Nuclear magnetic resonance probe with cooled sample coil
AssigneeBroker Bio Spin Corporation
InventorsYit Aun Lim, Eckhard Bez, Xiaozhong Zhang, Werner E. Maas
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Abstract
In a nuclear magnetic resonance probe, the sample coil is connected to the RF excitation source via transmission lines that are arranged to generate one or more nodal points at the 1H excitation frequency along their lengths and a balanced magnetic filed profile within the sample coil. Heat exchangers are then connected directly to the inner conductor of the transmission line at these nodal points. The transmission line inner conductors are in direct contact with the sample coil and efficiently cool the coil to cryogenic temperatures without interfering with the 1H resonance or RF profile.
Claims20
A nuclear magnetic resonance probe having a cooled sample coil excited by energy having an excitation frequency generated by a source, the probe comprising:
- a transmission line having an inner conductor connected to the sample coil, wherein the transmission line is arranged to produce a nodal point at the excitation frequency along a length of the inner conductor;
- and
- a heat exchanger brought into direct thermal contact with the inner conductor of the transmission line at the nodal point to cool the sample coil.
Apparatus for cooling with a heat exchanger, a nuclear magnetic resonance probe sample coil that is excited by energy having an excitation frequency generated by a source, the apparatus comprising:
- a transmission line having an inner conductor connected to the sample coil, wherein the transmission line is arranged to produce a nodal point at the excitation frequency along a length of the inner conductor;
- and
- cooling means for bringing the heat exchanger into direct thermal contact with the inner conductor of the transmission line at the nodal point to cool the sample coil.
A method for cooling with a heat exchanger, a nuclear magnetic resonance probe sample coil that is excited by energy having an excitation frequency generated by a source, the method comprising:
- (a) connecting an inner conductor of a transmission line to the sample coil;
- (b) adjusting the length of the transmission line to produce a nodal point at the excitation frequency along a length of the inner conductor;
- and
- (c) bringing the heat exchanger into direct thermal contact with the inner conductor of the transmission line at the nodal point to cool the sample coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.