Shielded and open MRI magnet
First Claim
1. An open magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
- a) a first superconductive coil assembly including;
(1) a generally toroidal-shaped first coil housing surrounding a first bore and having a generally longitudinal first axis;
(2) a generally annular-shaped first superconductive main coil generally coaxially aligned with said first axis, disposed within said first coil housing, and carrying a first main electric current in a first direction; and
(3) a generally annular-shaped first superconductive shielding coil generally coaxially aligned with said first axis, disposed within said first coil housing, and carrying a first shielding electric current in a direction opposite to said first direction, wherein said first superconductive shielding coil is spaced radially outward and radially apart from said first superconductive main coil; and
b) a second superconductive coil assembly including;
(1) a generally toroidal-shaped second coil housing longitudinally spaced apart from said first coil housing, surrounding a second bore, and having a generally longitudinal second axis generally coaxially aligned with said first axis;
(2) a generally annular-shaped second superconductive main coil generally coaxially aligned with said second axis, disposed within said second coil housing, and carrying a second main electric current in said first direction; and
(3) a generally annular-shaped second superconductive shielding coil generally coaxially aligned with said second axis, disposed within said second coil housing, and carrying a second shielding electric current in said opposite direction, wherein said second superconductive shielding coil is spaced radially outward and radially apart from said second superconductive main coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shielded and open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet having two spaced-apart, generally toroidal-shaped superconductive coil assemblies. Each coil assembly has a coil housing containing a generally annular-shaped superconductive main and a radially-outwardly spaced-apart shielding coil carrying electric currents in opposing directions. Preferably, supplemental shielding is provided with the addition of: a generally annular permanent magnet configuration internal to, or external of, the coil housings; a generally-non-permanently-magnetized external ferromagnetic shield having at least a portion positioned longitudinally between the coil housings, an external resistive coil; or combinations thereof.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An open magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
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a) a first superconductive coil assembly including; (1) a generally toroidal-shaped first coil housing surrounding a first bore and having a generally longitudinal first axis; (2) a generally annular-shaped first superconductive main coil generally coaxially aligned with said first axis, disposed within said first coil housing, and carrying a first main electric current in a first direction; and (3) a generally annular-shaped first superconductive shielding coil generally coaxially aligned with said first axis, disposed within said first coil housing, and carrying a first shielding electric current in a direction opposite to said first direction, wherein said first superconductive shielding coil is spaced radially outward and radially apart from said first superconductive main coil; and b) a second superconductive coil assembly including; (1) a generally toroidal-shaped second coil housing longitudinally spaced apart from said first coil housing, surrounding a second bore, and having a generally longitudinal second axis generally coaxially aligned with said first axis; (2) a generally annular-shaped second superconductive main coil generally coaxially aligned with said second axis, disposed within said second coil housing, and carrying a second main electric current in said first direction; and (3) a generally annular-shaped second superconductive shielding coil generally coaxially aligned with said second axis, disposed within said second coil housing, and carrying a second shielding electric current in said opposite direction, wherein said second superconductive shielding coil is spaced radially outward and radially apart from said second superconductive main coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification