Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A quadrature coil system for use in a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising: first and second electric main conductors (19) which are situated at a distance from one another in a first plane and a second plane, respectively, and each of which is formed as a loop with an opening (24), said main conductors having mainly the same orientation; first and second connection conductors (21), each of which constitutes an electric connection between free ends, situated to corresponding sides of the opening, of the first and second main conductors; electric connection means (31) which are connected to said conductors so that there are formed first and second sets of turns which are suitable to generate and/or receive first and second magnetic fields, respectively, which are mutually orthogonally directed, characterized in that there is provided at least one third connection conductor (23) which constitutes an electric connection between a point (E) on the first main conductor (19), situated between the two free ends, and a corresponding point (N) on the second main conductor (19), each of the first and second connection conductors (21) consisting of substantially equal first (21a) and second connection conductor portions (21b), the first connection conductor portions (21a) being connected to the free ends of the first main conductor (19) and the second connection conductor portions (21b) being connected to the free ends of the second main conductor (19), the four free ends of the first and second connection conductor portions being electrically connected, via an electric connection network (25), to one another and to the electric connection means (31).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the connection network (25) comprises mutually equal capacitive elements (33) which interconnect the free ends of the first connection conductor portions (21a) and the free ends of the second connection conductor portions (21b), respectively, and also comprises mutually equal second capacitive elements (35) which interconnect the free ends of connection conductor portions (21a, 21b) associated with the same connection conductor (21), the connection points (E, N, 77) of the third connection conductor(s) (23, 23') to the first and second main conductors (19) being symmetrically situated relative to the openings (24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the number of third connection conductors (23, 23') is odd, a central third connection conductor (23) being connected to the main conductors (19) at points (E, N) situated halfway the main conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each of the first capacitive elements (33) comprises two mutually equal, series-connected first capacitors (45), the connection points (S, T) of the series-connected first capacitors being interconnected via at least one second capacitor (47), each second capacitive element (35) comprising a series connection of two first capacitors, associated with different first capacitive elements, and the second capacitor(s).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the ends of each of the first capacitive elements (33), which are connected to portions (21a, 21b) of the same connection conductor (21) are interconnected via mutually equal third capacitive elements (49).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that two mutually equal, series-connected second capacitors (47) are provided, each of the third capacitive elements (49) comprising two mutually equal, series-connected third capacitors (51), the connection points (V, W) of the series-connected third capacitors being connected to the connection point (U) of the second capacitors (47) via mutually equal fourth capacitors (53).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in any one of the Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the third connection conductor (23) consists of two portions (23a) which are situated one in the prolongation of the other, their free ends being interconnected via a circuit which includes a variable fifth capacitor (55).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the connection points (E, N) of the central third connection conductor (23) to the first and second main conductors (19) are connected to the connection network (25) via first and second additional conductors (57) which are situated in the first and the second plane, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the connection network (25) comprises the following elements: for each of the first and second connection conductors (21) a series connection of two mutually equal sixth capacitors (61) which interconnects the free ends of the first and second connection conductor portions (21a, 21b) associated with the relevant connection conductor; a series connection of two mutually equal seventh capacitors (65) which interconnects the free ends of the first and second additional conductors (57); two mutually equal eighth capacitors (69), each of which connects the connection point (63) of one of the pairs of sixth capacitors (61) to the connection point (67) of the seventh capacitors (65).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A quadrature coil system as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that a series connection of a coil (71) and a switch (73) is connected parallel to each sixth (61) and seventh capacitor (65).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising a quadrature coil system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.