IGC-MEDICAL ADVANCES INC.

QUADRATURE LOWER
EXTREMITY COIL

472GE-64
472GE-42

Compatible with General

Electric Signa7
1.5T, 1.0T MRI Systems

07/11/03
Rev.12

Federal Law restricts this device to sale, distribution, and use by or on

the order of a physician.

Proper performance of this coil is guaranteed only while the coil is being
used on the MR system (hardware/software level) specified at the time
of purchase. Upgrades or other modifications to the system software
and/or hardware may affect compatibility. Prior to upgrading your MR
system, please contact IGC-Medical Advances Inc. Customer Service
Department to discuss coil compatibility issues. Failure to do so may
void your warranty.

©
US Headquarters:
IGC-Medical Advances Inc.
10437 Innovation Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53226-4815 USA
(414) 258-3808
800-657-0891
Fax: (414) 258-4931
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.medadv.com
A subsidiary of
Intermagnetics General Corporation

NOTICE:
Attention, Consult Accompanying Documents TRANSPORT AND STORE THIS PRODUCT UNDER
THE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Type BF Equipment
ONLY, FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 4 WEEKS:
Class II Equipment
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF -34°C TO + 60°C
Conforms to European Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% TO 95%
(Non-Condensing)
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF 765hPa TO 1011hPa

M472GE Rev.12
CONTENTS i
Safety Training........................................................................................ 1-1
Quality Assurance........................................................................ 1-1
Indications.................................................................................... 1-1
Contraindications ......................................................................... 1-1
Precautions................................................................................... 1-1
Cautions ....................................................................................... 1-2
Emergency Procedures................................................................. 1-3

Coil Instructions Shipping List................................................................................ 2-1

Coil Description ........................................................................... 2-2
Pad Description............................................................................ 2-3
Coil Positioning ........................................................................... 2-3
System/Coil Connection .............................................................. 2-4
Coil Alignment............................................................................. 2-4
System Coil Selection .................................................................. 2-5
Coil Configuration Parameters .................................................... 2-7

Quality Assurance Reconstitution Instructions for Phantom Bottle........................... 3-1

Initial SNR Measurement ............................................................ 3-1
Original SNR Data Table............................................................. 3-4
Periodic Quality Assurance Check .............................................. 3-4
Periodic SNR Data Table............................................................. 3-6

Patient Preparation
& Positioning Patient Preparation ....................................................................... 4-1
General Patient Positioning Guidelines ....................................... 4-1

Protocols General Protocol Considerations ................................................. 5-1

Protocols 1.5T Knee..................................................................... 5-2
Protocols 1.0T Knee..................................................................... 5-3
Protocols 1.5T Ankle ................................................................... 5-4
Protocols 1.0T Ankle ................................................................... 5-5
Protocols 1.5T Foot...................................................................... 5-6
Protocols 1.0T Foot...................................................................... 5-7

Troubleshooting/
Maintenance Troubleshooting ........................................................................... 6-1
Receiving No Signal .................................................................... 6-1
Image Quality............................................................................... 6-2
Artifacts........................................................................................ 6-3
Maintenance................................................................................. 6-4
Fuse/Cable Continuity Check Procedure ..................................... 6-5
Spare Parts Listing, Quadrature Knee/Foot Coil Assembly ........ 6-7
Spare Parts Listing, Latch and Dual-Lock Assemblies ............... 6-8

M472GE Rev.12
SAFETY 1-1
TRAINING This manual contains detailed information on the set-up, positioning
and use of the IGC-Medical Advances Inc. (MAI) coil. The
instructions should be read carefully and thoroughly before
attempting to scan patients with the coil.

QUALITY ASSURANCE The procedure described in the Quality Assurance Section of this
manual should be performed upon receipt of the coil to establish a
baseline for coil performance. The procedure should be repeated at
regular intervals.

INDICATIONS IGC-Medical Advances Inc. magnetic resonance coils are indicated

for use as either receive-only or transmit and receive antennae of RF
energy at a specific frequency. The signal received by the coils is
dependent upon MRI parameters (T1 or Spin-lattice relaxation time,
T2 or spin-spin relaxation time, density of nuclei, flow velocity, and
chemical shift). The images produced by the imaging coil
correspond to the distribution of nuclei exhibiting nuclear magnetic
resonance.

The MR coil is tuned by MAI at the manufacturing site to the

approximate resonant frequency of the magnetic resonance system.

CONTRAINDICATIONS The operator should be aware of the following contraindications for

use related to the strong magnetic field of the MR system:

• Scanning is contraindicated for patients who have

electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated
implants (for example, cardiac pacemakers), because the
magnetic and electromagnetic fields produced by the MR
device may interfere with the operation of these devices.

• Scanning patients with intracranial aneurysm clips is

contraindicated.

PRECAUTIONS Precautions should be taken when scanning patients with the

following conditions:

• A greater than normal potential for cardiac arrest.

• An increased likelihood for developing seizures or

claustrophobia.

• Unconscious, heavily sedated, confused patients or those

with whom no reliable communications can be maintained.

M472GE Rev.12
1-2 SAFETY
CAUTIONS The following general warning statements apply to scanning with a
magnetic resonance system. For further details, review the warnings
included in your MR system operations manual.

• Cables should not be looped or crossed. Arcing and patient

burns could result.

