SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ONE OR MORE SUBJECTS

• US 20180120394A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: SEEBER, DEREK ALLAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,317,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3856 Means for cooling the gradient coils or thermal shielding of the gradient coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3858 Manufacture and installation of gradient coils, means for providing mechanical support to parts of the gradient-coil assembly manufacture of inductances or coils in general H01F41/00

Abstract

An MRI system for imaging a subject is provided. The MRI system includes a magnet assembly that includes a gradient coil having a hollow conducting wire. The hollow conducting wire includes a body defining a passageway, and one or more conductors disposed within the body around the passageway.

Claims

1. An MRI system for imaging a subject comprising:

a magnet assembly that includes a gradient coil having a hollow conducting wire; and

wherein the hollow conducting wire includes;

a body defining a passageway; and

one or more conductors disposed within the body around the passageway.

2. The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the one or more conductors are further disposed between an exterior of the body and the passageway.

3. The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the passageway is disposed between an exterior of the body and the one or more conductors.

4. The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the body has at least one of a circular and rectangular shape.

5. The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the passageway is for transporting a coolant that cools the one or more conductors.

6. The MRI system of claim 5, wherein the coolant is glycol and the one or more conductors are isolated from the glycol.

7. The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the one or more conductors are rotated about the passageway.

8. A method for magnetic resonance imaging a subject comprising:

driving a gradient coil of a magnet assembly of an MRI system via a hollow conducting wire that includes;

a body defining a passageway; and

one or more conductors disposed within the body around the passageway.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

cooling the one or more conductors via a coolant flowing through the passageway.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coolant is glycol and the one or more conductors are isolated from the glycol.

11. A hollow conducting wire for driving a gradient coil of a magnet assembly of an MRI system, the hollow conducting wire comprising:

a body defining a passageway; and

one or more conductors disposed within the body around the passageway.

12. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the one or more conductors are further disposed between an exterior of the body and the passageway.

13. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the passageway is disposed between an exterior of the body and the one or more conductors.

14. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the body has at least one of a circular and rectangular shape.

15. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the passageway is for transporting a coolant that cools the one or more conductors.

16. The hollow conducting wire of claim 15, wherein the coolant is glycol and the one or more conductors are isolated from the glycol.

17. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the one or more conductors comprise of multiple strands.

18. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the one or more conductors are rotated about the passageway.

19. The hollow conducting wire of claim 18, wherein a rate of rotation of the conductors about the passageway is about one rotation per meter.

20. The hollow conducting wire of claim 11, wherein the body comprises of nylon or ethylene.

21. A gradient coil for a magnet assembly of an MRI system for imaging a subject, the gradient coil comprising:

a hollow conducting wire for driving the gradient coil; and

wherein the hollow conducting wire includes a body defining a passageway and one or more conductors disposed within the body around the passageway.