Patent · US Expired

MRI self-shielded gradient coils

US5296810A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1992
Grant dateMar 22, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R33/4215
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A superconducting magnetic imaging apparatus includes a vacuum vessel (40) having a central helium reservoir (48) in which superconducting magnetic coil windings (44) are maintained at a superconducting temperature. The vacuum vessel defines an internal bore (42) within which a self-shielded gradient coil assembly (14) and an RF coil (22) are received. The self-shielded coil assembly includes an inner former (60) which defines an imaging region (12) within which an imaged portion of the patient are received. X and y-gradient coils having winding patterns (62) are bonded to the former (60) forming an integral structure. A z-gradient coil (70) is mounted to mechanical reinforcement structure (72) to be held in a spaced relationship from the x and y-gradient coils with an air gap (74) in between. This facilitates the dissipation of heat generated by the large current pulses applied to the x and y-gradient coils. An outer former (80) of larger diameter than the z-gradient coils is received in the bore and supports the inner former therein. X, y, and z-gradient secondary or shielding coils (82, 84) are bonded to the outer former for preventing the gradients generated by the primary grad…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.