Self-fastening cage surrounding a magnetic resonance device and methods thereof

• US 7,400,147 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aspect Magnet Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Rapoport, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Shrivastav; Brij
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vargas; Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US11/376,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20070096737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 600410-435, 335296-306
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3815 with superconducting coils, e.g. power supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/383 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3873 using ferromagnetic bodies ; Passive shimming
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3875 using correction coil assemblies, e.g. active shimming

Abstract

The present invention discloses a novel self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1). In a technology of self-fastening cage, the invention teaches an effective multi-streamed MRD comprising a cage including a closed magnetic circuit constructed from strong permanent magnets; and an optional shimming mechanism selected from an array of active shim coils, passive shimming elements or any combination thereof; a contained cavity within which the magnetic field strength is approximately uniform; and a means, such as a plurality of conveyor belts, pipes or any other transportation means by which a plurality of samples are introduced into the region of uniform magnetic field; such that magnetic resonance measurements are made on a plurality of samples within the region of uniform magnetic field. The invention depicts a cost effective method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of a MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell comprising superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein.

Claims

1. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

said outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1) disposed in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise arrangement;

said MRD comprising;

a. at least six side-magnets (2) arranged in two equal groups being in a face-to-face orientation in a magnetic connection with said outside shell, increasing the overall strength of the magnetic field provided in said cage;

b. at least two pole-magnet pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation in between said side-magnets (2); and

,

c. at least two main-magnets (4), located on said pole-pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation, generating the static magnetic field therein said cage;

wherein at least a portion of said side-magnets (2) are superconductors or ferromagnets.

2. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein said cage'"'"'s contour is a polyhedron shape.

3. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein the superimposed walls (1) and pole-pieces (3) are metal alloys, preferably a soft iron alloy.

4. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cage walls is interconnected with adjacent wall by means of a protruding-edge connection defining a tolerance (I) enabling said cage'"'"'s wall to displace, and to prevent leakage of the cage'"'"'s magnetic field.

5. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein said pole-pieces are separated by an air gap at a predetermined distance (F).

6. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein the pole-piece area, the dimensions of side-magnets (2), i.e. its thickness (C), width (D),length (E), the main magnet and the air gap (F) determine the magnetic field strength and its uniformity.

7. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein said corner-magnet is defined by parameters;

namely the angle between the flux line of the magnet and the edge of the pole-piece (α

), its length (A) and its width (B).

8. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding system with at least two adjacent feeding streams carrying a plurality of objects to be detected or analyzed.

9. The self-fastening cage according to claim 1, wherein the edges of each side-magnets wall are separated by an air gap from the edges of the adjacent side-magnets wall.

10. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device MRD 100 for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

said outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls (1) disposed in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise arrangement;

said MRD comprising;

a. at least six side-magnets (2) arranged in two equal groups being in a face-to-face orientation in a magnetic connection with said outside shell, increasing the overall strength of the magnetic field provided in said cage;

b. at least two pole-magnet pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation in between said side-magnets (2);

c. at least two main-magnets (4), located on said pole-pieces (3), arranged in a face-to-face orientation, generating the static magnetic field therein said cage; and

,

d. at least one corner-magnet (5) adapted to adjust the magnetic field therein.

11. The self-fastening cage according to claim 10, wherein corner-magnets form a polyhedron, cylinder or any combination thereof.

12. The self-fastening cage according to claim 10, wherein at least one cylinder corner-magnet comprises at least one bore exceeded along the corner magnet'"'"'s longitudinal axis, adapted thus to accommodate a rotating means suitable for adjusting the magnetic field provided in said cage.

13. The self-fastening cage according to claim 10, wherein at least one cylinder corner-magnet is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

14. A self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) (100) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell;

comprising at least two feeding system comprising at least two adjacent feeding streams carrying a plurality of objects to be detected or analyzed simultaneously or in any predetermined sequence;

wherein said at least two feeding systems are oriented in a plurality of planes thus being in a 3D orientation.

15. A method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of an MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell, comprising steps of superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein;

and adjusting the angle between the flux line of the magnet and the edge of the pole-piece (α

) to optimize the uniformity of the field after the cage manufacturing.

16. A method for obtaining a self-fastening cage of an MRD (100) characterized by an outside shell, comprising steps of superimposing at least three flexi-jointed walls (1) so that a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field is provided therein;

rotating one or more cylinder corner-magnets hence providing fine adjustments of the magnetic field;

directing the flux line; and

compensating the field created by impurities occurred during the manufacturing process of magnet materials.