• If a patient complains of burning, tingling, stinging, or other

“burn”-type sensations, promptly stop the scan procedure,
examine the patient, and contact the responsible physician
before continuing the procedure. Pay special attention to
very young, sedated, or other patients who may not be able
to communicate effectively.

• Route all cables out of the magnet so that they do not contact
the patient.

• Patients with ferromagnetic metal should not be scanned,

because the magnetic field may interact with implanted
surgical clips or other ferromagnetic materials.

• Persons with cardiac pacemakers or other implanted

electronic devices should not enter the magnetic field zone
delineated by the system’s manufacturer.

• There is a risk to scanning feverish or decompensated

cardiac patients.

• Facial makeup should be removed before scanning because

many eye makeups contain metal flakes which can cause
skin and eye irritation. Permanent eye-liner tattoos may
cause eye irritation due to the presence of ferromagnetic
particles.

• Patients who work in environments in which there is a risk

of having embedded metallic fragments in or near the eye
should be carefully screened before having an MR exam.

M472GE Rev.12
SAFETY 1-3
EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES In the unlikely event that a coil creates smoke, sparks or makes an
unusually loud noise or if the patient requires emergency assistance:

1. Stop the scan if one is in progress.

2. Disconnect the coil.

3. Remove the coil from the patient.

4. Remove the patient from the scan room if medical treatment

is needed.

5. Contact IGC-Medical Advances Inc. as soon as possible to

inform us about the details of the incident.

M472GE Rev.12
COIL INSTRUCTIONS 2-1
SHIPPING LIST

Table 2-1 lists the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil parts. Please note that
only the coil and configuration ordered will be supplied. Check that all parts
ordered have been shipped.

TABLE 2-1

SHIPPING LIST FOR THE QUADRATURE

LOWER EXTREMITY COIL

QTY. ITEM PART NO.

1.0T 14600P1
1 Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil
1.5T 14600
1.0T 14621P1
1 Cable Assembly
1.5T 14621
1 Foot Support Pad 14626
1 Leg/Foot Support Pad 14627
1 Toe Pad 14628
1 Knee Pad 14629
1 Tips Sheet 14614
1 MSDS 10818
Bottle Phantom (contains NaCl &
1 14607
CuSO4⋅5H2O)
1 Operator’s Manual M472GE

M472GE Rev.12
2-2 COIL INSTRUCTIONS

Quadrature Lower
Extremity Coil

The Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil is comprised of a

coil, a positioning base, and a set of positioning pads.
Figure 2-1

COIL DESCRIPTION

The Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil is a quadrature transmit and

receive imaging coil which means the RF is both sent and received from the
imaging coil antenna. The unique “chimney” design of the upper half of the
coil allows imaging of the foot and ankle in a comfortable, neutral position.
Several features make patient positioning particularly easy:

1. The top half of the coil disconnects from the bottom half for ease of
patient entry and exit.

2. The base allows you to move the coil left or right into alignment
with the anatomy to be scanned.

3. A locking device on the support keeps the coil in place.

4. A numbering scale allows you to estimate the lateral offset.

M472GE Rev.12
COIL INSTRUCTIONS 2-3
PAD DESCRIPTION

Four pads are supplied with the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil. One pad
supports the knee during examinations of the knee, one pad supports the
foot/ankle during foot/ankle examinations, one pad stabilizes the forefoot,
and one pad supports the unaffected extremity. The pads are designed to
raise the knee or ankle to isocenter in the coronal plane. If more padding is
necessary to align the extremity with isocenter or to increase patient
comfort, use additional pads from the department.

COIL POSITIONING

1. Attach the cable assembly to the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil.

Each cable is color coded to insure proper connection.

2. Place the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil on the patient cradle

towards the bore end of the cradle. The coil cables should exit
toward the magnet. The coil base should be centered on the cradle
side to side.

3. Release the coil centering lever(s) and slide the coil laterally to its
desired position. Secure the coil in its desired position to ensure that
the coil will not move during imaging.

Always position the coil as close to magnet isocenter on the base as

possible. Image quality decreases the further off-center the coil is
positioned. This is especially important if fat saturation techniques
will be employed.

4. Remove the top half of the coil. Apply downward pressure on the
latches located on either side of the coil to release the latches and
separate the two halves of the coil.

5. Position the Quality Assurance Phantom or the patient within the

coil. Refer to either the QUALITY ASSURANCE or PATIENT
PREPARATION & POSITIONING Sections for more detailed
positioning information.

6. Put the top half of the coil back in place. Be sure to align the coil
pins on the top half with the receiver holes on the coil bottom half
(note that there is only one way in which it can connect). Secure the
anterior portion of the coil.

M472GE Rev.12
2-4 COIL INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: The anterior portion of the Quadrature Lower

Extremity Coil must be clamped completely to the
posterior portion. Failure to do so may cause
severe anterior signal drop-off or coil damage!

7. Raise the patient table to “full up” position. Ensure that the RF
cables do not get caught in the table or system while the table is
being raised.

SYSTEM/COIL
CONNECTION

1. Connect the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil to the scanner by

plugging the adapter box into the surface coil port.

2. Check the green LED on the adapter box to ensure that it is

illuminated. This indicates that the fuses in the coil are functioning
properly.

COIL ALIGNMENT

1. Turn on the alignment lights and align the axial plane to the
alignment marks on the anterior portion of the coil.

2. If the coil is offset laterally, record the numerical amount from the
numbered scale on the coil base. Enter the offset distance on the
scan range page of your protocol.

