System of receive coils and pads for use with magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights.

1 . A receive coil and pad kit for use with a magnetic resonance imaging machine, the kit comprising:
 a first receive coil of a first size having a first indicator, the first receive coil including
 a first posterior antenna assembly, 
 a first anterior antenna assembly, 
 a first flexible member coupling the first posterior antenna assembly to the first anterior antenna assembly, 
   a second receive coil of a second size having a second indicator, the second receive coil including
 a second posterior antenna assembly, 
 a second anterior antenna assembly, 
 a second flexible member coupling the second posterior antenna assembly to the second anterior antenna assembly, 
   a third receive coil of a third size having a third indicator, the third receive coil including
 a third posterior antenna assembly, 
 a third anterior antenna assembly, 
 a third flexible member coupling the third posterior antenna assembly to the third anterior antenna assembly, 
   a first pad having a first indentation sized to partially accommodate the first receive coil and a first corresponding indicator which corresponds to the first indicator of the first receive coil,   a second pad having a second indentation sized to partially accommodate the second receive coil and a second corresponding indicator which corresponds to the second indicator of the second receive coil,   a third pad having a third indentation sized to partially accommodate the third receive coil and a third corresponding indicator which corresponds to the third indicator of the third receive coil, and   wherein the first, second and third sizes are different.   
     
     
         2 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth receive coil of a fourth size having a fourth indicator, the fourth receive coil including
 a fourth posterior antenna assembly, 
 a fourth anterior antenna assembly, 
 a fourth flexible member coupling the fourth posterior antenna assembly to the fourth anterior antenna assembly, and 
   a fourth pad having a fourth indentation sized to partially accommodate the fourth receive coil and a fourth corresponding indicator which corresponds to the fourth indicator of the fourth receive coil.   
     
     
         3 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a fifth receive coil of a fifth size having a fifth indicator, the fifth receive coil including
 a fifth posterior antenna assembly, 
 a fifth anterior antenna assembly, 
 a fifth flexible member coupling the fifth posterior antenna assembly to the fifth anterior antenna assembly, and 
   a fifth pad having a fifth indentation sized to partially accommodate the fifth receive coil and a fifth corresponding indicator which corresponds to the fifth indicator of the fifth receive coil.   
     
     
         4 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a sixth receive coil of a sixth size having a sixth indicator, the sixth receive coil including
 a sixth posterior antenna assembly, 
 a sixth anterior antenna assembly, 
 a sixth flexible member coupling the sixth posterior antenna assembly to the sixth anterior antenna assembly, and 
   a sixth pad having a sixth indentation sized to partially accommodate the sixth receive coil and a sixth corresponding indicator which corresponds to the sixth indicator of the sixth receive coil.   
     
     
         5 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible positioning member further comprises a plurality of interlocking segments wherein each interlocking segment in the plurality of segments can rotate with respect to an adjacent segment. 
     
     
         6 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible positioning member further comprises a longitudinal conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil further comprises a fourth flexible positioning member coupling the first posterior antenna assembly to the first anterior antenna assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first pad further comprises a first coil cushion and a support cushion flexibly coupled together at adjoining edges,
 wherein the first coil cushion comprises:
 the first indentation defined on a top face sized, and 
 a first projection defined on a bottom face. 
   
     
     
         9 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 8 , wherein the first pad further comprises a second support cushion flexibly coupled to the first coil cushion at adjoining edges. 
     
     
         10 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 9 , wherein the first pad further comprises a third support cushion flexibly coupled to the second coil cushion at adjoining edges. 
     
     
         11 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit to accommodate the coils and pads. 
     
     
         12 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 1  wherein the first, second, and third indicators are different. 
     
     
         13 . The receive coil and paid kit of  claim 1  wherein the first, second, and third indicators are colors. 
     
     
         14 . A receive coil and pad system for a magnetic resonance imaging machine, the system comprising:
 a first receive coil of a first size having a first indicator,   a second receive coil of a second size having a second indicator,   a third receive coil of a third size having a third indicator,   a first pad having a first indentation sized to partially accommodate the first receive coil and a first corresponding indicator which corresponds to the first indicator of the first receive coil,   a second pad having a second indentation sized to partially accommodate the second receive coil and a second corresponding indicator which corresponds to the second indicator of the second receive coil,   a third pad having a third indentation sized to partially accommodate the third receive coil and a third corresponding indicator which corresponds to the third indicator of the third receive coil, and   wherein the first, second and third sizes are different.   
     
     
         15 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a fourth receive coil of a fourth size having a fourth indicator, and   a fourth pad having a fourth indentation sized to partially accommodate the fourth receive coil and a fourth corresponding indicator which corresponds to the fourth indicator of the fourth receive coil.   
     
     
         16 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a fifth receive coil of a fifth size having a fifth indicator, and   a fifth pad having a fifth indentation sized to partially accommodate the fifth receive coil and a fifth corresponding indicator which corresponds to the fifth indicator of the fifth receive coil.   
     
     
         17 . A receive coil and pad system for a magnetic resonance imaging machine, the system comprising:
 a coil having an indicator   a pad having an indention sized to partially accommodate the coil and a corresponding indicator which corresponds to the indicator of the coil   
     
     
         18 . The receive coil and pad system of  claim 17 , wherein the first receive coil comprises:
 a first posterior antenna assembly,   a second anterior antenna assembly, and   a first flexible member coupling the first posterior antenna assembly to the first anterior antenna assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 18 , wherein the first flexible positioning member further comprises a plurality of interlocking segments wherein each interlocking segment in the plurality of segments can rotate with respect to an adjacent segment. 
     
     
         20 . The receive coil and pad kit of  claim 19 , wherein the first flexible positioning member further comprises a longitudinal conduit.