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  • MRI test fixture
    Patent number: 7504827
    Abstract: A test fixture for testing and monitoring electromagnetic characteristics of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system preferably comprises a body portion having a first longitudinal axis and a first coil supported by the body portion. A longitudinal member is preferably connected to the body portion. A second coil is supported by the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member has a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis. A container for containing a test substance is supported by the longitudinal member within the second coil. The second coil is preferably a transceiver and the test substance is a material capable of emitting a magnetic resonance signal. The longitudinal member is preferably pivotally connected to the body portion and the body portion is preferably telescoping so that the test fixture may be stored in a compact position. Preferably, the test fixture is stored in the gap region in an MRI system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Hugh Wahl, Rein Aspelund, James Kelly
  • Mobile MRI system and method of promoting use of MRI system
    Patent number: 6817866
    Abstract: A trailer or other mobile carrier may be utilized as a promotional system for promoting sales and education of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging devices and systems. The trailer may house a set-up that includes an MRI scanner that may be operational or may be a mock-up system designed to simulate the operation of an actual MRI scanner. The trailer may also house monitoring equipment for presenting real or simulated NMRI imaging information. Other equipment, either operational or designed for demonstration purposes only, that is necessary to or that facilitates an NMRI diagnostic procedure may also be included in the trailer. The equipment may be housed inside the trailer so that observers may easily view the equipment therein from any desired perspective. Further, the equipment may be arranged so that an observer may put himself in the place of a patient undergoing an NMRI diagnostic procedure, so that a first-hand hand evaluation of the equipment may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Sol Ginzburg, Raymond V. Damadian, Ralph H. Terrell
  • Multiple patient scanning on a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 5606970
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging systems typically have a single patient handling system which allows the sequential scanning of individual patients. Such apparatus limit patient throughput and consequently the utility of magnetic resonance imaging systems. The present invention details apparatus and methods to enhance patient throughput of a magnetic resonance imaging system. Two distinct components of a magnetic resonance imaging procedure are defined: the patient handling time and the scan protocol time, and these time components are multiplexed to enhance patient throughput. This is achieved by addition of patient handling systems at additional apertures as exist on the primary field magnet and which provide access to the imaging volume. It is thus possible, for example, to have the patient handling time component of one patient overlap with the scan protocol time component of a second patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond V. Damadian
  • Multiple patient breast scanning on a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 5490513
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging systems typically have a single patient handling system which allows the sequential scanning of individual patients. Such apparatus limit patient throughput and consequently the utility of magnetic resonance imaging systems. The present invention includes apparatus and methods to enhance patient throughput of a magnetic resonance imaging system, particularly as related to imaging the breast region of patients. Two distinct components of a magnetic resonance imaging procedure are defined: the patient handling time and the scan protocol time, and these time components are multiplexed to enhance patient throughput. This is achieved by addition of patient handling systems at additional apertures as exist on the primary field magnet and which provide access to the imaging volume. It is thus possible, for example, to have the patient handling time component of one patient overlap with the scan protocol time component of a second patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Jan Votruba
  • Multiple patient breast scanning on a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 5623927
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging systems typically have a single patient handling system which allows the sequential scanning of individual patients. Such apparatus limit patient throughput and consequently the utility of magnetic resonance imaging systems. The present invention includes apparatus and methods to enhance patient throughput of a magnetic resonance imaging system, particularly as related to imaging the breast region of patients. Two distinct components of a magnetic resonance imaging procedure are defined: the patient handling time and the scan protocol time, and these time components are multiplexed to enhance patient throughput. This is achieved by addition of patient handling systems at additional apertures as exist on the primary field magnet and which provide access to the imaging volume. It is thus possible, for example, to have the patient handling time component of one patient overlap with the scan protocol time component of a second patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Jan Votruba