3. Landmark the coil and Advance To Scan.

CAUTION: This is a transmit/receive coil. Use only

[ EXTREM ] coil selection. Any other
selection will damage the coil. DO NOT
localize or scan using the body coil or COIL
DAMAGE WILL OCCUR!

M472GE Rev.12
COIL INSTRUCTIONS 2-5
SYSTEM COIL
SELECTION
If you have not had a specific soft key configured for the Quadrature Lower
Extremity Coil, select the Coil Selection appropriate for your system:

4.X Systems:
(1.5T ONLY) Select the [OTHER COILS] soft key on the patient
parameters page.

Select the [OTHER] soft key on the

Transmit/Receive Coil line or select the
[EXTREM] soft key.

5.X Systems:
(1.5T ONLY) Select the [OTHER COILS] soft key on the patient
parameters page.

Select the [EXTREM] soft key on the

Transmit/Receive line.

5.X Systems:
(1.0T ONLY) Select the [OTHER COILS] soft key on the patient
parameters page.

Select the [QUADEXT] soft key on the

Transmit/Receive line.

LX Systems:
(1.5T, 1.0T) At the “Patient Position” area, select [...] to the right
of the Coil type-in field. A pop-up window of
available coils will appear.

Click on [Surface] under coil types.

Click on [EXTREM] in the Surface Coil list.

Select [Accept].

NOTE: For systems with 9.0 software or higher, the name for this
coil is: QUADKNEE

Add the coil using the Configuration File Manager. Refer

to: Service Methods CD; System Level Procedures;
Software Utilities.

M472GE Rev.12
2-6 COIL INSTRUCTIONS
Choosing a coil selection that transmits with the body coil WILL
damage the coil! If you are not confident that a coil selection is a
Transmit/Receive selection, perform the following simple test to help
confirm if the selection is correct.

1. Connect a receive-only coil (i.e., GP Flex, circular loop, Quad T/L

etc.) to the system. Position a quality assurance phantom in or on the
coil. Landmark and Advance To Scan.

2. Prescribe a scan using protocol such as the one outlined in the

QUALITY ASSURANCE Section of this manual. For coil
selection, choose the system coil selection/s that you plan to use
when scanning with the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil.
Attempt to complete a scan with each selection and observe for one
of the following results:

• If a “TR Driver fault” error appears, most likely the selection

is configured as a phased array coil. DO NOT use this
selection with the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil.

• If the scan completes successfully, most likely the selection

is configured as a body transmit, receive-only coil. DO
NOT use this selection with the Quadrature Lower
Extremity Coil.

• If the scan does not complete, and a “TR Driver fault”

DOES NOT appear, you most likely have chosen a
Transmit/Receive selection appropriate for the Quadrature
Lower Extremity Coil.

If any of the results from the previous tests raise concerns about using a
particular system coil selection with the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil,
have your G.E. Service Engineer evaluate the situation further!

M472GE Rev.12
COIL INSTRUCTIONS 2-7
NOTE: If you wish, contact your G.E. Service Engineer to configure a coil selection
specifically for the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil. The values entered
should be identical to the default values for the 1.5T and 1.0T G.E.
Transmit/Receive extremity coil. These values are included in
Table 2-2. It is not imperative for a specific coil selection to be created for
the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil to function properly so long as a
Transmit/Receive Extremity Coil is selected.

TABLE 2-2

COIL CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS

1.5T 1.0T
Quad Lower Quad Lower
IGC-MAI Coil
Extremity Extremity
Use same coil config as: EXTREM QUADEXT
CoilType 1 1
EXT Coil? Yes Yes
Cable Loss 1.3 1.45
Coil Loss 0.032 0.0173
Recon Scale Factor 1 1
Linear (1) vs. Quad (0) Quad Quad
Multi Receiver Coil? No No
# of Receivers 0 0
Starting Receiver ID 0 0
Ending Receiver ID 0 0
Multi-Coil Port Enable 0 0
Multi-Coil Port Error Enable 0 0
Additional Transmit Attenuation 0 30
# of Fast Receivers 1 1
Starting Fast Receiver ID 4 4
Ending Fast Receiver ID 4 4
Fast TG Start TA 190 190
Fast TG Start RA 12 12
Multicoil Recon Enable 0 0
Head Default Freq Direction 1 1

For Systems with 9.0 Software or higher, please use:

CoilName QUADKNEE QUADKNEE
Fast TG Start TA 90 90

M472GE Rev.12
QUALITY ASSURANCE 3-1
RECONSTITUTION INSTRUCTIONS
FOR PHANTOM BOTTLE

1. Unscrew the cap from the phantom bottle.

2. Fill the phantom bottle approximately half full with distilled water.
The proper amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) and copper sulfate
(CuSO4⋅5H2O) has been added to the bottle.

3. Securely screw the phantom bottle cap back on.

4. Shake the bottle vigorously to dissolve the sodium chloride and

copper sulfate.

5. Unscrew the cap from the phantom bottle.

6. Fill the bottle completely with distilled water so that no air bubbles
are present (all the way to the rim).

7. Securely screw the bottle cap back on.

INITIAL SNR
MEASUREMENT

1. Follow the reconstitution instructions above to prepare the bottle

phantom.

