Abstract: The present disclosure provides a supporting base, a superconducting magnet assembly, and a method for manufacturing the supporting base. The supporting base comprises an annular supporting base body and a reinforcing hoop, the axes of the supporting base body and reinforcing hoop are both arranged coaxially with the axis of the inner coil, and the reinforcing hoop is sleeved and fixed on an outer surface of the supporting base body, wherein first connecting parts are provided on the reinforcing hoop, and bracket units for supporting a shield coil of a superconducting magnet can be connected to the reinforcing hoop using the first connecting parts. By means of providing the reinforcing hoop, the rigidity of the whole inner coil is increased, the thickness of the supporting base body is decreased, and material costs are reduced; the reinforcing hoop provides a connection interface for the bracket units, and the bracket units can be directly connected to the reinforcing hoop, further reducing material costs.

Abstract: A current lead arrangement for supplying current to a superconducting magnet coil, comprising a current lead and a cryogenic refrigerator. The current lead comprises a first section of low temperature superconductor (LTS) wire, joined to a second section of a high temperature superconductor (HTS) material, in turn joined to a third section of a resistive material. The cryogenic refrigerator comprises a first cooling stage and a second cooling stage. A lower end of the third section and an upper end of the second section are thermally linked to the first cooling stage, a lower end of the first section is thermally and electrically connected to the superconducting magnet coil.

Abstract: A reusable mold membrane is provided for forming an outer mold during a process to encapsulate a target object in a substance, the mold membrane comprising: a cylindrical membrane body comprising a resiliently deformable material, wherein an inner diameter of the cylindrical membrane body is less than an outer diameter of the target object provided on an outer surface of a cylindrical carrier object, when the membrane body is in an un-deformed state; and a plurality of manipulation structures provided on an outer part of the membrane body, each of the plurality of manipulation structures configured to be manipulated by application of mechanical force to control the space within the membrane body by controlling the amount of deformation of the membrane body. There is also disclosed a method for use during a process to encapsulate a target object in a substance.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance ‘MR’ scanner utilizing a passive magnetic shielding technique. The scanner includes a gradient coil inductively coupled to a managed eddy current structure which establishes passive magnetic shielding for the gradient coil due to the inductive coupling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance imaging device comprising a main magnet, a gradient system including at least one gradient coil, a thermal bus structure, a shield structure arranged between the gradient system and the main magnet and a cryocooler including a cold head, wherein the shield structure is configured to reduce a transport of heat energy to the main magnet and wherein the main magnet comprises a magnet spacer configured for spacing individual coils of the main magnet, wherein the thermal bus structure comprises at least one thermal bus element extending through the magnet spacer for providing a thermal connection between the cold head of the cryocooler and the shield structure.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging device including a main magnet, a gradient system with at least one gradient coil, a cryocooler, a thermal bus structure, and an electromagnetic shield arranged between the gradient system and the main magnet. The electromagnetic shield includes spaced shield elements. The electromagnetic shield is configured to provide an electromagnetic shielding of the main magnet from a magnetic field generated by the at least one gradient coil. The thermal bus structure includes thermal bus elements configured to provide a thermal connection between the plurality of spaced shield elements and a cold head of the cryocooler. At least two thermal bus elements of thermal bus elements include different heat transfer properties to provide individualized temperature control of the spaced shield elements.

Abstract: A device for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems may include a superconducting main magnet coil; and a thermal radiation shield that encloses the superconducting main magnet coil. The shield may include an inner cylindrical bore tube, an outer cylindrical wall, and annular end walls welded between the annular cylindrical bore tube and the outer cylindrical wall to form a closed, hollow cylindrical vessel. A distribution of a position and length of welds that affix the annular end walls to the inner cylindrical bore tube may include a predetermined arrangement of welds of varying lengths interspersed with gaps of varying lengths.

Abstract: A method for reducing a tendency of a thermal radiation shield for a superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging system to vibrate. A mass per unit area of the material of the thermal radiation shield is locally modified in a random or pseudo-random pattern.

