SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REDUCE ARTIFACTS AND IMPROVE COVERAGE IN MR SPECTROSCOPY
A system and method of improved homogeneity in internal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is disclosed. When acquiring MR images that require insertion of an RF coil into a subject, an intracavity coil assembly, or probe, is employed for acquiring MR data of an internal region-of-interest. The intracavity probe includes an RF coil for receiving MR data and a housing enclosing the RF coil. A homogeneity enhancing material is disposable within the housing after insertion into the subject. As a result of disposing the homogeneity enhancing fluid and the RF coil within the housing, inhomogeneities resulting from an air-tissue interface between the RF coil and the subject are reduced.
1 . A probe for improved homogeneity in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the probe comprising:
an RF coil for receiving MR data;
a collapsible housing enclosing the RF coil and constructed for insertion into a subject to be imaged; and
a homogeneity enhancing material disposable within the collapsible housing.
2 . The probe of claim 1 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material has a magnetic permeability similar to that of the subject.
3 . The probe of claim 1 wherein the collapsible housing is an expandable membrane to allow the RF coil to receive MR data from a wider area of the subject when expanded with the homogeneity enhancing material then would be otherwise.
4 . The probe of claim 1 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material includes one of a gel and a liquid.
5 . The probe of claim 1 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material includes a material having a magnetic permeability similar to that of water.
6 . The probe of claim 1 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material includes a perfluorocarbon material.
7 . The probe of claim 3 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material expands the collapsible housing after insertion into the subject to be imaged.
8 . The probe of claim 7 wherein the collapsible housing is constructed free of gases.
9 . The probe of claim 1 formed as an endorectal probe.
10 .The probe of claim 1 further comprising an inflatable retainer that secures the RF coil within the subject to be imaged when inflated with the homogeneity enhancing fluid.
11 . An MR imaging apparatus comprising:
a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field;
an RF transceiver system;
an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals;
an RF coil assembly configured for internal MR image acquisition and having at least one RF coil disposed within a housing that is constructed for insertion into a subject; and
a homogeneity enhancing fluid disposable within the housing to improve homogeneity during internal MR image acquisition.
12 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the housing is an expandable membrane and the homogeneity enhancing fluid causes the expandable membrane to inflate.
13 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material has a magnetic permeability similar to that of the subject.
14 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the homogeneity enhancing fluid includes a perfluorocarbon material.
15 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a control means to inflate the housing with the homogeneity enhancing fluid.
16 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control means comprises a syringe.
17 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control means comprises an electronically controlled pump.
18 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control means automatically inflates the housing with the homogeneity enhancing fluid.
19 . The MR imaging apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a retainer filled with the homogeneity enhancing fluid to secure the at least one RF coil within the subject.
20 . A method of using an MR imaging device with improved homogeneity comprising:
positioning an RF coil within a housing that is capable of being inserted within an imaging subject; and
filling the housing with a homogeneity enhancing material.
21 . The method of manufacturing of claim 20 further comprising attaching a pump to the housing to inflate the housing with the homogeneity enhancing material.
22 . The method of manufacturing of claim 20 further comprising attaching an automated inflation control to control the inflation the housing with a homogeneity enhancing material.
23 . The method of manufacturing of claim 20 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material comprises a perfluorocarbon material.
24 . The method of manufacturing of claim 20 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material includes one of a gel and a liquid.
25 .The method of manufacturing of claim 20 wherein the homogeneity enhancing material has a magnetic permeability similar to that of the imaging subject.
26 . A kit for an MR imaging device with improved homogeneity comprising:
an RF coil;
a flexible housing configured to contain the RF coil therein and further configured to be inserted within an imaging subject; and
a supply of a homogeneity enhancing material to fill and expand the flexible housing after insertion into the imaging subject.