Odin Technologies, Inc.

Odin Medical Technologies, Ltd.

Other

Elscint Ltd.

Aspect Imaging Ltd.

Aspect Magnet Technologies Ltd.

Coin Medical Technologies, Ltd.

Ehud Katznelson

Yuval Zuk

Haim Rotem

Uri Rapoport

Zeev Tamir

Yoav Katz

Michael Sasson

Avinoam Livni

Paul Royston Harvey

Shimon Panfil

Zvi Polunsky

Varda Gottfried

Moran Shochat

Elyakim Bosak

The present invention discloses to a magnetic resonance device consisting of magnets housed within a cage, a thermal regulating system (TRS) adapted to thermoregulate the magnets to room temperature T&#xb1;&#x394;T. TRS comprising a (i) preset array of one or more opened-bore channels provided within the cage and/or within the magnets; and, (ii) means for forcing fluid throughout the array of opened-bore channels, such that temperature T of the magnets is regulated to a preset range of &#x394;T.

Means and method for thermoregulating magnets within magnetic resonance devices

An open yoke MRI apparatus has a set of permanent magnets arranged at the inner surfaces of the yoke and spaced apart from one another. A set of annular permanent magnets is included in each magnet arrangement, including a set with trapezoidal cross-sections to provide a more uniform field and to allow greater access to a patient placed within the magnetic field.

Open yoke magnet assembly

A method of correcting active shimming element of a magnetic resonance device, including providing a set of correction values for each shimming element for a given N sub volumes, wherein N is an integer number greater than or equal to 1, detecting irregularities in the magnetic field of the sample regions, optimizing all the shimming elements according to the set of correction values, assessing the regularity of the corrected magnetic field, and reiterating the process until field uniformity is achieved, such that an accurate magnetic resonance measurement of the sample is achieved after a minimum number of iterations.

Shimming with MRI gradient

The present invention discloses a novel active insulation device and method for thermally shielding an external body from temperature fluctuations of a contained body. The method comprising providing an active thermal insulation envelope between the contained body and the external body; regulating the heat transfer from the active thermal insulation envelope to the external body; and regulating the heat transfer from the contained body to the active thermal insulation envelope, thus maintaining the temperature of the external body at a constant temperature or within a narrow temperature range.

Means and method of maintaining a constant temperature in the magnetic assembly of a magnetic resonance device

A dual pointing device to be used in cooperation with an imaging apparatus, a tracking system, and an object to be imaged. The dual pointing device provides a means for tracking a point on in image in both the image's frame of reference and Euclidean absolute coordinates. This is accomplished by having two tracking systems follow the dual pointing device. Since the two tracking systems follow the same physical device, and since one tracking system operates in the image coordinates while the other tracking system operates in the absolute coordinates, the device makes it possible to effect automatic transformations between the two systems. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment of the dual pointing device, which is intended for use with a magnetic resonance imager, the absolute tracking system is based on infra-red reflectors on the device that are tracked by an infrared transponder. The image-relative tracking system is based on magnetic resonance responsive samples that are detected by the imager.

Dual pointer device and method for surgical navigation

Magnetic apparatus for MRI/MRT probes and methods for construction thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a pair of opposed magnet assemblies defining an open region therebetween, a transmitting RF coil having at least a portion thereof disposed within the open region, at least one receiving RF coil disposed within the open region and X, Y and Z gradient coils. At least one of the X, Y and Z gradient coils is disposed outside of the open region. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a single magnet assembly having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, a transmitting RF coil having at least a portion thereof opposing the first surface, at least one receiving RF coil and X, Y and Z gradient coils. At least one of the X, Y and Z gradient coils opposes the second surface. In another embodiment the magnet assembly generates a permanent z-gradient magnetic field and therefore includes only X and Y gradient coils, at least one of which opposes the second surface. The apparatuses may also include one or more shim coils.

Magnetic apparatus for MRI

A positioning system for determining the relation between a coordinate set of a scanning apparatus such as an MRI and a coordinate set of a tracking system so as to allow determining the position of a selected target on an image of a patient acquired by the scanning apparatus in the coordinate set of the tracking apparatus and vice versa. The system comprises reference points positioned in predetermined location relative to the coordinate set of the scanning apparatus; tracking system adapted to detect and determine the position of the reference points, relative to the coordinate set of the tracking system; processing device adapted to communicate with the tracking system and adapted to determine the relation between the coordinate set of the scanning apparatus and the coordinate set of the tracking system, translating the coordinates of the target on the image acquired by the scanning apparatus to corresponding coordinates on the coordinate set of the tracking system.

System and method of interactive positioning

Adjustable hybrid magnetic apparatus for use in medical and other applications includes an electromagnet flux generator for generating a first magnetic field in an imaging volume, and permanent magnet assemblies for generating a second magnetic field superimposed on the first magnetic field for providing a substantially homogenous magnetic field having improved magnitude within the imaging volume. The permanent magnet assemblies may include a plurality of annular or disc like concentric magnets spaced-apart along their axis of symmetry. The electromagnet flux generator may include two electromagnet assemblies. The electromagnet assemblies and the permanent magnet assemblies may be static assemblies or may be movable and/or tiltable and/or movable and tiltable, for fine tuning of the magnetic field within the imaging volume. The hybrid magnetic apparatus may include a high magnetic permeability yoke for increasing the intensity of the magnetic field in the imaging volume of the hybrid magnetic apparatus.

