Rf coil system having several curface coils

Abstract: An Rf coil system for the detection of MR resonance signals is constructed from a first system of coils (10) for making an overall picture and a second coil system (20) which covers substantially the same area, consists of several coils (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and for local imaging having a higher resolving power. In particular the latter coils preferably comprise markings (46) which become visible on an image display unit.

Description: The invention relates to a coil system including a plurality of RF surface coils for the detection of magnetic resonance signals excited in an object to be examined. Such a coil system is known from EP-A-O 273 484. A restriction experienced in the known coil system is that, in particular for elongate objects, a picture consisting of several sub-pictures has to be composed or a comparatively bad signal-to-noise ratio has to be accepted. It is an object of the invention to remove the said restriction and for that purpose a coil system of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph is characterized in that the coil system comprises at least two sub-systems of coils, each sub-system comprising a plurality of adjoining RF surface coils, each coil of one sub-system being stacked on top of at least one coil of the other sub-system such that the coils of both sub-systems are in stacked relation, a first of said sub-systems of coils comprising at least two elongate surface coils and a second of said sub-systems of coils comprising more surface coils than said first sub-system which collectively substantially overlap an area comprised by the first sub-system of coils. Since an RF coil system according to the invention comprises two or more sub-systems of coils stacked one on top of the other, both an overall picture of a comparatively large, in particular elongate, object and sub-pictures of sub-objects situated therewithin may be formed upon detection resulting in a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio for the latter. The coils of each sub-system are preferably mutually uncoupled by mutual overlapping. The coils may be uncoupled against the disturbances of transmitter fields by using, for example, a PIN-diode uncoupling as described in EP-A-O 164 164. In a further preferred embodiment at least one of the coils of the second sub-system is constructed so as to be adapted to an object to be measured, for example, the neck. A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that several coils of at least the second sub-system are individually selectable for magnetic resonance imaging, the coil system further comprising means for producing a plurality of marks in the image produced from detected magnetic resonance signals, each mark corresponding to an individual coil of at least the second sub-system, and means for the selective choice of one or more of the coils including a keyboard having coil selecting keys each corresponding to certain of the coils and in one-to-one correspondence with the marks. Preferably, the means for producing marks comprise a number of tubes or rods of an MR-sensitive material associated with each one of the individually selectable coils. Suitable MR-sensitive materials are, for example, parafinium and subligidum. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes or rods are substantially situated in the plane of the coils and are oriented so that in the case of sagittal imaging they appear as dots in the picture. A few preferred embodiments according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, the sole Figure of which shows an Rf coil system according to the invention having a first system of coils consisting of two rectangular coils and a second system of coils consisting of five substantially circular coils or, as shown, four circular coils and a coil adapted to an object, in particular suitable for examination of the spinal column. Diagrammatically such a coil system shows a first system of coils 10 consisting of two rectangular coils 12 and 14 which may be of equal width in which, in particular for imaging the spinal column, coil 14 is wider than coil 12. The coils 12 and 14 have an overlapping area 16 with such a dimension that the coils show a minimum mutual coupling. A second system of coils 20 in this case comprises four substantially circular coils 22, 24, 26, 28 and a coil 30 which is adapted, for example, to the neck, it being noted that the shape of said coils is of no significance for the invention if only they collectively overlap for the greater part an area determined by the first system of coils. These coils also show overlapping areas 32 so that they are mutually uncoupled. The overlapping areas 32 in the drawing have the same dimension but in a practical coil this need not be the case with a view in particular to the deviating position which the coils 22 and 30 at the ends of the system occupy. All coils are connected to a control device 38 via coil lines 34 and 36 to which an operating panel 40 is connected or forms part of it. The operating panel comprises buttons 41 having indications A and B corresponding to marks 42 and 44 not further shown and provided in or near the coils 12 and 14 of the first system of coils and buttons 45 with indications 1 to 5 corresponding to marks 46 provided in or near the coils 22 to 30 of the second system of coils 20. By means of the said buttons all coils may be actuated individually or in groups, or each of the coil systems as a whole, the latter, for example, also via buttons 47 and 49. A coil system as shown is particularly favourable for the examination of the spinal column. An overall view can be made with the first system of coils the picture quality of which may be not optimum but from which a general information can be obtained and subsequently with the wider coil 14 deeper-situated lower parts of the colon serves can be imaged. Images having a high picture quality can then be made from the sub-regions by means of the system of coils 20 for local diagnostic purposes. Terminal coil, for example, coil 30, of the second system of coils, is in this case given an adapted shape for display of neck vertebrae. Furthermore, the said coil may be constructed so as to be foldable, i.e. that two sides can be folded up or folded back via a shaft or may be incorporated in a flexible foam bedding. The marks 46 for the coils of the second system of coils in this case consist of tubes or rods 50 of MR-sensitive material which in the most searched sagittal overall image appear as small dots in the picture and the number of which corresponds to the number of the coil. Similar but also differently shaped marks may be used for the coils of the first system of coils although the need for this is not so urgent. In addition to a linear coil construction as given here by way of example, a system of coils with several coils in a two-dimensional mutual grouping may also be realized although in that case extra difficulties will occur as regards the combination of a single rough imaging and a good uncoupling.

Claims: A coil system including a plurality of RF surface coils (12,14,22,...,30) for the detection of magnetic resonance signals excited in an object to be examined, characterized in that the coil system comprises at least two sub-systems (10,20) of coils, each sub-system comprising a plurality of adjoining RF surface coils (12,14;22,...30), each coil of one sub-system (20) being stacked on top of at least one coil of the other sub-system (10) such that the coils of both sub-systems are in stacked relation, a first of said sub-systems of coils (10) comprising at least two elongate surface coils (12,14) and a second of said sub-systems (20) of coils comprising more surface coils (22,...30) than said first sub-system which collectively substantially overlap an area comprised by the first sub-system of coils. A coil system as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the coils of each sub-system (10,20) are mutually uncoupled by mutual overlapping. A coil system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the coils (30) of the second sub-system (20) is constructed so as to be adapted to an object to be measured. A coil system as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the coil (30) adapted to an object to be measured is incorporated in a carrier of a flexible material. A coil system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that several coils (22,...,30) of at least the second sub-system (20) are individually selectable for magnetic resonance imaging, the coil system further comprising means (46) for producing a plurality of marks in the image produced from detected magnetic resonance signals, each mark corresponding to an individual coil of at least the second sub-system, and means for the selective choice of one or more of the coils including a keyboard (40) having coil selecting keys (41,45) each corresponding to certain of the coils and in one-to-one correspondence with the marks. A coil system as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the means (46) for producing marks comprise a number of tubes or rods of an MR-sensitive material associated with each one of the individually selectable coils (22,...30). A coil system as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the tubes or rods (46) are substantially situated in the plane of the coils (22,...30) and are oriented so that in the case of sagittal imaging they appear as dots in the picture.

Inventors: BERGMAN ANTHONIE HENDRIK, BOSKAMP EDDY BENJAMIN, BERGMAN, ANTHONIE HENDRIK, BOSKAMP, EDDY BENJAMIN
Applicants: PHILIPS NV, N.V. PHILIPS' GLOEILAMPENFABRIEKEN
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01R33
IPC codes: G01R33, A61B5