APPARATUS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CONTROLLED BY THE POSITION OF A MOVEABLE RF COIL

摘要

This invention includes means for generating MR images by a moveable RF coil which can be moved across a patient during an MR examination. The MR apparatus includes a position detection system which detects the current position and orientation of the moveable RF coil. The coil can be hand held for manual movement or can be attached to mechanical manipulators for controlled movement. The imaging methods determine and generate magnetic gradient and RF pulse sequences to excite nuclear magnetization in a 3D region determined with respect to the current 3D position and 3D orientation of the moveable RF coil. The invention also includes moveable RF coils for receiving and transmitting which are configured and sized for convenient manipulation by an operator. A preferable moveable RF coil assembly includes markers necessary to interact with a particular position detection system, display means for displaying reconstructed images in real-time, and control means for operator entry of signals controlling the MR apparatus.