Polarizing Field Magnet Patents (Class 324/319)
  • Patent number: 10295645
    Abstract: A method and a system for measuring and calibrating an imaging magnetic field in a magnetic resonance apparatus are provided. The method includes: providing the imaging magnetic field, where the imaging magnetic field is adapted for scanning an object; sampling a signal corresponding to the imaging magnetic field; processing the signal to obtain an actual magnetic field intensity; and calibrating based on a difference between the actual magnetic field intensity and a target magnetic field intensity. The system includes: a magnetic component, adapted for scanning an object to be imaged; a sampling unit, adapted for sampling a signal corresponding to the imaging magnetic field; a processing unit, adapted for processing the signal to obtain an actual magnetic field intensity; a calibration unit, adapted for calibrating based on a difference between the actual magnetic field intensity and a target magnetic field intensity; and a control unit, adapted for controlling the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunyu Tsai, Weiguo Zhang, Qiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10228431
    Abstract: A gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system has a primary coil set in a cylindrical shape, a secondary coil set cylindrically sheathed on an outer periphery of the primary coil set, and one or more support structures located on the outer periphery of the primary coil set to support the secondary coil set in a radial direction of the gradient coil. This gradient coil can reduce the costs of filling material, reduce the time for assembling the gradient coil, and reduce the risk of breaking the gradient coil during demolding from a shimming mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Wei Ping Peng
  • Patent number: 10224135
    Abstract: A magnetic field device, with a first magnet, a first ferromagnetic element positioned adjacent to the first magnet, a second magnet, a second ferromagnetic element positioned adjacent to the second magnet and relative to the first ferromagnetic element to create a gap between the first ferromagnetic element and the second ferromagnetic element, and a third magnet positioned between the first ferromagnetic element and the second ferromagnetic element and within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ASPECT IMAGING LTD.
    Inventors: Uri Rapoport, Yair Goldfarb, Yoram Cohen
  • Patent number: 10180472
    Abstract: A method of configuring a conducting grid of elements interconnected at intersecting nodes by switches is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL (BARBADOS) Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther, Stephen B. E. McFadyen
  • Patent number: 10175327
    Abstract: In an image reconstruction method and device for a magnetic resonance imaging system, a magnetic resonance scan is performed at least one scan position according to at least one scan protocol, to acquire at least a set of one scan protocol simultaneously acquired data. At least one magnetic resonance image is reconstructed based on the set of scan protocol simultaneously acquired data and a shared receiving coil calibration matrix. By sharing the receiving coil calibration matrix in different parallel scan processing operations, the amount of work is significantly reduced while improving working efficiency, and imaging quality can also be significantly improved in the case of scan sequences with echo chain acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Qiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10175324
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus and control method therefor, multiple frequency spectra of a material of the examination object are detected using at least one radio-frequency coil of and MR scanner, the coil having a number of coil elements and at least two of the frequency spectra are detected individually detected by respective, different coil elements. A number of resonant frequencies of at least one molecule in the material are established in the number of frequency spectra. Control information is formulated based on the number of resonant frequencies. The magnetic resonance scanner is controlled using the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Bauer, Swen Campagna, Uvo Hoelscher, Daniel Niederloehner, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10145925
    Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance (MR) phase imaging of a subject includes: (i) for each channel of a multi-channel MRI scanner, acquiring MR measurements at a plurality of voxels of the subject using a pulse sequence that reduces MR measurement phase error; and (ii) for each voxel, determining reconstructed MR phase from the MR measurements of each channel to form an MR phase image of the subject. The step of determining reconstructed MR phase may be performed for each of the voxels independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventor: Joseph Dagher
  • Patent number: 10145922
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Michael Stephen Poole, Laura Sacolick, Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat
  • Patent number: 10126316
