Novel, low cost RF coils for MR imaging and spectroscopy

该项目的目的是证明一种设计和制造MR成像扫描仪“体积RF线圈”的新方法可以实现设想的特定临床和经济效益。射频线圈用于检测MRI扫描仪中的信号。它们被设计放置在离患者非常近的地方，因为它们离目标组织越近，图像质量就越好，最终的诊断结果也越好。体积射频线圈指的是那些围绕目标组织，如头部的线圈。这项发明是该项目的关键，它结合了最先进的医学认可的泡沫、3D打印塑料部件和模压塑料部件，以生产一种刚性体积塑料，其主要外表面材料由轻质泡沫制成。对于使用者和患者有几个临床益处。特别是线圈将减轻重量，更容易接受和舒适的病人。泡沫的使用使线圈更接近目标组织成为可能，从而有可能获得更好的临床图像。同样重要的是这种新方法的经济效益。这种方法将减少开发和生产的时间和成本。这就有可能降低设备的价格，从而降低MR手术的成本。一个特别的好处是，这种设计允许更多地使用自动化制造过程。这反过来意味着，与远东地区相比，英国的制造业在财务上是合理的。PulseTeq的意图是，一旦这个设计过程在这个项目中成功演示，使用这个过程来开发几个针对身体不同部位（如头部和膝盖）优化的射频线圈。这些设备具有非常重要的销售潜力，通过这些，我们的目标是扩大在英国的业务，成为临床MRI市场RF线圈的重要供应商和出口商。

The objective of this project is to prove that a novel method to design and manufacture“volume RF coils” for MR imaging scanners can achieve the envisaged specific clinical andfinancial benefits.RF coils are used to detect the signal in MRI scanners. They are designed to be placed veryclose to the patient as the closer they are to the target tissue, the better the image quality andthe better the resulting diagnosis. Volume RF coils refer to those that surround the targettissue such as the head.The invention that is key to this project involves the combination of state-of-the-art medicallyapproved foams, 3D printed plastic parts and moulded plastic parts to produce a rigid volumecoil in which the primary outer surface material is made of light weight foam.There are several clinical benefits for the user and the patient. In particular the coil will belighter weight and more acceptable and comfortable for the patient. The use of foam makes itpossible to fit the coil closer to the target tissue giving the potential for better clinical images.Equally important are the economic benefits of this new approach. This method will reducethe time and cost of both development and production. This gives the potential for lowerprices devices thus reducing the cost of the MR procedures. A particular benefit is that thisdesign allows greater use of automated manufacturing processes. This, in turn means thatmanufacturing in the UK is financially justified as opposed to the Far East.It is PulseTeq’s intention, once this design process is successfully demonstrated within thisproject, to use this process to develop several RF coils optimised for different parts of thebody such as the head and knee. These devices have very significant sales potential and,through these, the aim is to expand the business in the UK to become a significant supplierand exporter of RF coils to the clinical MRI market.