Abstract: A superconducting joint arrangement for superconducting magnets, having an elongate joint arranged between superconducting filaments of superconducting wires of one or more superconducting coils, and excess wire provided between the elongate joint and the one or more superconducting coils.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet arrangement including: an outer vacuum container (OVC) housing magnet coils; a cryogen vessel thermally linked to the magnet coils; a cold head sock accommodating a cold head, with a thermal contact provided between the cold head and the magnet coils; tubes linking the interior of the cryogen vessel with the interior of the cold head sock; and a thermosiphon circuit defined by the cryogen vessel, the tubes, and the cold head sock. Pre-cooling and removal of ice build-up may be performed using the thermosiphon circuit.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling a ramping process of a superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging device comprising the steps of: acquiring an information indicating a status of a cryocooler configured for cooling of the superconducting magnet via an interface, acquiring an information on a parameter of the superconducting magnet via an interface, determining an operational status of the magnetic resonance imaging device in dependence of the information indicating the status of the cryocooler and/or the information on the parameter of the superconducting magnet via a processing unit and providing a control signal via a control unit, wherein the control signal is configured to control the ramping process of the superconducting magnet. The disclosure also relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a control unit configured to provide a control signal for controlling the ramping process of the superconducting magnet.

Abstract: A split cylindrical superconducting magnet system including two half magnets, each half magnet comprising superconducting magnet coils retained in an outer vacuum chamber, having a thermal radiation shield located between the magnet coils and the outer vacuum chamber, wherein the thermal radiation shield is shaped such that the axial spacing between thermal radiation shields of respective half magnets is greater at their internal diameter than at their outer diameter.

Abstract: A self-supporting flexible shield for location between a warm surface and a cold mass so as to substantially enclose the cold mass, wherein the self-supporting flexible shield comprises a shaped plastic sheet with a low emissivity coating on both of its sides.

Abstract: An electromagnet assembly has an inner magnet, an outer magnet, arranged around the inner magnet with an annular region extending between the inner magnet and the outer magnet, and a number of support elements extending through the annular region and dividing the annular region into a number of annular segments. The support elements are distributed in the annular region so as to form a small annular segment and a large annular segment.

Abstract: An electromagnet for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus. The electromagnet includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic field. The coil has a first axially outer surface, and a support element configured to mount the coil in the MRI. The support element is bonded to the first axially outer surface of the coil.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a formerless, multi-coil cylindrical superconducting magnet structure is disclosed. The structure comprises superconducting coils and annular spacers of composite filler material. The disclosure also provides a formerless, multi-coil cylindrical superconducting magnet structure as may be manufactured by such a method.

Abstract: Techniques are described for a method to manufacture a magnet structure comprising superconducting coils and annular spacers comprising a filled composite filler material. Also described are superconducting magnet structures as may be manufactured by such a method.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed with respect to the manufacture of formerless, multi-coil, cylindrical superconducting magnets, and a formerless, multi-coil, cylindrical superconducting magnet structure as may be formed by such techniques.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet device including a plurality of superconducting magnet coils; a structural element mechanically and thermally linked to respective magnet coils to retain them in respective relative positions; and a cooling station thermally connected to a cryogenic refrigerator and to the structural element. A thermally conductive path, which passes through the structural element, is established between the cryogenic refrigerator and the superconducting magnet coils through the structural element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a T1 or T2 map for a three-dimensional (3D) image volume of a subject. The method includes acquiring first, second, and third 3D images of the image volume of the subject. Signal evolutions of voxels through the first to third 3D images by comparing voxel intensity levels of corresponding voxel locations in the first, second, and third 3D images. A simulation dictionary representing the signal evolutions for a number of different tissue parameter combinations is obtained. The T1 or T2 map is generated by comparing the determined signal evolutions to entries in the dictionary and by finding, for each of the determined signal evolutions, the entry in the dictionary that best matches the determined signal evolution.