An inductively-coupled, detachable receiver coil system for use with magnetic resonance compatible endoscopes.
OBJECTIVE
To construct an inductively-coupled receiver coil system for use with a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible endoscope, and to evaluate its use in a pilot group of patients with esophageal cancer.


METHODS
An inductively-coupled coil system, comprising a saddle geometry cylindrical receiver coil fitted as a sleeve around the endoscope tip and a pick-up coil housed within a channel of an MR-compatible endoscope, was designed and developed for use at 0.5 T. Twenty-three patients with esophageal cancer were recruited for MR endoscopy. In 17 cases, the endoscopic coil system was used in conjunction with an external surface coil in order to obtain information from the surrounding mediastinum. The examination took 40-50 minutes.


RESULTS
MR imaging using the inductively-coupled endoscopic coil was successful in 21 cases (one failed intubation and one artifact from unrelated external source). Image artifact was largely due to respiration and global patient motion in sedated individuals undergoing endoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Inductively-coupled coil systems may be used with endoscopes to allow improved safety through increased patient-system isolation and detachability of coils and electronics for repair or replacement with coils tuned for different frequencies.
Gilderdale
David J
DJ
Robert Steiner MR Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. d.gilderdale@ic.ac.uk
Williams
Andreanna D
AD
Dave
Umakant
U
deSouza
Nandita M
NM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019723:Endoscopes; D004867:Equipment Design; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects