IP Library › Granted Patent US 12687597
Granted Patent B2
US 12687597 · App. 18/752,153 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Magnetic resonance system with integrated pilot tone apparatus and method for the operation thereof

Inventors: Jan Bollenbeck (Eggolsheim, DE); Peter Speier (Erlangen, DE); Qiu Yi Zhang (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
G01R33/3621
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687597
App. No.
18/752,153
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic resonance system has a receiver designed to receive and evaluate a pilot tone signal and a magnetic resonance signal at the same time. The receiver additionally has a frequency-dependent attenuator to attenuate a received pilot tone signal relative to a received magnetic resonance signal.

Claims (23)

1 . A magnetic resonance system comprising:

a receiver of a pilot tone transceiver, the receiver configured to receive a pilot tone signal and a magnetic resonance signal at the same time; and

a frequency-dependent attenuator configured to attenuate the received pilot tone signal relative to the received magnetic resonance signal.

2 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuator is configured to attenuate the pilot tone signal relative to the magnetic resonance signal by more than 3 dB.

3 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the magnetic resonance system is configured to compensate for an attenuation of the attenuator by an increased transmit level of the pilot tone by the pilot tone transceiver.

4 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a preamplifier for the received pilot tone signal; and

wherein the attenuator is arranged as part of the preamplifier or between the preamplifier and an analog-digital converter in the receiver.

5 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the attenuator has a notch filter, a quartz resonator, or a plurality of coupled resonators.

6 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the attenuator has a transformer whose primary side and secondary side are arranged antiparallel between a signal path and a signal ground, wherein a resonant element is arranged in series with the secondary side between the signal path and the signal ground.

7 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of receive channels, wherein the frequency-dependent attenuator and the receiver are in one of the receive channels and the other of the plurality of receive channels each have another frequency-dependent attenuator and receiver.

8 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a preamplifier for the received pilot tone signal; and

wherein the attenuator is arranged as part of the preamplifier or between the preamplifier and an analog-digital converter in the receiver.

9 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuator has a notch filter.

10 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuator has a quartz resonator.

11 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuator has a plurality of coupled resonators.

12 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuator has a transformer whose primary side and secondary side are arranged antiparallel between a signal path and a signal ground, wherein a resonant element is arranged in series with the secondary side between the signal path and the signal ground.

13 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of receive channels, wherein the frequency-dependent attenuator and the receiver are in one of the receive channels and the other of the plurality of receive channels each have another frequency-dependent attenuator and another receiver.

14 . The magnetic resonance system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein an attenuation of the frequency-dependent attenuators is adjustable, and further comprising a controller configured to adjust an attenuation of the frequency-dependent attenuators in such a way that a signal level difference between pilot tone signals is reduced in receivers of most of the receive channels.

15 . The magnetic resonance system of claim 1 wherein the attenuator is configured to attenuate the pilot tone signal relative to the magnetic resonance signal by more than 6 dB.

16 . A method for operating a magnetic resonance system, the method comprising:

determining signal levels of a pilot tone signal in a plurality of receivers;

adjusting an attenuation of frequency-dependent attenuators by a controller in such a way that a signal level difference between pilot tone signals of the receivers is reduced in most of the receivers; and

adjusting a signal level of a pilot tone.