Adjustable hybrid magnetic apparatus

A transportable magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, said apparatus comprising a transportable platform, provided with a casing made of ferromagnetic metal, and a magnetic resonance imaging system mounted onto said transportable platform, said magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a front end and a back end, the front end comprising a magnetic structure for the provision of a magnetic field, at least two gradient coils, RF transmit coil, and RF receive coil, and the back end comprising a host computer as a central processing unit, at least two gradient amplifiers, RF amplifier, MRI spectrometer, MRI controller and display unit, wherein said apparatus is provided with a positioning assembly for moving and positioning said magnetic structure between a first position and a second position, said first position being such that a patient's body part is positioned between said magnetic field, and said second position being such that said pair of magnets is positioned inside said casing, when not in use, in order to suppress the magnetic flux of said pair of magnets outside said casing.

Transportable intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

A system for performing magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance therapy and a method for operating the system. The system may include one or several magnetic probes and a single common controller connectable to the probes for calibrating and operating any selected one of the probes. The controller is particularly adapted for being used with probes optimized for performing magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance therapy of a single specific body organ or with probes adapted for imaging of various different body organs, but can also be used with probes optimized for whole body imaging. Each of the probes is pre-calibrated and associated with a pre-calibration parameter set included in a probe-specific software program provided with each probe. The controller is used for selecting one of the probes, automatically calibrating the selected probe and operating the selected probe by using the pre-calibration parameter set and the specific software program of the selected probe. The automatic calibration includes real-time fine tuning of the system prior to imaging. The system is modular and expandable. The controller can be connected to a single probe for imaging. The controller can also be simultaneously connected to several probes but, at any given time, only one probe can be selected and operated with the controller for imaging. The probes may be distributed in different rooms. The system may also include display devices and/or virtual reality goggles connected to the controller.

Multi-probe MRI/MRT system

Magnetic apparatus for MRI/MRT probes and methods for construction thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a pair of opposed magnet assemblies defining an open region therebetween, a transmitting RF coil having at least a portion thereof disposed within the open region, at least one receiving RF coil disposed within the open region and X,Y and Z gradient coils. At least one of the X,Y and Z gradient coils is disposed outside of the open region. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a single magnet assembly having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, a transmitting RF coil having at least a portion thereof opposing the first surface, at least one receiving RF coil and X,Y and Z gradient coils. At least one of the X,Y and Z gradient coils opposes the second surface. In another embodiment the magnet assembly generates a permanent z-gradient magnetic field and therefore includes only X and Y gradient coils, at least one of which opposes the second surface. The apparatuses may also include one or more shim coils.

Permanent magnet assemblies and hybrid magnetic apparatus are disclosed for use in medical applications, particularly permanent magnet assemblies for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and/or Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT) to produce a volume of substantially uniform magnetic field in a restricted part of the patient's body in a region either adjacent to the surface of one permanent magnet assembly or between a set of a first and second permanent magnet assemblies, leaving open access to the patient's body. The assemblies consist of a plurality of annular concentric magnets spaced-apart along their axis of symmetry. A method for constructing such annular permanent magnetic assemblies is disclosed, using equi-angular segments permanently magnetized. The hybrid magnetic apparatus includes an electromagnet flux generator for generating a first magnetic field in the volume, and permanent magnet assemblies for generating a second magnetic field superimposed on the first magnetic field for providing a substantially homogenous magnetic field having improved magnitude within the volume.

Hybrid magnetic apparatus for use in medical applications

Permanent magnet assemblies are disclosed for use in medical applications, particularly permanent magnet assemblies for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and/or Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT) to produce a volume of substantially uniform magnetic field in a restricted part of the patient's body in a region either adjacent to the surface of one permanent magnet assembly or between a set of a first and second permanent magnet assemblies, leaving open access to the patient's body. The assemblies consist of a plurality of annular concentric magnets spaced-apart along their axis of symmetry. A method for constructing such annular permanent magnetic assemblies is disclosed, using equi-angular segments permanently magnetized.

Permanent magnet assemblies for use in medical applications

Yoked permanent magnets are disclosed for use in medical applications, particularly permanent magnets for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance therapy (MRT), and interventional magnetic resonance imaging (IMRI) to produce a volume of substantially uniform magnetic field in a part or organ of a patient's body disposed in an open region between a set of a first and second opposing permanent magnet assemblies, leaving open access to a part or organ of a patient's body. Each of the assemblies consists of a plurality of coaxial concentric permanent magnets. The magnets within each of the assemblies may be spaced-apart along their common axis of symmetry and may be tilted with respect to the common axis of symmetry. The magnets include an open yoke made from a ferromagnetic material for increasing the magnetic field strength within the imaging volume by providing a path for closing magnetic flux lines of the opposing permanent magnet assemblies.

Yoked permanent magnet assemblies for use in medical applications

An open yoked magnetic apparatus for producing a substantially homogenous magnetic field. The apparatus includes an open ferromagnetic yoke, and two complementary permanent magnetic assemblies attached to opposing sides of the yoke. Each magnet assembly includes a ferromagnetic pole-piece and a first magnetic structure disposed between the pole-piece and the yoke, at least one annular ferromagnetic collimator concentric with said pole-piece and radially separated therefrom by a gap, and at least a second magnetic structure radially separated from the first magnetic structure by a gap and disposed between the at least one collimator and the yoke. The magnetic structures may be solid structures made from magnetic material or may be segmented or may include a plurality of magnetic blocks. A method for designing such an open yoked magnetic apparatus with improved properties is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Ramat Yishai, Israel

Ehud Katznelson