Polarizing Field Magnet Patents (Class 324/319)
  • Patent number: 11971465
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one permanent B0 magnet to contribute a magnetic field to the Bo magnetic field for the MRI system and a ferromagnetic frame configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B0 magnet. The ferromagnetic frame includes a first post having a first end and a second end, a first multi-pronged member coupled to the first end, and a second multi-pronged member coupled to the second end, wherein the first and second multi-pronged members support the at least one permanent B0 magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Michael Stephen Poole
  • Patent number: 11921176
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging device may include a field generator configured to provide a magnetic field in an imaging volume of the magnetic resonance imaging device. The field generator may include at least one magnet that confines the imaging volume in at least one spatial direction. The at least one magnet may be curved in such a way that a perpendicular distance between a line oriented along a direction of access to the imaging volume and a surface directed towards the imaging volume of the at least one magnet varies in the direction of access to the imaging volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Krug, Michael Mallett
  • Patent number: 11885859
    Abstract: A shim tray (10) for a main magnet system of a magnetic resonance examination system comprises a plurality of shim pockets (11), of which an individual shim pocket has side walls (21, 42) forming an open channel (11). Two opposite lateral side walls (21) have insertion profiles (22) to receive an end shim-element (13) at least one open channel's end. Essentially the entire volume of the channel of the shim pocket is available to hold passive shim elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11875936
    Abstract: A method is provided for homogenizing a magnetic field profile of a superconductor magnet system having a cryostat with a room temperature bore, a superconductor bulk magnet with at least three axially stacked bulk sub-magnets, arranged coaxially with the room temperature bore, and a cryogenic cooling system for cooling the superconductor bulk magnet. The cryogenic cooling system independently controls the temperature of each bulk sub-magnet to provide different respective temperatures to the sub-magnets and thereby provide the sub-magnets with different relative currents such that a first subset of the bulk sub-magnets are almost magnetically saturated, and a second subset of the bulk sub-magnets are significantly away from magnetic saturation. By controlling a heating power and/or a cooling power at the bulk sub-magnets without measuring the temperatures of the bulk sub-magnets, the respective currents of the bulk sub-magnets are changed to increase a homogeneity of the field profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Alfred March, Joerg Hinderer, Franck Borgnolutti
  • Patent number: 11867780
    Abstract: An asymmetric magnet for use in performing MRI of a patient's head. The magnet has a patient end. The magnet provides an offset imaging volume (35) in a recess with an isocentre that is positioned closer to the patient end than an opposite end. The magnet has at least three groups of coils (44, 45, 46) in a generally tapering arrangement. The magnet also has an additional group of coils (47). A first group of coils (44) overlaps the additional group of coils (47), such that a bottom portion (47?) of the additional group of coils (47) is positioned closer to the patient end of the magnet than a top portion (44?) of the first group of coils (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: VICTORIA LINK LIMITED
    Inventor: Benjamin John Parkinson
  • Patent number: 11841405
    Abstract: A processing tool for a superconducting magnet of an MRI system is disclosed. The processing tool comprising a first winding part and a second winding part. The first winding part is used as a winding framework for winding a main coil half-body. The second winding part is used as a winding framework for winding a shield coil. The processing tool has an infusion cavity. The infusion cavity comprises a main coil accommodating zone, a shield coil accommodating zone, and a linking zone. The main coil accommodating zone is used for accommodating the main coil half-body wound on the first winding part. The shield coil accommodating zone is used for accommodating the shield coil wound on the second winding part. The main coil accommodating zone is connected to the shield coil accommodating zone via the linking zone. The processing tool helps to reduce the difficulty of superconducting magnet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jianping He, Bin He, Yu Xin Nie, Kui Xiang Gu
  • Patent number: 11835607
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cooling system that includes a superconducting unit and a reservoir configured to store liquid coolant to cool the superconducting unit. The cooling system also includes an auxiliary storage system that includes one or more storage tanks fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The auxiliary storage system is configured to provide additional coolant to the reservoir as well as receive and store coolant from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Patent number: 11737916
    Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention is directed to magnetic eye shields that comprise a magnet. When worn by a patient, the magnetic eye shields are configured to generate an intraocular magnetic field of sufficient magnitude and direction to move a magnetic therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent positioned inside the eye to target tissue within the eye. Other aspects of the invention pertain to kits which comprise such magnetic eye shields as well as one or more additional components, for example, one or more containers of a magnetic diagnostic and/or or therapeutic agent. Further aspects of the invention pertain to methods of treatment, which comprise intraocularly introducing a magnetic therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent into an eye of a patient and fitting a magnetic eye shield to the head of the patient, wherein the magnetic therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent may be introduced to the patient before or after fitting the magnetic eye shield to the head of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Emmetrope Ophthalmics LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Goldberg, Roger A. Goldberg, Noelia J. Kunzevitzky, Dillon Joseph Rak
  • Patent number: 11707202
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for imaging nano magnetic particles using a 3D array of small magnets. A field-free region generation apparatus includes a hexahedral housing having an opening formed in the first surface thereof such that a measurement head is inserted into a spacing area, a pair of rectangular-shaped magnets installed respectively on two surfaces facing each other, among four surfaces perpendicular to the first surface of the housing, and a pair of magnet arrays installed respectively on the first surface of the housing and on another surface facing the first surface, each of the magnet arrays including multiple small magnets arranged along the edge of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jin-Sun Kim, Jae-Chan Jong, Hyo-Bong Hong
  • Patent number: 11686795
    Abstract: A fat saturation method for a magnetic resonance imaging system having a main magnet providing a magnetic field B0 The method includes: driving a shim coil assembly with a first set of shimming currents to sufficiently alter a B0 field inhomogeneity of the magnetic field B0 within a region that includes a first imaging volume of interest such that water saturation inside the region is reduced from before the first set of shimming currents are applied; applying a fat saturation pulse to the region; identifying the first imaging volume of interest from the region; driving the shim coil assembly with a second set of shimming currents to alter the B0 field inhomogeneity of the magnetic field B0 within the first imaging volume of interest such that the B0 field inhomogeneity within the first imaging volume of interest is reduced; and obtaining magnetic resonance signals from the first imaging volume of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Philip J. Beatty, Chad Tyler Harris, Curtis Nathan Wiens
  • Patent number: 11686793
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and methodologies image a subject using an MRI, wherein the imaging apparatus contains only a single sided device for the purposes of imaging structures in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Irving N. Weinberg, Aleksandar Nelson Nacev, Ryan Hilaman, Amit Vohra
  • Patent number: 11675036
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shimming device. The shimming device may include at least one supporting component each of which is configured with a plurality of wire groove groups. Each of the plurality of wire groove groups may include a plurality of wire grooves. Each of the plurality of wire grooves may be in a closed shape. The closed shapes formed by the plurality of wire grooves may be nested. The shimming device may further include wires arranged in the wire grooves of the plurality of wire groove groups of the at least one supporting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuguang Liu, Man Fan, Jiwen Yang, Yuan Gao, Lifeng Wang, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 11630174
    Abstract: A magnet suitable for use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system. The magnet includes a magnet body having a bore extending therethrough along an axis of the body and a primary coil structure having at least four primary coils positioned along the axis. A first end coil is adjacent a first end of the bore of the magnet and a second end coil is adjacent a second end of the magnet. The first end coil and the second end coil are spaced apart by no more than 1000 mm and an imaging region produced by the primary coils is of a disk-type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Riyu Wei, Ewald Weber
  • Patent number: 11454688
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing parameters of a resonance frequency spectrum of a magnetic resonance scan. The system includes: an input interface for receiving a resonance frequency spectrum of a magnetic resonance scan and a computing device configured to implement a trained machine learning algorithm. The trained machine learning algorithm is trained to receive the resonance frequency spectrum received by the input interface as its input and to generate as its output a set of parameters of the resonance frequency spectrum. The system further includes an output interface configured to output the generated set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Gudrun Ruyters, Johann Sukkau, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 11422213
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one permanent B0 magnet to contribute a magnetic field to the B0 magnetic field for the MRI system and a ferromagnetic frame configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B0 magnet. The ferromagnetic frame includes a first post having a first end and a second end, a first multi-pronged member coupled to the first end, and a second multi-pronged member coupled to the second end, wherein the first and second multi-pronged members support the at least one permanent B0 magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Michael Stephen Poole
