SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE IN PATIENTS DURING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

1 . A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:

a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging;

a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic interference introduced by a patient into an imaging region of the MR imaging system; and

circuitry configured to receive detected electromagnetic interference from the sensor and to suppress and/or compensate for the detected electromagnetic interference.

2 . The MR imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one electrical conductor configured for electrically coupling to the patient.

3 . The MR imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrical conductor is configured for capacitively coupling to the patient.

4 . The MR imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry comprises a noise reduction system coupled to the sensor and configured to compensate for the electromagnetic interference during imaging of the patient.

5 . The MR imaging system of claim 4 , wherein:

the plurality of magnetics components include at least one radio frequency (RF) coil configured to, when operated, receive magnetic resonance signals emitted from a field of view of the MR imaging system; and

the noise reduction system is configured to reduce an impact of the electromagnetic interference on the magnetic resonance signals.

6 . The MR imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnetics components include:

at least one permanent B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for an imaging region of the MR imaging system;

a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals; and

at least one radio frequency (RF) coil configured to, when operated, transmit radio frequency signals to a field of view of the MR imaging system and receive magnetic resonance signals emitted from the field of view.

7 . The MR imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one permanent B 0 magnet is configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field having a field strength of greater than 50 mT and less than 0.1 T.

8 . A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the MRI system comprising a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing MRI and a sensor, the method comprising:

detecting electromagnetic interference conducted by a patient using the sensor; and

suppressing and/or compensating for the detected electromagnetic interference in magnetic resonance signals.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting electromagnetic interference conducted by the patient comprises electrically coupling the sensor to the patient.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein electrically coupling the sensor to the patient comprises electrically coupling an electric field detector (EFD) to the patient, the EFD comprising the one or more electrical conductors.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein electrically coupling the EFD to the patient comprises positioning the patient within capacitive coupling range of the one or more electrical conductors of the EFD.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein positioning the patient within capacitive coupling range of the one or more electrical conductors of the EFD comprises placing at least a portion of the patient's anatomy in an accommodation portion of a magnetic component of the plurality of magnetics components.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic component comprises a radio frequency (RF) coil having a housing, the housing supporting the one or more electrical conductors of the EFD.

14 . A radio frequency component configured for use in magnetic resonance imaging, the radio frequency component comprising:

a housing configured to accommodate anatomy of a patient for imaging, the housing providing support for and/or housing:

at least one transmit coil configured to produce radio frequency magnetic fields that, when the patient is present, cause a magnetic resonance response in the anatomy of the patient; and

at least one receive coil for detecting magnetic resonance imaging signals; and

a sensor positioned to couple to the anatomy to detect electromagnetic radiation introduced by the patient; and

circuitry configured to receive detected electromagnetic radiation and to suppress and/or compensate for the detected electromagnetic radiation in magnetic resonance imaging signals detected by the at least one receive coil.

15 . The radio frequency component of claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one electrical conductor configured for electrically coupling to the patient.

16 . The radio frequency component of claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrical conductor is configured for capacitively coupling to the patient.

17 . The radio frequency component of claim 16 , wherein the sensor further comprises one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) having the at least one electrical conductor thereon.

18 . The radio frequency component of claim 17 , wherein the one or more PCBs include a flexible PCB.

19 . The radio frequency component of claim 15 , wherein the housing provides support for the at least one electrical conductor.

20 . The radio frequency component of claim 15 , wherein:

the housing includes a chamber having at least one interior surface; and

the at least one electrical conductor is positioned on the at least one interior surface.