Shutting assembly for closing an entrance of an MRI device

• US 10,018,692 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Inventors: Rapoport, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Curran, Gregory H
• Application Number:
  US14/540,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/288 Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/421 of main or gradient magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/422 of the radio frequency field

Abstract

A shutting assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) bore aperture, comprising at least one first movable portion and at least one second portion affixed to the MRD, wherein the shutting assembly further comprising a normally closed or normally open sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism couples at least one first moveable portion to at least one second portion affixed to the MRD, thereby enabling a reciprocal movement of at least one first moveable portion parallel to the MRD bore aperture in an upwards and downwards directions in respect to at least one second portion affixed to the MRD.

Claims

1. A shutting assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) bore aperture, comprising at least one first movable portion and at least one second portion affixed to said MRD, wherein said shutting assembly further comprising a normally closed or normally open sliding mechanism, further wherein said sliding mechanism couples at least one first moveable portion to at least one said second portion affixed to the MRD, thereby enabling a reciprocal movement of at least one said first moveable portion parallel to said MRD bore aperture in an upwards and downwards directions in respect to at least one said second portion affixed to said MRD, wherein self-movement of at least one said moveable portion relative to at least one said portion affixed to said MRD enables said MRD bore aperture to be covered in said normally closed sliding mechanism or uncovered in said normally opened sliding mechanism.

3. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said shutting assembly is arranged such that when said shutting assembly moveable portion is placed over said MRD bore, said MRD bore aperture is completely covered by said shutting assembly.

4. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said normally closed sliding mechanism retains said MRD bore aperture covered by said shutting assembly, when force is not applied directly or indirectly to at least one said movable portion.

5. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said normally opened sliding mechanism retains said MRD bore aperture uncovered by said shutting assembly, when force is not applied directly or indirectly to at least one said movable portion.

6. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein force triggered movement of at least one said moveable portion relative to at least one said portion affixed to said MRD enables said MRD bore aperture to be covered in said normally opened sliding mechanism, or uncovered in a normally closed sliding mechanism;

further wherein said force is applied directly, indirectly or both.

7. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein movement of said at least one moveable portion relative to said at least one portion affixed to said MRD is achieved by means selected from a group consisting of:

manual, automatic, self or any combination thereof.

8. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, comprising at least one motion stopping mechanism, wherein said motion stopping mechanism is interconnected to a portion selected from a group consisting of:

said MRD bore, said MRD external wall, at least one said movable portion, at least one said portion affixed to said MRD and any combination thereof.

9. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one said affixed portion is connected to a component selected from a group consisting of:

said MRD bore, said MRD external wall, at least one said movable portion, said sliding mechanism and any combination thereof.

10. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of one said affixed portion is connected to said MRD external wall, in reference to said bore aperture, selected from a group consisting of:

above, below, on top, bottom, left side, right side, perpendicular to the floor, non-perpendicular to the floor, around at least a portion of said MRD aperture, and any combination thereof.

11. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of one said moveable portion is reversibly connected to a selected from a group consisting of:

said MRD bore, said MRD external wall, at least one said affixed portion, said sliding mechanism and any combination thereof.

12. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of said shutting assembly comprises shielding selected from a group consisting of:

magnetic shielding, RF shielding, physical shielding and any combination thereof.

13. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of said shutting assembly comprises an at least partially transparent material.

14. The shutting system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of said shutting assembly is a semi-permeable barrier.

15. The shutting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising a one-step release mechanism, wherein said mechanism enables quick access to said patient when in said MRD bore.

2. A shutting assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) bore aperture, comprising at least one first movable portion and at least one second portion affixed to said MRD, wherein said shutting assembly further comprising a normally closed or normally open sliding mechanism, further wherein said sliding mechanism couples at least one first moveable portion to at least one said second portion affixed to the MRD, thereby enabling a reciprocal movement of at least one said first moveable portion parallel to said MRD bore aperture in an upwards and downwards directions in respect to at least one said second portion affixed to said MRD, wherein said shutting assembly further comprising at least one RF shielding conduit (RFSC), connected to said shutting assembly, shaped to allow passage of medical equipment tubing from said MRD bore to the external environment;

further wherein said conduit is characterized by a length (l) and a width (w), l;

w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding.

16. The shutting assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said RFSC is shaped to accommodate medical equipment within.

17. The shutting assembly according to claim 2, wherein said RFSC is interconnected to a portion selected from a group consisting of:

said shutting assembly movable portion, said shutting assembly portion affixed to said MRD, said MRD and any combination thereof.

18. The shutting assembly according to claim 2, wherein said RFSC is configured to attenuate electromagnetic interference by means selected from a group of:

waveguide, RF filter, waveguide filter, attenuating material, and any combination thereof.

19. The shutting assembly according to claim 2, wherein said RFSC is configured by means of shape, size and material to attenuate the passage of frequencies selected from a group consisting of:

0-1000 MHz, 0-500 MHz, 0-200 MHz and any combination thereof.

20. The shutting assembly according to claim 2, wherein said RFSC shape is selected from a group consisting of:

cylindrical, polygonal, symmetrical, non-symmetrical, opened, closed, curved, multifaceted and any combination thereof.

21. A method for RF shielding the passage of medical equipment to MRD bore comprising steps of:

a. obtaining a shutting assembly for a magnetic resonance device (MRD) bore aperture, comprising at least one first movable portion and at least one second portion affixed to the MRD, further comprising at least one conduit shaped to allow passage of medical equipment from said MRD bore to the external environment, a. installing said shutting assembly;

b. placing patient within said MRI bore;

c. passing medical equipment though said conduit;

d. shutting said MRD bore by utilizing said shutting assembly sliding mechanism; and

e. imaging patient, wherein said conduit is characterized by a length (l) and width (w), l;

w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding.