CAGE IN AN MRD WITH A FASTENING/ATTENUATING SYSTEM

• US 20120119742A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aspect Magnet Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Rapoport, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 9,448,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3802 Manufacture or installation of magnet assemblies; Additional hardware for transportation or installation of the magnet assembly or for providing mechanical support to components of the magnet assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/383 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

A cage with a fastening system (1) in a magnetic resonance device (MRD) is disclosed, said cage in an MRD comprising (a) M pole pieces (45) (M≧2); (b) N side magnets (20) (N≧2), said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein; (c) N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets; (d) P face walls (30) (P≧2); and (e) a plurality of fastening rods (100); wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A cage with a fastening system in a magnetic resonance device (MRD), said cage with fastening system (1) comprising:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets (20), where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

,

e. a plurality of fastening rods (100);

wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces.

29. A cage with a fastening system in a MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (2), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

,

e. a plurality of fastening screws (200);

wherein each of said fastening screws physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls.

30. A cage with a fastening system in a MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (3), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

e. A plurality of fastening rods (100); and

,

f. A plurality of fastening screws (200);

wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces, and further wherein each of said fastening screws physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls.

31. A cage with a fastening system in a MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (5), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10) defined by at least one shaped recess, said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets; and

,

d. P face walls (30) defined by at least one anchoring latch (210) suitable to be securely accommodated within said shaped recess, where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

,

e. a plurality of fastening screws (200);

wherein each of said at least one anchoring latches physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls.

32. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (6), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

,

e. at least one fastening belt (400);

wherein said at least one fastening belt physically interconnects at least a portion of the circumference of said cage.

33. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (7), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

e. a plurality of fastening rods (100); and

,

f. at least one fastening belt (400);

wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces; and

further wherein said at least one fastening belt physically interconnects at least a portion of the circumference of said cage.

34. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (8), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

e. a plurality of fastening screws (200); and

,

f. at least one fastening belt (400);

wherein each of said fastening screws physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls; and

further wherein each of said fastening belts physically interconnects at least a portion of the circumference of said cage.

35. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (9), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

e. a plurality of fastening rods (100);

f. a plurality of fastening screws (200); and

,

g. at least one fastening belt (400);

wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces;

wherein each of said fastening screws physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls; and

further wherein each of said fastening belt physically interconnects at least a portion of the circumference of said cage.

36. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD according to claim 28, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening system (10), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

b. N side magnets (20), N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10) defined by at least one shaped recess, said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30) defined by at least one anchoring latches (210) suitable to be securely accommodated within said shaped recess, where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

,

e. at least one fastening belt (400);

wherein said fastening belt physically interconnects at least a portion of the circumference of said cage; and

further wherein each of said anchoring latches physically interconnects one of said face walls with one of said side walls.

37. A cage with fastening system in an MRD as defined in claim 28, further comprising a set of at least two fastening abutments (300).

38. A cage with fastening system in an MRD as defined in claim 28, further comprising ratchet 401, wherein said at least one fastening belt (400) is fastened and secured by means of ratchet 401.

39. A cage with a fastening system in an MRD as defined in claim 28, characterized by a shaped internal and/or external cross-section, wherein said shape is selected from the group consisting of polygon having three or more facets, cylinder and any combination thereof.

40. The cage of claim 39, wherein the fastening means are configured in a manner characterized by a shaped cross-section, and further wherein said shape is selected from a group consisting of polygon having three or more facets, a cylinder and any combination thereof.

41. A cage in an MRD with a fastening/attenuating system, characterized in that the cage is secured by a fastening/attenuating system (11), and comprises:

a. M pole pieces (45), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and

Q main magnets (126), Q is an integer greater than or equal to 2, at least one of said main magnets is attached to at least one pole piece (45);

said main magnet and/or said pole piece positioned, when cage is assembled, in a three-dimensional configuration ensuring application of highest homogeneous magnetic gradient by the said magnets;

b. N side magnets (20), where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein;

c. N side walls (10) defined by at least one shaped recess, said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets;

d. P face walls (30), where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2;

e. R separating/adjusting rods (SAPs, 124), where R is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

each of said SAPs aligned substantially north-south relative to the poles of said main magnets, crossing said end cover (123), said end cup (121), said main magnet (126) and said pole piece (45), at least one of said SAPs being fastenable, maneuverable or otherwise adjustable by means of a controlled adjusting mechanism (125) located adjacent to at least one end of said SAP;

wherein by fastening, maneuvering or otherwise adjusting said SAP by means of said controlled attenuating mechanism, the three-dimensional configuration of said either main magnet and/or pole piece is adjusted providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein.

42. A cage in an MRD with a fastening/attenuating system as defined in claim 41, wherein each of said SAPs crosses a preset gap between said end cover and said end gap.

43. A cage in an MRD with a fastening/attenuating system as defined in claim 41, characterized by a shaped internal and/or external cross-section, wherein said shape is selected from a group consisting of polygon having three or more facets, cylinder and any combination thereof.

44. The cage of claim 41, wherein the fastening/attenuating system is configured in a manner characterized by shaped cross-section, and further wherein said shape is selected from a group consisting of polygon having three or more facets, cylinder and any combination thereof.