Patent ID: 9170310
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A whole-body cryogenically cooled RF coil array for receiving signals from and/or transmitting signals to a human body during magnetic resonance imaging, the cryogenically cooled RF coil array comprising: at least one thermally conductive member, each configured to be cryogenically cooled; and a plurality of coil elements thermally coupled to each thermally conductive member, wherein each coil element is thermally coupled to at least one of said at least one thermally conductive member such that each coil element is configured for cryogenic cooling via thermal conduction to the at least one thermally conductive member thermally coupled thereto, and wherein each coil element is configured to receive signals from and/or transmit signals to a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region (i) from which at least one other of the plurality of coils is configured to receive signals and/or (ii) to which at least one other of the plurality signals is configured to transmit signals, and wherein the plurality of coil elements are configured to provide an overall field of view (FOV) of sufficient extent for whole-body imaging of an adult human when the whole-body cryogenically cooled RF coil array is disposed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system; and a housing that encloses (i) each of said at least one thermally conductive member and (ii) each of said plurality of coil elements under a vacuum condition.