2. Position the coil on the cradle, raise the table and connect the coil
according to the steps outlined on Pages 2-2 and 2-3 of the COIL
INSTRUCTIONS Section of this manual.

3. Insert the phantom into the coil (with the top half of the coil
connected) so that the length of the phantom runs along the axis of
the coil. Use the knee pad, supplied with the coil, to position the
phantom in the coil center. Make sure that the coil is centered on the
coil positioning support. (Figure 3-1)

M472GE Rev.12
3-2 QUALITY ASSURANCE

Figure 3-1

4. Align the coil, landmark and advance the cradle to scan as

previously described in the COIL INSTRUCTIONS Section.

5. Prescribe and scan the protocol found on the next page. Be sure to
choose the proper system coil selection as detailed on Page 2-5.

CAUTION: This is a transmit/receive coil. Use only

[ EXTREM ] coil selection. Any other coil
selection will damage the coil. To prevent
damage to coil DO NOT scan using the body
coil!

M472GE Rev.12
QUALITY ASSURANCE 3-3

SCAN PROTOCOL

Scan Plane Axial

Field of View 20 cm
Pulse Sequence SE
TR 600
TE 20
Start Location 0
# of Slices 1
Slice Thickness 3 mm
Nex 1
Matrix Size 256 x 128

6. Display the image and check for artifacts. If no artifacts are visible,
go to Step 7. If artifacts are present, eliminate them by checking for
the following:

• Check for metal on the phantom, padding, coil, and patient

table.

• Check that the color coded cables are correctly attached and
that the top half of the coil is fully closed.

7. Display a circular cursor approximately 2 cm in diameter. Position

the cursor at the phantom center.

8. Generate an ROI from the display menu and record the Signal Mean
Value in Table 3-1 on Page 3-4.

9. Move the cursor to the background, to the top right of the screen, out
of the phantom image.

10. Generate another ROI from the display menu on the touch screen
and record the Noise Standard Deviation value of the cursor area in
Table 3-1 on Page 3-4.

M472GE Rev.12
3-4 QUALITY ASSURANCE
11. Calculate the Signal-to-Noise ratio from the following equation and
record in Table 3-1 below:

• Value from Step 8

Value from Step 10

Table 3-1

Original SNR Data Obtained at Initial Coil Installation

Date Signal Mean Value Standard Deviation SNR Value

of Phantom of Noise (Step 11)
(Step 8) (Step 10)

NOTE: THE ABOVE SNR DATA PROVIDES IMPORTANT BASELINE

DATA USED IN CALCULATING FUTURE COIL PERFORMANCE.

Once the Initial SNR Measurement has been completed and the values
recorded in Table 3-1, the Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil is ready to be
used for clinical imaging.

PERIODIC QUALITY
ASSURANCE CHECK

On a periodic basis, such as during Preventative Maintenance, perform the

quality assurance check outlined below to ensure that the Quadrature Lower
Extremity Coil is operating properly with no appreciable degradation of
image quality.

To maintain consistent image quality, the Periodic Quality Assurance

procedure should also be performed in the event of major system software
and/or hardware changes or upgrades.

1. Follow the steps previously described in this section for Initial SNR
Measurement to obtain a phantom image from the coil.

2. Generate ROI’s of the phantom and the background noise as

described in the Initial SNR Measurement Section.

M472GE Rev.12
QUALITY ASSURANCE 3-5
3. Record the Signal Mean Value from the phantom ROI in Table 3-2,
Periodic SNR Data on Page 3-6.

4. Record the Standard Deviation value of the noise ROI in Table 3-2,
Periodic SNR Data on Page 3-6.

5. Calculate the Signal-to-Noise ratio from the following equation and

record in Table 3-2 on Page 3-6:

• Mean Value from phantom ROI

Standard Deviation from noise ROI

6. Divide the SNR value obtained in the periodic QA check (recorded

in column 4) by the original SNR value. The original SNR value can
be found in Table 3-1 on Page 3-4.

7. Multiply the value from Step 10 by 100, and record this percentage
in column 5 of Table 3-2 on Page 3-6.

8. If this percentage is not greater than 85%, then the coil may be
damaged or there may be a problem with your system. Follow the
troubleshooting instructions in the Troubleshooting/Maintenance
Section of the manual.

CAUTION: This is a transmit/receive coil. Use only

[ EXTREM ] coil selection. Any other coil
selection will damage the coil. To prevent
damage to coil DO NOT scan using the body
coil!

M472GE Rev.12
3-6 QUALITY ASSURANCE

TABLE 3-2

PERIODIC SNR DATA

1 2 3 4 5
DATE SIGNAL MEAN NOISE SNR VALUE VALUE IN
VALUE STANDARD COLUMN 4
DEVIATION DIVIDED BY
VALUE ORIGINAL
VALUE X 100

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%

> 85%
> 85%

> 85%

> 85%
> 85%

> 85%

> 85%
> 85%

M472GE Rev.12
PATIENT PREPARATION & POSITIONING 4-1
PATIENT
PREPARATION

The following are some patient preparation considerations to be aware of

before positioning for the exam.

1. Have the patient remove any deodorant, jewelry or clothing that

may interfere with the study.

2. Be aware of skin tattoos that may contraindicate scanning.

3. Apply skin markers as requested by your Radiologist.

GENERAL PATIENT
POSITIONING GUIDELINES

Here are some general positioning guidelines to keep in mind.

