# US 10,768,255 B2 · Automatic configuration of a low field magnetic resonance imaging system

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- Number: US 10,768,255 B2
- Document ID: US10768255B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/846,158
- Filed: 2015-09-04
- Published: 2016-03-10
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05
- Assignees: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
- Applicants: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg; Jeremy Christopher Jordan; Michael Stephen Poole; Laura Sacolick; Todd Rearick; Gregory L. Charvat
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768255B2

## CPC

- G01R 33/5608: {Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels (image data processing or generation, in general G06T)}
- G01R 33/28: Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
- G01R 33/34007: {Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system}
- G01R 33/36: Electrical details, e.g. matching or coupling of the coil to the receiver
- G01R 33/3614: {RF power amplifiers}
- G01R 33/38: Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field
- G01R 33/3802: {Manufacture or installation of magnet assemblies; Additional hardware for transportation or installation of the magnet assembly or for providing mechanical support to components of the magnet assembly}
- G01R 33/3804: {Additional hardware for cooling or heating of the magnet assembly, for housing a cooled or heated part of the magnet assembly or for temperature control of the magnet assembly}
- G01R 33/3806: {Open magnet assemblies for improved access to the sample, e.g. C-type or U-type magnets}
- G01R 33/381: using electromagnets
- G01R 33/383: using permanent magnets
- G01R 33/385: using gradient magnetic field coils
- G01R 33/3852: {Gradient amplifiers; means for controlling the application of a gradient magnetic field to the sample, e.g. a gradient signal synthesizer}
- G01R 33/3854: {means for active and/or passive vibration damping or acoustical noise suppression in gradient magnet coil systems}
- G01R 33/3856: {Means for cooling the gradient coils or thermal shielding of the gradient coils}
- G01R 33/3858: {Manufacture and installation of gradient coils, means for providing mechanical support to parts of the gradient-coil assembly (manufacture of inductances or coils in general H01F41/00)}
- G01R 33/3875: using correction coil assemblies, e.g. active shimming
- G01R 33/445: {MR involving a non-standard magnetic field B0, e.g. of low magnitude as in the earth's magnetic field or in nanoTesla spectroscopy, comprising a polarizing magnetic field for pre-polarisation, B0 with a temporal variation of its magnitude or direction such as field cycling of B0 or rotation of the direction of B0, or spatially inhomogeneous B0 like in fringe-field MR or in stray-field imaging}
- G01R 33/48: NMR imaging systems
- G01R 33/543: {Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription (G01R33/546 takes precedence)}
- G01R 33/546: {Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences}
- G01R 33/56: Image enhancement or correction, e.g. subtraction or averaging techniques {, e.g. improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and resolution}
- G01R 33/56518: {due to eddy currents, e.g. caused by switching of the gradient magnetic field}
- 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}
- H01F 7/02: Permanent magnets {[PM]}
- H01F 7/06: Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets {(electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28)}
- G01R 33/422: of the radio frequency field
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

## Abstract

In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of dynamically configuring a first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the method comprising:
detecting a second MRI system in an environment of the first MRI system;
negotiating with the second MRI system at least one operating parameter to reduce or eliminate interference between the first MRI system and the second MRI system, wherein negotiating the at least one operating parameter comprises:
selecting a first Larmor frequency for the first MRI system;
selecting a second Larmor frequency for the second MRI system, wherein the second Larmor frequency is different from the first Larmor frequency; and
operating the first MRI system using the first Larmor frequency to obtain at least one first magnetic resonance image; and
operating the second MRI system using the second Larmor frequency to obtain at least one second magnetic resonance image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an alert notifying an operator of the second MRI system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information to an operator about the second MRI system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein providing information to the operator includes providing information about a type and/or location of the second MRI system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first MRI system is a low-field MRI system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein negotiating the at least one operating parameter further comprises:
identifying a low noise frequency range; and
configuring the low-field MRI system to operate in the identified frequency range.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein configuring the low-field MRI system comprises:
configuring a magnet and/or at least one shim coil to produce a magnetic field to allow operation of the low-field MRI system in the identified frequency range; and
configuring at least one transmit/receive coil to operate in the identified frequency range.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the method is performed upon start-up of the low-field MRI system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the method is performed upon transitioning from a low-power mode to an operating mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting a short circuit in the at least one component of the low-field MRI system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting an open circuit in the at least one component of the low-field MRI system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising determining a stability of a power supply providing operating power to one or more components of the low-field MRI system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising determining at least one characteristic of a power source to which the low-field MRI system is connected.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein determining at least one characteristic of a power source comprises determining a wiring configuration of the power source.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein determining at least one characteristic of the power source comprises performing an operation selected from the group consisting of: measuring a voltage provided by the power source, measuring a noise level in current provided by the power source, and determining whether a wiring of the power source is configured as expected.

### Claim 16 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether a radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the low-field MRI system, and providing an alert when it is determined that no radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the low-field MRI system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting electromagnetic noise in the environment using at least one auxiliary sensor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising using at least one primary coil and at least one auxiliary sensor different from the at least one primary coil to obtain multiple calibration measurements in the absence of magnetic resonance (MR) signals, the multiple calibration measurements comprising a first plurality of calibration measurements obtained by the at least one auxiliary sensor and a corresponding second plurality of calibration measurements obtained by the at least one primary coil.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein compensating for the at least one electromagnetic noise source detected in the environment comprises estimating, based on the multiple calibration measurements, a transform that, when applied to noise received by the at least one auxiliary sensor, provides an estimate of noise received by the at least one primary coil.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein compensating for the at least one electromagnetic noise source detected in the environment further comprises, after estimating the transform:
receiving an MR signal using the at least one primary coil;
receiving a noise signal using the at least one auxiliary sensor;
estimating noise present in the MR signal received by the at least one primary coil by applying the transform to the noise signal received by the at least one auxiliary sensor to obtain a noise estimate; and
suppressing noise in the MR signal using the noise estimate.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
acquiring a plurality of MR signals by repeatedly applying a first pulse sequence using a first spatial encoding; and
estimating noise based, at least in part, on a comparison of the plurality of MR signals.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed after the first MRI system is moved to a different location.

### Claim 23

A first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
a B0 magnet configured to provide at least a portion of a B0 field;
a plurality of gradient coils;
at least one radio frequency coil;
a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to at least the plurality of gradient coils and the at least one radio frequency coil to operate the first MRI system; and
at least one processor programmed to:
detect a second MRI system in an environment of the first MRI system;
negotiate with the second MRI system at least one operating parameter to reduce or eliminate interference between the first MRI system and the second MRI system, wherein negotiating the at least one operating parameter comprises:
selecting a first Larmor frequency for the first MRI system;
selecting a second Larmor frequency for the second MRI system, wherein the second Larmor frequency is different from the first Larmor frequency; and
operate the first MRI system using the first Larmor frequency to obtain at least one first magnetic resonance image.