  • Patent number: 11360170
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a static magnetic field generator, a transmit/receive system, and an acquiring means. The static magnetic field generator is configured to apply a second static magnetic field in addition to a first static magnetic field serving as a reference. The transmit/receive system is configured to perform transmitting and receiving at a single frequency. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire a magnetic resonance signal by employing the transmit/receive system. The transmit/receive system is configured to perform transmitting and receiving at a resonance frequency of a hydrogen nucleus in a state in which the first static magnetic field is applied and is configured to perform transmitting and receiving at a resonance frequency of a nuclide different from the hydrogen nucleus in a state in which the second static magnetic field is applied in addition to the first static magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sadanori Tomiha, Masao Yui
  • Patent number: 11346908
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method of using the transverse relaxation rates (R2) of solvent NMR signal to noninvasively assess particle-containing products formulated as suspension or emulsion in solvent(s). Anomaly in released products and differences between innovator and follow-on products can be distinguished by this technology nondestructively without the vial or container being opened or protective seal compromised (i.e., broken).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
    Inventors: Yihua Yu, Marc Taraban
  • Patent number: 11333727
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one permanent B0 magnet to contribute a magnetic field to the B0 magnetic field for the MRI system and a ferromagnetic frame configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B0 magnet. The ferromagnetic frame includes a first plate configured to support the at least one permanent B0 magnet and a first post attached to the first plate using a first connection assembly, wherein the first connection assembly includes a first connector that connects the first post and the first plate and a second connector attached to the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Cedric Hugon
  • Patent number: 11269033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shim iron (130) for use with an magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus (10), wherein the shim iron (130) is comprised of a stack of shim plates (131, 132, 133, 134, 135), wherein at least two of the shim plates (131, 132, 133, 134, 135) comprise slits, the slits forming a respective slit pattern of the slit shim plates (131, 132, 133, 134, 135), and wherein the slit patterns, when viewed from the same viewing direction, are comprised of at least two different slit patterns which may not be brought into congruent coverage with each other. In this way, a shim iron (130) is provided which does not heat up to high temperatures due to eddy currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Vernickel, Ingo Schmale, Oliver Lips
  • Patent number: 11215685
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one first B0 magnet configured to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the at least one first B0 magnet comprising a first plurality of permanent magnet rings including at least two rings with respective different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hyperfine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 11199599
    Abstract: A magnet assembly in a magnetic resonance apparatus includes a cryostat and a superconducting main field magnet coil system arranged therein for generating a magnetic field in the direction of a z-axis in a working volume. The magnet assembly includes a shim device arranged inside the cryostat for adjusting the spatial variation or homogeneity of the magnetic field generated in the working volume by the magnet coil system. The shim device comprises at least one closed superconducting shim conductor path having an HTS layer. The HTS layer forms a surface that is geometrically developable such that unwrapping onto a plane changes the geodesic distance between any two points on the surface formed by the HTS layer by no more than 10%. The inner and/or outer contour of the geometrical development of the HTS layer describes a non-convex curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BRUKER SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Kenneth Guenter, Robert Schauwecker
  • Patent number: 11156683
    Abstract: A static magnetic field adjustment device for an MRI includes a shim tray, a bottom spacer and a magnetic material shim. The shim tray is mounted on the MRI and provided with a shim pocket. The bottom spacer is made of a non-magnetic material and accommodated in the shim pocket to make contact with a bottom surface of the shim pocket. The magnetic material shim is made of a magnetic material and accommodated in the shim pocket with the bottom spacer interposed between the magnetic material shim and the bottom surface of the shim pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Fukui, Tetsuya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11119168
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing MRI, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the MRI system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hyperfine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 11105873
