Pressurized gas powered magnetic resonance imaging data

A magnetic resonance imaging antenna comprising:

• one or more coil elements;
• a radio frequency system coupled to the one or more coil elements;
• a gas inlet configured for receiving a pressurized gas;
• a gas outlet configured for venting the pressurized gas;
• and
• an electrical generator configured for converting mechanical energy resulting from passing the pressurized gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet into electricity while in a presence of an external magnetic field, wherein the electrical generator is configured to power the magnetic resonance imaging antenna and components of the magnetic resonance imaging antenna using the electricity wherein the electrical generator comprises:
• a resonant cavity configured for generating acoustic resonances in response to a passage of pressurized gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet;
• a mechanical member configured for vibrating in response to the acoustic resonances, wherein the mechanical member is suspended within the resonant cavity;
• and
• at least one electrically conductive path configured such that movement of the mechanical member causes the generation of the electricity in the external magnetic field.

A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a magnetic resonance imaging antenna, which comprises:

• one or more coil elements;
• a radio frequency system coupled to the one or more coil elements;
• a gas inlet of a magnetic resonance imaging coil configured for receiving a pressurized gas;
• a gas outlet configured for venting the pressurized gas;
• an electrical generator configured for converting mechanical energy resulting from passing the pressurized gas from the gas inlet to the gas outlet into electricity while in a presence of an external magnetic field, wherein:
• the electrical generator is configured to power the magnetic resonance imaging antenna using the electricity;
• the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a main magnet;
• the main magnet is configured for generating the external magnetic field, and wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system further comprise a pressurized gas system for providing pressurized gas to the gas inlet of the magnetic resonance imaging coil,
• wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises:
• a processor for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system;
• and
• a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium that stores executable instructions and pulse sequence commands configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire magnetic resonance imaging data using the magnetic resonance imaging antenna, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands;
• and
• power the magnetic resonance imaging coil and components of the magnetic resonance imaging antenna by controlling the pressurized gas system to supply the pressurized gas during acquisition of the magnetic resonance imaging data,
• wherein the electrical generator comprises a switching circuit in series with a conductive loop, wherein the switching circuit is configured for being powered by the switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit is configured for electrically opening and electrically closing the conductive loop at a predetermined frequency, wherein the electrical generator further comprises at least one stationary pickup coil configured for receiving electrical energy switched at the predetermined frequency, wherein the at least one stationary pickup coil is configured for supplying the electricity to the radio frequency system.