Bruker Biospin Ag

Bruker Switzerland Ag

Other

Daniel Schmidig

Roger Meister

Daniel Guy Baumann

Dirk Wilhelm

Danijela Al Adwan Stojilkovic

Christian Kasper

Dietmar Wolke

Temperature control system for an NMR sample tube () using a temperature control device () with an interior () delimiting a cylindrical wall () in the radially outward direction and a plurality of flow channels for temperature-controlling fluid running radially around the interior, of which the radially outermost flow channel () is delimited to the outside by a wall (), and the innermost flow channel () by a wall () and connected to one another by a first fluid passage (). The innermost flow channel has a second fluid passage () to the interior and the outermost flow channel has a fluid inlet (). During operation, the wall delimiting the interior in the radially outward direction is temperature-controlled by the fluid so that: abs (T−T)≤abs (T−T), where Tis the wall temperature, Tis the fluid temperature at the first fluid passage and Tis the ambient temperature.

Temperature control for an NMR sample tube

An NMR apparatus having a magnet system for generating a homogeneous static magnetic field Balong a z direction, with a sampling head (1) comprising an RF transmitting and receiving coil system (2) and an opening (3) extending in the z direction for receiving a sample tube (4) containing a sample substance to be analyzed by means of NMR measurement, a compensation element (5) being present which at least partially compensates for disturbances in the homogeneous magnetic field Bdue to the sample substance and the material of the sample tube at the sample end of the sample tube that protrudes farthest into the sampling head during measuring operation, is characterized in that the compensation element is arranged outside the sample tube protruding into the sampling head during measuring operation of the NMR apparatus and in the z direction below the sample end, and is mounted so as to be movable, in particular displaceable, in the z direction. Thus, the compensation element can nestle against the sample tube during operation without problem. In this way, the susceptibility jump and the resulting Bfield disturbance in the lower region of the NMR-active sample liquid caused by the lower end of the sample tube are effectively minimizable with particularly uncomplicated technical means.

Sample extension on the sampling head side to reduce the Bfield disturbance at the end of the sample tube

An adjustment device () for an RF resonant circuit () of an NMR probe () has a plurality of movable elements () which are arranged in succession, such that adjacent movable elements mutually engage, so as to be movable relative to one another in a limited range. The movable elements each have at least one electrical functional part (-) for adjusting the RF resonant circuit. N outwardly oriented electrical contact elements (-) include at least two functional part terminals (), and the electrical contact elements are each connected to a functional part terminal. The adjustment device also includes a first connection assembly () for slidingly contacting at least a portion of the movable elements from outside, to contact the contact elements in dependence on the movement position of the movable elements, as well as a movement device (), configured to move one of the movable elements.

Adjustment device for an RF resonant circuit of an NMR probe head

An NMR probe head () comprising one or more HF coils () arranged around a vertical axis of symmetry (z), and an HF network () surrounded by an apparatus () for shielding from external HF radiation comprising an electrically conductive shielding tube () arranged along a z-axis and that can be moved around the HF coils and the HF network in a z direction towards a base disc ()A shielding disc () is provided at an axial distance from the base disc, wherein a tensible HF seal () is arranged between the shielding disc and the shielding tube. When the shielding tube is in a mounted state, the HF seal, in a first mounting state, can slide over the shielding disc in an unbraced and force-free manner. When the HF seal is in a second mounting state, the HF seal is mechanically braced between the shielding disc and the shielding tube to ensure an electrically conductive connection.

NMR probe head comprising a releasable HF seal

An NMR probe head () has a coil system () and a radial centering mechanism for a sample vial () having two centering devices spaced axially from each other to center the sample vial in the radial direction only. The first centering device () is disposed above the receiver coil system and at least one further centering device () is disposed axially above the coil system with an axial spacing (d) above the first centering device. The first and second centering devices restrict the radial scope for movement of the sample vial to such an extent that the sample vial cannot touch an endangered space () during the entire duration of transport of the sample vial to its measuring position, thereby precluding damage to the probe head components in the endangered space by the sample vial.

NMR probe head with improved centering of the sample vial

An antenna configuration for use in a magnetic resonance apparatus has at least two individual antennas which each include at least one conductor loop, one tuning network and one matching network, wherein the individual antennas are each combined into separate modules which are positioned on and mounted to a support body and can be removed therefrom in a non-destructive fashion, is characterized in that the individual antennas are connected to each other through decoupling elements, wherein the decoupling elements are mounted to the support body in an undetachable fashion. It is thereby possible to define individual antenna modules which can be arranged in a simple fashion around the measuring volume, are also electromagnetically decoupled from each other, and can be positioned close to the measuring volume in order to ensure that the received MRI image has a maximum, high signal-to-noise ratio.

Modular MRI phased array antenna

A device used in performing imaging magnetic resonance measurements (=MRI) in a Region of Interest (ROI) () of a small animal () with an MRI magnet system (), with a cradle () on which the small animal () is lying, and with a radio-frequency (=RF) antenna (), wherein the RF antenna () and the small animal () can be positioned relative to each other, characterized in that the device comprises a slide () on which the cradle together with the small animal immobilized thereupon can be moved both outside and inside the MRI magnet system, and characterized in that the RF antenna is rigidly fixed on the slide. This results in a device for the relative positioning of the small animal with respect to the RF antenna for an MRI measurement, which is easy to retrofit on existing tomography equipment, with which this positioning can be implemented both inside and outside the MRI magnet by simple handling and without great additional technical effort.

Method of positioning and aligning with precision, a small animal in order to conduct and perform MRI measurements

A device for monitoring a living object during a magnetic resonance (MRI) experiment in an MRI tomograph, wherein the device comprises one or more individual electrodes which are connected in an electrically conducting fashion to the living object to be examined, and are connected to a monitoring device via signal lines, wherein each signal line comprises individual parts that are electrically connected to each other via impedances. The eigenfrequencies of these parts are higher than the NMR measuring frequency, preferably more than twice as high, and the parts are electrically connected to each other via frequency-dependent impedances Z. The electro-magnetic coupling from the RF antenna and the gradient coils to the signal lines can thereby also be minimized in a simple fashion.

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Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Daniel Schmidig