Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures

• US 7,071,692 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Veterinary Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Veterinary Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Helpern, Joseph A., Branch, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shrivastav, Brij B.
• Application Number:
  US10/826,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 324/318, 324/319, 324/322, 324/309, 324/307, 324/300
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/422 of the radio frequency field

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing RF shielding for performing nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) procedures, comprising a radio-opaque holder in combination with radio-opaque magnet components to form an RF shield around a patient undergoing an NMR procedure. In embodiments, a radio-opaque holder having a radio-opaque bottom portion and a radio-opaque canopy is adjoined to an NMR magnet having a radio-opaque cryostat and a radio-opaque service end cap to form an RF shield. A patient is placed on a patient support unit located in the holder bottom portion. The patient support unit, including the patient, is then inserted into the cavity of the NMR magnet and a canopy is placed on top of the bottom portion of the holder. An RF shield is thus created comprising the canopy, the bottom portion, the cryostat of the magnet, and an end cap on the service end of the magnet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in RF shielding, comprising:

a holder comprising RF shielding and configured for adjoining a magnet comprising magnet-RF-shielding, such that when the holder is adjoined to the magnet, the RF shielding of the holder and the magnet-RF-shielding form a substantially complete RF shield.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patient support unit configured to support a patient inside the RF shield.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a support for supporting the patient support unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the holder is attachable to the magnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the holder is attachable to the patient support unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the holder comprises apertures.