RF coil embedded with homogeneity enhancing material

The present invention provides a system and method of improved homogeneity whereby at least a portion of an RF coil is filled with homogeneity enhancing material. Disposing the homogeneity enhancing material, such as perfluorocarbon, within the RF coil, implementation of thick saturation pads may be avoided altogether or thinner pads may be used to fill any voids between the patient and the coil. The present invention is particularly useful in a CTL coil assembly for acquiring diagnostic data of the neck region of a patient. However, the advantages achieved by the present invention may be incorporated into other surface coils for other anatomical regions where control of the susceptibility is desired. Additionally, the homogeneity enhancing material also acts as a heat sink for any hot spots on the coil.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and, more particularly, to an RF coil embedded with homogeneity enhancing material such that an improved MR image of a subject may be reconstructed.

When utilizing these signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (GxGyand Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is generally predicated on the excitation of hydrogen atoms within the tissue. Human tissue typically has high water content and hydrogen is plentiful in water. Therefore, MR imaging based on scanning for hydrogen is typically preferred for diagnostic purposes. It is well known that in hydrogen MR imaging, tissues that have little or no hydrogen produce very little or no signal. Conversely, tissues or fatty regions with high hydrogen content are highly emissive and provide a strong MR signal. However, if the hydrogen content of the tissue is exceptionally high relative to nearby tissues, the resultant signal may overwhelm and mask the details of nearby tissues with less hydrogen content. This is particularly problematic when the lower hydrogen content tissues are diagnostically significant in the MR imaging session.

A number of imaging techniques have been developed to alleviate the aforementioned problem and are designed to separate the signals that are emitted from the various tissues subject to the MR imaging process. These methods include nullification of signals from certain tissues. One such method commonly referred to as “fat saturation” requires that the entire tissue be subjected to an off-resonance specific saturation pulse (off by 3.3 ppm). The saturation pulse “deactivates” the lipid portions of the tissue such that useful signals are not emitted from fat when the imaging portion of the data acquisition signal is applied.

For fat saturation to be effective, the homogeneity must be precise. If not, non-lipid tissues may be off resonance by several ppm and inadvertently “deactivated” by the off-resonance specific saturation pulse resulting in an incomplete and, potentially, unusable image. Additionally, MR imaging of the neck and shoulder regions of a patient is particularly susceptible to ineffective fat saturation as these regions of the patient often have more field inhomogeneity due to the geometry of the neck and/or shoulders. One method to address the limitations or imprecision of fat saturation in the neck and shoulder area includes the placement of a bag of water or non-protonated fluid around these regions of the patient. Water, which is highly protonated, however can create a bright signal in the resultant MR image, a disadvantage discussed above. Therefore, implementation of bags or containers of non-protonated fluids, such as fluorocarbons, is preferred.

Fluorocarbons have magnetic susceptibility properties similar to that of human tissue. They have been found to be highly effective in correcting the field inhomogeneity, thereby improving the ability to saturate only fat tissue. Specifically, hydrogen-depleted fluorocarbons have magnetic susceptibility properties similar to that of human tissue and since they have low hydrogen content, they do not contribute any signal to the MR image.

Specifically, bags of fluorocarboneceous material or “sat pads” when properly used can reduce the influence of the human body on the magnetic flux. The magnetic flux can be thought of as traveling down the magnet bore in the Z direction. When a subject is in the bore of an MR system, the tissue water content is diamagnetic and hence has an influence on the magnetic flux. Looking inwardly through the magnet bore, the cross section of the subject typically expands and contracts depending upon the anatomical location. This variation in cross-section has a small but significant influence on the magnetic flux. Wherever the magnetic flux direction and strength are altered by geometric changes of the subject, the homogeneity of the magnetic field decreases in those regions. For example, as will be discussed with respect toFIG. 7, coil assemblies are commonly constructed to include a protrusion or “bump” that acts a neck rest for a patient. Because it is desirable to minimize the distance between the patient and the RF coil, the RF coil elements are typically placed to match the contour of the neck rest. As a result, air volumes are formed in the coil assembly that can negatively affect magnetic flux. That is, magnetic flux traveling through the patient will encounter the air volumes and react differently from the interactions with the tissue water of the patient. As a result, the magnetic flux will change direction and negatively affect homogeneity. As a result, if the cross section variations could be diminished, the homogeneity would improve.

