System and method for supplying electrical power to a gradient amplifier

A gradient driver for a magnetic resonance imaging system, the gradient driver comprising:

• a gradient amplifier configured to drive a gradient coil in the magnetic resonance imaging system;
• a controller configured to electronically communicate with a power supply that provides electrical power to the gradient amplifier based at least in part on a voltage set point, and to calculate the voltage set point based at least in part on a gradient voltage required to drive the gradient coil for a scan;
• and
• wherein the controller is further configured to predict the gradient voltage based at least in part on a voltage waveform calculated by the controller based at least in part on a representative coil waveform and a gradient coil model derived from historical data.

A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

• a magnet assembly that includes a gradient coil;
• a gradient amplifier configured to drive the gradient coil;
• a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the gradient amplifier based at least in part on a voltage set point;
• an MRI controller configured to electronically communicate with the power supply and to calculate the voltage set point based at least in part on a gradient voltage required to drive the gradient coil for a scan;
• and
• wherein the MRI controller is further configured to predict the gradient voltage via calculating a maximum voltage from a voltage waveform derived by applying a representative coil current waveform to a gradient coil model derived from historical data.