A TRANSMIT/RECEIVE SWITCH, A TRANSMIT COIL ARRAY AND A RECEIVE COIL ARRAY FOR MRI

摘要

The invention relates to an MRI apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of a subject of investigation, comprising: a coil arrangement (1) for transmitting an excitation signal into the subject and for receiving a response signal from the subject; a high-power radio-frequency amplifier (4) for generating the excitation signal; and a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for amplifying the response signal. The invention provides a transmit/receive switch (5) which is alternatively operable in a transmit mode or in a receive mode. In the transmit mode, the transmit/receive switch (5) transmits the excitation signal to the coil arrangement (1) and protects the low-noise amplifier (LNA) from the outgoing excitation signal. In the receive mode, the transmit/receive switch (5) routes the in coming response signal to the low-noise amplifier (LNA).

主权项

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of a subject of investigation, comprising:
a) a coil arrangement
a1) for transmitting an excitation signal into the subject thereby exciting nuclear spins within the subject and/ora2) for receiving a response signal emitted by excited spins from the subject, b) a high-power radio-frequency amplifier for generating the excitation signal to be transmitted into the subject, c) a low-noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying the response signal from the subject, d) a transmit/receive switch arranged between the coil arrangement on the one hand and the low-noise amplifier and the high-power radio-frequency amplifier on the other hand, wherein the transmit/receive switch is alternatively operable in
d1) a transmit mode, in which the transmit/receive switch transmits the excitation signal from the high-power radio-frequency amplifier to the coil arrangement, while the transmit/receive switch protects the low-noise amplifier from an outgoing excitation signal, andd2) a receive mode, in which the transmit/receive switch routes an incoming response signal to the low-noise amplifier.