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring tacrolimus levels in a subject. In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: collecting oral fluid from the subject; homogenizing the oral fluid; combining the homogenized oral fluid with a precipitating solvent; separating oral fluid components on a liquid chromatography column by gradient elution with a mixture of a solvent A and a solvent B, wherein the solvent A is about 2 mM ammonium acetate/0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and solvent B is about 2 mM ammonium acetate/0.1% (v/v) formic acid in MeOH and wherein the amount of solvent B is increased from about 50% (v/v) to about 98% (v/v); and quantifying the amount of tacrolimus in the oral fluid by mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education, Statutory Sucessor to the Rhode Island Board of Education, and Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
    Inventors: Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Mwlod Ghareeb
  • Patent number: 10126388
    Abstract: A gradient coil unit includes a tubular gradient coil and support structures. The tubular gradient coil is configured to apply a gradient magnetic field to an imaging region of magnetic resonance imaging. The support structures are fixed to plural positions of the gradient coil. The support structures are configured to hold the gradient coil on a tubular magnet by applying pressing forces on positions of an edge inside a wall forming the magnet. The pressing forces each has a component in a central axis direction of the magnet. Further, according to another embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes the above mentioned gradient coil unit, a static field magnet and at least one radio frequency coil configured to perform magnetic resonance imaging of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kota Watanabe, Hiromitsu Takamori, Yu Ueda
  • Patent number: 10107880
    Abstract: In a method and system for shutting down a superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance apparatus using a monitoring processor and an energy store, the monitoring processor determines stored energy stored in the energy store at a first point-in-time, and determines a ramp energy required for shutting down, and determines a second point-in-time based on the stored energy and the ramp energy. At the second point-in-time, shutting down of the superconducting magnet is begun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Aley, Stephan Biber
  • Patent number: 10031201
    Abstract: To enable improved reconstruction of magnetic resonance (MR) image data from MR scan data acquired from an examination object using dynamic shimming in an MR scanner that has a shim unit with at least one shim channel, an examination region of the object is divided into multiple sections, a B0 field of the examination region is scanned, and a B0 field map is thereby generated, a number of shim parameter sets are determined for the shim channel using the B0 field map, with a first shim parameter set of the number of shim parameter sets being determined for a first section of the multiple sections, and a second shim parameter set of the multiple shim parameter sets is determined for a second section of the multiple sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alto Stemmer
  • Patent number: 10024944
    Abstract: A shimming method for correcting inhomogeneity of a static magnetic field generated by a magnet of a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine includes: measuring the magnetic field at a plurality of points over a reference surface; generating a polynomial that solves Laplace's equation with boundary conditions given on the reference surface, the polynomial representing the magnetic field on the reference surface and having a plurality of harmonic terms, each associated with a coefficient; determining the coefficients from the field sampling values; defining a grid for positioning a plurality of correction elements and relating it to the field structure; and calculating the position and magnitude parameters of the correction elements, such that the correction elements affect the coefficients of the magnetic field to obtain the desired field characteristics, wherein the reference surface is a superquadric surface, such that the magnetic field is corrected in a volume delimited by the superquadric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: ESAOTE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Vincenzo Punzo
  • Patent number: 10014782
    Abstract: A DC/DC conversion apparatus includes a DC voltage source, an oscillation circuit being electrically connected to the DC voltage source, a plurality of switch elements, a switch controller, which closes or opens electrical connection between the DC voltage source and the oscillation circuit by switching turn-on and turn-off of the plurality of switch elements, and switches a direction of a voltage applied on the oscillation circuit between a first direction and a second direction, a transformation circuit, a detector to detect one or more parameter values of an input voltage and input current of the DC voltage source and an output voltage and output current to the transformation circuit, wherein when the parameter values vary, the switch controller adjusts a length of time in which the voltage applied on the oscillation circuit is in one of the first direction and the second direction, such that the output voltage and/or output current returns to an initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiale Dai, Yu Cao, Kezhi Wang
  • Patent number: 9927500
