INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF MRI RF LOOP COILS PLUS SPACING FIXTURES WITH BIOCONTAINMENT USES

摘要

When scanning a patient to generate an image thereof, radio frequency (RF) coil modules (10) are scalably coupled to each other using a plurality of clips (12) to form flat or polygonal coil arrays that are placed on or around the patient or a portion thereof. A user assesses the volume to be imaged, identifies a coil array configuration of suitable size and shape and employs clips (12) of one or more pre-determined angles to construct the identified coil array configuration, which is placed on or about the volume. Coil modules (10) are coupled to a preamplifier interface box (PIB) (18), which provides preamplified coil signal(s) to a patient imaging device (20), such as an MRI scanner. Small arrays are constructible to accommodate pediatric patients and/or smaller animals. Modules (10) are hermetically sealed, can be sanitized between uses, and discarded at end-of-life. In one aspect, the modular coil array, clips (12), and PIB (18) are maintained in an isolated contamination zone, separate from the patient imaging device (20).