1. Position the coil at the end of the table closest to the bore. Check to
see that the cable from the coil is not too far away to plug in. Place
the table mat on the cradle superior to the coil to provide a more
even positioning surface.

2. Keep the base of the coil centered on the cradle. Offset the coil
within the base to adjust for patient size and comfort. Lock the coil
down when in position and record the offset distance for use during
the exam.

3. Be sure not to pinch any gowns or bedding material between the coil
halves when attaching the top half of the coil. This would cause poor
image quality and possibly result in damage to the coil.

4. Padding is provided that is designed for either knee imaging or for

specific ankle and foot imaging. Additional padding or towels from
the department may be required for patient comfort and
immobilization depending on the anatomy to be imaged and patient
size.

5. Position the patient’s arms in a comfortable position either over

their chest or at the sides. Utilize additional pillows or sponges to
support the patient and make them comfortable.

M472GE Rev.12
4-2 PATIENT PREPARATION & POSITIONING
Refer to the images below for the two most common applications using the
Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil, knee imaging (Figure 4-1) and
ankle/foot imaging (Figure 4-2).

For knee imaging, place the

knee in the coil so that the apex
of the patella is located in the
center of the coil. Adjust the
rotation of the leg so that the
patient is comfortable and
positioned according to
department protocol. Support
the leg above and below the
coil. Immobilize the knee as
Position the knee within the needed.
Quadrature Lower Extremity Coil.
Figure 4-1

For ankle or foot imaging,

place the ankle in the coil with
the foot flexed so that it will
extend up into the foot
extension of the coil and
position with the ankle/foot
pad. Utilize additional padding
to immobilize the toes and foot
within the “chimney” portion of
the coil. Support the leg as
needed. Immobilize the ankle
and foot as needed. Position the foot and ankle within the
coil. (Note: Ankle/foot pads not shown for
detail.)
Figure 4-2

M472GE Rev.12
PROTOCOLS 5-1
GENERAL PROTOCOL
CONSIDERATIONS

Proceed to scan using your designated protocols and/or the ones included in
the following section. You may use the protocols supplied as is or modify
them to suit your needs keeping in mind the inherent tradeoffs involved in
MR parameter selection. The parameters achievable on your scanner may
vary slightly from those supplied here due to differences in system
software.

Listed below are a few applications considerations to keep in mind when

scanning:

• A coronal or axial localizer will be easier to prescribe and scan than

a sagittal localizer that would require a more precise entry of scan
locations.

• Always try to keep the coil positioned as close to isocenter as

possible. This is especially important if fat suppression techniques
will be used.

• When performing fat saturation, be sure to check the CFA Fine

setting in manual pre-scan and adjust the center frequency of water
if needed. This should be done for each scan using fat saturation and
is very important if homogeneous fat suppression is desired!

• To optimize fat saturation further, after centering the water peak,

utilize the commands “mrsp”, “cstun” and “1” to view the prescan
spectrum with the fat saturation in affect. Type “csa” to visualize
the default setting for the amplitude of the fat saturation pulse. Enter
higher or lower numbers (usually higher) to minimize the fat peak
as much as possible. Refer to your system operator’s manual for
detailed information on the procedure.

• When performing Inversion Recovery techniques for fat

suppression, check that selected TI time is correct. From the CFA
Fine screen in manual pre-scan, type “mrsp”, then “titime”. The
presently selected TI time appears. At this point, different inversion
times can be entered to see their affect on the fat peak. If a time other
than the initially prescribed TI time is found to produce improved
fat suppression, go back to the SCAN TIMING page and change the
selected TI time and proceed with completing the scan. Refer to
your system operator’s manual for detailed information on the
procedure.

M472GE Rev.12
5-2 PROTOCOLS
Sagittal Sagittal Sagittal Coronal
Axial Coronal
Oblique Oblique Oblique Oblique Sagittal 3D
PARAMETERS Gradient
FSE PD FSE T2 Routine SE FSE PD
Oblique
GRE
Localizer T1
w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 3D
PULSE SEQUENCE Gre,FC Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Gre
Fast,NPW,
IMAGING OPTIONS FC Fast,NPW NPW Fast,TRF - Fast,Gx,FC
TRF
PSD TYPE IN - - - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 20 1 1 1 1 1 30

TE (ms) Min 30 102 Min Full 30 Min Full 15
TR (ms) 200 2000 4000 650 2000 600 Min
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - - - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - 4 8 - 4 - -

AUTOSHIM On On On On On On On
PHASE CORRECTION Off On On - On - -

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 16 16 16 16 16 16
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION Slice - - - - - Freq

FOV (cm) 16 14 14 14 14 14 14
SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 5 4 4 4 4 4 1.5
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. I55 - S55 Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS SI SI SI SI SI SI SI
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - Fat Fat Fat Fat - -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224
FREQUENCY DIRECTION RL AP AP AP SI SI SI
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2 2 1

Protocol: KNEE For: G.E. Signa® 1.5T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Apex Of Patella