An alternative but less desirable implementation uses doped water with extremely rapid signal decay so as not to produce any significant signal during a typical NMR measurement. At least two disadvantages of doped water are its permittivity and electrical conductivity. The RF performance and safety of doped water are also problematic.

Notwithstanding the advantages achieved by sat pads, they can be problematic when acquiring imaging data from particular regions of the patient. For example and as shown inFIG. 7, when acquiring data from the neck region, a patient1is placed on a table2having an RF coil assembly and that includes a protrusion3extending therefrom. The protrusion3serves as support for the neck4of the patient1, but also houses an RF coil (not shown). By enclosing the coil within the protrusion3, the coil may be positioned closer to the neck which improves reception signal strength and, ultimately, results in a better diagnostic image. Placing a sat pad5on an upper end6of the protrusion3to reduce changes in cross-section between the torso and the neck of the patient causes the curvature7of the neck4to be exaggerated and thereby defeats the intent of minimizing contour changes. Additionally, placement of the sat pad5increases the distance d between the RF coil and the neck which can decrease the signal strength detected by the coil.

It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of improving fat saturation with a homogeneity enhancing material that does not result in an exaggeration of anatomical contours of the patient or increases the distance between the patient and the RF coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method of improved magnetic field homogeneity overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks whereby at least a portion of an RF coil assembly is filled with homogeneity enhancing fluid to eliminate air volumes within the coil assembly thereby improving cross-sectional consistency of the coil assembly and a subject positioned thereon. As a result of disposing the homogeneity enhancing fluid, such as perfluorocarbon, within the RF coil, implementation of thick saturation pads may be avoided altogether or thinner pads may be used to fill any voids between the patient and the coil. The present invention is particularly useful in a cervical-thoracic-lumbar (CTL) coil assembly for acquiring diagnostic data of the neck region of a patient. However, the advantages achieved by the present invention may be incorporated into other surface coils for other anatomical regions where susceptibility induced field inhomogeneity needs to be addressed. Additionally, perfluorocarbon also acts as a heat sink reducing the peak temperature of any thermal hot spots on the coil.

Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus to acquire spatially encoded signals for MR imaging with improved homogeneity includes an RF coil to acquire imaging data from a subject disposed within an imaging volume. The RF coil is disposed within a housing. A homogeneity enhancing material is disposed within a portion of the housing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an MRI apparatus includes a plurality of coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field, and an RF transceiver system. An RF switch is controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly having at least one RF coil to acquire MR images. A homogeneity enhancing fluid is disposed within a portion of the RF coil assembly to improve the success of homogeneity sensitive applications such as fat saturation in the subject during MR image acquisition.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method of MR imaging with improved homogeneity includes the step of placing a subject within a bore of a magnet of an MRI system. A homogeneity enhancing material is disposed within a portion of an RF coil designed to acquire imaging data from at least a portion of the subject. The method also includes the step of acquiring imaging data from at least a portion of the subject. An MR image is then reconstructed of at least a portion of the subject from the acquired imaging data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, the major components of a preferred magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system10incorporating the present invention are shown. The operation of the system is controlled from an operator console12which includes a keyboard or other input device13a control panel14, and a display screen16. The console12communicates through a link18with a separate computer system20that enables an operator to control the production and display of images on the display screen16. The computer system20includes a number of modules which communicate with each other through a backplane20a. These include an image processor module22, a CPU module24and a memory module26, known in the art as a frame buffer for storing image data arrays. The computer system20is linked to disk storage28and tape drive30for storage of image data and programs, and communicates with a separate system control32through a high speed serial link34. The input device13can include a mouse, joystick, keyboard, track ball, touch activated screen, light wand, voice control, or any similar or equivalent input device, and may be used for interactive geometry prescription.

