Abstract: A system that allows a technician to remotely control interactive equipment, such as medical diagnostic and screening equipment, by executing, through a proxy program, those portions of the software that directly interact with the equipment at the local computer for the equipment. The software components that do not interact with the equipment are run on the local computer. This communication linkage is established through a library module, which can detect when a program must communicate through the proxy. Thus, the same software modules can operate locally as well as remotely. This design distributes the processing so that a user interface is provided to the remote operator that is the same as the user interface that would be provided to the local operator. In addition to the user interface, the functionality of the equipment enabled at the remote space is the same as that available locally at the equipment.

Abstract: A hand operated device for controlling characteristics of a magnetic resonance (“MR”) image is disclosed. One characteristic that the hand operated device is particularly suited to control is the oblique angle the MR image slice. In one embodiment, the device comprises a planar member, such a plate, rotatably coupled to a supporting member. The supporting member may be a longitudinal member supported by a base. Rotation of the plate is detected by detectors coupled to an MRI system. The oblique angle of an MRI image is changed based on the rotation of the plate, as detected by the detectors. The supporting member may be telescoping and the depression and retraction of to the plate towards and away from the base may be used to vary the depth of the image slice. The telescoping feature can also be used vary other image characteristics, such as slice thickness, field of view and resolution, for example, in addition to or instead of slice depth.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite plate for a magnetic resonance imaging magnet. The method including cutting a starting plate having oppositely-directed major surfaces into a plurality of strips. Each of the strips having a width of approximately greater than 9 inches and faces which originally constituted parts of the major surfaces of the starting plate. The strips may be positioned to form the composite plate such that the width of each of the strips is equal to a thickness of the composite plate and the faces of the strips confront one another.

Abstract: An MRI scanner that includes a magnet with poles having substantially vertical pole surfaces and a removable positioner for supporting a patient within a gap in the pole surfaces. A method of positioning a patient within a gap formed by vertical pole surfaces in an MRI scanner. The method includes selecting a first patient positioner and inserting the first patient positioner into the gap between vertical pole surfaces in the MRI scanner.

Abstract: An MRI scanner that includes a magnet with poles having substantially vertical pole surfaces and a removable positioner for supporting a patient within a gap in the pole surfaces. A method of positioning a patient within a gap formed by vertical pole surfaces in an MRI scanner. The method includes selecting a first patient positioner and inserting the first patient positioner into the gap between vertical pole surfaces in the MRI scanner.

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. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet. A diagnostic facility for high volume MRI use is also disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging has a box-like ferromagnetic frame with vertical side walls, poles connected to the side walls and top and bottom walls forming flux return structures between the side walls. The frame has open front and rear sides defining patient entry openings, and has top and bottom openings in the top and bottom walls. A patient can be positioned in a vertical, horizontal or intermediate orientation within the frame. When the patient is in the vertical orientation, the patient can be raised or lowered so that parts of the patient's body protrude into the top or bottom openings, so as to align any part of the patient's body with the poles. The apparatus allows imaging of any part of the anatomy while the patient is in a standing position.

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 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. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet. A diagnostic facility for high volume MRI use is also disclosed.

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 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. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet. A diagnostic facility for high volume MRI use is also disclosed.

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. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet. A diagnostic facility for high volume MRI use is also disclosed.

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. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling hands-free use of a device for magnifying a long-distance event, such as binoculars, includes a base member, a first attachment member, and a second attachment member. The first attachment member is connected to the base member and is adapted to removably attach the apparatus to an article of headgear, such as a brimmed cap. The second attachment member is connected to the base member and is adapted to removably attach the apparatus to the magnifying device. The apparatus includes adjustable portions such as hinges so that the position of the binoculars may be adjusted by the user when the apparatus is attached to the cap.

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.