Abstract: A system for monitoring a health status of a gradient coil disposed in a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The system includes one or more sensors and a controller. The one or more sensors are operative to obtain one or more parameter readings of the gradient coil, wherein the one or more parameter readings include at least one of an acoustic measurement and a back electromotive force measurement. The controller is in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and operative to generate the health status based on at least one of the acoustic measurement and the back electromotive force measurement.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: A gradient coil unit having a peripheral surface enclosing a magnetic gradient axis, and a middle plane substantially perpendicular to the magnetic gradient axis at a middle portion of the gradient coil unit, comprising at least one folded coil which comprises a first set of curved conductors disposed on a first curved surface; a second set of curved conductors disposed on a second curved surface outside the first curved surface and substantially overlapping the first set of curved conductors; and a set of connecting conductors connecting selected curved conductors in the first set with selected curved conductors in the second set; wherein the set of connecting conductors is located at a first side of the middle plane.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a health status of a gradient coil disposed in a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The system includes one or more sensors and a controller. The one or more sensors are operative to obtain one or more parameter readings of the gradient coil, wherein the one or more parameter readings include at least one of an acoustic measurement and a back electromotive force measurement. The controller is in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and operative to generate the health status based on at least one of the acoustic measurement and the back electromotive force measurement.

Abstract: A warm bore cylinder assembly having an outer wall, an inner wall, and a plurality of braces is provided. The outer wall is configured to define an inner exterior portion of a cryostat assembly. The outer wall is generally cylindrical, is made of a conductive material, and has an outer wall thickness. The inner wall is disposed radially inwardly of the outer wall. The inner wall is generally cylindrical, is made of a conductive material, and has an inner wall thickness. The braces extend along an axial direction defined by the outer wall and the inner wall. The plurality of braces are interposed between and join the outer wall and inner wall. The plurality of braces define openings disposed between adjacent braces.

Abstract: A method for improving image quality in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method includes rapidly modulating an electrical current in a matrix shim coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system to compensate high order eddy currents in the system.

Abstract: A gradient coil comprises a curved conductor, which is tubular and has a general spiral shape. The curved conductor is formed by a process comprising depositing at least one non-conductive material layer by layer to form a substrate, and coating at least a portion of a surface of the substrate with a conductive material. The substrate has a shape matching with the general spiral shape of the curved conductor. Embodiments of the present disclosure further refer to a method for manufacturing the gradient coil.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient coil assembly includes a substrate and first hollow conductor coil. The substrate has a surface. The first hollow conductor coil includes a first coiled portion and a first end run portion joined by a first eye lead portion. The first coiled portion defines a series of increasing radius loops disposed on the surface of the substrate, with an outer loop of the first coiled portion defining a coiled portion boundary. The first eye lead portion is disposed in a central portion of the first coiled portion. The first end run portion extends continuously from the first coiled portion via the first eye lead portion beyond the coiled portion boundary.

Abstract: A gradient coil unit having a peripheral surface enclosing a magnetic gradient axis, and a middle plane substantially perpendicular to the magnetic gradient axis at a middle portion of the gradient coil unit, comprising at least one folded coil which comprises a first set of curved conductors disposed on a first curved surface; a second set of curved conductors disposed on a second curved surface outside the first curved surface and substantially overlapping the first set of curved conductors; and a set of connecting conductors connecting selected curved conductors in the first set with selected curved conductors in the second set; wherein the set of connecting conductors is located at a first side of the middle plane.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: A method for improving image quality in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method includes rapidly modulating an electrical current in a matrix shim coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system to compensate high order eddy currents in the system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are utilized to improve shimming capability while reducing radial space and the volume required to contain active shim coils by nesting the coils of different degrees and orders inside each other and limiting the azimuthal span of the individual saddle coils. This allows two or more radial shim sets to be combined together in the same layer resulting in a significant radial savings that increases the useable portion of an MRI system.

Abstract: A gradient coil comprises a curved conductor, which is tubular and has a general spiral shape. The curved conductor is formed by a process comprising depositing at least one non-conductive material layer by layer to form a substrate, and coating at least a portion of a surface of the substrate with a conductive material. The substrate has a shape matching with the general spiral shape of the curved conductor. Embodiments of the present disclosure further refer to a method for manufacturing the gradient coil.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient coil assembly includes a substrate and first hollow conductor coil. The substrate has a surface. The first hollow conductor coil includes a first coiled portion and a first end run portion joined by a first eye lead portion. The first coiled portion defines a series of increasing radius loops disposed on the surface of the substrate, with an outer loop of the first coiled portion defining a coiled portion boundary. The first eye lead portion is disposed in a central portion of the first coiled portion. The first end run portion extends continuously from the first coiled portion via the first eye lead portion beyond the coiled portion boundary.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method includes ultrasonically consolidating a plurality of sheets of a conductive material to form a consolidated structure and machining one or more conductive channels into the consolidated structure to form an inductor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are utilized to improve shimming capability while reducing radial space and the volume required to contain active shim coils by nesting the coils of different degrees and orders inside each other and limiting the azimuthal span of the individual saddle coils. This allows two or more radial shim sets to be combined together in the same layer resulting in a significant radial savings that increases the useable portion of an MRI system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a MR tracking method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tracking method and device, using a magnetic-susceptible object. A magnetic iso-surface induced by the object is selectively excited with a corresponding frequency offset; the magnetic iso-surface is then projected on three axes of a k-space, from which projections the spatial position of the object is calculated.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: A matrix shim coil apparatus includes a plurality of coils configured to provide high order shimming. Each coil has a figure eight shape and a first loop and a second loop. In another embodiment, each coil is further folded along an axis of the coil creating a folded coil with an upper portion and a lower portion.