US Patent No: 5,412,363

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Open access superconducting MRI magnet

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

An open access MRI magnet includes a ferromagnetic frame open on at least two sides and having upper and lower end plates and at least two support columns. A superconducting coil assembly is mounted to each end plate for generating a magnetic flux field in a patient receiving area located between the end plates. Each superconducting coil assembly includes a toroidal vacuum tight vessel, insulation, and one or more temperature shields mounted within the vacuum tight vessel. One or more coils of superconducting wire is wound within the vacuum vessel, and is coupled to a power source and to a persistent switch for maintaining a constant flow of current with no power consumption. A return path for the flux is provided by the end plates and support posts of the frame. The superconducting coils, the thermal shields, and the persistent switch are cooled by a cryocooler, by means of conduction through solid thermal conductors or by a combination of conduction and convection, through a fluid cooling circuit, without the consumption of a liquid cryogen.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

Related Publications

Loading Related Publications... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONTOKYO617

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Breneman, Bruce C Rancho Santa Fe, CA 17 405
Hsu, Yen-Hwa L Solana Beach, CA 6 206
Sarwinski, Raymond E San Diego, CA 15 385

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FONAR CORPORATION (4)
4,675,609 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus including permanent magnet configuration 26 1986
4,766,378 Nuclear magnetic resonance scanners 76 1986
5,061,897 Eddy current control in magnetic resonance imaging 62 1990
5,124,651 Nuclear magnetic resonance scanners with composite pole facings 76 1990
 
GENERAL ATOMICS (3)
4,943,774 Magnetic field control apparatus 53 1989
4,980,641 Method and apparatus of reducing magnetic hysteresis in MRI systems 18 1989
5,095,271 Compact open NMR systems for in situ measurement of moisture, salinity, and hydrocarbons 11 1990
 
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (3)
4,829,252 MRI system with open access to patient image volume 150 1987
5,184,074 Real-time MR imaging inside gantry room 34 1991
5,250,901 Open architecture iron core electromagnet for MRI using superconductive winding 61 1991
 
ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF (1)
4,445,102 Magnet pole tips 11 1981
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (1)
5,153,546 Open MRI magnet 86 1991
 
HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION (1)
5,155,436 Method and apparatus for stabilizing uniformity of static magnetic field in magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 4 1991
 
NEN LIFE SCIENCE PRODUCTS, INC. (1)
4,498,048 NMR Imaging apparatus 27 1984
 
OXFORD INSTRUMENTS SUPERCONDUCTIVITY LIMITED (1)
5,138,326 Magnetic field generating assembly and method 15 1990
 
PICKER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (1)
5,207,224 Magnetic resonance apparatus 52 1992
 
SUMITOMO SPECIAL METALS CO., LTD. (1)
4,672,346 Magnetic field generating device for NMR-CT 112 1985
 
TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION (1)
5,194,810 Superconducting MRI magnet with magnetic flux field homogeneity control 82 1991
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (1)
4,656,449 Field modifying elements for an electromagnet having a substantially C-shaped yoke 15 1986

