Dual Frequency Coil Package for Magnetic Resonance Imaging System Upgrade

Abstract

A dual frequency coil package system for use in transmitting and receiving at least two frequencies in an MRI system, including a frequency converter coupled to the MRI system to receive a first frequency through the local transmit coil port and convert the first frequency to a second frequency, a second frequency transmit coil to receive the second frequency from the frequency converter and to transmit the second frequency, a dual tuned receiver coil to receive and to output the at least two frequencies, and a switchable receiver to receive the at least two frequencies output from the dual tuned receiver coil and to transmit the first frequency received from the dual tuned receiver coil directly to the MRI system, and to convert the second frequency received from the dual tuned receiver coil to the first frequency before transmission to the MRI system.

1 . A dual frequency coil package used in transmitting and receiving at least two frequencies in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system, the dual frequency coil package comprising:
 a dual tuned receiver coil configured with one or more resonators that are each tunable so as to receive at least two frequencies, including at least a first frequency and a second frequency, and one amplifier for each of the one or more resonators to amplify a signal transmitted by the dual tuned receiver coil at the first frequency and the second frequency, in operative communication with the MRI system through a first local port of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system; and   a second frequency transmit coil configured to transmit the second frequency in operative communication with the MRI system through a second local port of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system.   
     
     
         2 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is configured to shift a center frequency to match center frequencies of the first frequency and the second frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 1 , wherein the second frequency corresponds to a precessional frequency of fluorine. 
     
     
         4 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 one or more fixed capacitors configured to generate resonance of the respective one or more resonators at the first frequency; and   one or more variable frequency capacitors configured to shift the generated resonance of the respective one or more resonators to the second frequency in response to being activated.   
     
     
         5 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more variable frequency capacitors are configured in a variable frequency circuit using varactors and fixed capacitors. 
     
     
         6 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more fixed capacitors are in operative communication with the variable frequency circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 a preamplifier circuit configured to respectively amplify the first and second frequencies and match an output impedance of the respective one or more resonators to a receiver of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system;   wherein an active bandwidth or center frequency of the preamplifier circuit is shifted by changing an input impedance of the preamplifier circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 7 , wherein the preamplifier circuit is configured to amplify a signal output by the respective one or more resonators from 20 to 30 decibels. 
     
     
         9 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 a first frequency decoupler configured to passively decouple the respective one or more resonators at the first frequency; and   a second frequency decoupler configured to decouple the respective one or more resonators at the second frequency.   
     
     
         10 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 9 , wherein the second frequency decoupler comprises a passive decoupler and an active decoupler. 
     
     
         11 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 1 , wherein the dual tuned receiver coil is configured to be tunable between a first frequency mode to receive the first frequency, and a second frequency mode to receive the second frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more dual frequency resonators each configured with tunable logic to tune a resonant frequency of the respective dual frequency resonators between the first and second frequency modes. 
     
     
         13 . A dual frequency receiving coil used in receiving at least two frequencies in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system, the dual frequency receiving coil comprising:
 a dual tuned receiver coil configured with one or more resonators that are tunable so as to receive at least two frequencies, including at least a first frequency and a second frequency, and one amplifier for each of the one or more resonators to amplify a signal transmitted by the dual tuned receiver coil at the first frequency and the second frequency, in operative communication with the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system through a first local port of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system.   
     
     
         14 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 13 , wherein the amplifier is configured to shift a center frequency to match center frequencies of the first frequency and the second frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 13 , wherein the second frequency corresponds to a precessional frequency of fluorine. 
     
     
         16 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 13 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 one or more fixed capacitors configured to generate resonance of the respective one or more resonators at the first frequency; and   one or more variable frequency capacitors configured to shift the generated resonance of the respective one or more resonators to the second frequency in response to being activated.   
     
     
         17 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more variable frequency capacitors are configured in a variable frequency circuit using varactors and fixed capacitors. 
     
     
         18 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more fixed capacitors are in operative communication with the variable frequency circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 16 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 a preamplifier circuit configured to respectively amplify the first and second frequencies and match an output impedance of the respective one or more resonators to a receiver of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system;   wherein an active bandwidth or center frequency of the preamplifier circuit is shifted by changing an input impedance of the preamplifier circuit.   
     
     
         20 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 19 , wherein the preamplifier circuit is configured to amplify a signal output by the respective one or more resonators from 20 to 30 decibels. 
     
     
         21 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 16 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 a first frequency decoupler configured to passively decouple the respective one or more resonators at the first frequency; and   a second frequency decoupler configured to decouple the respective one or more resonators at the second frequency.   
     
     
         22 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 21 , wherein the second frequency decoupler comprises a passive decoupler and an active decoupler. 
     
     
         23 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 13 , wherein the dual tuned receiver coil is configured to be tunable between a first frequency mode to receive the first frequency, and a second frequency mode to receive the second frequency. 
     
     
         24 . The dual frequency receiving coil of  claim 23 , further comprising one or more dual frequency resonators each configured with tunable logic to tune a resonant frequency of the respective dual frequency resonators between the first and second frequency modes. 
     
     
         25 . A dual frequency coil package used in transmitting and receiving at least two frequencies in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system, the dual frequency coil package comprising:
 a dual tuned receiver coil configured with one or more resonators that are tunable so as to receive at least two frequencies, including at least a first frequency and a second frequency, and one amplifier for each of the one or more resonators to amplify a signal transmitted by the dual tuned receiver coil at the first frequency and the second frequency, in operative communication with the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system through a first local port of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system; and   a second frequency transmit coil configured to transmit the second frequency in operative communication with the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system through a second local port of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging system.   
     
     
         26 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 25 , wherein the amplifier is configured to shift a center frequency to match center frequencies of the first frequency and the second frequency. 
     
     
         27 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 25 , wherein the second frequency corresponds to a precessional frequency of fluorine. 
     
     
         28 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 25 , wherein each of the one or more resonators comprises:
 one or more fixed capacitors configured to generate resonance of the respective one or more resonators at the first frequency; and   one or more variable frequency capacitors configured to shift the generated resonance of the respective one or more resonators to the second frequency in response to being activated.   
     
     
         29 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 25 , wherein the dual tuned receiver coil is configured to be tunable between a first frequency mode to receive the first frequency, and a second frequency mode to receive the second frequency. 
     
     
         30 . The dual frequency coil package of  claim 29 , further comprising one or more dual frequency resonators each configured with tunable logic to tune a resonant frequency of the respective dual frequency resonators between the first and second frequency modes.