M472GE Rev.12
PROTOCOLS 5-3
Sagittal Sagittal Sagittal Coronal
Axial Coronal
Oblique Oblique Oblique Oblique Sagittal 3D
PARAMETERS Gradient
FSE PD FSE T2 Routine SE FSE PD
Oblique
GRE
Localizer T1
w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 3D
PULSE SEQUENCE Gre Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Gre
Fast,NPW,
Fast,NPW, NPW,VB, Fast,TRF, Fast,Gx,
IMAGING OPTIONS FC,ED TRF,VB EDR
VB,ED EDR EDR VB,EDR
ED
PSD TYPE IN - - - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 20 1 1 1 1 1 30

TE (ms) Min 30 102 Min Full 30 Min Full Min
TR (ms) 200 2000 4000 650 2000 600 Auto
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - - - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - 6 8 - 6 - -

AUTOSHIM On On On On On On On
PHASE CORRECTION - On On - On - -

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 8 8 16 8 16 6
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

FOV (cm) Slice - - - - - -

SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 5 4 4 4 4 4 1.5
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. I50 - S50 Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS - SI SI SI SI SI SI
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - Fat Fat Fat Fat - -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224
FREQUENCY DIRECTION RL AP AP AP SI SI SI
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2 2 1

Protocol: KNEE For: G.E. Signa® 1.0T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Apex of Patella

M472GE Rev.12
5-4 PROTOCOLS
Coronal
Sagittal Sagittal Axial
Coronal Sagittal Oblique Sagittal 3D
PARAMETERS T1 FSE PD
FSE PD
Oblique
T1 Fast IR GRE
Localizer w/ Fat Sat T1
w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 3D
PULSE SEQUENCE Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo IR Spin Echo Spin Echo Gre
IMAGING OPTIONS - - Fast,TRF Fast,TRF Fast,TRF - -
PSD TYPE IN - - - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 1 1 1 1 1 1 30

TE (ms) Min Min Full 30 30 30 Min Full 15
TR (ms) 500 600 2000 5000 2000 600 25
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - 150 - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - - 6 8 6 - -

AUTOSHIM On On On On On - On
PHASE CORRECTION - - On On On - -

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 16 16 16 16 16 16
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION - - - - - - -

FOV (cm) 16 14 14 14 14 10 18
SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 5 3 3 4 3 4 1.5
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. Offset Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS - SI SI SI SI SI -
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - - Fat - Fat - -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 192 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 192
FREQUENCY DIRECTION SI SI SI SI SI RL SI
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2 2 1

Protocol: ANKLE For: G.E. Signa® 1.5T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Tibiotalar Jt.

M472GE Rev.12
PROTOCOLS 5-5
Coronal
Sagittal Sagittal Axial
Coronal Sagittal Oblique Sagittal 3D
PARAMETERS T1 FSE PD
FSE PD
Oblique
T1 Fast IR GRE
Localizer w/ Fat Sat T1
w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D 3D
PULSE SEQUENCE Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo IR Spin Echo Spin Echo Gre
Fast,EDR, Fast,EDR, Fast,EDR,
IMAGING OPTIONS EDR EDR,VB EDR,VB EDR,VB
VB,TRF VB,TRF VB,TRF
PSD TYPE IN - - - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 1 1 1 1 1 1 30

TE (ms) Min Min Full 30 30 30 Min Full 15
TR (ms) 500 600 2000 3000 2000 650 25
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - 100 - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - - 6 6 6 - -

AUTOSHIM On On On On On - On
PHASE CORRECTION - - On On On - -

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 12 12 12 12 12 10
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION - - - - - - -

FOV (cm) 16 14 14 14 14 14 18
SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 5 3 3 4 4 4 1.5
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. Offset Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS - SI SI - SI SI -
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - - Fat - Fat - -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 192 256 x 224 245 x 224 245 x 192
FREQUENCY DIRECTION SI SI SI SI SI RL SI
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2 2 1

Protocol: ANKLE For: G.E. Signa® 1.0T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Tibiotalar Jt.

M472GE Rev.12
5-6 PROTOCOLS

Axial Sagittal Sagittal Coronal

Axial FSE
PARAMETERS T1 FSE PD FSE T2 Routine SE
T2
Localizer w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 3D
PULSE SEQUENCE Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo
IMAGING OPTIONS - Fast,TRF Fast,VB VB Fast,VB
PSD TYPE IN - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 1 1 1 1 1

TE (ms) Min 30 102 Min Full 102
TR (ms) 400 2000 5000 600 5000
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - 6 8 - 8

AUTOSHIM On On On On On
PHASE CORRECTION - On On - On

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 16 10 10 10
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION - - - - -

FOV (cm) 18 Pt Size Pt Size Pt Size Pt Size

SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 4 4 3 3 3
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 1 1 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. I50 - S50 Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS SI SI SI SI SI
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - Fat Fat Fat -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224
FREQUENCY DIRECTION RL SI SI SI RL
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2

Protocol: FOOT For: G.E. Signa® 1.5T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Mid Foot

M472GE Rev.12
PROTOCOLS 5-7

Axial Sagittal Sagittal Coronal

Axial FSE
PARAMETERS T1 FSE PD FSE T2 Routine SE
T2
Localizer w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat w/ Fat Sat

IMAGE MODE 2D 2D 2D 2D 2D
PULSE SEQUENCE Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo Spin Echo
Fast,TRF, Fast,TRF, Fast,EDR,
IMAGING OPTIONS EDR EDR
EDR,VB EDR,VB VB
PSD TYPE IN - - - - -

