RF coil storage device with magnetic field generator and RF coil device

1. An RF coil storage device configured to store an RF coil device, the RF coil device having a coil element and being configured to receive a magnetic resonance signal emitted from an object in response to an RF pulse transmitted from an RF transmitter included in an MRI apparatus, the RF coil storage device comprising:

a storage rack on which the RF coil device is placed;

a magnetic field generator including a search coil, wherein the magnetic field generator is provided separately from the RF transmitter, a static magnetic generator, and a gradient magnetic generator of the MRI apparatus, and wherein the magnetic field generator radiates an RF magnetic field from the search coil to the coil element of the RF coil device, via a space without using a cable, to inspect frequency characteristics of each coil element of the RF coil device; and

processing circuitry configured to acquire an index signal to determine presence/absence of a failure, from the RF coil device placed on the storage rack,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

acquire a transmitted wave transmitted from the coil element inside the RF coil device as the index signal, after radiation of the RF magnetic field, and

determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the transmitted wave acquired as the index signal.

2. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the index signal; and

the communication interface is configured to transmit data as to presence/absence of the failure in the RF coil device based on the index signal, to at least one of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a service center, and a personal information management terminal.

3. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the magnetic field generator is further configured to radiate the RF magnetic field a plurality of times, while changing frequency of the RF magnetic field within a frequency band including a Larmor frequency for each radiation; and

the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on frequency characteristics of the transmitted wave.

4. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a frequency characteristic measuring circuit configured to transmit an RF current to the coil element of the RF coil device by wire and acquire a reflected signal from the coil element by wire,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire data of the reflected signal from the frequency characteristic measuring circuit, as the index signal, and

(b) determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on frequency characteristics of the reflected signal.

5. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is further configured to radiate the RF magnetic field to the space a plurality of times while changing a frequency of the RF magnetic field within a frequency band including a Larmor frequency for each radiation in a first case and a second case, respectively,

the first case being a case where a trap circuit is in an operating state, wherein the trap circuit is provided inside the RF coil device to turn on/off a function of receiving the magnetic resonance signal of the coil element by switching between an operating state and an non-operating state,

the second case being a case where the trap circuit is in the non-operating state, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire frequency characteristics of an intensity of each transmitted wave as the index signal from the coil element after radiation of the RF magnetic field, in the first case and the second case, respectively, and

(b) determine whether a failure exists in the trap circuit or not, by comparing the frequency characteristics in the first case with the frequency characteristics in the second case.

6. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a control signal generator configured to transmit an inspection signal by wire to a trap circuit, which is included in the RF coil device and turns onloff a function of receiving the magnetic resonance signal of the coil element,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire current-voltage characteristics of a diode in the trap circuit from the RF coil device, as the index signal, and

(b) determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the current-voltage characteristics.

7. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire identification information of the RF coil device by wire from the RF coil device, as the index signal, and

(b) determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the identification information.

8. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a control signal generator configured to wirelessly transmit a command signal to transmit identification information to the RF coil device,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire the identification information wirelessly transmitted from the RF coil device after transmission of the command signal, as the index signal, and

(b) determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the identification information.

9. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a charger configured to charge a rechargeable battery inside the RF coil device,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

(a) acquire a time variation of a primary current or time variation of a charging voltage of the rechargeable battery as the index signal, when the charger charges the rechargeable battery, and

(b) determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the index signal.

10. The RF coil storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising a monitor,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the failure exists in the RF coil device or not, based on the index signal; and

the monitor is configured to display a determination result as to presence/absence of the failure, as determined by the processing circuitry.