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hyperfine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon
  • Patent number: 11085890
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system for facilitating non-invasive in-situ imaging of metabolic processes of plants is disclosed. The system may include a frame comprises a frame body and a base member. Further, the system may include at least one rare-earth permanent magnet disposed on the frame. Further, the system may include at least one arm coupled to the frame. Further, the system may include at least one coil disposed on a first end of an arm of the at least one arm. Further, the system may include at least one sensor disposed on the frame. Further, the system may include a processing device communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor and the at least one coil. Further, the system may include an actuator communicatively coupled with the processing device. Further, the system may include a presentation device disposed on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ROYAL BIOTECH INC
    Inventors: Philip Huang, E-Ray Huang, Guozhi Lin, En I Tu
  • Patent number: 11041924
    Abstract: A method for determining a spoiler gradient of a magnetic resonance (MR) system is provided. At least one shim parameter that defines a shim magnetic field for compensating for B0 magnetic field inhomogeneities in a measurement volume of the MR system is received. As a function of the at least one shim parameter, at least one spoiler parameter that defines a spoiler gradient for canceling out a transverse magnetization is determined. The spoiler gradient is applied together with the shim magnetic field in a measurement of the MR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Böttcher
  • Patent number: 11002811
    Abstract: Provided are a magnetic resonance imaging device and a superconducting magnet capable of preventing generation of eddy currents accompanying vibration of a radiation shield and of reducing image quality deterioration. The superconducting magnet for a magnetic resonance imaging device includes a substantially cylindrical vacuum vessel, a substantially cylindrical radiation shield that is provided inside the vacuum vessel, and a superconducting coil that is provided inside the radiation shield. The radiation shield has an inner cylinder located radially inward of the superconducting coil. The inner cylinder of the radiation shield is provided with an annular rib formed in a circumferential direction about the central axis of the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinobu Imamura, Akira Kurome, Shin Hoshino, Takeshi Yatsuo, Takuya Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 10962614
    Abstract: A state space controller includes an integral part configured to integrate a control deviation, wherein the control deviation indicates a difference between a digital value of a gradient coil current and a reference current; a delay compensator configured to generate a digital control amount according to the integrated control deviation by the integral part, and generated a pulse-width modulation drive signal according to the digital control amount, and includes a subtractor of which a non-inverting input terminal is connected to an output terminal of the integral part, a delayer configured to delay the digital control amount by one calculation cycle, and a first feedback loop configured to delay the digital control amount by one calculation cycle and multiply a first compensation coefficient to obtain a first compensation amount, wherein the first compensation amount is input into a first inverting input terminal of the subtractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gong Cheng, Qin Xu
  • Patent number: 10960229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and a method. The system may include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus configured to acquire MRI data with respect to a region of interest (ROI) and a therapeutic apparatus configured to apply therapeutic radiation to at least one portion of the ROI. The MRI apparatus may include a plurality of main magnetic coils arranged coaxially along an axis, a plurality of shielding magnetic coils arranged coaxially along the axis, and a cryostat in which the plurality of main magnetic coils and the plurality of shielding magnetic coils are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng Ni, Xingen Yu, Yanfang Liu, Jingjie Zhou, Jianfeng Liu, Li Wang, Peng Wang, Yangyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10890637
    Abstract: A gradient coil for magnetic resonance imaging has at least two conductors that are independent of one another, designed to jointly generate a magnetic field gradient and a magnetic field of a higher order in the examination region of a magnetic resonance scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Fath, Andreas Krug
  • Patent number: 10877117
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for providing a high-precision and fast changing driving current for a gradient coil to generate a gradient magnetic field to acquire a high-quality image in an MRI device are provided. An example gradient amplifier includes a controller, a power amplifying circuit and a filtering circuit. The controller is configured to output pulse signals. The power amplifying circuit includes a first H bridge circuit and a second H bridge circuit and is configured to perform power conversion on an input power supply according to the pulse signals to output a driving current to a gradient coil. The filtering circuit is configured to filter the driving current output by the power amplifying circuit. A phase difference between the pulse signals output by the controller to drive switching tubes on a same position in the first H bridge circuit and the second H bridge circuit is a particular degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hongju Zhao
