Abstract: The method includes positioning a patient within a receiving space of a stand-up MRI apparatus and imaging the region of interest of the patient while the patient moves the region of interest. Further in accordance with the method the patient may be positioned such that the patient faces a pole face of a magnet of the MRI apparatus. The apparatus comprises a patient support which allows imaging of a patient's spine with a gravitational load on the spinal system.

Abstract: A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging has an interior working space within the magnet frame sufficient to accommodate a physician and a patient. Because the physician is positioned inside the magnet frame, the physician has unimpeded access to the patient. Elements of the magnet frame desirably encompass a room, and the magnet frame may be concealed from view of a patient within the room. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI imaged guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged, and minimize claustrophobia experienced by the patient.

Abstract: A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging has an interior working space within the magnet frame sufficient to accommodate a physician and a patient. Because the physician is positioned inside the magnet frame, the physician has unimpeded access to the patient. Elements of the magnet frame desirably encompass a room, and the magnet frame may be concealed from view of a patient within the room. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI imaged guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged, and minimize claustrophobia experienced by the patient.

Abstract: A personal computer or "PC" based software control system for a magnetic resonance imaging or "MRI" scanner. The software control system manages various types of MRI scanners without modification of the software control system. The control system manages the scanning process through a device driver interface which abstracts the particulars of the specific hardware used to interface to the magnetic, radio frequency, image display, image acquisition, patient handling and scan control subsystems.

Abstract: A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging has an interior working space within the magnet frame sufficient to accommodate a physician and a patient. Because the physician is positioned inside the magnet frame, the physician has unimpeded access to the patient. Elements of the magnet frame desirably encompass a room, and the magnet frame may be concealed from view of a patient within the room. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI imaged guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged, and minimize claustrophobia experienced by the patient.

Abstract: A personal computer or “PC” based software control system for a magnetic resonance imaging or “MRI” scanner. The software control system manages various types of MRI scanners without modification of the software control system. The control system manages the scanning process through a device driver interface which abstracts the particulars of the specific hardware used to interface to the magnetic, radio frequency, image display, image acquisition, patient handling and scan control subsystems.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a coil for a magnetic resonance imaging magnet is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of windings each having an axis. A conductor is arranged in a plurality of turns extending in a spiral between the inner end and the outer end of the windings. The turns of each outward winding and inward winding are arranged so that a point moving along the turns in a first direction of rotation about the axis of the outward winding moves from the inner end towards the outer end, and the outer end towards the inner end, respectively. The method further includes superposing the spiral windings one above the other so that the windings are substantially coaxial with one another and electrically connecting the windings in series with one another.

Abstract: A primary tuned circuit and a secondary tuned circuit are inductively coupled. Primary and secondary inductors of the tuned circuits each exhibit a respective region of sufficiently uniform sensitivity for MRI studies. Both the primary and secondary inductors receive, in use, an MRI signal directly from a subject to be imaged.

Abstract: In one example, an antenna is disclosed comprising a first, outer conductor, at least one inner conductor within the first outer conductor, and a second outer conductor surrounding the first outer conductor. The second outer conductor may define a plurality of holes therethrough. The at least one inner conductor may comprise a plurality of inner conductors. At least two of the plurality of inner conductors may be connected to each other in series, across a capacitor. At least two of the plurality of inner conductors may be connected to each other in parallel, across a capacitor. The at least one inner conductor may be sufficiently surrounded by the first outer conductor to shield the inner conductor from receiving a radiofrequency signal.

Abstract: In one example, an illumination system is provided in an MRI system including an open MRI assembly comprising a pole covered by a canopy. The MRI system is within a shielded room. A light source is provided outside of the shielded room, at least one light projector is connected to the canopy, and optical fibers couple the light source to the light projector. The light projector is preferably flexible. The light projector or projectors increase the illumination in the imaging volume, facilitating medical procedures conducted on a subject within the imaging volume.

Abstract: Magnet assembly for use in medical magnetic resonance imaging includes means for increasing flux generation in the gap region to provide the capability of scanning smaller volume regions of a patient at increased levels of scanning resolution. The means for increasing flux generation is mechanical or electromagnetic, is coupled to each of the polar regions and maintains the gap region sufficiently large and unobstructed to allow for access to the patient by several persons during scanning. Tapered outer walls of the polar region proximate the gap region further enhance accessibility to the patient during scanning.

Abstract: An antenna structure for magnetic resonance imaging includes a plurality of spiral wound, generally planar coils spaced axially from one another. The plural coils may be mounted on a rigid frame in the desired relative positions and the subject may be inserted in the space defined by the frame. Alternatively, the individual coils can be separately supported on the subject, as by mounting the coils to the subject. Desirably, a part of the subject's body extends through central apertures in one or more of the coils.

Abstract: An antenna system for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has an active coil connected between a transmitter or receiver and ground and also has an isolated loop coil which is not conductively connected to ground. The isolated loop coil preferably overlies the electrically conductive pole surface of the field magnet. The isolated loop coil is inductively coupled to the active coil. The assembly has relatively low parasitic capacitance to ground and hence can be tuned to the resonant frequencies required for high field strength imaging.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"), RF power is applied to a region of interest within the patient by a local antenna disposed adjacent the region of interest. The local antenna is excited by RF signals sent through free space from a principal antenna mounted to the primary field magnet of the MRI system. The principal antenna includes one or more loops mounted so that the plane of the loop is transverse to the pole pieces of the magnet frame and so that the plane of the loop is transverse to adjacent metallic portions of the frame. The loops are aligned with openings in the frame so that a patient is advanced into a frame through the loop. The loops do not substantially obstruct axis to the subject receiving space.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”), RF power is applied to a region of interest within the patient by a local antenna disposed adjacent the region of interest. The local antenna is excited by RF signals sent through free space from a principal antenna mounted to the primary field magnet of the MRI system. The principal antenna includes one or more loops mounted so that the plane of the loop is transverse to the pole pieces of the magnet frame and so that the plane of the loop is transverse to adjacent metallic portions of the frame. The loops are aligned with openings in the frame so that a patient is advanced into a frame through the loop. The loops do not substantially obstruct axis to the subject receiving space.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a first electrical signal having a frequency interval I containing information, and increasing the signal-to-noise ratio thereof utilizes a mixer for shifting the frequencies of the first signal in the interval I to an interval I.sub.s. A plurality of filters, coupled in parallel, to the mixer pass, respectively, only frequencies in subintervals of I.sub.s, which are mutually disjoint. A second embodiment utilizes a plurality of mixers which shift, respectively, mutually disjoint subintervals of I such that their left end points are substantially equal. A plurality of filters, coupled, respectively, to the mixers, pass, respectively, only those frequencies in the shifted subintervals. Preferably, the frequency intervals passed by the filters in both embodiments are equal in bandwidth, and have no gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging magnet includes a ferromagnetic frame. A pair of generally toroidal superconducting coil units overlie interfaces of side walls incorporated in the frame. Each coil unit may include a vessel having hollow support extensions extending into recesses in the side walls. The coil units may further include elongated, low-thermal conductance supports disposed within the support extensions. The frame may include pole stems projecting inwardly from the side walls, and the coils may be disposed in close proximity to the pole stems. Cryocoolers may be mounted to the frame so that the cryocoolers are substantially mechanically isolated from the coils of the coil units, but are in thermal communication therewith. The cryocooler mountings may be arranged for convenient servicing and installation of the cryocoolers.

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.