Combined open and closed magnet configuration for MRI
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet, comprising:
- a lower first section of a magnet having a first housing and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis, the first set of magnet coils including coils proximate the common axis; and
an upper second section of the magnet having a second housing and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis, the second set of magnet coils being radially displaced from the common axis;
wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to but axially displaced a distance “
d”
from the lower first section of the magnet;
wherein the lower first section of the magnet is a closed magnet; and
wherein the upper second section of the magnet is an open magnet;
wherein the upper second section of the magnet is ring-shaped thereby providing an axial opening in order to allow unobstructed end access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet; and
wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to the lower first section of the magnet via a set of supports that provide openings in order to allow unobstructed side access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet.
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet having a first section and a second section is disclosed. The first section has a first housing, and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis that include coils proximate the common axis. The second section has a second housing, and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis where the coils are radially displaced from the common axis. The second section is connected to but axially displaced a distance “d” from the first section.
51 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet, comprising:
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a lower first section of a magnet having a first housing and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis, the first set of magnet coils including coils proximate the common axis; and an upper second section of the magnet having a second housing and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis, the second set of magnet coils being radially displaced from the common axis; wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to but axially displaced a distance “
d”
from the lower first section of the magnet;wherein the lower first section of the magnet is a closed magnet; and wherein the upper second section of the magnet is an open magnet; wherein the upper second section of the magnet is ring-shaped thereby providing an axial opening in order to allow unobstructed end access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet; and wherein the upper second section of the magnet is connected to the lower first section of the magnet via a set of supports that provide openings in order to allow unobstructed side access to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet, comprising:
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a first closed magnet having a first housing and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis, the first set of magnet coils including coils proximate the common axis; a second open ring-shaped magnet having a second housing and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis, the second set of magnet coils being radially displaced from the common axis thereby providing an axial opening within the ring-shaped magnet in order to allow unobstructed end access to an object disposed between the first closed and second open magnets; and the second open magnet being connected to but axially displaced a distance “
d”
from the first closed magnet via a set of supports that provide openings in order to allow unobstructed side access to the object disposed between the first closed magnet and second open ring-shaped magnets.
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17. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
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a MRI magnet; and a control system configured for controlling the operation of the MRI magnet such that MRI data of an object may be generated and saved for subsequent post-processing and analysis; wherein the MRI magnet comprises; a lower first section of the magnet having a first housing and a first set of magnet coils arranged about a common axis, the first set of magnet coils including coils proximate the common axis, the lower first section of the magnet defining a closed magnet; an upper second section of the magnet having a second housing with an unobstructed axial opening therethrough and a second set of magnet coils arranged about the common axis, the second set of magnet coils being radially displaced from the common axis, the upper second section of the magnet defining an open magnet; the upper second section of the magnet being connected to but axially displaced a distance “
d”
from the lower first section of the magnet via a set of supports with more than two unobstructed side openings therebetween; andwherein unobstructed side access through the more than two side openings and unobstructed end access through the axial opening is provided to an object disposed between the lower first and upper second sections of the magnet.
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18. An open MRI magnet assembly comprising:
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a first closed ended magnet; a second open ended magnet connected to the first closed ended magnet and having a volume defined therebetween, the second open ended magnet having an unobstructed end opening therethrough in order to allow access to the volume defined between the second open ended magnet and the first closed ended magnet; a plurality of supports connecting the first closed ended magnet and the second open ended magnet; wherein each of the plurality of supports has a height such that a passage is formed between the second open ended magnet and the first closed ended magnet in order to allow a subject to be removably positioned in the volume between the second open ended magnet and the first closed ended magnet; and wherein the plurality of supports is arranged circumferentially around the first closed ended magnet such that a number of more than two unobstructed side access openings is formed generally orthogonal to the unobstructed end opening of the second open ended magnet. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification