Electromagnet assembly

An electromagnet assembly for generating a strong magnetic field under superconducting conditions, comprising:

• an inner magnet comprising a plurality of inner support points;
• an outer magnet around the inner magnet, comprising a plurality of outer support points, and with an annular region extending between the inner magnet and the outer magnet;
• a plurality of support elements extending through the annular region and dividing the annular region into a plurality of annular segments, wherein each of the support elements extends between an outer support point and an inner support point;
• and
• said support elements being distributed in the annular region so as to form a first annular segment and a second annular segment, with the first annular segment being smaller than the second annular segment,
• wherein:
• each pair of adjacent inner support points spans a distance, and each distance spanned by a first pair of adjacent inner support points is an integer multiple or an integer factor of a distance spanned by a second pair of adjacent inner support points, or
• each pair of adjacent outer support points spans a distance, and each distance spanned by a first pair of adjacent outer support points is an integer multiple or an integer factor of a distance spanned by a second pair of adjacent outer support points.

A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

• a medical image data acquisition scanner;
• an electromagnetic assembly in said scanner that generates a strong magnetic field under superconducting conditions;
• and
• said electromagnetic assembly comprising an inner magnet, an outer magnet around the inner magnet, with an annular region extending between the inner magnet and the outer magnet, a plurality of support elements extending through the annular region and dividing the annular region into a plurality of annular segments, and said support elements being distributed in the annular region so as to form a first annular segment and a second annular segment, with the first annular segment being smaller than the second annular segment, wherein the second annular segment is an integer multiple of the first annular segment, or each annular segment is an integer multiple or an integer factor of another annular segment.

A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

• a medical image data acquisition scanner;
• an electromagnetic assembly in said scanner that generates a strong magnetic field under superconducting conditions;
• and
• said electromagnetic assembly comprising an inner magnet comprising a plurality of inner support points, an outer magnet comprising a plurality of outer support points and being located around the inner magnet, with an annular region extending between the inner magnet and the outer magnet, a plurality of support elements extending through the annular region and dividing the annular region into a plurality of annular segments, each of the support elements extending between an outer support point and an inner support point, and said support elements being distributed in the annular region so as to form a first annular segment and a second annular segment, with the first annular segment being smaller than the second annular segment
• wherein:
• each pair of adjacent inner support points spans a distance, and each distance spanned by a first pair of adjacent inner support points is an integer multiple or an integer factor of a distance spanned by a second pair of adjacent inner support points, or
• each pair of adjacent outer support points spans a distance, and each distance spanned by a first pair of adjacent outer support points is an integer multiple or an integer factor of a distance spanned by a second pair of adjacent outer support points.