MRI system with side-access to an image volume located within a two-column main magnet
AssigneeToshiba America MRI, Inc.
InventorsLeon Kaufman, Jianhua Li, Joseph W. Carlson, Bruce C. Breneman
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Abstract
Convenient side access to an image volume located within a two-pole, two-column main magnet of an MRI system is provided by rotating the symmetry axis of the magnet to be non-perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the patient transport and/or otherwise displacing the two column structures of the magnetic circuit so as to permit open and unobstructed access to the image volume along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the patient transport.
Claims18
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
- a main static magnetic field generator having a first magnetic pole magnetically connected but physically supported and spaced apart from a second magnetic pole by a pair of magnetically permeable columns to define an image volume of approximately homogeneous magnetic field located in an air gap between said poles and between said columns, said poles having respective transverse central axes that are substantially aligned and passing centrally through said image volume, and
- a patient transport disposed to support and move a patient within said image volume along a longitudinal axis of the transport and of the patient lying thereon,
- said pair of columns being angularly disposed relative to the image volume and the longitudinal axis of the patient transport so as to permit open and unobstructed access to the image volume along a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
A method for improving side access in magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having a main static magnetic field generator including a pair of magnetically permeable columns between which an image volume of approximately homogeneous magnetic field is located in an air gap and a patient transport disposed to support a patient within said image volume along a longitudinal axis of the transport and of the patient lying thereon, said method comprising:
- angularly disposing said pair of columns relative to the image volume and longitudinal axis of the patient transport so as to permit open and unobstructed access to the image volume along a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.