US 6,445,186 B1 · MRI apparatus

Abstract

A magnet for magnetic resonance imaging has an interior working space within the magnet frame sufficient to accommodate a physician and a patient. Because the physician is positioned inside the magnet frame, the physician has unimpeded access to the patient. Elements of the magnet frame desirably encompass a room, and the magnet frame may be concealed from view of a patient within the room. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI imaged guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged, and minimize claustrophobia experienced by the patient. Also provided is a magnet having field coils disposed about the of pole portions of the magnet. A diagnostic facility for high volume MRI use is also disclosed.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging instrument having a ferromagnetic frame and a flux source comprising one or more resistive electrical coils comprising the steps of:

suppressing temperature changes in said frame during operation of said magnetic resonance imaging instrument;
directing magnetic flux from the source into a patient-receiving space through the frame to a patient within the patient-receiving space;
applying radiofrequency excitation and magnetic field gradients to the patient to thereby elicit spatially-encoded magnetic resonance signals from the patient;
receiving said magnetic resonance signals from the patient;
and
deriving data defining an image of the patient from said magnetic resonance signals.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/852,537Filed 10 May 2001 · division

Priority

18 Dec 1992

Granted

3 Sep 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G01R 33/3806
Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field: open magnet assemblies for improved access to the…
A61B 5/0046
Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; Arrangements of…:…
A61B 5/06
Measuring for diagnostic purposes ; Identification of persons: devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies ;…
A61B 5/704
Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means: tables

Family

Application07/993,072Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Dec 1992

Application08/975,913Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Nov 1997

Application08/978,084Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Nov 1997

Application09/200,099Parent of this division · filed 25 Nov 1998

Application09/200,099Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,201,394 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,023,165 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,335,623 B1Related patent

US 6,445,186 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

MRI apparatus

Life of this patent

MRI apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22