Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method of displaying information thereof

• US 10,006,975 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ohgishi, Norifumi, Shimo, Yukitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Jr., Duane N
• Application Number:
  US13/336,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,377 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/06 Handling electromagnetic interferences [EMI], covering emitted as well as received electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to collect magnetic resonance signals from a subject is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generating device, and an electronic paper located at the magnetic field generating device and configured to display predetermined information.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to collect magnetic resonance signals from a human being, the apparatus comprising:

a magnetic field generating device configured to generate a magnetic field within an accommodation space that is configured to accommodate the human being, wherein the magnetic field generating device is located in a shielded room, and wherein the accommodation space is enclosed by the magnetic field generating device and is defined by a table configured to support the human being and a sidewall that forms sides and a top of the accommodation space;

an electronic display coupled to and conforming to the sidewall that forms the sides and the top of the accommodation space, the electronic display configured to display predetermined information for viewing by the human being;

a control device located outside of the shield room and configured to control the electronic display; and

a cable connecting the electronic display to the control device, the cable comprising;

signal lines;

an inner shield covering the signal lines and extending a first length; and

an outer shield located outside of the inner shield and extending a second length that is less than the first length, wherein the outer shield is provided on a side of the cable proximate the electronic display, and wherein the inner shield and the outer shield form a double-shield structure.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an external electronic display is coupled to and conforming to an external surface of the magnetic field generating device.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device is configured to control the external electronic display, and wherein the cable connects the external electronic display to the control device.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises an insulator between the inner shield and the outer shield.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cable further comprises an insulator between the inner shield and the outer shield.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises noise elimination filters configured to eliminate noise from the signal lines.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cable further comprises noise elimination filters configured to eliminate noise from the signal lines.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the noise elimination filters comprise one of capacitors, ferrites, and baluns.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic display is of an electrophoretic type.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external electronic display is configured to display at least one of a name of the human being, a weight of the human being, a date of birth of the human being, and a body weight of the human being.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one capacitor is electrically coupled between the signal lines and the inner shield.

16. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation space is one of a tunnel-type accommodation space and an open-type accommodation space.

10. A method of displaying information in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to collect magnetic resonance signals from a human being positioned within an accommodation space that is enclosed by a magnetic field generating device, wherein the magnetic field generating device is located in a shielded room, and wherein the accommodation space is defined by a table that supports the human being and a sidewall that forms sides and a top of the accommodation space, the method comprising:

providing an electronic display that is coupled to and conforming to the sidewall that forms the sides and the top of the accommodation space;

controlling the electronic display by transmitting signals through a cable that connects a control device located outside of the shielded room to the electronic display, the cable including signal lines, an inner shield covering the signal lines and extending a first length, and an outer shield located outside of the inner shield and extending a second length that is less than the first length, wherein the outer shield is provided on a side of the cable proximate the electronic display, and wherein the inner shield and the outer shield form a double-shield structure; and

displaying for viewing by the human being, predetermined information using the electronic display.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electronic display is configured to display a remaining scan time.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electronic display is further configured to display at least one of a field, a sky, and a forest.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein controlling the electronic display by transmitting signals through a cable comprises transmitting signals through a cable that includes at least one capacitor electrically coupled between the signal lines and the inner shield.