US5357958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interventional MRI system and RF coils therefore
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1993-03-18
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Granted: 1994-10-25
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Expires: 2013-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An MRI RF coil utilizes a helical conductor having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length of the coil. The non-uniform pitch is disposed so as to accommodate interventional procedures and/or interventional apparatus (e.g., stereotaxic frames) when used on a human patient in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging. The non-uniform pitch portion of the coil may comprise a simple gap, an opening formed by deformation or angular disposition of some or all of the coil turns and/or by utilizing fringe field effects of the coil to accomplish at least some of the magnetic resonance imaging procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/32; G01R33/34; G01R33/34084; G01R33/34046; G01R33/34053; G01R33/36; G01R33/3628
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An interventional MRI system comprising: a transverse magnet MRI apparatus; an interventional appliance having predetermined maximum dimensions and adapted for physical interaction with a portion of a human anatomy to achieve interventional procedures therewithin during MRI within said transverse magnet MRI apparatus; and a solenoidal MRI RF coil located within said transverse magnet MRI apparatus and having a diameter less than the maximum dimensions of said appliance further including means to accommodate said appliance when used on a human patient for coupling MRI RF fields to or from the human anatomy and thus facilitating said interventional procedures during MRI.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An interventional MRI system comprising: a transverse magnet MRI apparatus; an interventional appliance having predetermined maximum dimensions and adapted for physical interaction with a portion of a human anatomy to achieve interventional procedures therewithin during MRI within said transverse magnet MRI apparatus; and a solenoidal MRI RF coil located within said transverse magnet MRI apparatus and having a diameter less than the maximum dimensions of said appliance further including means to accommodate said appliance when used on a human patient for coupling MRI RF fields to or from the human anatomy and thus facilitating said interventional procedures during MRI.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 1 wherein said RF coil comprises: a plurality of conductive turns juxta-posed along an axial dimension with said appliance and the human anatomy being imaged such that MRI is achieved, at least in part, using a fringe RF field of said RF coil which fringe field is disposed beyond an outer boundary of said solenoidal coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 1 wherein said RF coil comprises: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch along at least a portion of the axial length thereof disposed so as to accommodate said appliance therewithin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 3 wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a gap of axial length G between two turns of the coil with remaining turns being uniformly separated by pitch distance P which is substantially less than G.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 4 wherein said two turns are conductively connected by an axially-extending conductor disposed approximately tangent to the circumference of said coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 4 wherein said two turns are conductively connected by a conductor which extends radially beyond the circumference of said coil and also in an axial direction to provide a cleared volume surrounding the coil diameter at said gap area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 3 wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a first group of turns disposed at an angle+α° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil and a second group of turns disposed at an angle-β° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil so as to provide an angular opening α`+β° between said groups of turns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 7 wherein α and β are approximately equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 3 wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes axially-extending offset deformations in said conductor along a circumferential portion of a subset of said turns thereby providing opened access inside of said coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An interventional MRI system as in claim 1 wherein at least one half of said coil includes conductor turns having selectively disconnectable joints therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a gap of axial length G between two turns of the coil with remaining turns being uniformly separated by pitch distance P which is substantially less than G; and wherein said two turns are conductively connected by a conductor which extends radially beyond the circumference of said coil and also in an axial direction to provide a cleared volume surrounding the coil diameter at said gap area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a gap of axial length G between two turns of the coil with remaining turns being uniformly separated by pitch distance P which is substantially less than G; and wherein said two turns are conductively connected by a conductor which extends radially beyond the circumference of said coil and also in an axial direction to provide a cleared volume surrounding the coil diameter at said gap area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; and wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a first group of turns disposed at an angle +α° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil and a second group of turns disposed at an angle -β° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil so as to provide an angular opening α°+β° between said groups of turns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; and wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes a first group of turns disposed at an angle +α° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil and a second group of turns disposed at an angle -β° with respect to a perpendicular cross-section of the coil so as to provide an angular opening α°+β° between said groups of turns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An MRI RF coil as in claim 12 wherein α and β are approximately equal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; and wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes axially-extending offset deformations in said conductor along a circumferential portion of a subset of said turns thereby providing opened access inside of said coil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
An MRI RF coil comprising: a helical conductor of diameter D and axial length L having a plurality of turns and a non-uniform pitch between turns along at least a portion of the axial length thereof; and wherein said non-uniform pitch portion includes axially-extending offset deformations in said conductor along a circumferential portion of a subset of said turns thereby providing opened access inside of said coil.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |