Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet body is provided. The method includes providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks and magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body. A recoil magnetization pulse may be applied to the permanent magnet body after the magnetization. The precursor body may be heated during magnetization. A power supply containing a battery may be used to energize a pulsed magnet used to magnetize the precursor body.

Abstract: A magnetizing coil unit and a method of making a magnetizing coil unit is provided. The coil includes a solenoid coil having a coiled copper sheet in which the width of the copper sheet is equal to the height of the solenoid coil. A magnetizing assembly includes a plurality of magnetizing coil units.

Abstract: A magnetizing coil unit and a method of making a magnetizing coil unit is provided. The coil includes a solenoid coil having a coiled copper sheet in which the width of the copper sheet is equal to the height of the solenoid coil. A magnetizing assembly includes a plurality of magnetizing coil units.

Abstract: A thermal management system and method for cooling Magnetic Resonance Imaging gradient coils. The system includes least one first header tube positioned adjacent to said gradient coils and configured to transport a coolant fluid; at least one set of cooling tubes connected to said header tube at inlet ends and configured to transport said coolant fluid, wherein said cooling tubes are parallel to each other and at least one second header tube positioned adjacent to said gradient coils, connected to said at least one set of cooling tubes at outlet ends of said at least one set of cooling tubes and configured to transport said coolant fluid.

Abstract: A method for monitoring temperature in at least one location of an electromagnetic coil assembly having at least one electrical winding. The method includes passing a light through a non-magnetic optical fiber inserted into a sheath that is wound with the electrical winding. The sheath is wound and cast with the electromagnetic coil assembly, and the optical fiber is slidably inserted therein. The optical fiber has a core containing at least a first Bragg grating etched therein. The method further includes detecting a wavelength of light reflected from the first Bragg grating and determining a temperature of the electromagnetic coil assembly at a location of the first Bragg grating utilizing the detected wavelength of the light reflected from the first Bragg grating.

Abstract: A thermal management system and method for cooling Magnetic Resonance Imaging gradient coils. The system includes least one first header tube positioned adjacent to said gradient coils and configured to transport a coolant fluid; at least one set of cooling tubes connected to said header tube at inlet ends and configured to transport said coolant fluid, wherein said cooling tubes are parallel to each other and at least one second header tube positioned adjacent to said gradient coils, connected to said at least one set of cooling tubes at outlet ends of said at least one set of cooling tubes and configured to transport said coolant fluid.

Abstract: An imaging system including at least one pole piece is described. The at least one pole piece includes at least two grain-oriented sheets that are stacked together, where a direction of easy magnetization of a first of the at least two grain-oriented sheets is different than a direction of easy magnetization of a second of the at least two grain-oriented sheets.

Abstract: A method for monitoring temperature in at least one location of an electromagnetic coil assembly having at least one electrical winding. The method includes passing a light through a non-magnetic optical fiber inserted into a sheath that is wound with the electrical winding. The sheath is wound and cast with the electromagnetic coil assembly, and the optical fiber is slidably inserted therein. The optical fiber has a core containing at least a first Bragg grating etched therein. The method further includes detecting a wavelength of light reflected from the first Bragg grating and determining a temperature of the electromagnetic coil assembly at a location of the first Bragg grating utilizing the detected wavelength of the light reflected from the first Bragg grating.

Abstract: An imaging system including at least one pole piece is described. The at least one pole piece includes at least two grain-oriented sheets that are stacked together, where a direction of easy magnetization of a first of the at least two grain-oriented sheets is different than a direction of easy magnetization of a second of the at least two grain-oriented sheets.

Abstract: A magnetizing coil unit and a method of making a magnetizing coil unit is provided. The coil includes a solenoid coil having a coiled copper sheet in which the width of the copper sheet is equal to the height of the solenoid coil. A magnetizing assembly includes a plurality of magnetizing coil units.

Abstract: A permanent magnet assembly for an imaging apparatus having a permanent magnet body having a first surface and a stepped second surface which is adapted to face an imaging volume of the imaging apparatus, wherein the stepped second surface contains at least four steps.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided including providing at least one magnet positioned between a keeper device and a yoke, the keeper device being positioned at a pole region of the at least one magnet, positioning at least one pole device at the pole region of the at least one magnet, and removing the keeper device from the pole region to allow the at least one pole device to be positioned at the pole region of the at least one magnet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided including providing at least one magnet positioned between a keeper device and a yoke, the keeper device being positioned at a pole region of the at least one magnet, positioning at least one pole device at the pole region of the at least one magnet, and removing the keeper device from the pole region to allow the at least one pole device to be positioned at the pole region of the at least one magnet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided including providing at least one magnet positioned between a keeper device and a yoke, the keeper device being positioned at a pole region of the at least one magnet, positioning at least one pole device at the pole region of the at least one magnet, and removing the keeper device from the pole region to allow the at least one pole device to be positioned at the pole region of the at least one magnet.

Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet body is provided. The method includes providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks and magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body. A recoil magnetization pulse may be applied to the permanent magnet body after the magnetization. The precursor body may be heated during magnetization. A power supply containing a battery may be used to energize a pulsed magnet used to magnetize the precursor body.

Abstract: A method is presented for manufacturing laminate tile metal pole pieces for an MRI. Each laminate tile has a trapezoidal or annular sector shape. The trapezoidal shape allows the tiles to be attached side by side to form a multiple concentric annular array pole piece without using oddly shaped edge filler tiles needed to fill a circular pole piece with square tiles. The pole piece is made by placing a plurality of tiles into a mold and filling the mold with an adhesive substance to bind the plurality of tiles into a unitary tile body. The unitary tile body is then removed from the mold and attached to a pole piece base to form the pole piece. The mold cavity surface preferably has a non-uniform contour. The bottom surface of the unitary tile body forms a substantially inverse contour of the mold cavity surface contour.

Abstract: Pole pieces for magnetic resonance imaging systems comprise a plurality of laminated sheets of an alloy comprising iron and aluminum. Such an alloy can comprise up to about 17 weight percent aluminum and can further comprise cobalt, nickel, and/or silicon. A sheet of iron-aluminum alloy for such pole pieces has a resistivity greater than about 60 mico-ohm.cm. A sheet is formed in a process comprising hot forging, hot rolling, and cold rolling. The process can further comprise annealing before and/or after the step of cold rolling.

Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet body is provided. The method includes providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks and magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body. A recoil magnetization pulse may be applied to the permanent magnet body after the magnetization. The precursor body may be heated during magnetization. A power supply containing a battery may be used to energize a pulsed magnet used to magnetize the precursor body.

Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet body is provided. The method includes providing a first precursor body comprising a plurality of blocks and magnetizing the first precursor body to form a first permanent magnet body. A recoil magnetization pulse may be applied to the permanent magnet body after the magnetization. The precursor body may be heated during magnetization. A power supply containing a battery may be used to energize a pulsed magnet used to magnetize the precursor body.

Abstract: A laminate tile pole piece for an MRI, a method and a mold for manufacturing laminate tile metal pole pieces for an MRI. Each laminate tile has a trapezoidal or annular sector shape. The trapezoidal shape allows the tiles to be attached side by side to form a multiple concentric annular array pole piece without using oddly shaped edge filler tiles needed to fill a circular pole piece with square tiles. The pole piece is made by placing a plurality of tiles into a mold and filling the mold with an adhesive substance to bind the plurality of tiles into a unitary tile body. The unitary tile body is then removed from the mold and attached to a pole piece base to form the pole piece. The mold cavity surface preferably has a non-uniform contour. The bottom surface of the unitary tile body forms a substantially inverse contour of the mold cavity surface contour.