JP2008005954A - Magnetic resonance imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic resonance imaging device allowing a user to easily carry a receiving coil and capable of preventing breakage of devices. <P>SOLUTION: An imaging device body 1 and the receiving coil 9 are connected to each other via a receiving cable 15, and a plug connector 16 is attached to the distal end of the receiving cable 15. A receptacle connector 17 for connecting the plug connector 16 is attached to the receiving coil 9. Accordingly, the receiving cable 15 can be disconnected from the receiving coil 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus in which an imaging apparatus main body and a receiving coil are connected via a receiving cable.

  A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (MRI apparatus) measures nuclear spin density distribution and relaxation time distribution at a desired examination site of a subject using a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon, and obtains a cross-sectional image of the subject from the measurement data. indicate.

  A subject's nuclear spin placed in a uniform and strong magnetic field precesses at a frequency (Larmor frequency) determined by the strength of the magnetic field around the direction of the magnetic field. Therefore, when a high frequency pulse having a frequency equal to the Larmor frequency is irradiated from the outside, the nuclear spin is excited and transitions to a high energy state (nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon). When the irradiation with the high frequency pulse is terminated, the nuclear spin returns to the original low energy state with a time constant corresponding to each state. At this time, an electromagnetic wave (NMR signal) is emitted from the nuclear spin to the outside.

  In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, an electromagnetic wave emitted from a nuclear spin is detected by a receiving coil tuned to that frequency. At this time, position information can be added in the space by applying a three-axis gradient magnetic field of X, Y, and Z to the magnetic field space. That is, position information in the space can be obtained as frequency information.

  In such a conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, when imaging a subject, a receiving coil selected from a plurality of types of receiving coils is connected to the imaging apparatus main body. Specifically, the plug connector of the reception cable drawn out from the reception coil is connected to a receptacle connector provided in the imaging apparatus main body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-298532 A

  In the conventional magnetic resonance imaging apparatus as described above, since the receiving cable is connected to each receiving coil in advance, when the receiving coil is moved between the storage place and the imaging apparatus main body, the receiving cable and the plug connector are not connected. The weight is a burden on the operator, the reception cable becomes an obstacle, and it takes time to carry the reception coil. In addition, the plug connector is easily dropped on the floor, and the plug connector and surrounding devices may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that can easily carry a receiving coil and prevent damage to an apparatus.

  A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a table on which a subject is mounted, a magnetic field generation unit that generates a magnetic field around the subject, an imaging apparatus main body having an irradiation coil that irradiates the subject with electromagnetic waves, A receiving coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal and a receiving cable for connecting the imaging apparatus main body and the receiving coil are provided. The receiving coil is provided with a connector for connecting the receiving cable. It can be separated from the coil.

  In the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of the present invention, since the connector for connecting the receiving cable is provided in the receiving coil and the receiving cable can be separated from the receiving coil, the receiving cable remains connected to the receiving coil. In this state, it is not necessary to carry the receiving coil, and it is easy to carry the receiving coil and prevent damage to the device.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a part of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, an imaging apparatus main body 1 has a table 3 on which a subject 2 is placed, a magnetic field generator 4 that generates a magnetic field around the subject 2, an irradiation coil 5 that irradiates the subject 2 with electromagnetic waves, and an MRI unit 6. is doing. The magnetic field generator 4, the irradiation coil 5, and the MRI unit 6 are provided in the gantry.

  The magnetic field generator 4 includes magnets 7 a and 7 b that apply a strong and uniform static magnetic field to the subject 2, and a gradient magnetic field coil 8 a that applies a gradient magnetic field (slice gradient magnetic field, readout gradient magnetic field, and encode gradient magnetic field) to the subject 2. , 8b. As the magnets 7a and 7b, permanent magnets or superconducting magnets are used. The irradiation coil 5 repeatedly applies electromagnetic waves in a predetermined pulse sequence.

  The subject 2 is equipped with a receiving coil 9 that receives a magnetic resonance signal from the subject 2. The MRI unit 6 includes a gradient magnetic field power supply 10, a high frequency device 11, a control device 12, and a calculation device 13. The gradient magnetic field power supply 10 supplies electric power to the gradient magnetic field coils 8a and 8b. The high frequency device 11 generates a high frequency pulse for spin excitation by the irradiation coil 5 and collects a magnetic resonance signal from the receiving coil 9. The control device 12 controls the gradient magnetic field power supply 10 and the high frequency device 11.

  The arithmetic device 13 is configured by a computer and executes arithmetic processing such as image reconstruction arithmetic based on the signal data collected by the high frequency device 11. The MRI image signal obtained by the arithmetic device 13 is input to the display device 14, whereby an MRI image is displayed on the display device 14.

  2 is a perspective view showing the table 3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state when the receiving coil of FIG. 2 is not used. The imaging apparatus main body 1 and the reception coil 9 are connected via a reception cable 15. A proximal end portion of the reception cable 15 is connected to the MRI unit 6 in the imaging apparatus main body 1. Further, the receiving cable 15 is drawn out of the imaging apparatus main body 1 from the side of the table 3. Further, a plug connector 16 is provided at the distal end portion of the receiving cable 15.

