US 2010/0148777 A1 · MAGNET ARRAY

Abstract

A magnet array is disclosed which is suitable for inter alia producing a remote field for use in unilateral magnetic resonance. In the “Magnet Array”, two separated magnets, which are magnetized along a substantially same collinear magnetization direction, produce a field with a local maximum centered above and between them. The field produced by the two separated magnets is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. A third magnet is centered between the two separated magnets. The third magnet has a magnetization direction which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. The third magnet produces a field which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, and adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point produced by the two separated magnets. The field of the third magnet, which decays with distance, adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point. The position of the third magnet is selected in order to generate a total field which has at least one of its first and second spatial derivatives with respect to the distance above the magnet array substantially equal to zero.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A magnet array suitable for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal transduction, comprising:

(a) two separated magnets, magnetized along a substantially same magnetization direction, each of the two separated magnets aligned such that one pole in one magnet is facing another pole so as to define an axis in the separation between the two magnets, the two separated magnets producing a field with a local maximum which is substantially parallel to the magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, the local maximum positioned between the two separated magnets and offset from the axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis;
and
(b) a third magnet, magnetized along the substantially same magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, the third magnet positioned in the separation between the two separated magnets, the third magnet aligned to have each one of its poles facing one pole of the two separated magnets.

A process suitable for producing a magnet array, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two separated magnets, magnetized along a substantially same magnetization direction, each of the two separated magnets aligned such that one pole in one magnet is facing another pole so as to define an axis in the separation between the two magnets, the two separated magnets producing a field with a local maximum which is substantially parallel to the magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, the local maximum positioned between the two separated magnets and offset from the axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis;
and
(b) positioning a third magnet between said two separated magnets, the third magnet magnetized along the substantially same magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, the third magnet aligned to have each one of its poles facing one pole of the two separated magnets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnet array

Life of this patent

Magnet array

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32