    Abstract: Device for alternating examination of a measurement object (103) by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements (101,102; 201,202; 801a,801b,811,812) generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region (104) and in the second examination region (105), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus (106) by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Patent number: 9873000
    Abstract: There is provided a medical device comprising a low intensity electromagnetic field source to increase the respiratory control index values (RCI) of mitochondria. The medical device may be implantable, such as a cardiac rhythm management device, a stent, or a vascular graft. The device may also be worn externally, such as a treatment device having a matrix of magnetic coils that is worn on the head for the treatment of various neurological conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventors: Arthur Jay Moss, Ilan Goldenberg, Shey-Shing Sheu, Gisela Beutner, Mark F. Bocko, Ido Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 9810755
    Abstract: A system for energizing a main coil of superconducting magnet in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cryostat comprising a housing. A first coil is positioned within the housing of the cryostat. Alternatively, the first coil may be positioned external to the housing of the cryostat. A second coil is coupled to the first coil and positioned external to the housing of the cryostat. The second coil is configured to inductively couple to the main coil. A controller is coupled to the first coil and the second coil and is configured to control the first coil and the second coil to induce current in the main coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Weijun Shen, Timothy John Havens, Longzhi Jiang, Zhenyu Zhang, Venkata Kishore Mogatadakala
  • Patent number: 9778334
    Abstract: A passive magnetic field shim arrangement including a plurality of shim pairs. For shimming a number of magnetic field harmonics, each shim pair may include a first shim and a second opposite and substantially equal shim, each shim pair being configured for shimming one of the magnetic field harmonics. Each shim pair may include a first shim of order N and a second opposite and substantially equal shim of order N, the first and second shims together defining a magnetic field shim correction of order N?1. Each shim may include one or more shim elements arranged on a non-magnetic tubular support, the tubular supports being dimensioned such that the tubular supports may be arranged concentrically in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Scott Technology NZ Limited
    Inventor: Michael John Disney Mallet
  • Patent number: 9759792
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of correcting inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field generated by the magnet of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging machine, wherein the magnet is flat and the magnetic field on one side of said magnet is corrected such that a volume is defined, which is bounded by a spherical cap surface, in which volume and along which surface the magnetic field is homogeneous, i.e. has field lines having equal parallel directions and equal intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ESAOTE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Vincenzo Punzo
  • Patent number: 9733327
    Abstract: In order to provide an NMR imaging device capable of distinguishing substances that cannot be distinguished by T2H, an NMR imaging device (1) according to this invention includes: a probe (3) capable of housing a sample in a static gradient magnetic field; an application portion (5) configured to apply a ? pulse having a Larmor frequency corresponding to the static gradient magnetic field at a predetermined position of the sample to the sample in a multiplexed manner at a predetermined time interval; and an image processing portion (7) configured to determine a relaxation time based on a nuclear magnetic resonance signal of the sample, and perform imaging of the relaxation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Susumu Sasaki, Tatsuro Yuge, Yoshiro Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9714992
    Abstract: A method, a system, and an article of manufacture are disclosed for obtaining imaging data from human extremities using an Extremities MRI (EMRI) system configured to accommodate both legs of a patient during scanning by providing multiple bores, including a scanning bore and one or more non-scanning bores, deployed within an actively or passively shielded, Cryogen-Free (CF), cooled superconducting electromagnet. In various embodiments, the non-scanning bores are located between field or main coils and shield coils, and the cross sections of the bores may be circular, oval, or any other appropriate and useful geometric shape. The longitudinal axis of extra bores may or may not be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the scanning bore. In various embodiments, the EMRI system may have a passively shielded superconducting magnet in which the other leg may be placed between the outside of a cryostat of the superconducting magnet and the ferromagnetic shield components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventor: Shahin Pourrahimi
  • Patent number: 9709643
