Magnetic resonance imaging system, apparatus and associated methods

US7812607B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fonar Corporation · US

Inventors

• Raymond V. Damadian · Woodbury, US
• William H. Wahl · Smithtown, US
• Hank Hsieh · Berkeley, US
• Gordon T. Danby · Wading River, US
• John W. Jackson · Waterloo, US
• Jevan Damadian · East Northport, US
• Luciano B. Bonanni · Dix Hills, US
• Mark Gelbien · Levittown, US
• Keith Saboe · Melville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 12, 2010
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/3815
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In one aspect, a magnet comprising a pair of pole supports spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally horizontal direction. The magnet includes a pair of flux return members extending between the pole supports so as to define a frame, each of the flux return members including a first columnar section that extends parallel to the polar axis and a second columnar section that extends perpendicular to the polar axis and projects towards the pole. In another aspect, a magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a ferromagnetic frame that is operative to support an upper pole member and a lower pole member along a vertical polar axis such that a gap is defined between the upper and lower pole members and an access floor that is isolated from the ferromagnetic frame and pole members for providing access to the gap.