Over-shoulder MRI magnet for human brain imaging
First Claim
1. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
- a) a generally annularly cylindrical-shaped vacuum enclosure having;
(1) a generally longitudinally extending axis,(2) first and second longitudinal ends,(3) a first bore generally coaxially aligned with said axis, extending with a generally constant radius from said first longitudinal end towards said second longitudinal end, and spaced apart from said second longitudinal end, and(4) a second bore generally coaxially aligned with said axis and extending with a generally constant radius from said second longitudinal end to said first bore, wherein said radius of said second bore is smaller than said radius of said first bore;
b) a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart superconductive coils generally coaxially aligned with said axis and disposed within and spaced apart from said vacuum enclosure, said superconductive coils including a first coil and a second coil each carrying an electric current in generally the same direction, said first coil generally circumferentially surrounding said first bore and said second coil generally circumferentially surrounding said second bore, said second coil having a radially innermost portion, and wherein the radial distance of said radially innermost portion of said second coil from said axis is smaller than said radius of said first bore; and
c) a gradient coil disposed generally in said second bore.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet having an annularly cylindrical-shaped vacuum enclosure with a longitudinal axis, first and second longitudinal ends, a first larger diameter bore extending from the first towards the second longitudinal end, and a second smaller diameter bore extending from the second longitudinal end to the first bore. First and second superconductive coils are placed in the vacuum enclosure with the first coil generally circumferentially surrounding the first bore and the second coil circumferentially surrounding the second bore, wherein the radial distance of the radially innermost portion of the second coil from the axis is smaller than the radius of the first bore. The first longitudinal end of the vacuum enclosure fits over a patient'"'"'s shoulders with the patient'"'"'s head at least partially passing through the first bore and extending into the second bore for MRI brain imaging.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
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a) a generally annularly cylindrical-shaped vacuum enclosure having; (1) a generally longitudinally extending axis, (2) first and second longitudinal ends, (3) a first bore generally coaxially aligned with said axis, extending with a generally constant radius from said first longitudinal end towards said second longitudinal end, and spaced apart from said second longitudinal end, and (4) a second bore generally coaxially aligned with said axis and extending with a generally constant radius from said second longitudinal end to said first bore, wherein said radius of said second bore is smaller than said radius of said first bore; b) a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart superconductive coils generally coaxially aligned with said axis and disposed within and spaced apart from said vacuum enclosure, said superconductive coils including a first coil and a second coil each carrying an electric current in generally the same direction, said first coil generally circumferentially surrounding said first bore and said second coil generally circumferentially surrounding said second bore, said second coil having a radially innermost portion, and wherein the radial distance of said radially innermost portion of said second coil from said axis is smaller than said radius of said first bore; and c) a gradient coil disposed generally in said second bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification