Installing PET Optimized RF Volume Coils
For quantitative PET/MR imaging, the correction for the attenuation arising from the RF Volume Coil requires precise positioning of the RF coil inside the PET insert. For this purpose, the PET insert provides a RF Coil alignment inlet that needs to be mounted at the user end of the PET insert before the RF coil is mounted in the PET insert.
To mount this RF coil alignment inlet, perform the following steps:
- 1.
- Remove the PET insert from the instrument.
- 2.
- Slide the alignment inlet on the bolts at the user end of the PET detector tube.
- 3.
- Secure the alignment inlet by closing the screws.
- 4.
- Insert the PET insert into the MR instrument.
Left: Mounting of the RF Coil alignment inlet at the user end of the PET insert.
Middle: Alignment pin of the RF coil at 12 o’clock position when inserted in the PET insert
Right: Correct position between alignment pin and inlet.
Middle: Alignment pin of the RF coil at 12 o’clock position when inserted in the PET insert
Right: Correct position between alignment pin and inlet.
Now the PET insert is ready for mounting PET optimized RF coils. To install such coils, perform the following steps:
- 1.
- The alignment inlet has a nut at the upper 12 o’clock position. Rotate the RF coil to this position and slide it gently from the Service End into the PET detector tube bore until it touches the alignment device. Then play with the rotation of the coil by rotating it slightly left and right such that the alignment pin of the RF coil slides into the alignment nut of alignment inlet.
- 2.
- Slide the coil completely in until it reaches the end position and fix it by blowing up the pneumatic fixation.
At the correct position, the end plate of the coil at the service end aligns approximately with the end ring of the PET insert.