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US 6,788,057 B1Granted
Open architecture gradient coil set for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsLabros S. Petropoulos, Mark Xueming Zou, Joseph Murphy-Boesch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A MRI gradient coil set includes a uniplanar Z-gradient coil, a biplanar X-gradient coil, and a biplanar Y-gradient coil. The coil set provides an open Z-axis face.
Claims19
An open MRI gradient coil set for imaging an object, said coil set comprising:
- a uniplanar Z-gradient coil configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of an object;
- a biplanar X-gradient coil extending perpendicularly to said uniplanar Z-gradient coil in each of a first plane and a second plane;
- and
- a biplanar Y-gradient coil extending perpendicularly to said uniplanar Z-gradient coil in each of the first plane and the second plane, the first plane and the second plane being generally parallel to one another and separated by a gap, wherein said coils are configured to allow insertion of at least a portion of the object in the gap between the first plane and the second plane having said biplanar X-gradient and Y-gradient coils, and said coil set together forming an open Z-axis face opposite said Z-gradient coil, said open Z-axis face extending the length of the longitudinal axis.
1 more element
An insertable open gradient coil set for magnetic resonance imaging, said gradient coil set comprising:
- a Z-gradient coil positioned substantially in parallel with the main magnet poles of a magnetic resonance imaging system and configured to be positioned along a length of an object being imaged;
- an X-gradient coil positioned substantially perpendicular to the main magnet poles, said X-gradient coil configured in perpendicular arrangement to said Z-gradient coil and configured to be positioned along each of a first side and a second side of the object;
- and
- a Y-gradient coil configured in a biplanar arrangement with said X-gradient coil, said Y-gradient coil configured in perpendicular arrangement to said Z-gradient coil and configured to be positioned along each of the first side and the second side of the object, the first side and the second side having said X-gradient and Y-gradient coils defining a gap therebetween configured to allow insertion of at least a portion of the object, said coils forming a unitary construction having a Z-axis opening opposite said Z-gradient coil and configured to extend along the length of the object being imaged, the unitary construction being insertable within the magnetic resonance imaging system.
1 more element
A method for magnetic resonance imaging, said method comprising:
- configuring a Z-gradient coil to extend along the longitudinal axis of an object and substantially perpendicular to a pair of biplanar X-gradient and Y-gradient coils;
- and
- configuring said biplanar X-gradient and Y-gradient coils in a parallel arrangement, said biplanar X-gradient and Y-gradient coils each extending in each of a first plane and a second plane substantially perpendicular to said Z-gradient coil and spaced apart to allow insertion therebetween of at least a portion of the object, said coils together forming a Z-axis opening opposite said Z-gradient coil, said Z-axis opening extending the length of the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.