FLIP ANGLE (or # ECHOS) 1 1 1 1 1

TE (ms) Min 30 102 Min Full 102
TR (ms) 500 2000 5000 600 5000
INVERSION TIME (ms) - - - - -
ECHO TRAIN LENGTH - 6 8 - 8

AUTOSHIM On On On On -
PHASE CORRECTION - On On - On

RECEIVE BANDWIDTH
16 12 10 10 10
(KHz)

FLOW COMP. DIRECTION - - - - -

FOV (cm) 18 Pt Size Pt Size Pt Size Pt Size

SCAN THICKNESS (mm) 4 4 4 4 4
INTERSCAN SPACE (mm) 1 1 1 0 0
EXPLICIT / GRAPHIC Rx. I50 - S50 Gx Gx Gx Gx
EXPLICIT SATS SI SI SI SI SI
FAT / WATER SAT (Y/N) - Fat Fat Fat -

MATRIX (Freq X Phase) 256 x 160 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224 256 x 224
FREQUENCY DIRECTION RL SI SI SI SI
PHASE FOV 1 1 1 1 1
NEX 1 2 2 2 2

Protocol: FOOT For: G.E. Signa® 1.0T

Patient Entry: Feet First/Supine Landmark: Mid Foot

M472GE Rev.12
TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE 6-1
TROUBLESHOOTING

The following is a list of common problems and solutions for those problems. If you cannot solve a
problem by following the procedures in the manual, contact IGC-Medical Advances Inc. Customer
Service at 1-800-657-0891 between the hours of 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM, (United States Central Standard
Time) Monday through Friday to arrange for service/repair or to speak with an Applications Specialist.

Further correspondence can be sent to the following address: Customer Service

IGC-Medical Advances Inc.
10437 Innovation Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53226-4815 USA
Tel: 1 (414) 258-3808
Fax: 1 (414) 258-4931

RECEIVING NO SIGNAL

PROBLEM: You are unable to pre-scan or are scanning and yet receiving no signal.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Verify that you have selected the appropriate system coil selection. Refer to
Page 2-5 for additional information.

Verify that the cable is correctly connected to the system and that it is
completely plugged in.

Verify that the landmark is correct and that the cradle has not unlatched.

Verify that the scan locations and any FOV offsets are correct.

Perform a Continuity Check on the external cable (to be performed by a

G.E. authorized Service Engineer only).

If you still cannot get a signal, try to scan (transmit and receive) with the
body coil. For this test, be sure to remove the imaging coil from the
magnet bore before you scan with the body coil. If you still receive no
signal the problem probably lies with your MR system. If the body coil scan
is satisfactory, attempt a scan using both another coil of the exact same
type (receive-only, phased array or transmit/receive, whichever applies)
and the same system coil selection. If the scan completes successfully, there
is probably a problem with the IGC-Medical Advances Inc. coil. Contact
IGC-Medical Advances Inc. for further assistance. If you are unable to scan
with the substitute coil, there may be a system problem related to this
particular coil type.

M472GE Rev.12
6-2 TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE
IMAGE QUALITY
PROBLEM: The ratio obtained in the periodic quality assurance check is not greater than
85%, or the image quality is not what you expect it should be, given the
parameters selected.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Review the selected protocol. If you are performing the Periodic Quality
Assurance, be sure your protocol is identical to the protocol provided on
Page 3-3 of this manual. If you are performing diagnostic images, you may
need to increase NEX or FOV.

Perform a Continuity Check on the external cable (to be performed by a

G.E. authorized Service Engineer only).

Verify that there are no loops in the cables.

Verify that there are no metal or ferromagnetic objects close to the coil,
patient or magnet (i.e., safety pin, hair pin).

Verify that the coil is properly positioned.

Verify that your center frequency is within the frequency adjustment range
for your system.

Verify that the R1, R2 and TG values from the pre-scan are within normally
expected ranges.

Cleaning the electrical contacts that connect the upper and lower halves
with Isopropyl Alcohol and a cotton swab has been demonstrated to
improve the coil’s SNR on occasion.

If you have not done so already, perform a system Quality Assurance

phantom test, as outlined in Section 3 of this manual. If the values you
obtain do not fall within normal operating parameters, investigate this
further by performing a phantom scan with the body coil. For this test, be
sure to remove the imaging coil from the magnet bore before you scan
with the body coil. If you still have the same problems, there is probably an
MR system problem. If the body coil scan is satisfactory, acquire a scan
using both another coil of the exact same type (receive-only, phased array
or transmit/receive, whichever applies) and the same system coil selection.
If the image quality is visibly improved, there may be a problem with the
IGC-Medical Advances Inc. coil. Contact IGC-Medical Advances Inc. for
further assistance. If the image quality still suffers, there may be a system
problem related to imaging with this type of coil.

M472GE Rev.12
TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE 6-3
ARTIFACTS

PROBLEM: There is a black line or signal void on the image.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Verify that there is no metal present in the area being scanned in or on the
patient.

PROBLEM: Some or all of the images appear shaded or exhibit uneven signal or
banding.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Confirm that no metallic objects are located nearby, outside the FOV. This
is especially important on images utilizing Fat Saturation.

If Fat Saturation is being used, verify that the CFA fine adjustment has been
optimized.

For quadrature coils: Verify that the coil is positioned with the cable exiting towards the bore and
that the system and coil polarity match.