The system control32includes a set of modules connected together by a backplane32a. These include a CPU module36and a pulse generator module38which connects to the operator console12through a serial link40. It is through link40that the system control32receives commands from the operator to indicate the scan sequence that is to be performed. The pulse generator module38operates the system components to carry out the desired scan sequence and produces data which indicates the timing, strength and shape of the RF pulses produced, and the timing and length of the data acquisition window. The pulse generator module38connects to a set of gradient amplifiers42, to indicate the timing and shape of the gradient pulses that are produced during the scan. The pulse generator module38can also receive patient data from a physiological acquisition controller44that receives signals from a number of different sensors connected to the patient, such as ECG signals from electrodes attached to the patient. And finally, the pulse generator module38connects to a scan room interface circuit46which receives signals from various sensors associated with the condition of the patient and the magnet system. It is also through the scan room interface circuit46that a patient positioning system48receives commands to move the patient to the desired position for the scan.

The gradient waveforms produced by the pulse generator module38are applied to the gradient amplifier system42having Gx, Gy, and Gzamplifiers. Each gradient amplifier excites a corresponding physical gradient coil in a gradient coil assembly50designated to produce the magnetic field gradients used for spatially encoding acquired signals. The gradient coil assembly50forms part of a magnet assembly52which includes a polarizing magnet54and a whole-body RF coil56. A transceiver module58in the system control32produces pulses which are amplified by an RF amplifier60and coupled to the RF coil56by a transmit/receive switch62. The resulting signals emitted by the excited nuclei in the patient may be sensed by the same RF coil56and coupled through the transmit/receive switch62to a preamplifier64. The amplified MR signals are demodulated, filtered, and digitized in the receiver section of the transceiver58. The transmit/receive switch62is controlled by a signal from the pulse generator module38to electrically connect the RF amplifier60to the coil56during the transmit mode and to connect the coil56to the preamplifier64during the receive mode. The transmit/receive switch62can also enable a separate RF coil (for example, a surface coil) to be used in either the transmit or receive mode.

The MR signals picked up by the RF coil56are digitized by the transceiver module58and transferred to a memory module66in the system control32. A scan is complete when an array of raw k-space data has been acquired in the memory module66. This raw k-space data is rearranged into separate k-space data arrays for each image to be reconstructed, and each of these is input to an array processor68which operates to Fourier transform the data into an array of image data. This image data is conveyed through the serial link34to the computer system20where it is stored in memory, such as disk storage28. In response to commands received from the operator console12, this image data may be archived in long term storage, such as on the tape drive30, or it may be further processed by the image processor22and conveyed to the operator console12and presented on the display16.

The present invention is directed to MR imaging with improved homogeneity wherein at least a portion of an RF coil housing is filled with homogeneity enhancing material. The present invention is particularly useful in a cervical-thoracic-lumbar (CTL) coil assembly for acquiring diagnostic data of the neck region of a patient and will be described relative thereto. However, the advantages achieved by the present invention may be incorporated into other surface coils for other anatomical regions where control of the susceptibility is desired.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a patient70is schematically shown on a surface coil assembly72for an MR imaging session to acquire and reconstruct diagnostic images of a neck region74of the patient70. Assembly72includes a protrusion76to support the patient's neck. Supporting the neck of the patient is critical to minimize patient motion and not stress the spine. It also reduces anxiety in the patient by making the patient as comfortable as possible. MRIs are performed for a number of reasons but chiefly to acquire diagnostic data so that a medical diagnosis/prognosis can be effectively rendered. Therefore, the patient typically is anxious about the process and every effort is made to ease any concerns the patient may have as well as make the patient as comfortable as possible. The protrusion also serves to provide support for the neck so that the patient is less likely to move during the imaging process. Movement during data acquisition can result in increased artifacts in the final reconstructed image.

