Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, receiving coil and method of manufacturing the coil

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, characterized by comprising:

one pair of static magnetic field generating means disposed to sandwich a space in which a test object is placed;

magnetic field generating means configured to apply a high-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the test object placed in the static magnetic field; and

receiving means configured to receive a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated from the test object, wherein the receiving means includes a receiving coil having a predetermined coil pattern and can be shaped into a cylinder; wherein

the receiving coil includes flexible parts and rigid parts alternately disposed along the circumference direction when shaped into the cylinder; and

the flexible parts include a flexible substrate on which a portion of the predetermined coil pattern is mounted and an air-bubbles-containing resin section for covering both surfaces of the flexible substrate, and wherein

a thickness of a portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on an inner circumference surface side of the flexible parts when shaped into the cylinder is thinner than a portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on an outer circumference surface side.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that:

the rigid parts include a rigid substrate on which a portion of the predetermined coil pattern is mounted and a case for containing the rigid substrate;

fitting sections are formed on the edge of the air-bubbles-containing resin section, the fitting sections being shaped to be fit to the edge of the case;

the fitting sections are fitted to the case to connect the edges of the flexible parts and the rigid parts; and

the coil patterns of the rigid substrate and the flexible substrate are electrically connected at the edge at which the flexible parts and the rigid parts are connected.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , characterized in that elastic members are disposed between the fitting sections of the air-bubbles-containing resin section and the case.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that grooves in the direction parallel to the body axis of the test object are provided in the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on the outer circumference surface side when shaped into the cylinder.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , characterized in that, in the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on the inner circumference surface side when shaped into the cylinder, grooves in the direction parallel to the body axis of the test object are provided at the positions corresponding to the positions of the grooves on the outer circumference surface side.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , characterized in that the grooves in the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section on the outer circumference surface side is deeper than the grooves in the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section on the inner circumference surface side.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that:

the flexible parts include a frame embedded in a predetermined area of the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on the outer circumference surface side when shaped into the cylinder; and

the shape of the frame is such that the longitudinal direction of the frame is along the body axis direction of the test object.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , characterized in that the inside of the frame is not covered with the air-bubbles-containing resin section and functions as a window through which the flexible substrate is exposed, and electrical circuit components are mounted on the flexible substrate within the window.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , characterized in that a lid for covering the window is secured to the frame.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 9 , characterized in that elastic members are disposed between the lid and the air-bubbles-containing resin section at the positions at which the lid is secured.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that:

the flexible parts include two or more frames embedded in a predetermined area of the portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on the outer circumference surface side when shaped into the cylinder; and

the two or more frames are arranged and secured along the body axis direction of the test object.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 11 , characterized in that the inside of the frame is not covered with the air-bubbles-containing resin section and functions as a window through which the flexible substrate is exposed, and electrical circuit components are mounted on the flexible substrate within the window.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving coil is a coil to be wound around the body of the test object and has notches at the positions corresponding to the armpits of the test object when shaped into the cylinder.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that:

the receiving coil includes a belt-shaped member in which the flexible parts and the rigid parts are alternately disposed and first and second connecting sections disposed to one end and the other end of the belt-shaped member, respectively, to connect the both ends;

as guide members for aligning the first and second connecting sections, one or more guide protrusions are provided to one of the first and second connecting sections, and guide holes to be engaged with the guide protrusions are provided to the other; as fitting members for fitting the first connecting section to the second connecting section, one or more first fitting sections and second fitting sections that fit the first fitting sections are provided; and

the one or more guide members and the one or more fitting members are disposed in alignment.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that:

the coil pattern of the flexible parts is divided into two or more portions by one or more slits;

the divided coil patterns are electrically connected by capacitors having a predetermined capacitance; and

the capacitance of the capacitors are considered electrically short-circuited at a frequency of nuclear magnetic resonance signal, and considered electrically open at a frequency of eddy current.

16. A receiving coil shapable into a cylinder, for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, characterized in that:

the receiving coil includes flexible parts and rigid parts alternately disposed along the circumference direction when shaped into the cylinder; and the flexible parts include a flexible substrate on which a portion of a predetermined coil pattern is mounted and an air-bubbles-containing resin section for covering the both surfaces of the flexible substrate, wherein

a thickness of a portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on an inner circumference surface side of the flexible parts when shaped into the cylinder is thinner than a portion of the air-bubbles-containing resin section positioned on an outer circumference surface side.