Abstract: Single band and multiband wireless antennas are an important element of wireless systems. Competing tradeoffs of overall footprint, performance aspects such as impedance matching and cost require not only consideration but become significant when multiple antenna elements are employed within a single antenna such as to obtain circular polarization transmit and/or receive. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide designers of a wide range of electrical devices and systems with compact single or multiple frequency band antennas which, in addition to providing the controlled radiation pattern and circular polarization purity (where required) are impedance matched without substantially increasing the footprint of the antenna and/or the complexity of the microwave/RF circuit interfaced to them, whilst supporting multiple signals to/from multiple antenna elements in antennas employing them.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a set of magnet coils for generating a magnetic field. The set of magnet coils are composed of a superconducting material. The system further includes a mechanical cryocooler in thermal contact with the set of magnet coils and operable to reduce and maintain a temperature of the set of magnet coils below a transition temperature of the superconducting material, and an energy storage device coupled to the set of magnet coils. The energy storage device may be capable of receiving and storing energy dissipated from the set of magnet coils during rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils. The system may also include a controller coupled to the energy storage device. The controller may be programmed to recharge the set of magnet coils using the energy stored in the energy storage device during the rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils.

Abstract: A support stand for supporting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner while in operation. A MRI scanner includes a cylindrical housing having a lateral surface extending parallel to a horizontal patient bore to encapsulate a main cylindrical magnet. The cylindrical housing defines a longitudinal footprint dimension and a lateral footprint dimension. The support stand includes a base and a plurality of pillars extending upright from the base. Each respective pillar includes a first end mounted to the base and an opposing second end. The support stand also includes a vibration isolator mounted at the second end of the respective pillars to support the lateral surface of the cylindrical housing. The respective vibration isolators minimize transmission of environment borne vibrations to the MRI scanner or minimize transmission of MRI scanner generated vibrations to the environment.

Abstract: A stacked patch antenna comprises two or more patch antennas physically disposed in a stack to provide a multi-frequency or broad band antenna. However, independence of the resonant response frequencies of the lower and upper patches of each stacked patch antenna pair ground requires metallization dimensions for the upper patch's lower surface be contained within the perimeter of the lower patch's resonant metallization. Accordingly, composite stacked patch element dimensions are limited by the desired resonant frequency of the lower patch. The inventors have established an alternate physical structure where the resonant patch geometry of the lower patch element's upper metallization is not limited by the lower surface ground plane metallization of the first upper patch element. The inventors have also established design solutions allowing the lower frequency performance of the first, lower patch within a stacked patch antenna to be lowered without compromising the footprint of the resulting antenna.

Abstract: An adjustable head coil system and methods for enhancing and/or optimizing magnetic resonance imaging, involving a housing, the housing having at least one portion, the at least one portion having a lower portion, an upper portion, and opposing side portions, each at least one portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, each at least one portion configured to accommodate at least one radio-frequency coil, and the upper and lower portions each optionally configured to overlap and engage the opposing side portions for facilitating decoupling the at least one radio-frequency coil, and a tongue portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, engageable with the lower portion, and fixably couple-able with a transporter.

Abstract: A stacked patch antenna comprises two or more patch antennas physically disposed in a stack to provide a multi-frequency or broad band antenna. However, independence of the resonant response frequencies of the lower and upper patches of each stacked patch antenna pair ground requires metallization dimensions for the upper patch's lower surface be contained within the perimeter of the lower patch's resonant metallization. Accordingly, composite stacked patch element dimensions are limited by the desired resonant frequency of the lower patch. The inventors have established an alternate physical structure where the resonant patch geometry of the lower patch element's upper metallization is not limited by the lower surface ground plane metallization of the first upper patch element. The inventors have also established design solutions allowing the lower frequency performance of the first, lower patch within a stacked patch antenna to be lowered without compromising footprint of the resulting antenna.

Abstract: A method of imaging an implant device in a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor interconnected with a memory and a display. The method includes, at the processor: obtaining a first magnetic resonance (MR) image of a patient tissue, the first MR image containing a first magnetic field strength indicator; responsive to the implant device being inserted in the patient tissue, obtaining a second MR image of the patient tissue, the second MR image containing a second magnetic field strength indicator smaller than the first magnetic field strength indicator; registering the second MR image with the first MR image; generating a composite image from the first MR image and the second MR image; and presenting the composite image on the display.

Abstract: A method of imaging an implant device in a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor interconnected with a memory and a display. The method includes, at the processor: obtaining a first magnetic resonance (MR) image of a patient tissue, the first MR image containing a first magnetic field strength indicator; responsive to the implant device being inserted in the patient tissue, obtaining a second MR image of the patient tissue, the second MR image containing a second magnetic field strength indicator smaller than the first magnetic field strength indicator; registering the second MR image with the first MR image; generating a composite image from the first MR image and the second MR image; and presenting the composite image on the display.

