# US 10,310,048 B2 · MRI quality assurance device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,048 B2 - Document ID: US10310048B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/214,836 - Filed: 2018-12-10 - Published: 2019-04-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-14 - Assignees: Modus Medical Devices Inc. - Applicants: Modus Medical Devices Inc. - Inventors: Enzo Antonio Barberi; David John Munro Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310048B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/58: Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A MRI quality assurance device, according to the present invention, has a housing made of a rigid MRI invisible material containing one or more sealed reservoirs containing a fluid MRI signal producing material. Each sealed reservoir has a first volume portion and a second variable volume portion in fluid communication therewith. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A MRI quality assurance device, comprising a housing made of a rigid MRI invisible material containing one or more sealed reservoirs containing a fluid MRI signal producing material, wherein each of the one or more sealed reservoirs has a first volume portion and a second variable volume portion in fluid communication therewith, wherein the second variable volume portion varies in response to changes in volume of the fluid MRI signal producing material, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the housing and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 1, wherein the expandable bladder comprises a flexible sheet attached to the housing by way of a cap having an opening therethrough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 1, wherein the MRI invisible material and MRI signal producing material are susceptibility matched to minimize susceptibility gradient induced distortion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 3, wherein the MRI invisible material is acrylic and the MRI signal producing material is mineral oil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sealed reservoirs is contained within a centre rod located within the housing, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the centre rod and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the centre rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a spherical section and a cylindrical section extending radially outwardly from the spherical section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 6, wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the spherical section of the housing and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the cylindrical section of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 1, wherein the MRI quality assurance device is an insert for use with a MRI phantom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 8, wherein the MRI phantom has an opening therein, and wherein the insert is shaped to fit within the opening in the MRI phantom. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 9, wherein the insert is cylindrically-shaped with a curved side and opposing ends, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the insert and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on an end of the insert. ### Claim 11 An imaging quality assurance device, comprising a housing made of a rigid imaging invisible material containing one or more sealed reservoirs containing a fluid imaging signal producing material, wherein each of the one or more sealed reservoirs has a first volume portion and a second variable volume portion in fluid communication therewith, wherein the second variable volume portion varies in response to changes in volume of the fluid imaging signal producing material, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the housing and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 11, wherein the expandable bladder comprises a flexible sheet attached to the housing by way of a cap having an opening therethrough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 11, wherein the imaging invisible material and imaging signal producing material are susceptibility matched to minimize susceptibility gradient induced distortion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 13, wherein the imaging invisible material is acrylic and the imaging signal producing material is mineral oil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more sealed reservoirs is contained within a centre rod located within the housing, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the centre rod and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the centre rod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 11, wherein the housing has a spherical section and a cylindrical section extending radially outwardly from the spherical section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 16, wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the spherical section of the housing and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on the cylindrical section of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The MRI quality assurance device of claim 11, wherein the imaging quality assurance device is an insert for use with an imaging phantom. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 18, wherein the imaging phantom has an opening therein, and wherein the insert is shaped to fit within the opening in the imaging phantom. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The imaging quality assurance device of claim 19, wherein the insert is cylindrically-shaped with a curved side and opposing ends, and wherein the first volume portion is a non-expandable chamber in the insert and the second variable volume portion is an expandable bladder on an end of the insert.