SELF-FASTENING CAGE SURROUDING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20080246476A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Uri Rapoport
• Inventors: RAPOPORT, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/307
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3815 with superconducting coils, e.g. power supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/383 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3873 using ferromagnetic bodies ; Passive shimming
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3875 using correction coil assemblies, e.g. active shimming

Abstract

The present invention discloses a novel self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1). In a technology of self-fastening cage, the invention teaches an effective multi-streamed MRD comprising a cage including a closed magnetic circuit constructed from strong permanent magnets; and an optional shimming mechanism selected from an array of active shim coils, passive shimming elements or any combination thereof; a contained cavity within which the magnetic field strength is approximately uniform; and a means, such as a plurality of conveyor belts, pipes or any other transportation means by which a plurality of samples are introduced into the region of uniform magnetic field; such that magnetic resonance measurements are made on a plurality of samples within the region of uniform magnetic field. The invention depicts a cost effective method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of a MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell comprising superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein.

Claims

1. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

said outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1) disposed in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise arrangement;

said MRD comprising;

a. at least six side-magnets (2) arranged in two equal groups being in a face-to-face orientation in a magnetic connection with said outside shell, increasing the overall strength of the magnetic field provided in said cage;

b. at least two pole-magnet pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation in between said side-magnets (2);

c. at least two main-magnets (4), located on said pole-pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation, generating the static magnetic field therein said cage; and

,

d. shimming mechanism, said mechanism is selected from a group consisting of an array of active shim coils, passive shimming elements or a combination thereof;

wherein at least a portion of said side-magnets (2) are superconductors or ferromagnets.

10. An MRD according to claim 1, adapted to measure samples of fluid, said MRD further comprising

a. a plurality of fluid imaging units, each comprising

i. at least one pipe within which a fluid sample flows through the region of uniform magnetic field;

ii. a gradient coil positioned externally to said pipe; and

,

iii. a magnetic resonance measurement probe; and

,

b. a means, especially a CPU, by which the gradient coils of each fluid imaging unit are activated in rapid succession; and

,

c. measuring means, adapted to measure the magnetic resonance on a plurality of discrete fluid samples within the region of uniform magnetic field.

11. The MRD according to claim 10, wherein at least two fluid imaging units are orientated orthogonally such that the gradient coils of both units can be activated simultaneously with no interference.

12. The MRD according to claim 10, wherein at least two fluid imaging units are orientated near orthogonally such that the switching time between activation of the gradient coils of each of the units can be activated almost simultaneously with a small switching time between them.

13. The MRD according to claim 1, wherein the edges of each side-magnets wall are separated by an air gap from the edges of the adjacent side-magnets wall.

2. The self-fastening cage according to claim 2, wherein said pole-pieces are separated by an air gap at a predetermined distance (F).

4. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

said outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1) disposed in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise arrangement;

said MRD comprising;

a. at least six side-magnets (2) arranged in two equal groups being in a face-to-face orientation in a magnetic connection with said outside shell, increasing the overall strength of the magnetic field provided in said cage;

b. at least two pole-magnet pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation in between said side-magnets (2);

c. at least two main-magnets (4), located on said pole-pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation, generating the static magnetic field therein said cage;

d. shimming mechanism, said mechanism is selected from a group consisting of an array of active shim coils, passive shimming elements or a combination thereof; and

,

e. at least one corner-magnet (5) adapted to adjust the magnetic field therein.

3. The self-fastening cage according to claim 6, wherein the pole-piece area, the dimensions of side-magnets (2), i.e. its thickness (C), width (D), length (E), the main magnet and the air gap (F) determine the magnetic field strength and its uniformity.

5. The self-fastening cage according to claim 4, wherein corner-magnets form a polyhedron, cylinder or any combination thereof.

6. self-fastening cage according to claim 4, wherein at least one cylinder corner-magnet comprises at least one bore exceeded along the corner magnet'"'"'s longitudinal axis, adapted thus to accommodate a rotating means suitable for adjusting the magnetic field provided in said cage.

7. The self-fastening cage according to claim 4, wherein at least one cylinder corner-magnet is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

8. The self-fastening cage according to claim 4, wherein said corner-magnet is defined by parameters;

namely the angle between the flux line of the magnet and the edge of the pole-piece (α

), its length (A) and its width (B).

9. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) with a shimming mechanism, useful for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

comprising at least two feeding system comprising at least two adjacent feeding streams carrying a plurality of objects to be detected or analyzed simultaneously or in any predetermined sequence;

wherein said at least two feeding systems are oriented in a plurality of planes thus being in a 3D orientation.

19. A method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of an MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell, comprising steps of superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein;

providing a shimming mechanism; and

, adjusting the angle between the flux line of the magnet and the edge of the pole-piece (o) to optimize the uniformity of the field after the cage manufacturing.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising step of feeding streams carrying a plurality of objects to be detected or analyzed simultaneously or in any predetermined sequence.

22. The method according to claim 19 adapted for measuring samples of fluid;

said method further comprising step of measuring the magnetic resonance on a plurality of discrete fluid samples within the region of uniform magnetic field.

20. A method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of an MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell, comprising steps of superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) and applying shimming so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein;

rotating one or more cylinder corner-magnets hence providing fine adjustments of the magnetic field;

directing the flux line; and

compensating the field created by impurities occurred during the manufacturing process of magnet materials.