Abstract: Single band and multiband wireless antennas are an important element of wireless systems. Competing tradeoffs of overall footprint, performance aspects such as impedance matching and cost require not only consideration but become significant when multiple antenna elements are employed within a single antenna such as to obtain circular polarization transmit and/or receive. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide designers of a wide range of electrical devices and systems with compact single or multiple frequency band antennas which, in addition to providing the controlled radiation pattern and circular polarization purity (where required) are impedance matched without substantially increasing the footprint of the antenna and/or the complexity of the microwave/RF circuit interfaced to them, whilst supporting multiple signals to/from multiple antenna elements in antennas employing them.

Abstract: Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio frequency signals broadcast from geo-stationary satellites 20,000 km above the earth when received by GNSS receivers are fundamentally weak. Accordingly, these GNSS receivers are vulnerable to accidental and deliberate interference from a range of synthetic sources as well as natural sources. Existing anti-jamming technologies such as controlled reception pattern antennas, adaptive antennas, null-steering antennas, and beamforming antennas etc. are expensive and incompatible with many lower cost and footprint limited applications. However, in many applications the GNSS antenna is mounted upon a fixed or mobile element such that accidental and intentional jammers tend to be in the plane of the antenna or below it. Accordingly, there are presented designs and techniques to improve the anti-jamming or interference performance of GNSS receivers by further reducing the responsivity of the GNSS receiver to signals in-plane or below the plane of the antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic field-dependent relaxometry using magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. Relaxation parameters, including longitudinal relaxation time (“T1”) and transverse relaxation time (“T2”), are estimated from magnetic resonance signal data acquired at multiple different magnetic field strengths using the same MRI system. By measuring these relaxation parameters as a function of magnetic field strength, T1 dispersion data, T2 dispersion data, or both, are generated. Based on this dispersion data, quantitative physiological parameters can be estimated. As one example, iron content can be estimated from T2 dispersion data.

Abstract: A portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and methods, involving a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field, the magnet being a portable magnet transportable on a cart, and at least one coil assembly disposed in relation to the magnet, the at least one coil assembly having at least one gradient coil.

Abstract: Single band and multiband wireless antennas are an important element of wireless systems. Competing tradeoffs of overall footprint, performance aspects such as impedance matching and cost require not only consideration but become significant when multiple antenna elements are employed within a single antenna such as to obtain circular polarization transmit and/or receive. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide designers of a wide range of electrical devices and systems with compact single or multiple frequency band antennas which, in addition to providing the controlled radiation pattern and circular polarization purity (where required) are impedance matched without substantially increasing the footprint of the antenna and/or the complexity of the microwave/RF circuit interfaced to them, whilst supporting multiple signals to/from multiple antenna elements in antennas employing them.

Abstract: Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio frequency signals broadcast from geo-stationary satellites 20,000 km above the earth when received by GNSS receivers are fundamentally weak. Accordingly, these GNSS receivers are vulnerable to accidental and deliberate interference from a range of synthetic sources as well as natural sources. Existing anti jamming technologies such as controlled reception pattern antennas, adaptive antennas, null-steering antennas, and beamforming antennas etc. are expensive and incompatible with many lower cost and footprint limited applications. However, in many applications the GNSS antenna is mounted upon a fixed or mobile element such that accidental and intentional jammers tend to be in the plane of the antenna or below it. Accordingly, there are presented designs and techniques to improve the anti-jamming or interference performance of GNSS receivers by further reducing the responsivity of the GNSS receiver to signals in-plane or below the plane of the antenna.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for mitigating or otherwise removing the effects of short-term magnetic field instabilities caused by oscillations of the cold head in a cryogen-free magnet system used for magnetic resonance systems, such as magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) systems, nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) systems, or the like.

Abstract: A head coil assembly includes a housing with a lower portion, an upper portion, a left portion, and a right portion, wherein each portion includes two or more radio-frequency (RF) coils, wherein the portions are sized and shaped to adjustably conform to a curvature of the subject's head for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the subject's head placed inside the housing, wherein the portions are operable to transition from an open position where the portions are sufficiently apart from each other to a closed position where the portions are adjusted to tighten a wrap around the subject's head along the curvature, and wherein the two or more RF coils in each portion are disposed in such manner that when the portions are operated to transition from the open position to the closed position, the RF coils of each portion remain decoupled to each other even along edges of each portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to patch antennas. A patch antenna has a substrate, a resonant metal plate at one side of the substrate, and a ground plane at the other opposite side of the substrate. Two feed pins are used to couple the antenna to other circuitry. The feed pins pass through the substrate and holes in at the ground plane. The feed pins are physically disconnected from both the resonant metal plate and the ground plane. The feed pins are capacitively coupled to the resonant metal plate to provide an electronic connection between other circuitry and the patch antenna.

Abstract: An adjustable head coil system and methods for enhancing and/or optimizing magnetic resonance imaging, involving a housing, the housing having at least one portion, the at least one portion having a lower portion, an upper portion, and opposing side portions, each at least one portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, each at least one portion configured to accommodate at least one radio-frequency coil, and the upper and lower portions each optionally configured to overlap and engage the opposing side portions for facilitating decoupling the at least one radio-frequency coil, and a tongue portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, engageable with the lower portion, and fixably couple-able with a transporter.