MRI test fixture
AssigneeFonar Corporation
InventorsRaymond V. Damadian, Hugh Wahl, Rein Aspelund, James Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging assembly defining a gap region, a transmitting coil proximate the gap region, and at least one test coil separate from the transmitting coil. The at least one coil is mechanically coupled to the assembly during imaging and the at least one test coil is selectively electrically coupled to the assembly to collect test data. The at least one coil may be coupled to a test fixture coupled to the assembly. The test fixture may be deployable from a first position to a second position for collection of test data. The at least one coil may comprise a first test coil and a second test coil. Methods are also disclosed.
Claims20
A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
- a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) assembly comprising a ferromagnetic frame, opposing first and second ferromagnetic poles supported by the ferromagnetic frame, the opposing first and second ferromagnetic poles defining a gap region therebetween, and a patient support within the gap region;
- a computer;
- and
- first and second test coils mechanically coupled to the MRI assembly during imaging, the first and second test coils being in different orientations with respect to the gap region;
- the first and second test coils being selectively electrically coupled to the computer to provide test data related to operating characteristics of the system.
A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the MRI system comprising a computer and an MRI assembly comprising a ferromagnetic frame, opposing ferromagnetic poles supported by the ferromagnetic frame, the opposing ferromagnetic poles defining a gap region therebetween, and a patient support within the gap region, the method comprising:
- electrically coupling at least one test coil to the computer, the at least one test coil being mechanically coupled to the MRI assembly;
- conducting a test procedure to evaluate at least one operating characteristic of the system, while the at least one test coil is electrically coupled to the computer;
- detecting signals resulting from the test procedure by the at least one test coil;
- decoupling the at least one test coil from the signal processing circuitry;
- and
- conducting a magnetic resonance imaging scan with the magnetic resonance imaging system, while the test coil is mechanically coupled to the MRI assembly and decoupled from the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.