Patent US5819737A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5819737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Magnetic resonance methods and apparatus
Assignee: Philips Nuclear Medicine Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-09
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Granted: 1998-10-13
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Expires: 2016-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A flexible catheter or other object for insertion into an object is designed for use in connection with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques. The catheter carries a closed loop coil arrangement tuned to the RF excitation frequency used in operation of an MR imager. The coil arrangement includes turns which lie substantially in non-parallel planes when the axis of the catheter is in a straight line. The coil arrangement may include two coils which are constituted by different sections of an electrically conductive track carried on a flexible, insulating substrate. According to another embodiment, the coil arrangement may comprise two separate closed loop tuned coils each constituted by a narrow metallized track carried on a flexible, insulating substrate. In another embodiment, the coil comprises turns of a saddle form.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Robert Young
- 👤 Michael Burl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/285; G01R33/32; G01R33/34; G01R33/34007; G01R33/34084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of locating the position of an object placed in a region of a body being examined using a magnetic resonance technique comprising: attaching to the object a closed loop tuned coil arrangement; subjecting said region to a magnetic resonance excitation and detection examination sequence at the frequency to which said coil arrangement is tuned, so as to acquire a detected signal, the sequence including at least one magnetic field gradient whereby the detected signals are spatially encoded; and utilizing the detected signals to obtain an indication of the position of said coil arrangement and hence said object, in said region; the coil arrangement being carried on a tubular flexible former and incorporating turns which lie substantially in non-parallel planes when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of locating the position of an object placed in a region of a body being examined using a magnetic resonance technique comprising: attaching to the object a closed loop tuned coil arrangement; subjecting said region to a magnetic resonance excitation and detection examination sequence at the frequency to which said coil arrangement is tuned, so as to acquire a detected signal, the sequence including at least one magnetic field gradient whereby the detected signals are spatially encoded; and utilizing the detected signals to obtain an indication of the position of said coil arrangement and hence said object, in said region; the coil arrangement being carried on a tubular flexible former and incorporating turns which lie substantially in non-parallel planes when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the coil arrangement includes at least one turn which lies substantially in a plane orthogonal to the plane of at least one other turn of the coil arrangement when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the coil arrangement comprises two separate tuned coils whose turns substantially lie respectively in substantially orthogonal planes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the coil arrangement includes at least one turn whose axis lies substantially in a first plane including the axis of the object and at least one other turn whose axis lies substantially in another plane containing the axis of the object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said turns are of saddle form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the coil arrangement comprises pairs of turns of saddle form at diametrically opposite axially aligned positions on the object with different pairs aligned on orthogonal axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the coil arrangement further includes a spiral coil wound on the object coaxial therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the coil arrangement comprises one or more electrically conductive tracks carried on one or more thin flexible substrates wrapped around the object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the coil arrangement comprises at least one turn which lies substantially in a first plane at an angle of substantially 54° to the axis of the object when it is straight, at least one turn which lies substantially in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane, and at least one turn which lies substantially in a third plane normal to the axis of the object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A magnetic resonance apparatus for the examination of an internal region of a body including means for indicating the location of an object placed in said region comprising: a closed loop tuned coil arrangement attached to the object; and means for subjecting said region to a magnetic resonance excitation and detection examination sequence at the frequency to which the coil arrangement is tuned so as to acquire a detected signal, the sequence including the application of at least one spatially encoding magnetic field gradient to said region to enable determination of the position of the coil, and hence the object, in the body from the detected signal, and the coil arrangement being carried on a tubular flexible former and incorporating turns which lie substantially in non-parallel planes when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A magnetic resonance apparatus for the examination of an internal region of a body including means for indicating the location of an object placed in said region comprising: a closed loop tuned coil arrangement attached to the object; and means for subjecting said region to a magnetic resonance excitation and detection examination sequence at the frequency to which the coil arrangement is tuned so as to acquire a detected signal, the sequence including the application of at least one spatially encoding magnetic field gradient to said region to enable determination of the position of the coil, and hence the object, in the body from the detected signal, and the coil arrangement being carried on a tubular flexible former and incorporating turns which lie substantially in non-parallel planes when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the coil arrangement includes at least one turn which lies substantially in a plane orthogonal to the plane of at least one other turn of the coil arrangement when the axis of the former lies substantially in a straight line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the coil arrangement comprises two separate tuned coils whose turns substantially lie respectively in substantially orthogonal planes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the coil arrangement includes at least one turn whose axis lies substantially in a first plane including the axis of the object and at least one other turn whose axis lies substantially in another plane containing the axis of the object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said turns are of saddle form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the coil arrangement comprises pairs of turns of saddle form at diametrically opposite axially aligned positions on the object with different pairs aligned on orthogonal axes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the coil arrangement further includes a spiral coil wound on the object coaxial therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the coil arrangement comprises one or more electrically conductive tracks carried on one or more thin flexible substrates wrapped around the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the coil arrangement comprises at least one turn which lies substantially in a first plane at an angle of substantially 54° to the axis of the object when it is straight, at least one turn which lies substantially in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane, and at least one turn which lies substantially in a third plane normal to the axis of the object.
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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) | 2001-10-12 | 2002-04-13 | 2002-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-12 | 2006-04-13 | 2006-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-12 | 2010-04-13 | 2010-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |