Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solenoidal magnet having one or more coils wound onto a cylindrical former, and an annular end coil (20), mounted onto an end of the former such that no part of the former is present on the radially inner (A1) or axially outer (B2) sides of the end coil.

Abstract: In order to minimize the loss of cryogen during transportation of superconductive magnet systems, or indeed at any time that the refrigerator is turned off, part of the boil-off gas is directed from the cryogen vessel through the refrigerator interface and past the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator. Some of the heat conducted along the refrigerator into the system is intercepted and removed by that part of the boil-off gas. The heat load onto the cryogenic vessel is thereby reduced, which in turn reduces the boil-off of cryogen from the cryogenic vessel. This part of the boil-off gas is then vented from the system along with the remainder of the boil-off gas, for example to leave the cryogenic liquid vessel via the access neck.

Abstract: A gas transfer hose for connecting a cryogenic apparatus to a superconducting system such as a magnetic resonant imaging system. The improved gas transfer hose, in operation, is quieter than hitherto.

Abstract: A patient table is described for use in equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners that are susceptible to electrical or magnetic interference. The patient table is moved by hydraulic means, thus avoiding the need for electric motors that give rise to such interference.

Abstract: A cryostat cooled by a pulse tube refrigerator and containing electrically powered equipment, wherein an electrical conductor is provided to the electrically powered equipment, said electrical conductor being in thermal and mechanical contact with one or more of the tubes of the pulse tube refrigerator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pulse tube refrigerators for recondensing cryogenic liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to the same for magnetic resonance imaging systems. In many cryogenic applications components, e.g. superconducting coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), superconducting transformers, generators, electronics, are cooled by keeping them in contact with a volume of liquified gases (e.g. Helium, Neon, Nitrogen, Argon, Methane . . . ). Any dissipation in the components or heat getting into the system causes the volume to part boil off. To account for the losses, replenishment is required. This service operation is considered to be problematic by many users and great efforts have been made over the years to introduce refrigerators that recondense any lost liquid right back into the bath. The present invention addresses the problems arising from convection which occurs within a pulse tube refrigerator. The invention provides.

Abstract: The present invention provides cryostat comprising a cryogen vessel 2 suspended within an outer vacuum container 4 by an arrangement comprising: at least one housing 20 mounted on an exterior surface of the outer vacuum container and arranged to function as a floor mounting foot, for supporting weight of the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container; at least two mounting points 26, 30 mounted within the housing(s); and at least two suspension elements 22, 23, being an upper suspension element 22 and a lower suspension element 23, each of the at least two suspension elements 22, 23 extending through a hole 32 in the surface of the outer vacuum container between the respective mounting point 26; 30 and a respective point on the cryogen vessel.

Abstract: A container is described that is particularly suitable for use as a shim tray. An integral hinged lid and resilient member minimises the number of components that need to be handled during shimming of a superconducting electromagnet. The resilient member dispenses with the need for a selection of packers in order to retain the shims within the container. A slot allows shims to be inserted and retained by the member without removing the lid.

Abstract: A resin-impregnated superconducting magnet coil comprising a number of turns of superconducting wire (14) embedded within a resin (16) having an outer filler layer (18) composed of the resin, filled with filler material (20). The coil further comprises a cooling layer (22) interposed between the superconducting wire (14) and the filler layer (18).

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical vessel comprising a cylindrical outer shell (12) and a cylindrical inner shell (14) joined by annular end caps (16), wherein at least one of: an end cap, or the cylindrical outer shell (12), or the cylindrical inner shell (14), is provided with an arrangement of recesses or protrusions (18). Preferably, the arrangement of recesses or protrusions is asymmetrical in all axes.

Abstract: A tensioning arrangement for a suspension system comprising an elongate suspension member (2) for attachment to an element to be suspended under tension at a predetermined location relative to a support surface (10); the arrangement comprising a lever arm member (1) having a component (5) adapted to engage with and support said elongate suspension member remotely from said suspended element, wherein said lever arm member is formed with first (7) and second (6) bearing means adapted to bear respectively against first (9) and second (8) spaced-apart regions of said support surface and wherein at least said first bearing means incorporates an adjuster means (3) permitting the said arm member to be moved relative to said first region of said support surface, thereby to permit adjustment of tension in said suspension member.

Abstract: Apparatus for pre-cooling cryogenically cooled apparatus housed within a cryogen vessel (26), comprising a first closed-loop cooling circuit (30) containing heat transfer fluid, a circulator (32) for causing the heat transfer fluid to circulate around the closed circuit and a heat extractor (34) arranged to extracts heat from the heat transfer fluid, wherein the circuit carries heat transfer fluid into and from an interior volume of the cryogen vessel (26).

Abstract: An arrangement for presenting visual images, for example to a patient to be investigated by a scanning medical apparatus of the kind having a patient volume intended to accommodate part at least of the patient; the arrangement comprising visual display means including at least one screen so disposed in relation to said apparatus as to display said images during approach of the patient to and/or during scanning of the patient by said apparatus; and means for supplying said at least one screen with images derived from part at least of the environment of said scanning apparatus, such that the images displayed to the patient reveal features of said environment which the patient would see directly, were the scanning apparatus not there.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a cooled equipment, comprising: a cryogen vessel (10) housing the cooled equipment; a gaseous cryogen filling the cryogen vessel; a refrigerator (12) having a cooling surface exposed to the interior of the cryogen vessel (10) so as to cool the gaseous cryogen; and a gas current generator arranged to cause circulation of the gaseous cryogen freely within the cryogen vessel, such that the gaseous cryogen is cooled by the refrigerator, and is warmed by heat from the cooled equipment, thereby cooling the cooled equipment.

Abstract: A trailer for housing a mobile MRI system has magnetic shielding in the form of a plurality of sheets of magnetic material which are supported within the trailer, by a rigid supporting structure or frame. The layers are arranged in a stacked or laminar configuration with the laterally longest layer disposed inward of the remaining layers, such that the width of the gap between that layer and the exterior walls of the trailer at the lateral extremities of the shielding is greater than its width in a central area. The rigid frame maintains the gap and prevents contacting of the shielding and the trailer walls.

Abstract: A magnet assembly comprising a former having an outer surface (20) with a cavity (12) formed therein, and a coil (14) wound into the cavity (12), said cavity being of greater depth than the coil, wherein the coil is overlain with a layer of filler material (18) of sufficient thickness that its outer surface at least aligns with the outer surface of the former (20); a clamp (22, 30) is provided, over at least part of the surface of the layer of filler material, and fastened to the outer surface of the former; and the filler material and the coil are impregnated with a solid material.

Abstract: A portable MRI or NMR imaging system comprising a cryogen vessel housing cooled equipment, said system being housed within a transportable container, said container being divided into at least three sections. A first section provides accommodation for an operator and access to equipment as required to operate the cooled equipment. A second section houses the cryogen vessel. A third section houses auxiliary equipment required for operation of the cooled equipment but which is not required to be accessed by the operator to operate the equipment. Also provided is a cryostat comprising an outer vacuum container, itself housing a cryogen vessel for containing cooled equipment, wherein space between the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container is evacuated. The outer vacuum container is in the form of at least a section of a standard shipping container.

Abstract: A switching circuit comprising a plurality of heating elements (12), each connected as part of a tuned circuit (36), the tuned circuits being respectively tuned to different frequencies and connected in parallel between two common conductors (34), the circuit further comprising means (20, 38, 40) for applying an oscillating signal voltage between the two common conductors, at one or more frequencies each corresponding to a tuned frequency of one of the tuned circuits.

Abstract: A support system comprising a number of racetrack-shaped tensile support bands (22) held in tension between a supported article and a supporting article, respective curved end portions of each tensile support band being retained by respective mounting points (30) mounted on respective surfaces of the supported article and the supporting article, respectively. At least one of the tensile support bands is arranged so that the curved end portions lie in a plane substantially parallel to the surface upon which the respective mounting point is mounted; and at least one mounting point is a monolithic mounting point having a curved surface (32) which is complementary to an inner curved surface of an end of the tensile support band.

Abstract: A composite material for acoustic or mechanical damping, comprising a plurality of layers of fibrous material embedded in a solid material. The solid material layers are interspersed by perforated films of viscoelastic polymer.