Importance

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Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an integrated processing and control system which eliminates many of the redundant functions in prior art systems. The MRI system is installed in a suite that consists essentially of a shielded room and a control room. The MRI scanner and patient table are located in the shielded room and the integrated processing and control system is located in the control room. Components of integrated processing and control system can be mounted to a wall, common to the shielded room and the control room, whereby at least the portion of the wall to which the components are mounted can function as a heat sink for the components of the integrated processing and control system generating heat. The heat sink has an effective thermal mass at least one order of magnitude greater than the combined thermal mass of the components attached to the wall. The thermal mass can be a passive system or an active system. Each component that requires a connection with equipment within the shielded room (such as the MRI scanner) includes a connector on the back side of the component that is aligned with and can extend into an opening in the wall in order to facilitate a direct connection with the external equipment eliminating the need for a separate penetration panel and interfacing filters. By so co-locating the components, the integrated processing and control system may include at least one common power bus or at least one common data/control bus that services many of the components.

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First Claim