As described above, a whole body RF coil transmits RF signals to the patient. A separate coil assembly72is then used to receive RF signals emitted from the patient. A portion of the separate coil assembly may be enclosed within protrusion76. Specifically, coil78is positioned within the protrusion and is configured to receive the resulting signals emitted by the excited nuclei in the patient. In the illustrated embodiment, coil78corresponds to that portion of a CTL coil designed to receive RF signals from the neck region of the patient. RF coil78is housed within protrusion76so the coil may be positioned as close as reasonably possible to the neck region of the patient. This placement improves RF field homogeneity thereby improving image quality. Further, placement of coil78in protrusion76allows the neck region of the patient to be positioned closer to the receive coil78such that signal strength and RF homogeneity are improved. Patient70is shown positioned on surface coil assembly72with the neck region being supported by protrusion76. Typically, this orientation requires placement of a saturation pad between the patient and the protrusion, as discussed with reference toFIG. 7. As stated previously, the pad is filled with either water or fluorocarbons and is used to improve homogeneity. However, the prior art pad causes an exaggeration of the patient's cervical spine80which is not desirable.

RF surface coil assembly72is a relatively rigid structure designed to support a patient or other imaging subject and is configured such that homogeneity enhancement material, i.e. fluid or gel, is disposed therewithin. Disposing the material within the coil assembly maintains a desirable distance between the patient and the coil and does not result in an exaggerated curving of the patient's spine. To further improve homogeneity, smaller saturation pads may be placed in voids82. Placement of smaller pads within these voids does not increase the distance between the patient and the coil assembly72nor do they exaggerate the cervical spinal region of the patient. Moreover, placement of sat pads in voids82is advantageous as skin-air interfaces are minimized.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an RF surface coil assembly is shown without a patient thereon but configured to receive and together with a moveable table position a patient within an imaging volume for MR data acquisition and image reconstruction. The RF coil assembly72is positioned within housing84defining a cavity that encloses the coil(s) and the various electronic components associated with operation of the coil assembly72. The housing includes coil86configured to acquire MR data of the upper spinal region of a patient and a protrusion88for supporting the neck region of the patient as was discussed above.FIG. 3shows is a typical RF surface coil for acquiring imaging data from the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the patient.

A bottom view of the RF coil assembly is shown inFIG. 4with a bottom cover or plate90being affixed to housing84to secure and protect the various electronic components as well as the coils within housing84. Cover90includes a drain plug92or valve for removing, from the coil assembly, homogeneity enhancing material in a controlled manner. As such, the homogeneity enhancing material may be drained from the assembly without the material being lost as it floods from the assembly as a technician or other service engineer removes the cover90from housing84. By controlling the removal of the homogeneity enhancing material, a safe and clean working area may be maintained for the technician to work in when servicing the RF coil assembly. Cover90is secured to housing84via screws94that may be removed to dislodge cover90from housing84to access the internal electronic components and coils of the RF coil assembly.

Alternately, cover90may comprise a number of plates that collectively enclose the components of the coil assembly. Accordingly, the internal volumes of the coil assembly may be partitioned using partition walls or plates (not shown) such that the homogeneity enhancing fluid is contained within a particular section or partition of the coil housing. As such, the cover plate(s) used to close the partitions having the homogeneity fluid may be independently removed or constructed to include a drain plug. With this alternate construction, the homogeneity enhancing material may be removed without having to remove the entire bottom cover from the coil housing.

