Mechanical clutch for MRI
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mechanical clutch comprising:
- an outer element having a first main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends, further having, in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis on said distal end, a substantially cylindrical bore;
said outer element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with a first rotatable shaft;
said cylindrical bore comprises at least one semi-flexible member “
SFM”
comprising at least one aperture;
said SFM is configured to automatically reversibly transition from a relaxed configuration “
RC”
to a tensed configuration “
TC”
;
an inner element, having a second main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends;
said inner element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with a second rotatable shaft;
said inner element comprises, in said distal end, a cylindrical protrusion having a third main longitudinal axis;
said cylindrical protrusion is configured to rotatably accommodate within said cylindrical bore;
said protrusion comprises at least one bulge perpendicular to said third longitudinal axis bulging from said cylindrical protrusion shell;
said at least one bulge having a distal and a proximal end;
said distal end is in contact with said cylindrical protrusion;
wherein said SFM is in said RC when said proximal end of said bulge is reversibly accommodated within said aperture and in said TC when said proximal end of said bulge is located outside said aperture;
wherein said SFM is configured to temporarily collapse outwardly when in said TC;
wherein said clutch ceases to engage said rotation of said first and said second rotatable shafts when said SFM collapses outwardly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical clutch for preventing damage to a capacitor of an MRI device. The clutch prevents the application of excessive torque via the tuning rods of the gradient coil of the MRI device. The mechanical clutch allows the tuning rods to slip (disengage) when the capacitor reaches the end of its adjustment range.
43 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A mechanical clutch comprising:
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an outer element having a first main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends, further having, in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis on said distal end, a substantially cylindrical bore;
said outer element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with a first rotatable shaft;
said cylindrical bore comprises at least one semi-flexible member “
SFM”
comprising at least one aperture;
said SFM is configured to automatically reversibly transition from a relaxed configuration “
RC”
to a tensed configuration “
TC”
;an inner element, having a second main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends;
said inner element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with a second rotatable shaft;
said inner element comprises, in said distal end, a cylindrical protrusion having a third main longitudinal axis;
said cylindrical protrusion is configured to rotatably accommodate within said cylindrical bore;
said protrusion comprises at least one bulge perpendicular to said third longitudinal axis bulging from said cylindrical protrusion shell;
said at least one bulge having a distal and a proximal end;
said distal end is in contact with said cylindrical protrusion;wherein said SFM is in said RC when said proximal end of said bulge is reversibly accommodated within said aperture and in said TC when said proximal end of said bulge is located outside said aperture; wherein said SFM is configured to temporarily collapse outwardly when in said TC; wherein said clutch ceases to engage said rotation of said first and said second rotatable shafts when said SFM collapses outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A mechanical clutch comprising:
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an outer element having a first main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends, further having, in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis on said distal end, a substantially cylindrical bore, said outer element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with at least one capacitor;
said cylindrical bore comprises at least one semi-flexible member “
SFM”
comprising at least one aperture;
said SFM is configured to reversibly transition from a relaxed configuration “
RC”
to a tensed configuration “
TC”
;an inner element, having a second main longitudinal axis with distal and proximal ends;
said inner element is configured to be connected, in said proximal end, with a tuning rod of a resonance coil of an MRI “
TR”
applying torque “
Tx”
;
said inner element comprises, in said distal end, a cylindrical protrusion having a third main longitudinal axis;
said cylindrical protrusion is configured to rotatably accommodate within said cylindrical bore;
said protrusion comprises at least one bulge perpendicular to said third longitudinal axis bulging from said cylindrical protrusion shell;
said at least one bulge having a distal and a proximal end;
said distal end is in contact with said cylindrical protrusion;
wherein said SFM is in said RC when said proximal end of said bulge is accommodated within said aperture and in said TC when said proximal end of said bulge is located outside said aperture;wherein said SFM is configured to temporarily collapse outwardly when in said TC; wherein said clutch ceases to disengage said at least one capacitor with said TR when said SFM collapses outwardly; wherein said proximal end of said bulge is reversibly accommodated within said aperture when said Tx is above a predetermined torque value “
PTV” and
said proximal end of said bulge is located outside said aperture when said Tx equals or is lower than said PTVwherein said mechanical clutch automatically reengages when said Tx returns to less than said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification