Apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic objects at a protected doorway assembly
First Claim
1. An MRI room protection apparatus configured to protect an entrance to an MRI room, the apparatus comprising:
- a magnetic sensor apparatus adapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of at least one magnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurement signal,a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus,a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor means, anda warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus at least one of an audible alarm and a visible alarm,and further in which;
the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporal variations in the measurement signal due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlate the identified temporal variations in the measurement signal with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processing circuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone,and further in which the signal processing circuit is adapted to determine the direction from which an object is approaching the entrance from the output signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and to modify the operation of the warning device dependent on the direction of approach,wherein the non-magnetic sensor means comprises a first non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within the primary detection zone and a second non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within a second detection zone,wherein the first non-magnetic sensor and the second non-magnetic sensor each comprise an optical sensor and a light beam, the light beam extending across a region of space that defines the respective primary detection zone and second detection zone,wherein the apparatus is fitted to a doorway, the non-magnetic sensor means being located in or adjacent to the doorway, and wherein the non-magnetic sensor means is configured to detect an object at a time when the object is passing through the doorway, wherein the object traverses the doorway in a time of up to 3 seconds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone. It also determines the direction from which an object is approaching the using signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and modifies the operation of the warning device dependent on the direction.
87 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An MRI room protection apparatus configured to protect an entrance to an MRI room, the apparatus comprising:
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a magnetic sensor apparatus adapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of at least one magnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurement signal, a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor means, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus at least one of an audible alarm and a visible alarm, and further in which; the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporal variations in the measurement signal due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlate the identified temporal variations in the measurement signal with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processing circuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone, and further in which the signal processing circuit is adapted to determine the direction from which an object is approaching the entrance from the output signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and to modify the operation of the warning device dependent on the direction of approach, wherein the non-magnetic sensor means comprises a first non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within the primary detection zone and a second non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within a second detection zone, wherein the first non-magnetic sensor and the second non-magnetic sensor each comprise an optical sensor and a light beam, the light beam extending across a region of space that defines the respective primary detection zone and second detection zone, wherein the apparatus is fitted to a doorway, the non-magnetic sensor means being located in or adjacent to the doorway, and wherein the non-magnetic sensor means is configured to detect an object at a time when the object is passing through the doorway, wherein the object traverses the doorway in a time of up to 3 seconds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An MRI room protection apparatus configured to protect an entrance to an MRI room, the apparatus comprising:
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a magnetic sensor apparatus adapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of at least one magnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurement signal, a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor means, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus at least one of an audible alarm and a visible alarm, and further in which the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporal variations in the measurement signal due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlate the identified temporal variations in the measurement signal with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processing circuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone, and further in which the signal processing circuit is adapted to determine the direction from which an object is approaching the entrance from the output signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and to modify the operation of the warning device dependent on the direction of approach, wherein the non-magnetic sensor means comprises a first non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone and a second non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within a second detection zone, wherein the first non-magnetic sensor and the second non-magnetic sensor each comprise an optical sensor and a light beam, the light beam extending across a region of space that defines the respective primary detection zone and second detection zone, the apparatus being adapted to suppress the alarm for a defined period of time sufficient to allow a person to move through the entrance, entering and then leaving the detection zone of the magnetic sensor apparatus, and wherein the non-magnetic sensor means is configured to detect an object at a time when the object is passing through the entrance, wherein the object traverses the entrance in a time of up to 3 seconds. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification