Patent · US Expired

MRI apparatus with a piezo actuator in a non-rigid suspension of the gradient coil carrier

US6549010B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2001
Grant dateApr 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R33/3854
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Vibrations of the gradient coil carrier (18) medical MRI apparatus should be counteracted because they give rise to disturbing noise and macroscopic movements that deteriorate the image quality. In accordance with the invention the gradient coil system is suspended by means of weak resilient suspension elements (22) that are connected in series with piezo actuators (21). The actuators are controlled in such a way that macroscopic movements at low-frequency vibrations (order of magnitude of 10 Hz) that are due to the very resilient suspension are counteracted, and also that the high-frequency vibrations (order of magnitude of 700 Hz) that result from internal Lorentz forces are hardly transferred to the frame of the apparatus.

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