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

• US 7,719,279 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• 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 B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vargas; Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US12/127,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 600410-435
• US Class Current: 324/320
• 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 self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance device (MRD) for providing a homogeneous, stable and uniform magnetic field therein, characterized by an outside shell comprising at least three flexi-jointed superimposed walls. The multi-streamed MRD comprising a cage including a closed magnetic circuit constructed from strong permanent magnets; and optionally a shimming mechanism selected from an array of active shim coils, passive shimming elements; a contained cavity within which the magnetic field strength is approximately uniform; and a plurality of conveyor belts, pipes or any 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.

Claims

1. A stratificated MRD system, useful for analyzing a plurality of objects of adjacent feeding streams simultaneously or in any predetermined sequence, said system comprising:

a. at least two self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance devices (MRDs) (100) positioned adjacently, each of which is useful 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; and

,

b. at least two adjacent feeding streams carrying a plurality of objects to be detected or analyzed into said at least two MRDs;

further wherein at least one of said walls is interconnected with adjacent wall by means of a protruding-edge connection defining a tolerance (I) enabling said wall to displace, and to prevent leakage of the cage'"'"'s magnetic field;

such that said multiple feeding system provides said plurality of objects to be analyzed in either a simultaneous manner or a predetermined sequence.

2. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feeding systems are relatively oriented in one plane (a 2D orientation).

3. The stratificated MRD system of claim 2, wherein said at least two MRDs are relatively oriented in an XnYn bi-planar orientation, n is any integer number equal or greater than 1.

4. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein at least three feeding systems are relatively oriented in a plurality of planes thus being in a 3D orientation.

5. The stratificated MRD system of claim 3, wherein said at least two MRDs are relatively oriented in an XnYnZn multi-planar orientation, n is any integer number equal or greater than 1.

6. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feeding systems are positioned in a respectively perpendicular orientation.

7. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feeding systems are positioned in a respectively parallel orientation.

8. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feeding systems are positioned in a respectively parallel yet opposite orientation.

9. The stratificated MRD system of claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said feeding systems is a conveyor belt.

10. The stratificated MRD system of claim 9, wherein said conveyor belt shaped in a manner selected from a group consisting of a linear shape, curved shaped, zigzag, U shape and a combination thereof.

11. A method for analyzing a plurality of objects by means of at least two adjacent MRDs in either simultaneous manner or a predetermined sequence, said method comprising:

a. providing at least two self-fastening cage of a magnetic resonance devices (MRDs) (100) positioned adjacently, each of which is useful 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;

b. feeding said MRDs with a plurality of objects to into said MRDs by means of one of at least two adjacent feeding streams; and

,

c. analyzing each of said fed objects by means of one of at least two MRDs;

wherein said step (a) further comprising (i) providing at least a portion of said side-magnets (2) are superconductors or ferromagnets; and

, (ii) interconnecting at least one of said walls with adjacent wall by means of a protruding-edge connection defining a tolerance (I) enabling said wall to displace, and preventing leakage of the cage'"'"'s magnetic field;

such that said steps of feeding and analyzing are provided simultaneously or in either a predetermined sequence.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said feeding systems in one plane (a 2D orientation).

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said MRDs in an XnYn bi-planar orientation, n is any integer number equal or greater than 1.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said feeding systems in a plurality of planes (a 3D orientation).

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said MRDs in an XnYnZn multi-planar orientation, n is any integer number equal or greater than 1.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said at least two feeding systems in a respectively perpendicular manner.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said at least two feeding systems in a respectively parallel manner.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of orienting said at least two feeding systems in a respectively parallel yet opposite manner.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of providing said at least a portion of said feeding systems as a conveyor belt.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of selecting said conveyor belt from a group consisting of a linear shaped belt, curved shaped belt, zigzag shaped belt, U shaped belt and a combination thereof.