For phased array coils: Confirm that all phased array channels are functioning properly. Sites that
have a Research Key may perform the following procedure themselves.
Those sites without a Research Key will need to have their G.E. Field
Engineer carry out the procedure utilizing a Service Key.

• Position a phantom on a phased array coil. Prescribe a midline slice

using a sequence such as the one included in the QA Section of this
manual. Use an FOV large enough to visualize the entire coil.

• Perform Auto Prescan, then select Manual Prescan.

• On the bottom most “Enter Command” line of the Manual Prescan

screen, type “saveinter” (lower case). Select “Backup” and
“Scan”.

• An image from each channel will be reconstructed along with the

conventional image generated from the combination of all coils.
Review the image to check for missing signal from one of the
channels.

If the above checks out, it is possible the coil has failed. Contact
IGC-Medical Advances Inc. for assistance.

M472GE Rev.12
6-4 TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE

STORAGE Coils should be stored and used at the same room temperature as your MR
system.

INSPECTION Inspect the coil weekly for mechanical breakage/damage. DO NOT USE A
COIL WHICH HAS SUSTAINED MECHANICAL DAMAGE. Return the
coil to IGC-Medical Advances Inc. for service/repair. This coil contains no
user serviceable parts. All repairs must be performed by factory trained
personnel.

CLEANING The cleaning solutions listed below have been tested and are recommended
(with comments noted) for cleaning the coil(s) and strap(s). Spray or pour
the cleaning liquid onto a soft cotton cloth and proceed to clean.

Solution Comments
1. Warm water Safe for all areas
of the coil(s) or strap(s)

2. Commercial dishwashing Safe for all areas

liquid/water combination of the coil(s) or
(1 oz. per gallon strap(s)
of water)

3. Alcohol mixture (70% Do not apply to

isopropyl alcohol/ adhesive backed materials
30% water) such as labels, decals or Velcro®
fasteners

4. “Break Thru” all purpose Do not apply to

cleaner (25 oz. per gallon adhesive backed materials
of water) such as labels, decals or Velcro®
fasteners

IMPORTANT: Do not spray or pour cleaning liquid directly onto

the coil or cables. Apply to a soft cotton cloth and
proceed to clean.

M472GE Rev.12
TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE 6-5
FUSE/CABLE CONTINUITY
CHECK PROCEDURE

To Be Performed by Authorized Service Engineer Only

Checking the Fuse/External Cable

1. Remove four (4) nylon screws from the cover of the interface box
assembly. (Figure 6-1)

2. Select the OHMMETER function on the Digital Multi-meter

(DMM).

3. Using the DMM, verify if the fuse is blown. If the fuse is blown,
replace the fuse.

4. Using the DMM, verify continuity of the cable by performing the

following operations: (Figure 6-2)

a) A continuity check for Receive should be measured from J1

to the center pin on the Black BNC connector.

b) A continuity check for Transmit should be measured from J3

to the center pin of the Grey BNC connector.

c) A continuity check for Receive should be measured from J2

to the coaxial shield on the Black BNC connector.

d) A continuity check for Transmit should be measured from J4

to the coaxial shield on the Grey BNC connector.

5. Verify open (No short circuit) using DMM between J1 and J2.

6. Verify open (No short circuit) using DMM between J3 and J4.

7. Flex the cable while checking to test for intermittent shorting in the
cable.

8. If the cable fails either test, replace the cable assembly. Affix the
cover to the interface box using four (4) nylon screws and return for
repair.

9. If the cable passes the tests, affix the cover to the interface box using
four (4) nylon screws.

M472GE Rev.12
6-6 TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE

Figure 6-1

Figure 6-2

M472GE Rev.12
TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE 6-7
SPARE PARTS LISTING

Quadrature Knee/Foot Coil Assembly

Figure 6-3

SPARE PARTS LISTING

Item GE Part # MAI Part # Description

2225478-8 14600 GE Signa® 1.5T Foot/Knee Assembly

1
2225479-8 14600P1 GE Signa® 1.0T Foot/Knee Assembly
2225478-9 14621 1.5T Cable Assembly
2
2225479-9 14621P1 1.0T Cable Assembly
3 E8800TD 14629 Knee Pad
4 E8800TE 14627 Leg/Foot Support Pad
5 E8800TF 14626 Foot Support Pad
6 E8800TG 14628 Toe Pad
7 2225478-10 14607 Phantom Assembly
8 2225478-11 M472GE Operator’s Manual
9 2225478-12 10818 Material Safety Data Sheet
10 2225478-13 14614 Tips Sheet
11 2225478-7 14680 Spare Parts Repair Kit (Not Shown)

M472GE Rev.12
6-8 TROUBLESHOOTING/MAINTENANCE
SPARE PARTS LISTING

Latch and Dual-Lock Assemblies

Figure 6-4

SPARE PARTS LISTING

Item Part No. Description

1 20074P2 Draw Latch

2 20117P25 #6-32 x 0.438 FHMS, Brass
3 20146P5 Fuse (Not Shown) (GEMS #2225478-14)
4 14643 Handle, Coil Lock
5 14684 Cover, Lock Handle
6 20271P4 #4-40 x 0.50 RHMS, Brass
7 14644 T-Bracket
8 20136P14 #10-32 x 0.375 PHMS, Brass
9 20287 Rubber Bumper
10 20271P8 #6-32 x 0.50 RHMS, Brass

M472GE Rev.12