  The receiving coil 9 is provided with a receptacle connector 17 for connecting the plug connector 16. Thereby, the receiving cable 15 can be disconnected from the receiving coil 9. A rail portion (tray portion) 18 for placing and storing the receiving cable 15 when the receiving cable 15 is not used, that is, when not photographing is provided on the side of the table 3.

  In such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, at the time of imaging, the selected receiving coil 9 is moved onto the table 3 and the plug connector 16 of the receiving cable 15 is connected to the receptacle connector 17. After the photographing is completed, the plug connector 16 is removed from the receptacle connector 17, and the receiving coil 9 is moved to the storage location. The receiving cable 15 is placed on the rail portion 18 and stored as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the receiving cable 15 is folded and stored. However, as shown in FIG. 3, if the length of the rail portion 18 is sufficient, the receiving cable 15 remains straight without being bent. It can also be stored.

  Thus, since the receptacle connector 17 for connecting the receiving cable 15 is provided in the receiving coil 9 and the receiving cable 15 can be disconnected from the receiving coil 9, the receiving cable 15 is connected to the receiving coil 9. It is no longer necessary to carry the receiving coil 9 as it is, and it is easy to carry the receiving coil 9, and damage to equipment such as the plug connector 16 can be prevented.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a table of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, a hook portion 19 is provided on the side of the table 3 for hooking and storing the receiving cable 15 when the receiving cable 15 is not used. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Even with such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, it is possible to easily carry the receiving coil 9 and prevent damage to equipment such as the plug connector 16. Further, the storage space for the receiving cable 15 when not in use can be reduced.

  Note that the rail portion 18 and the hook portion 19 for storing the reception cable 15 may be provided in other locations of the imaging apparatus body 1, for example, the gantry side.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a table of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, at the lower part of the table 3, a cable take-up unit 20 for winding the reception cable 15 when the reception cable 15 is not used is provided. The receiving cable 15 is wound around the cable winding unit 20 by a driving force such as a motor or a spring, or manually, and is stored in a storage case of the cable winding unit 20. The reception cable 15 is pulled out from the cable winding unit 20 when in use. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Even with such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, it is possible to easily carry the receiving coil 9 and prevent damage to equipment such as the plug connector 16. Further, the storage space for the receiving cable 15 when not in use can be reduced. Furthermore, since the entire receiving cable 15 is accommodated in the cable winding unit 20 when not in use, an operator or the like can be prevented from being caught by the receiving cable 15.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Next, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this example, the cable winding unit 20 is attached to the side of the gantry 21. Other configurations are the same as those in the third embodiment.

  Thus, the cable winding unit 20 may be provided in the gantry 21, and the same effect as in the third embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
7 is a perspective view showing a table of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the figure, a plug connector (first cable side connector) 16 is provided at the distal end portion of the receiving cable 15, and a plug connector (second cable side connector) 22 is provided at the proximal end portion of the receiving cable 15. It has been.

  The receiving coil 9 is provided with a receptacle connector (receiving coil side connector) 17 to which the plug connector 16 is connected. A receptacle connector (main body connector) 23 to which the plug connector 22 is connected is provided on the side of the table 3. Therefore, the receiving cable 15 can be disconnected from the receiving cable 15 and the imaging apparatus main body 1. The receiving cable 15 is moved and stored in a storage location away from the imaging apparatus main body 1 when not in use. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Even with such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, it is possible to easily carry the receiving coil 9 and prevent damage to equipment such as the plug connector 16. Further, when the receiving cable 15 is damaged or deteriorated, the receiving cable 15 can be easily replaced.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
Next, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. In this example, the receptacle connector 23 is provided on the side of the gantry 21. Other configurations are the same as those of the fifth embodiment.

  Even with such a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, it is possible to easily carry the receiving coil 9 and prevent damage to equipment such as the plug connector 16.

  In the above example, only one reception cable is shown. However, a plurality of reception cables may be pulled out from the imaging apparatus main body.

It is a block diagram which shows the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention in a partial block. It is a perspective view which shows the table of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state when the receiving coil of FIG. 2 is not used. It is a perspective view which shows the table of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the table of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the table of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus by Embodiment 6 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging apparatus main body, 2 Subject, 3 Table, 4 Magnetic field generation part, 5 Irradiation coil, 9 Reception coil, 15 Reception cable, 17 Receptacle connector.

Claims (2)

An imaging apparatus main body having a table on which the subject is mounted, a magnetic field generation unit that generates a magnetic field around the subject, and an irradiation coil that irradiates the subject with electromagnetic waves;
A receiving coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from the subject;
In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a receiving cable connecting the imaging apparatus body and the receiving coil,
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is provided with a connector for connecting the receiving cable, and the receiving cable is separable from the receiving coil.   2. The magnetic resonance according to claim 1, wherein a connector for connecting the receiving cable is also provided on the imaging apparatus main body, and the receiving cable is separable from the imaging apparatus main body. Imaging device.

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