  • Room for conducting medical procedures
    Patent number: 7823306
    Abstract: A room for use in conducting medical procedures includes an image on a screen disposed in the room. The room preferably includes a track for disposing the screen across the room to create a panoramic view of the scene in the screen. Preferably the track, and hence the image on the screen disposed on the track, are arcuate. The screen provides a virtual reality and a calming effect to the patient undergoing the procedure. The screen can be moved mechanically around the room to display different images on the screen. The screen can be changed to provide a different set of images. Ceiling lights, sounds and smells can be added to the room to further accent the theme of the screen's image and enhance the overall calming effect by portraying the medical procedure room as the scene in the screen. Illumination may be provided behind the screen, as well. The medical procedure may be a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, in which case the room comprises a magnetic resonance imaging assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Kersten, Alex Darian, Raymond V. Damadian
  • MRI antenna
    Patent number: 6847210
    Abstract: Antennas for use in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) comprise a coaxial cable unit having an inner conductor tuned to a frequency, typically the Larmor frequency of the species of interest, and an outer conductor substantially surrounding the inner conductor and also tuned to the frequency. The inner and outer conductors are inductively coupled. The antennas may be used as receiving and transmitting antennas. In a receiving antenna, the inner conductor provides an output of the antenna. In a transmitting antenna, an input is provided to the inner conductor. Antenna arrays of one or more coaxial cable units, wherein the inner conductors of each unit are electrically connected and the outer conductors are electrically connected, and the units are inductively coupled, may be provided. Additional coaxial cable units may also be provided, inductively coupled to adjacent coaxial cable units. Each coaxial cable unit may comprise multiple inner conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Eydelman, Raymond V. Damadian, Anthony J. Giambalvo
  • Method for obtaining T1-weighted and T2-weighted NMR images for a plurality of selected planes in the course of a single scan
    Patent number: 4734646
    Abstract: A method for obtaining in the course of a single scan T1-weighted and T2-weighted NMR imaging data for a plurality of selected planes in an object using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The method is accomplished by positioning an object to be imaged in a static homogeneous magnetic field and then carrying out a plurality of repetitions of a repetition sequence composed of NMR excitation and magnetic field gradient pulses for a plurality of selected planes in the object. The repetition sequences for each of the selected planes include a combination of a T1-weighted pulse sequence having a TE.sub.1 and TR.sub.1 suitable for obtaining T1-weighted NMR imaging data and a T2-weighted pulse sequence having a TE.sub.2 and TR.sub.2 suitable for obtaining T2-weighted NMR imaging data. The repetition sequence for each selected plane is repeated a plurality of times and carried out in a manner so as to encode spatial information into the collection of NMR signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Shenoy, Robert B. Wolf, Terry Morrone, Raymond V. Damadian
  • NMR screening method
    Patent number: 4770182
    Abstract: A medical screening method for examining a patient utilizing NMR techniques is disclosed. The method uses an NMR imaging apparatus which has a scanning volume region of a limited size and which is operative to produce, during the course of a single scanning operation, a collection of spatially encoded NMR image data for a set of volume elements defined by the part of the patient positioned in the scanning volume region. A patient is positioned within the NMR apparatus, the NMR apparatus operated to conduct a scanning operation, and the patient then moved so that an additional volume portion of the patient is positioned within the scanning volume region. The NMR apparatus is then operated to conduct a further scanning operation with respect to the additional volume portion. This procedure of moving the patient and conducting additional scanning operations is continued until substantially the entire body of the patient is scanned and NMR image data collected therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Anthony J. Giambalvo, Rajendra K. Shenoy, Jan V. Votruba
  • System, method and methodology for reconfigurability of magnetic resonance imagers
    Patent number: 6833702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve the efficiency of an MRI apparatus by allowing the controller of the MRI to be remotely reconfigured, allowing modification and upgrade of the hardware configuration of the controller. For complex or innovative pulse sequences, a customized hardware configuration of the controller may be necessary; for optimization of digital signal processing of the received data, reconfiguring the hardware configuration of the controller to perform the digital signal processing may be desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: John Linardos, Jevan Damadian
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