General Electric Company

Other

Edwin L Legall

Longzhi Jiang

Mark Alan Frontera

Mark O Derakhshan

Carey Shawn Rogers

Michael Scott Hebert

Walter John Smith

Yuri Lvovsky

William Louis Einziger

Derek Seeber

Gregory Alan Lehmann

Richard Michael Roffers

Ron Kent Hockersmith

Kenwood Dayton

Anthony Mantone

Ethan James Westcot

Timothy Elden Wise

Ryan Mitchell Damm

Roy A Mangano

Shahed Ashraf

A connection system includes a connector electrically connected and fixedly secured to a gradient coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging device, a cable block fixedly secured to a magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging device substantially above the connector, and a cable having a first end electrically connected to the cable block and a second end received by the connector and forming an electrical connection between the connector and the cable block.

Connection system and method

A control system for a superconducting magnet includes an electrically conductive lead having a first end electrically coupled to the superconducting magnet, at least one of a main power supply, a shimming power supply and a discharge module electrically coupled to a second end of the lead, and a controller in communication with the at least one of the main power supply, the shimming power supply and the discharge module. The controller is configured to monitor at least one magnet parameter value indicative of a state of the superconducting magnet and to automatically control operation of the at least one of the main power supply, the shimming power supply and the discharge module when the magnet parameter value crosses a predetermined threshold value prior to a quench.

Control system and method for a superconducting magnet

An x-ray tube includes a frame forming a first portion of a vacuum enclosure, a rotating subsystem shaft positioned within the vacuum enclosure and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the rotating subsystem shaft is attached to a first portion of the frame, a target positioned within the vacuum enclosure and attached to the rotating subsystem shaft between the first end and the second end, the target positioned to receive electrons from an electron source positioned within the vacuum enclosure, and a thermal compensator mechanically coupled to the second end of the rotating subsystem shaft and to a second portion of the frame, the thermal compensator forming a second portion of the vacuum enclosure.

Apparatus for ultra high vacuum thermal expansion compensation and method of constructing same

A tube for generating x-rays includes a cathode adapted to emit electrons, a target positioned to receive the electrons from the cathode on a surface thereof, an anode adapted with an aperture and positioned between the cathode and the target and configured to accelerate the electrons toward the target, and a rotating system adapted to rotate the target about an axis, the rotating system located in a position facing the surface of the target.

Apparatus for wide coverage computed tomography and method of constructing same

An x-ray tube includes a center shaft having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a portion of a cavity therein, a mount having an inner surface, the mount having an x-ray target attached thereto, and a liquid metal positioned between the outer surface of the center shaft and the inner surface of the mount. The x-ray tube further includes a flow diverter positioned in the cavity, the flow diverter having a wall with an inner surface, and a plurality of jets passing through the wall, wherein the plurality of jets are configured such that when a fluid is flowed into the flow diverter and passes along its inner surface, a portion of the fluid passes through the plurality of jets and is directed toward the inner surface of the center shaft.

Apparatus and method of cooling a liquid metal bearing in an x-ray tube

An x-ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flange attached to the first end of the shaft, the flange having an outer perimeter, and a ferrofluid seal assembly having an inner bore, the inner bore having an outer perimeter smaller than the outer perimeter of the flange. The shaft is inserted through the bore of the ferrofluid seal assembly such that the ferrofluid seal assembly is positioned between the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft and such that the first end extends into the vacuum enclosure, and the ferrofluid seal is configured to fluidically seal the vacuum enclosure from an environment into which the second end of the shaft extends.

X-ray tube having a ferrofluid seal and method of assembling same

An x-ray tube includes a rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, a target coupled to the first end of the rotatable shaft, the target positioned to generate x-rays toward a subject upon impingement of electrons thereon, and an impeller coupled to the second end of the rotatable shaft and positioned to blow a gas into an inlet of an aperture passing into the rotatable shaft.

Air-cooled ferrofluid seal in an x-ray tube and method of fabricating same

Systems and methods are provided for a variable cooling capacity cryocooler for a superconducting magnetic resonance imaging device having a liquid cryogen pressure vessel to provide cryogenic temperatures to a magnet assembly, a vacuum vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and a radiation shield spaced from the cryogen pressure vessel, and a pressure sensor positioned inside the cryogen pressure vessel pressure boundary for sensing pressure variations. A controller for varying the heat removal rate of the cryocooler based on the pressure variations in the cryogen pressure vessel and where the cooling capacity of the cryocooler is adjusted by modifying the speed of the electric power drive (DC or AC motors) or by changing the mechanical transmission ratio between the constant speed electric power drive and the cryocooler displacer/piston to adjust the cooler oscillating frequency of the gas flow. The invention can be adapted to magnets or non magnets systems using Stirling, Gifford-McMahon ('GM') and Pulse Tube ('PT') cooler systems. The system will extend component end of life and provide a controllable constant pressure improving image quality for superconducting MRI magnets.

Apparatus and method for controlling a cryocooler by adjusting cooler gas flow oscillating frequency

A method includes heating a MRI shim with a heater to reduce a temperature rise per unit of time during a gradient operation of a MRI system.

Methods and apparatus for MRI shims

A zero boiloff cryogen cooled recondensing superconducting magnet assembly including superconducting magnet coils suitable for magnetic resonance imaging including a cryogen pressure vessel to contain a liquid cryogen reservoir to provide cryogenic temperatures to the magnet coils for superconducting operation; a vacuum vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and spaced therefrom; a first thermal shield surrounding and spaced from the pressure vessel; a second thermal shield surrounding and spaced from the first thermal shield and intermediate the vacuum vessel and the first shield; a cryocooler thermally connected by a first and a second thermal interface to the first and second thermal shields, respectively; a recondenser positioned in the space between the pressure vessel and the first thermal shield and thermally connected by a thermal interface to the cryocooler to recondense, back to liquid, cryogen gas provided from the pressure vessel; and means for returning the recondensed liquid cryogen the pressure vessel; wherein the second thermal shield surrounding the first thermal shield reduces a radiation heat load from the first thermal shield to the pressure vessel lowering boiloff of cryogen gas under conditions of failure or power off of the cryocooler.

Growing community of inventors

Menomenee Falls, WI, United States of America

Edwin L Legall