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
FONAR CORPORATION (37)
6,023,165 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 57 1992
6,014,070 Ferromagnetic yoke magnets for medical magnetic resonance studies 29 1997
6,201,394 MRI apparatus 43 1997
6,335,623 MRI apparatus 22 1998
6,400,156 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 1 1999
6,075,364 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 15 1999
6,445,185 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 22 1999
6,373,251 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 6 1999
6,150,820 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 8 1999
6,225,805 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 6 1999
6,208,145 MRI apparatus 11 2000
6,288,546 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 8 2000
6,437,571 MRI apparatus 9 2001
6,541,973 MRI apparatus 19 2001
6,522,145 Magnetic resonance imaging with patient positioning and surgery 5 2001
6,848,170 Method for fabricating a ferromagnetic plate 0 2001
6,496,007 MRI apparatus 10 2001
6,469,508 MRI apparatus 7 2001
6,445,186 MRI apparatus 6 2001
6,369,571 MRI apparatus 14 2001
7,697,971 Positioning system for an MRI 3 2001
6,507,192 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 1 2001
6,621,267 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus and methods of use and facilities for incorporating the same 6 2002
6,944,492 Patient bed support for an open MRI system 2 2002
6,934,574 MRI scanner and method for modular patient handling 8 2002
6,617,852 MRI apparatus 12 2002
6,879,157 Ferromagnetic frame with laminated carbon steel 2 2004
7,127,802 Method of fabricating a composite plate 1 2004
8,401,615 Planar coil flexion fixture for magnetic resonance imaging and use thereof 0 2004
7,701,209 Coils for horizontal field magnetic resonance imaging 4 2004
7,196,519 Stand-up vertical field MRI apparatus 2 2004
8,190,234 Movable patient support with spatial locating feature 0 2005
7,560,929 Ferromagnetic frame magnet with superconducting coils 2 2006
7,906,966 Quadrature foot coil antenna for magnetic resonance imaging 0 2006
8,111,067 Positional magnetic resonance imaging 0 2008
8,055,326 Coils for horizontal field magnetic resonance imaging 1 2008
8,054,077 Ferromagnetic frame magnet with superconducting coils 1 2009
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (8)
5,623,430 Method for passively shimming an open magnet 5 1995
6,289,681 Superconducting magnet split cryostat interconnect assembly 11 1999
7,345,559 High field open MRI magnet isolation system and method 0 2001
7,227,437 High field open MRI magnet isolation system and method 0 2003
7,464,558 Low eddy current cryogen circuit for superconducting magnets 2 2003
7,626,477 Cold mass cryogenic cooling circuit inlet path avoidance of direct conductive thermal engagement with substantially conductive coupler for superconducting magnet 2 2005
7,319,329 Cold mass with discrete path substantially conductive coupler for superconducting magnet and cryogenic cooling circuit 7 2005
8,033,121 Low eddy current cryogen circuit for superconducting magnets 0 2008
 
BRUKER BIOSPIN GMBH (2)
5,570,073 NMR slice coil 22 1995
5,739,689 Superconducting NMR magnet configuration 19 1996
 
HITACHI, LTD. (2)
7,295,010 Low temperature probe having transmitting coil and receiving coil or transmit/receive coil and used in NMR apparatus 3 2006
7,528,605 Superconductive magnet device and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 2007
 
MAGNEVU (2)
6,081,117 Noise modulation for open access and remotely positioned MRI 2 1997
5,987,896 System and method for regulating the flow of a fluid refrigerant to a cooling element 3 1997
 
MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA (2)
6,437,672 Superconducting magnetic device 14 1998
6,781,492 Superconducting magnetic apparatus 8 2002
 
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (2)
6,525,537 Magnetic resonance apparatus having a single-circuit cooling circulation system 13 2000
6,774,631 Magnetic resonance gradient coil with a heat insulator disposed between the electrical conductor and the carrier structure 17 2001
 
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION (1)
6,154,109 Superconducting inductors 15 1995
 
BRUKER BIOSPIN AG (1)
7,141,979 Cryo head with a plurality of heat exchangers for cooling the RF coils or resonators 4 2004
 
ESAOTE S.P.A. (1)
8,064,984 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 0 2003
 
EVERSON TESLA INC. (1)
6,396,377 Liquid cryogen-free superconducting magnet system 5 2000
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA (1)
5,694,775 Magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus 1 1996
 
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION (1)
8,269,587 Conduction cooling superconducting magnet device 0 2010
 
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION (1)
5,590,536 Bypass cryogenic current leads employing high temperature superconductors 1 1995
 
OXFORD MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED (1)
5,982,260 MRI magnets 9 1997
 
PICKER INTERNATIONAL, INC. (1)
6,208,144 Magnetic resonance operating room magnet 20 1999
 
RIKEN (1)
6,489,769 Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus 0 2001
 
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (1)
7,667,462 Nuclear magnetic resonance module 2 2006
 
TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION (1)
6,438,966 Cryocooler interface sleeve 3 2001