Magnetic resonance apparatus
AssigneePicker International, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Dickinson, Christopher P. Randell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using a transverse magnet system (29) and having a patient handling arrangement (31, 33) which allows transport of a patient into the magnet system by first moving the patient in a direction (A) at right angles to the head-to-toe axis (B) of the patient. The patient's position in the magnet system may then be adjusted by movement in the head-to-toe axis direction. The area required to accommodate the apparatus is reduced compared with apparatus wherein patient transport is effected solely in the patient's head-to-toe axis direction.
Claims13
A whole body magnetic resonance apparatus including a magnet system comprising a magnetic core arrangement having a pair of spaced apart and opposed planar surfaces separated by at least one magnetically susceptible yoke defining an established gap therebetween;
- means for producing a static magnetic field between said surfaces and in a direction across said gap;
- said field defining an equilibrium axis of magnetic alignment of nuclei within an object placed in the gap for examination in the apparatus;
- means for superimposing a gradient magnetic field on said static magnetic field in at least one of three orthogonal directions;
- means for applying a radio frequency field to said object in said gap;
- means for detecting a radio frequency field emanating from said object in said gap;
- means for controlling said static, gradient and applied radio frequency fields in said gap;
- and an object handling equipment including an object support member of elongated form adapted to support the object for examination and translating means for providing translational movement of the support member into and out of said gap in a plane transverse to the magnetic field direction and in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said support member, and of an extent sufficient to allow the object on said support member to be moved between a position within said gap and a position wholly outside of said gap such as to avoid interference between the object and the magnetic core arrangement as the object is placed on and removed from said support member.
A magnetic resonance apparatus including a magnet system comprising a magnetic core arrangement having a pair of opposed surfaces with a gap therebetween;
- and means for producing a magnetic field in said gap;
- said field defining an equilibrium axis of magnetic alignment of nuclei within an object placed in the gap for examination in the apparatus;
- means for superimposing a gradient magnetic field on said static magnetic field in at least one of three orthogonal directions;
- means for applying a radio frequency field to said object in said gap;
- means for detecting a radio frequency field in the object in said gap;
- means for controlling said static, gradient and radio frequency fields in said gap;
- and an object handling equipment including an object support member of elongated form adapted to support an object for examination and translating mean for providing translational movement of the support member into and out of said gap in a plane transverse to the magnetic field direction and in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said support member, and of an extent sufficient to allow an object on said support member to be moved between a position within said gap and a position wholly outside of said gap such as to avoid interference between the object and the magnetic core arrangement as the object is placed on and removed from said support member;
- and wherein said translating means also permits translational movement of the support member in said plane in a second direction at any angle to the first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said support member at least when said support member is at a position such that said object is within said gap.
A magnetic resonance apparatus including a magnet system comprising a magnetic core arrangement having a pair of opposed surfaces with a gap therebetween;
- and means for producing a magnetic field in said gap;
- said field defining an equilibrium axis of magnetic alignment of nuclei within an object placed in the gap for examination in the apparatus;
- means for superimposing a gradient magnetic field on said static magnetic field in at least one of three orthogonal directions;
- means for applying a radio frequency field to said object in said gap;
- means for detecting a radio frequency field in the object in said gap;
- means for controlling said static, gradient and radio frequency fields in said gap;
- and an object handling equipment including an object support member of elongated form adapted to support an object for examination and translating means for providing translational movement of the support member into and out of said gap in a plane transverse to the magnetic field direction and in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said support member, and of an extent sufficient to allow an object on said support member to be moved between a position within said gap and a position wholly outside of said gap such as to avoid interference between the object and the magnetic core arrangement as the object is placed on and removed from said support member;
- including rotating means whereby said support member is also capable of rotational movement about axes normal to said plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.