  • Patent number: 10852375
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging configuration and methodology to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus and methodology allows multi-positioning of a patient within the calibrated and more uniform magnetic field lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FONAR Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Gordon T. Danby, Hank Hsieh, John W. Jackson, Mark Gelbien, William H. Wahl, Charles A. Green
  • Patent number: 10830858
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums for correcting time in a nuclear magnetic resonance device are provided. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining respective transmission time delays of three gradient pulse signals that are generated by a three-dimensional gradient subsystem of the nuclear magnetic resonance device and include a slice-selection gradient signal, a phase-encoding gradient signal, and a frequency-encoding gradient signal, determining a time correction value according to the obtained respective transmission time delays of the three gradient pulse signals, and correcting a respective output time of each of the three gradient pulse signals, an output time of a radio-frequency (RF) pulse signal generated by a RF transmitting subsystem of the nuclear magnetic resonance device, and a reception time of a magnetic resonance signal received by a RF receiving subsystem in a scanning cycle according to the determined time correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianhua Shi, Qin Xu, Rong Sun, Haiquan Li, Yan Wang, Lin Wu, Junwei Shang
  • Patent number: 10809334
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing NMR spectroscopy. The method comprises positioning a sample in a homogeneous stationary magnetic field directed along an axis, preparing nuclei in at least a predetermined volume of the sample for resonant emission of an NMR signal and creating this NMR signal. This comprises irradiating the sample with at least one RF excitation pulse in accordance with an MRI sequence preparation and/or evolution module. The method also comprises sensing the NMR signal in the absence of frequency encoding magnetic field gradients such that analysis of the NMR signal yields a chemical shift spectrum from the nuclei. During this sensing, a plurality of intermittently blipped phase gradient pulses are applied to incrementally shift a position in k-space such that different time segments of the NMR signal, demarcated by the blipped phase gradient pulses, correspond to different predetermined locations in k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITEIT GENT
    Inventors: Hacene Serrai, Eric Achten, Sourav Bhaduri
  • Patent number: 10794974
    Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 10677865
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance imaging device and shimming methods on the magnetic resonance imaging device. The magnetic resonance imaging device includes a main magnet, gradient coils, a vacuum enclosure, and a shimming conduit. The vacuum enclosure is configured to house at least part of the shimming conduit. The vacuum enclosure and at least part of the shimming conduit defines a hermetically sealed space configured to house the gradient coils. The shimming conduit has at least one opening configured to allow for access to an interior of the shimming conduit. The interior of the shimming conduit is hermetically insulated from the hermetically sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xingen Yu, Yong Liu, Shuguang Liu, Jiwen Yang, Tao Wang, Baogang Peng, Man Fan, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10661098
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus which includes: a body portion (102) having a cavity (106) with a first and second ends and at least one opening situated at one of the first and second ends. The cavity may define a longitudinal axis (LA) extending between the first and second ends. At least one main magnet may generate a main magnetic field having a substantially homogenous magnetic field within the cavity. A center shim (CS) which may be formed from a ring having opposed edges (131) and which may extend along a length of the longitudinal axis of the cavity. One or more discrete shims (DSs) may be situated between the CS and at least one of the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Edward Leach, Philip Alexander Johas, Johannes Adrianus Overweg, Viktor Mokhnatyuk
  • Patent number: 10656221
    Abstract: A drive circuit of a radio-frequency (RF) transmitting coil and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device are provided. According to an example, the drive circuit includes a controller, a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) coupled with the controller, a RF amplifier coupled with the DAC, a power divider coupled with the RF amplifier, and a plurality of phase shifters respectively coupled with at least three output ports of the power divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qin Xu
  • Patent number: 10656223
    Abstract: A magnetic field generation apparatus includes a main coil and a variable-current correction coil. The main coil is formed by winding a ReBCO-based superconductive wire rod and generates a magnetic field in a measurement space. The variable-current correction coil is variable in a value of a current, coaxial with the main coil and disposed inside the main coil, and generates a magnetic field which corrects a uniformity of the magnetic field generated by the main coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mamoru Hamada, Hideaki Maeda, Yoshinori Yanagisawa, Hideki Nakagome
