Mri systems and receive coil arrangements

Abstract

An MRI system receive coil arrangement 3 for use with a main MRI scanner arrangement, the receive coil arrangement 3 including support structure and at least one receives coil 7 carried on the support structure 40. The support structure 40 includes a receive coil housing portion 43 which defines a channel portion 43a which houses at least a portion of the at least one receive coil 7. The channel having a mouth 43b for allowing the introduction of said at least a portion of the at least one receive coil 7 through the mouth 43b and into the channel 43a and a closing portion 45 moveable between a first position in which the mouth 43b of the channel portion is open for allowing introduction of the at least a portion of the at least one receive coil 7 into the channel portion 43a and a second, closing, position in which the mouth 43b of the channel is blocked by the closing portion 45.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An MRI system receive coil arrangement for use with a main MRI scanner arrangement, the receive coil arrangement comprising support structure and at least one receive coil carried on the support structure, wherein the support structure comprises:
 a receive coil housing portion which defines a channel portion which houses at least a portion of the at least one receive coil, said channel having a mouth for allowing the introduction of said at least a portion of the at least one receive coil through the mouth and into the channel; and   a closing portion moveable between a first position in which the mouth of the channel portion is open for allowing introduction of said at least a portion of the at least one receive coil into the channel portion and a second, closing, position in which the mouth of the channel is blocked by the closing portion.   
     
     
         2 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  in which the closing portion is a push fit closing portion which is push fittable into the second, closing, position from the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the support structure is arranged so that the closing portion is locked against movement back towards the first position once moved into the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 3  in which the support structure is arranged so that the closing portion is releasably locked against movement back towards the first position once moved into the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the closing portion is arranged to be a push fit with the housing portion, such that in moving the closing portion to the closing position, the closing portion is push fitted into position on the housing portion and blocks the mouth of the channel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 5  in which the closing portion is a push fit with the mouth of the of the channel portion. 
     
     
         7 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 5  in which the closing portion is arranged to be push fittable into the mouth. 
     
     
         8 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 5  in which the closing portion and the housing portion are arranged so that the closing portion is locked against movement back towards the first position once push fitted into position on the housing portion. 
     
     
         9 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 5  in which the mouth of the channel portion has a receiving region which has a re-entrant shape in cross-section and the closing portion comprises a correspondingly shaped insertion portion which fits in the receiving region when the closing portion is push fitted into the mouth. 
     
     
         10 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the closing portion comprises first and second engaging portions which are a push fit with one another, such that in moving the closing portion to the closing position, the first and second engaging portions are push fitted together to block the mouth of the channel portion. 
     
     
         11 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 10  in which the first and second engaging portions of the closing portion are arranged so that at least one of:
 i) the closing portion is locked against movement back towards the first position once the first and second engaging portions are push fitted together; 
 ii) the closing portion is releasably locked against movement back towards the first position once the first and second engaging portions are push fitted together; and 
 iii) the first and second engaging portions latch together when they are push fitted together. 
 
     
     
         12 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the closing portion is a separate component from the housing portion. 
     
     
         13 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the housing portion is shaped so as to conform with a predetermined body part. 
     
     
         14 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the support structure comprises a base portion and a cover portion, wherein the base portion is more rigid than the cover portion and the cover portion comprises said receive coil housing portion. 
     
     
         15 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  which comprises a plurality of receive coils carried on the support structure and the receive coil housing portion houses a plurality of the receive coils. 
     
     
         16 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the housing portion defines a plurality of a channel portions, each of which channel portions houses at least a portion of a respective receive coil from the plurality of receive coils. 
     
     
         17 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 16  in which the plurality of channel portions are defined in a one-piece portion of the housing portion. 
     
     
         18 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 16  in which the housing portion comprises a web of channel defining portions. 
     
     
         19 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the support structure comprises a plurality of closing portions, each closing portion for blocking the mouth of a respective channel portion. 
     
     
         20 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 19  in which the plurality of closing portions are provided in a one-piece portion of the support structure. 
     
     
         21 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 19  in which the support structure comprises a web of closing portions. 
     
     
         22 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 21  in which the housing portion comprises a web of channel defining portions and the web of channel defining portions and the web of closing portions are dimensioned and arranged so as to register with one another such that respective closing portions in the web of closing portions are aligned or alignable with respective channels in the web of channel defining portions. 
     
     
         23 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the housing portion additively manufactured. 
     
     
         24 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the closing portion is additively manufactured. 
     
     
         25 . The MRI system receive coil arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the at least one receive coil comprises a length of co-axial cable arranged in a loop. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing an MRI system receive coil arrangement as defined above, the receive coil arrangement comprising a plurality of receive coils and a respective plurality of closing portions and the method comprising the steps of:
 making the housing portion;   introducing coil portions of the plurality of receive coils into the respective channel portions of the housing portion;   moving the plurality of closing portions to the second position;   checking the receiving operation of the receive coil arrangement; and   where said checking indicates that a first predetermined standard of receiving operation has not been achieved, carrying out the further steps of:   a) moving at least one of the closing portions back out of the second position;   b) returning the at least one of the closing portions to the second position with the positioning of at least one of the receive coils adjusted;   c) re-checking the receiving operation of the receive coil arrangement; and   d) carrying out steps a) to c) in sequence until a second predetermined standard receiving operation is achieved.   
     
     
         27 . An MRI system comprising a main MRI scanner arrangement, a patient support, and an MRI system receive coil arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  provided on the patient support and electrically connected to the main MRI scanner arrangement. 
     
     
         28 . An MR-Linac system comprising an MRI system as claimed in  claim 27  and a medical linear accelerator system. 
     
     
         29 . A PET-MR system comprising an MRI system as claimed in  claim 27  and a positron emission tomography system. 
     
     
         30 . A stereotactic mask-MR system for treatment planning comprising an MRI system as claimed in  claim 27  and a stereotactic mask that can be used for MR guided treatments.