    Abstract: A method for generation of a radio-frequency (RF) pulse for excitation of nuclear spins in a predetermined layer of a specimen for magnetic resonance imaging and a magnetic resonance imaging device for performing the method are provided. The method includes determining a variation of a magnetic field in a measuring volume, and defining a spectral frequency distribution of the RF pulse. The RF pulse with the spectral frequency distribution is configured to excite nuclear spins in the specimen. The nuclear spins are polarized by the magnetic field at a predetermined flip angle in the measuring volume under a boundary condition of a substantially minimum energy content. The method also includes generating the RF pulse with the defined spectral frequency distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Fautz, Rene Gumbrecht
  • Patent number: 9711267
    Abstract: An arrangement for supporting a cylindrical superconducting coil structure has recesses in an axial end-surface of the coil structure, and support brackets that individually horizontally protrude into the recesses, such that a vertical loading on the support brackets bears the weight of the coil structure. Opposite ends of the support brackets engage a support member, which supports the support brackets engaged therein, thereby also bearing the weight of the coil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Peter Jonathan Davis, Yunxin Gao, Martin Howard Hempstead, Matthew John Longfield
  • Patent number: 9684043
    Abstract: A mounting device for a body coil of a magnetic resonance device is provided. The mounting device includes a suspension device that has at least one suspension element. The at least one suspension element is mechanically connectable to a counterpart piece of the body coil. The suspension device is configured for suspension and coarse adjustment of the body coil in the magnetic resonance device during an adjustment process of the body coil. The mounting device also includes an adjustment device that has an adjuster for changing a position of the body coil, and adjustment indicators for displaying the position of the body coil. The adjustment device is provided for fine adjustment of the body coil during the adjustment process. The mounting device includes an attachment device differing from the suspension device. The attachment device includes at least one attachment element for mechanical interaction with the body coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Razvan Lazar, Martin Schramm
  • Patent number: 9671516
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for estimating fluid or rock properties from NMR measurements. A modified pulse sequence is provided that can directly provide moments of relaxation-time or diffusion distributions. This pulse sequence can be adapted to the desired moment of relaxation-time or diffusion coefficient. The data from this pulse sequence provides direct estimates of fluid properties such as average chain length and viscosity of a hydrocarbon. In comparison to the uniformly-spaced pulse sequence, these pulse sequences are faster and have a lower error bar in computing the fluid properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lalitha Venkataramanan, Tarek M. Habashy, Denise E. Freed
  • Patent number: 9655291
    Abstract: Provided is a multilayer magnetic shield 21 formed of magnetic materials and disposed on the outer side of a superconducting magnet 11, the multilayer magnetic shield 21 including a first magnetic shield 1 disposed on the outer side of the superconducting magnet 11 and a second magnetic shield 2 disposed on the outer side of the first magnetic shield 1. The first magnetic shield 1 includes a first cylinder section 1a enclosing the superconducting magnet 11 and a pair of first flange sections 1b connected to the first cylinder section 1a. The second magnetic shield 2 includes a second cylinder section 2a enclosing the first cylinder section 1a and a pair of second flange sections 2b connected to the second cylinder section 2a. The second cylinder section 2a is disposed in a position with a predetermined space S from the first cylinder section 1a in the radial direction of the first cylinder section 1a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., JAPAN SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Osamu Ozaki, Yoshio Okui, Takeshi Kamikado
  • Patent number: 9599684
    Abstract: Mounting for a body coil of a magnetic resonance device is provided. A reversible and universal mounting device for a body coil in the magnetic resonance device is provided. The mounting device includes at least one expanding ring for creating a way of retaining the body coil in a tunnel-shaped magnetic opening of the magnetic resonance device. The mounting device also includes at least one expander that is configured to enable the expanding ring to be mounted on the inside of the tunnel-shaped magnetic opening of the magnetic resonance device by spreading. The mounting device includes at least one mounting element for mechanically supporting the body coil on the expanding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Razvan Lazar, Martin Schramm
  • Patent number: 9545217
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for movement correction in an MRI environment. In one aspect, provided are systems and methods for movement correction, comprising receiving a first plurality of images from a first scan of a subject with a first camera, receiving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images obtained concurrently with the first scan, correlating the first plurality of images obtained from the first scan with the MRI images, resulting in motion correction data, and providing the motion correction data to an MRI system, wherein the MRI system adjusts scanning according to the motion correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Jeff Duyn, Lei Qin
  • Patent number: 9541614
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elliptical birdcage coil which reduces time and effort upon manufacturing and production cost, with less variations in performance. There is provided a high frequency coil unit made up of the elliptical birdcage coil having plural capacitors arranged at least on either of the ring conductors and the rung conductors, the capacitance of the plural capacitors being uniform with respect to each conductor type on which the capacitors are placed. In this elliptical birdcage coil, a value of inductance and arrangement of the ring conductors and the rung conductors are determined in such a manner that the capacitance of the capacitors becomes identical with respect to each conductor type on which the capacitors are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Soutome, Yoshitaka Bito, Hideta Habara
  • Patent number: 9536659
    Abstract: A magnet assembly has a number of axially-aligned coils, the radial mid-point of each coil being axially-aligned with a portion of a radial extent of an adjacent coil in the assembly. Compression blocks are provided between adjacent coils at circumferential intervals, to retain the coils in fixed relative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Simon James Calvert, Russell Peter Gore
  • Patent number: 9526918
    Abstract: A combined MRI and radiation therapy system has MRI imaging equipment and radiation therapy equipment. The MRI imaging equipment includes a shielded solenoidal magnet including a number of main magnet coils arranged coaxially along an axis, and a shielding arrangement arranged coaxially with the axis, at a greater radius from the axis than the main magnet coils. The radiation therapy equipment includes a LINAC assembly, that includes a linear electron accelerator arranged with an electron beam path parallel to the axis, and electron beam deflection arrangement and a target for generating a beam of therapeutic radiation. The linear electron accelerator is located at a position radially between the main magnet coils and the shielding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventor: Marcel Kruip
  • Patent number: 9523751
    Abstract: A method of configuring a conducting grid of elements interconnected at intersecting nodes by switches is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL (BARBADOS) INC.
    Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther, Stephen B. E. McFadyen
  • Patent number: 9508477
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet system includes a coil support structure, superconducting coils, and electrically and thermally conductive windings. The superconducting coils and the conductive windings are supported by the coil support structure. Each conductive winding is electromagnetically coupled with a corresponding superconducting coil. Each conductive winding is electrically shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anbo Wu, Minfeng Xu, Timothy James Hollis, Ye Bai, Weijun Shen, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Jian-She Wang, Yan Zhao
  • Patent number: 9482727
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and apparatus in which conductors are installed in the space between a static coil unit and a gradient coil unit to eliminate asymmetry of eddy current induced in the static coil unit. The structure permits a symmetrical distribution of eddy current when the concentric arrangement of the static coil unit and gradient coil unit has deviated. The MRI apparatus includes: a static coil unit configured to form a static field in a subject; a gradient coil unit configured to form a gradient field in the static field; and one or more conductors installed in the space between the static coil unit and the gradient coil unit, and configured to symmetrically distribute eddy current induced in the static coil unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Je Choi, Dong Keun Park, Gyu Wan Hwang
  • Patent number: 9470768
    Abstract: A cooling device for disposal between two flat coils of a gradient coil has at least one first and with at least one second foil that are connected to each other in areas such that continuous cooling channels for a cooling fluid are formed. The cooling channels are branched, whereby an improved cooling effect is produced with a smaller thickness of the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Norbert Huber, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker, Muris Torlak
  • Patent number: 9448294
    Abstract: A cage with a fastening system (1) in a magnetic resonance device (MRD) is disclosed, said cage in an MRD comprising (a) M pole pieces (45) (M?2); (b) N side magnets (20) (N?2), said side magnets substantially enclosing said pole pieces and thereby defining a magnetic envelope and enclosed volume therein; (c) N side walls (10), said side walls substantially enclosing said side magnets; (d) P face walls (30) (P?2); and (e) a plurality of fastening rods (100); wherein each of said fastening rods physically interconnects at least one pair of side walls, passing through at least one of said side magnets and at least one of said pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ASPECT IMAGING LTD.
    Inventor: Uri Rapoport
  • Patent number: 9274192
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly (100) comprising: —a magnet (102) adapted for generating a main magnetic field for aligning the magnetic spins of nuclei of a subject (502) located within an imaging volume (504); and —a gradient coil (103) for generating a gradient magnetic field for spatial encoding of the magnetic resonance signal of spins of nuclei within the imaging volume, wherein the gradient coil is adapted to be mounted into the magnet, wherein the gradient coil comprises: —a first gradient coil section (112), wherein the first gradient coil section comprises a first rigid element (113), —a second gradient coil section (114), wherein the second gradient coil section also comprises a second rigid element (115), —a connecting element (116, 300, 302, 304, 400) for joining the two half gradient coils, wherein the connecting element comprises an elastic material (116), wherein the elastic material is in contact with the first rigid element and the second rigid element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Adrianus Overweg
  • Patent number: 9177707
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet includes a pair of superconducting coils, two heat shields surrounding the pair of superconducting coils, respectively, two vacuum chambers accommodating the two heat shields, respectively, and facing each other with a predetermined space sandwiched therebetween, a magnetic shield covering at least a portion of the two vacuum chambers, and two position adjustment mechanisms supporting the two vacuum chambers, respectively, in a position-adjustable manner. The two position adjustment mechanisms change distribution of a static magnetic field formed in the predetermined space by the pair of superconducting coils, by adjusting relative positional relation between the two vacuum chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hajime Tamura
  • Patent number: 9121850
    Abstract: There are provided a cartridge for detecting a target antigen and a method for detecting a target antigen existing in a biological sample using the cartridge. In the cartridge, multiple detections of various antigens can be rapidly and conveniently performed, and a plurality of target antigens can be quantitatively analyzed using one cartridge, thereby reducing time and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Da Yeon Kang, Sun Kil Kang, Tae Young Kim, Seung Mok Han, Kyu Ho Song, Guei Sam Lim, Ji Su Kim
  • Patent number: 9048068
    Abstract: An electron beam device comprises: a beam emitter for emitting a primary electron beam; an objective electron lens for focusing the primary electron beam onto a specimen, the objective lens defining an optical axis; a beam separator having a first dispersion for separating a signal electron beam from the primary electron beam; and a dispersion compensation element. The dispersion compensation element has a second dispersion, the dispersion compensation element being adapted for adjusting the second dispersion independently of an inclination angle of the primary beam downstream of the dispersion compensation element, such that the second dispersion substantially compensates the first dispersion. The dispersion compensation element is arranged upstream, along the primary electron beam, of the beam separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, Gerald Schoenecker
  • Patent number: 8988176
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8981779
    Abstract: Active resistive shim coil assemblies may be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems to reduce in-homogeneity of the magnetic field in the imaging volume. Disclosed embodiments may be used with continuous systems, gapped cylindrical systems, or vertically gapped systems. Disclosed embodiments may also be used with an open MRI system and can be used with an instrument placed in the gap of the MRI system. An exemplary embodiment of the active resistive shim coil assembly of the present disclosure includes active resistive shim coils each operable to be energized by separate currents through a plurality of power channels. In some embodiments, the disclosed active resistive shim coil assemblies allow for various degrees of freedom to shim out field in-homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ViewRay Incorporated
    Inventors: Shmaryu Shvartsman, James Dempsey, Gordon DeMeester
  • Publication number: 20150045226
    Abstract: The invention provides for magnetic resonance imaging system (600) comprising a superconducting magnet (100) with a first current lead (108) and a second current lead (110) for connecting to a current ramping system (624). The magnet further comprises a vacuum vessel (104) penetrated by the first current lead and the second current lead. The magnet further comprises a magnet circuit (106) within the vacuum vessel. The magnet circuit has a first magnet circuit connection (132) and a second magnet circuit connection (134). The magnet further comprises a first switch (120) between the first magnet connection and the first current lead and a second switch (122) between the second magnet connection and the second current lead. The magnet further comprises a first current shunt (128) connected across the first switch and a second current shunt (130) connected across the second switch. The magnet further comprises a first rigid coil loop (124) operable to actuate the first switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Johannes Adrianus Overweg, Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Forthmann, Falk Uhlemann, Bernd David
