Coil arrangements for nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus

Claim 2

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: (a) circuitry for producing and detecting radio frequency signals; (b) coil structure coupled to said circuitry for application of radio frequency magnetic fields to, and the sensing of radio frequency magnetic fields in, a body by means of said apparatus, said coil structure comprising; (c) a former having convexly curved shape for facilitating close fitting around a correspondingly shaped part of said body said coil structure including at least one coil having a plurality of elliptical turns of different sizes which collectively conform to and are supported on a convexly curved portion of said former.

Claim 3

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: (a) circuitry for producing and detecting radio frequency signals; (b) coil structure coupled to said circuitry for the application of radio frequency magnetic fields to, and sensing of radio frequency magnetic fields in a body under examination by means of said apparatus, said coil structure comprising a former having a convexly curved shape similar to that of an open faced crash helmet for facilitating close fitting around a human head, at least one portion of said coil structure including a plurality of turns of different sizes which together conform to and are supported on a curved portion of said former.

Claim 4

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: (a) circuitry for producing and detecting radio frequency signals; (b) coil structure coupled to said circuitry for the application of radio frequency magnetic fields to, and sensing of radio frequency magnetic fields in a body under examination by means of said apparatus, said coil structure comprising a former having a convexly curved shape similar to that of an open faced crash helmet for facilitating close fitting around a human head, at least one portion of said coil structure including a plurality of turns of different sizes which together conform to and are supported on a curved portion of said former.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: each said coil comprises a plurality of turns connected in series.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said coil former is in a configuration of a helmet having an out-turned skirt around its lower edge.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: between said skirt and the main body of the former there is a necked region and each said coil extends over the main body of the former, the necked region and said skirt.

Claim 8

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising circuitry for generating and detecting radio frequency magnetic signals and coil structure coupled to said circuitry and arranged for the application of radio frequency magnetic fields to, and sensing of radio frequency magnetic fields in, a body under examination by means of said apparatus, said coil structure comprising a former defining a shape which is curved about more than one axis and configured to facilitate close fitting around a human head, said coil structure including a plurality of turns of different sizes, one inside the other, which together conform to and are supported on said curved surface of said former.

Claim 9

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising circuitry for generating and detecting radio frequency magnetic signals and coil structure coupled to said circuitry and arranged for the application of radio frequency magnetic fields to, and sensing of radio frequency magnetic fields in, a body under examination by means of said apparatus, said coil structure comprising a former defining a shape which is curved about more than one axis and configured to facilitate close fitting around a human head, said coil structure including a plurality of turns of different sizes, one inside the other, which together conform to and are supported on said curved surface of said former.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said coil structure comprises two coils disposed on said former for facilitating fitting of said coils and former around a human head with one coil on each side of the head, said two coils being in substantially coaxial alignment.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said two coaxially aligned coils are connected electrically in series.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said two coils comprises turns forming a spiral configuration.

Claim 13

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: (a) means for subjecting a body to be imaged to a steady uniform magnetic field; (b) means for applying a radio frequency magnetic field to said body in the presence of said steady magnetic field to excite magnetic resonance in said body; (c) means for sensing a radio frequency magnetic field resulting from magnetic resonance excited in said body; (d) means for utilizing signals produced by said means for sensing to produce an image of said body; (e) at least one of said application and sensing means including a coil structure, said coil structure comprising a former defining a shape which is curved about more than one axis and configured to facilitate close fitting around a correspondingly shaped portion of said body, and including a plurality of turns of different sizes, one inside the other, which together conform to and are supported on said curved surface of said former.

Claim 14

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: (a) means for subjecting a body to be imaged to a steady uniform magnetic field; (b) means for applying a radio frequency magnetic field to said body in the presence of said steady magnetic field to excite magnetic resonance in said body; (c) means for sensing a radio frequency magnetic field resulting from magnetic resonance excited in said body; (d) means for utilizing signals produced by said means for sensing to produce an image of said body; (e) at least one of said application and sensing means including a coil structure, said coil structure comprising a former defining a shape which is curved about more than one axis and configured to facilitate close fitting around a correspondingly shaped portion of said body, and including a plurality of turns of different sizes, one inside the other, which together conform to and are supported on said curved surface of said former.