Mri scanner
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorKenneth Bradshaw
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for improving patient comfort and throughput of magnetic resonance imaging by providing at least one patient imaging area outside a bore of a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging device. An embodiment of an apparatus for providing at least one patient imaging area outside the bore comprises a first shim disposed external to and spaced apart from a first opening of the bore to form a first patient imaging area between the first shim and the first opening, wherein the first shim is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet into the first patient imaging area to provide a first magnetic field in the first patient imaging area. Methods of magnetic resonance imaging outside the bore are also disclosed.
Claims21
An apparatus for providing at least one patient imaging area outside a bore, the bore being within a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging device, the apparatus comprising:
- a first shim disposed external to and spaced apart from a first opening of the bore to form a first patient imaging area between the first shim and the first opening;
- wherein the first shim is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet within the bore into the first patient imaging area to provide a first magnetic field in the first patient imaging area.
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
- a magnet having a bore and configured to generate a substantially homogeneous magnetic field within the bore;
- and
- a first shim disposed external to a first opening of the bore to form a first patient imaging area between the first shim and the first opening, the first shim being configured to extend the magnetic field within the bore into the first patient imaging area to provide a first magnetic field in the first patient imaging area.
21-58. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.