FIG. 5is a view of the RF coil assembly with the bottom cover90of the housing84removed. With the bottom cover removed, the cavity96of the coil assembly and the various electronic components98as well as coils99and101are shown. The cavity96includes interior volumes100designed to receive homogeneity enhancing material. Volumes100are located near the head of the coil assembly and thereby correspond to the neck regions of the patient. The volumes100are particularly well suited for receiving the homogeneity enhancing material as the topography or contour of the coil assembly at the head end defines a collection region. Specifically, the height of the housing at this end of the assembly is greater thereby resulting in deeper volumes100that allows the homogeneity enhancing material to be disposed in relative proximity to the patient.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the interior volumes100are readily apparent as being positioned about coil101.FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line6—6ofFIG. 3, illustrates an advantage of this construction in that homogeneity material may be positioned so as to fill or partially fill volumes101. By at least partially filling volumes100, the air typically positioned between the patient and the patient table can be minimized and, preferably, eliminated. As a result, magnetic flux traveling through the patient and coil is relatively homogeneous.

The homogeneity enhancing material may selectively pumped from a reservoir (not shown) by pump (not shown). By selectively disposing the material within the coil, several anatomical regions can be saturated without requiring different coils. Also, the location as well as the degree of homogeneity enhancement may be controlled. Furthermore, for those imaging sessions where homogeneity in the neck region is not needed or during downtime of the MRI system, the material can be maintained remotely from the system. As such, a portable reservoir (not shown) may be used so that a fixed quantity of the homogeneity material can be used with more than one MRI system within a single imaging facility. Alternately, the bottom cover of the housing may be fitted with drain plug92or valve for draining the coil assembly of the homogeneity enhancing material for storage, disposal and replacement. Removal of the material is also desirable during servicing of the RF coil assembly so that the material is not uncontrollably allowed to exit the housing when the cover is removed.

Perfluorocarbon such as FC-77 is particularly well suited for disposal within the RF coil as its high electrical resistivity and its low dielectric constant allows the material to be placed within the coil without affecting the RF coil's performance. A number of other perfluorocarbons may utilized such as FC-87, FC-72, FC-84, FC-3283, FC-40, FC-43, and FC-70. The perfluorocarbon may take the form of either a liquid or a gel. The characteristics of these perfluorocarbons are such that it may also serve to cool hotspots (areas of high temperature) on the RF coil. As such, the homogeneity enhancing material may act as a heat sink thereby absorbing heat from the coil and spreading it out across the entire volume of the material.

Alternately, doped water may be used as a homogeneity enhancing material. However, doped water may negatively affect operation of the electronic components of the coil assembly. More particularly, precautions must be taken to encapsulate the RF components to protect against conductivity of the water. Encapsulation increases the difficulty of repairing individual RF components. Nevertheless, doped water may be preferred in some implementations where encapsulation is minimal.

The present invention has been described with respect to a CTL coil assembly; however, the present invention is not so limited. The present invention is equivalently applicable with other coil assemblies including, but not limited to receive-only coils and transmit-receive coils. For example, the present invention is equivalently applicable with a transmit-receive knee coil that is typically used to image both the knee and foot regions of a patient. A knee coil as well as coils for other anatomical regions are contemplated and within the scope of this invention.

Therefore, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus to acquire spatially encoding signals for MR imaging with improved homogeneity includes an RF coil to acquire imaging data from a subject disposed within an imaging volume. The RF coil is disposed within a housing. A homogeneity enhancing material is disposed within a portion of the housing.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an MRI apparatus includes a plurality of coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field and an RF transceiver system. An RF switch is controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly having at least one RF coil to acquire MR images. A homogeneity enhancing fluid is disposed within a portion of the RF coil assembly to saturate fat in the subject during MR image acquisition.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of MR imaging with improved homogeneity includes the step of placing a subject within a bore of a magnet of an MRI system. A homogeneity enhancing material is disposed within a portion of an RF coil designed to acquire imaging data from at least a portion of the subject. The method also includes the step of acquiring imaging data from at least a portion of the subject. An MR image is then reconstructed of at least a portion of the subject from the acquired imaging data.