Gradient coil with external direct cooling for brain magnetic resonance imaging

US10739427B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• University of Maryland · US
• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Bao Yang · Ellicott City, US
• Hanbing Lu · Ellicott City, US
• Zhi Yang · Vernon Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 4, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 11, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/3858
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The gradient coil assembly is designed to address a neck-shoulder clearance problem by configuring the coil holder housing with a cylindrical portion modified with a slanted surface and positioning current return elements of the coil pattern at the slanted surface, while positioning the active electrical elements on the cylindrical surface, thus eliminating influence of an undesired magnetic field generated by the current return elements, shortening the coil, and moving the homogeneous field gradient region toward the end of the cylindrical portion of the bore in the coil holder housing. The subject assembly operation is further improved by the direct external cooling approach, where a coolant flows in direct contact with electrical wires of the gradient coil inside the cooling channels in the surface of the coil holder housing.