  • Patent number: 8952698
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging configuration to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus allows multi-positioning of a patient within the magnetic field lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fonar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond V. Damadian, Gordon T. Danby, Hank Hsieh, John W. Jackson, Mark Gelbien, William H. Wahl, Charles A. Green
  • Patent number: 8947090
    Abstract: An electromagnet assembly comprises a first pair of substantially co-planar coils wound in opposite senses to each other. It further comprises a second pair of co-planar coils also wound in opposite senses to each other. The coil pairs are arranged substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other. In use, the field shape and direction produced by the first coil pair are substantially mirrored by those produced by the second coil pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Emscan Limited
    Inventors: John Vincent Mario McGinley, Ian Robert Young
  • Patent number: 8947087
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus for examination in THE teeth and/or jaw region of a patient has at least one basic magnet to generate a constant basic magnetic field. The basic magnet is formed at least in part from at least one magnetic coil pair with at least two magnetic coils, and the at least one magnetic coil pair generates the basic magnetic field with a homogeneous magnetic field region between the at least two magnetic coils thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8947089
    Abstract: A measured error magnetic field distribution is divided into eigen-mode components obtained by a singular decomposition and iron piece arrangements corresponding to respective modes are combined and arranged on a shim-tray. An eigen-mode to be corrected is selected in accordance with an attainable magnetic field accuracy (homogeneity) and appropriateness of arranged volume of the iron pieces. Because the adjustment can be made with the attainable magnetic field accuracy (homogeneity) being known, an erroneous adjustment can also be known, and the adjustment is automatically done during repeated adjustments. As a result, an apparatus with a high accuracy can be provided. In addition, there is an advantageous effect of being able to detect a poor magnet earlier by checking the attainable homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsushi Abe, Ryuya Ando, Takeshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20150022204
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for using hyperpolarization to improve imaging. Am exemplary embodiment, a PASADENA polarizer, is capable of delivering 2.5-5 ml of highly hyperpolarized biological 13C and 15N imaging reagents in less than one minute, and capable of repeated delivery every 5-8 minutes. Exemplary quality control sequences are also provided to create versatile methods, systems, and apparatuses for a variety of biomolecules, capable of undergoing reaction with parahydrogen necessary for effective PASADENA. The subject matter simplifies the technology for routine liquid state generation of hyperpolarized molecules for 13C and 15N subsecond imaging and spectroscopy in vivo and further advance the clinical application of this technology. Methods and systems for providing magnetic shielding are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Huntington Medical Research Institutes
    Inventors: Pratip BHATTACHARYA, Brian D. ROSS
  • Publication number: 20150008923
    Abstract: A computer executes: calculating a first volume distribution (v.d.) of magnetic materials on a shim tray, based on a first magnetic field strength distribution (m.f.s.d.) in a magnetic field space (S3); acquiring a first composite distribution (c.d.) representing a volume by addition of volumes of magnetic materials for each region of the shim tray, and positions of the regions (S5); calculating a virtual m.f.s.d. created by magnetic materials supposed to be arranged as in the first c.d. (S8); calculating a second m.f.s.d. by addition of the first m.f.s.d. and the virtual m.f.s.d. (S9); calculating a second v.d. of magnetic materials on the shim tray, based on the second m.f.s.d. (S3); acquiring a second c.d. representing a volume by addition of volumes of magnetic materials for each region, and positions of the regions (S5); and displaying the positions of regions and the volumes in the first c.d. and second c.d. (S10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Ryuya Ando
  • Publication number: 20140357494
    Abstract: A mounting plate for locating under a superconducting magnet structure, between the superconducting magnet structure and a supporting surface of a mobile carrier, is controllable between two different states. In a first state, the mount provides rigid attachment and precise location of the superconducting magnet structure onto the supporting surface of the mobile carrier. In a second state, the mount provides vibration isolation between the superconducting magnet and the mobile carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS PLC
    Inventors: Neil Belton, Richard Gowland, Trevor Bryan Husband, Nicholas Mann, Michael Simpkins