, the switch box selectively connecting coil elements to the MRI machine; whereby the coil sections may be used alone or in combination for different imaging requirements.