  • Patent number: 10649050
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Laura Sacolick, William J. Mileski, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Alan B. Katze, Jr., Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10641852
    Abstract: A low-field MRI system comprising: a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for MR imaging. The magnetics system comprises: a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field at a field strength of less than 0.2 Tesla (T); a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted MR signals; and at least one RF coil configured to, when operated, transmit RF signals to a field of view of the MIR system and to respond to MR signals emitted from the field of view. The MRI system comprises a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the MRI system to perform image acquisition, wherein the power system operates the MRI system using an average of less than 5 kilowatts during image acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Laura Sacolick, William J. Mileski, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Alan B. Katze, Jr., Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10613168
    Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. In addition, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 10607774
    Abstract: A cylindrical superconducting magnet coil structure has superconducting coils and spacers bonded together at joints to form a self-supporting structure. A layer of additional material is provided, overlaying a joint and extending onto an adjacent regions of a spacer and a coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Noys
  • Patent number: 10564239
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10520566
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Laura Sacolick, William J. Mileski, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Alan B. Katze, Jr., Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10488478
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance apparatus compensate for inhomogeneities in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic resonance apparatus with a shim coil of the magnetic resonance apparatus. The shim coil is arranged at an object under investigation. A position and an orientation of the shim coil are automatically determined. The inhomogeneities of the magnetic field are determined. The inhomogeneities are compensated for via the shim coil depending on the position and the orientation of the shim coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Daniel Driemel, Katharina Hesels, Ralf Ladeback, Jörg Rothard
  • Patent number: 10429465
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for determining a shim setting in order to increase a homogeneity of the basic magnetic field of the scanner of the apparatus by operating a shim element, information is obtained concerning the dependence of an induced field of the shim element on a set shim setting. A first field map is recorded and a first shim setting for the shim element is determined based on the first field map. A second field map is recorded while the shim element is driven with the first shim setting. A field induced by the shim element by the first shim setting is determined based on the first field map and the second field map. A second shim setting for the shim element is determined based on the determined induced field and the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Ladebeck, Daniel Niederloehner, Johann Sukkau
  • Patent number: 10393836
    Abstract: Active resistive shim coil assemblies may be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems to reduce in-homogeneity of the magnetic field in the imaging volume. Disclosed embodiments may be used with continuous systems, gapped cylindrical systems, or vertically gapped systems. Disclosed embodiments may also be used with an open MRI system and can be used with an instrument placed in the gap of the MRI system. An exemplary embodiment of the active resistive shim coil assembly of the present disclosure includes active resistive shim coils each operable to be energized by separate currents through a plurality of power channels. In some embodiments, the disclosed active resistive shim coil assemblies allow for various degrees of freedom to shim out field in-homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ViewRay Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmaryu M. Shvartsman, James F. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 10371773
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising, a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system at a low-field strength of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Poole, Cedric Hugon, Hadrien A. Dyvorne, Laura Sacolick, William J. Mileski, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Alan B. Katze, Jr., Jonathan M. Rothberg, Todd Rearick, Christopher Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10365049
    Abstract: A passive thermal diode (10), comprising: a heat source (12); a heat sink (14); a thermal coupling element (16) removably coupled to the heat source (12) and the heat sink (14); a lever (18), the lever (18) connected to the thermal coupling element (16) via a pivot point (19); and at least one spring (20) connected to the lever (18), the spring (20) comprised of a shape memory alloy, wherein the lever (18) transmits a force to displace the thermal coupling element (16) when the force is produced by the spring (20) on the lever (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chi Yan Tso, Christopher Yu Hang Chao