MRI protector
DCFirst Claim
1. A protection arrangement for association with an operable MRI apparatus located within a room that has an access opening, the MRI apparatus providing a residual magnetic field that extends to a location of the opening, the arrangement including:
- a detector for passively monitoring the residual magnetic field at the location of the opening, the detector includes an array of passive magnetic field sensors arranged about the periphery of the opening in a spaced arrangement such that each sensor is associated with a different portion of the access opening, the field changing in response to a presence of ferrous material at the opening, each of the sensors including means for outputting a signal indicative of the ferrous material responsive change in the magnetic field at the associated portion of the access opening; and
means for receiving the change indicative signals, for determining whether the change indicated by at least one of the change indicative signals exceeds a limit and for providing a safety response that addresses the condition of ferrous material at the opening of the room within which the MRI apparatus is located upon determination of at least one threshold being exceeded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An MRI protector for protecting personnel and the MRI apparatus from the introduction of ferrous articles into the magnetic field of the MRI has an array of Hall effect sensors oriented to scan the magnetic field of the MRI. The Hall effect sensors are oriented to scan the magnetic field at the access door of the shielded MRI room. The sensors are connected to a central processing unit (CPU) which analyses the output of the sensors and propagates a warning when the presence of ferrous articles affects the magnetic field of the MRI.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A protection arrangement for association with an operable MRI apparatus located within a room that has an access opening, the MRI apparatus providing a residual magnetic field that extends to a location of the opening, the arrangement including:
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a detector for passively monitoring the residual magnetic field at the location of the opening, the detector includes an array of passive magnetic field sensors arranged about the periphery of the opening in a spaced arrangement such that each sensor is associated with a different portion of the access opening, the field changing in response to a presence of ferrous material at the opening, each of the sensors including means for outputting a signal indicative of the ferrous material responsive change in the magnetic field at the associated portion of the access opening; and means for receiving the change indicative signals, for determining whether the change indicated by at least one of the change indicative signals exceeds a limit and for providing a safety response that addresses the condition of ferrous material at the opening of the room within which the MRI apparatus is located upon determination of at least one threshold being exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A protection arrangement for association with an operable MRI apparatus located within a room that has an access opening, the MRI apparatus providing a residual magnetic field that extends to a location of the opening, the arrangement including:
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an array of passive magnetic field sensors, mounted about the periphery of the opening in a spaced arrangement such that each sensor is associated with a different portion of the access opening, each sensor for monitoring the residual magnetic field at the associated portion of the access opening, the field changing in response to a presence of ferrous material at the opening, the array of passive magnetic field sensors provides signals indicative of the ferrous material responsive change in the magnetic field; and a signal processor/safety response generator receives the change indicative signals, determines whether the change indicated by at least one of the change indicative signals exceeds a limit and indicates a need for a safety response, and provides a safety response that addresses the condition of ferrous material at the opening of the room within which the MRI apparatus is located. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification