Time Medical Holdings Company Limited

M2m Imaging Corporation

Erzhen Gao

Jon T DeVries

Qiyuan Ma

Wallace Y Kunimoto

Kamal Vij

Ingmar Viohl

Greig Scott

Joseph R Flicek

Timothy W James

C Richard Hullihen, Iii

Sze Man Yeung

Methods and apparatuses for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopy comprising a superconducting main magnet operable to generate a uniform magnetic field in an examination region, at least one superconducting gradient field coil operable to apply a respective at least one magnetic field gradient within the examination region, and at least one RF coil that is operable to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the examination region, and that is configured for cooling and comprises at least one of (i) a non-superconducting material that when cooled to a temperature below room temperature has a conductivity higher than that of copper at that temperature and (ii) a superconducting material. The main magnet, the gradient coils, and each of the at least one RF coil of a given system may each be implemented as high temperature superconductor materials.

Superconductor magnetic resonance imaging system and method (super-MRI)

A whole body RF coil array module configured for cryogenic cooling for use in magnetic resonance imaging. The RF coil array may be a superconducting coil array, such as a high temperature superconducting (HTS) array. The RF coil array module provides sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio and large field of view such that the RF coil array may be used in an MRI whole body system for diagnostic imaging of all body parts without requiring using special-purpose RF coils for different body parts.

Cryogenically cooled whole-body RF coil array and MRI system having same

A superconducting RF coil array which may be used in whole body MRI scanners and/or in dedicated MRI systems. Some embodiments provide a superconducting RF coil array for at least one of receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a sample during magnetic resonance analysis of the sample, the superconducting RF coil array comprising a thermally conductive member configured to be cryogenically cooled, and a plurality of coils elements comprising superconducting material, wherein each coil element is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive member and is configured for at least one of (i) receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region from which at least one other of the plurality of coil elements is configured to receive a signal and (ii) transmitting a radiofrequency signal to a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region to which at least one other of the plurality coil elements is configured to transmit a radiofrequency signal.

Superconductor RF coil array

Methods and/or apparatuses for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopy comprising a superconducting gradient coil module configured for cryogenic cooling. Such a superconducting gradient coil module may comprise a vacuum thermal isolation housing comprising a double wall hermetically sealed jacket that (i) encloses a hermetically sealed interior space having a first vacuum pressure, and (ii) substantially encloses a vacuum space having a second vacuum pressure; at least one superconductor gradient coil disposed in the vacuum space; a thermal sink member disposed in the vacuum space and in thermal contact with the at least one superconductor gradient coil; and a port configured for cryogenically cooling at least the thermal sink member.

Cryogenically cooled superconductor gradient coil module for magnetic resonance imaging

A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample.

Apparatus and method for cryogenically cooling a coil on a magnetic resonance imaging system

A radio frequency coil array () includes at least first () and second () receive coils. A flux pipe () includes electrically connected first () and second () loop coils. The first () and second () loop coils are coupled to the respective first and second receive coils. The flux pipe () reduces mutual inductance between the first () and second () receive coils.

Coil decoupling in magnetic resonance imaging

An apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance examination includes a radio frequency receive coil () and adjustable tuning circuitry () for adjusting the resonant frequency of the receive coil. The apparatus also includes a preamplifier () which amplifies signals generated by the receive coil. An adjustable feedback circuit () alters an effective Q of the receive coil.

Bandwidth expansion in magnetic resonance

A magnetic resonance coil systemallows for the use of modular components and which in one embodiment is particularly well-suited for use with small animals and includes an animal receiving apparatus, a transmit coil module, and a receive coil module. The receive coil moduleincludes a cryogenic receive coil. The coil systemis selectively insertable in the bore of the gradient coil of a magnetic resonance examination system.

Magnetic resonance coil system

The present invention relates to dedicated superconductor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF apparatus and method of constructing the same. One Embodiment of the present invention provides an MRI breast imaging apparatus comprising an examination region, a patient support, at least one vacuum thermal isolation housing, a main magnet system, and a cryogenic system. The vacuum thermal isolation housing comprises a low vacuum space between at least one inner and an outer high vacuum enclosure. The low vacuum space hosts at least one superconductor RF coil and a heat sink assembly therein. The RF coil is in thermal contact with the heat sink assembly that is coupled to the cryogenic system through a heat pipe to achieve and maintain a desired low temperature at the superconductor RF coil. The system provides a local examination region substantially surrounded by the superconductor RF coil.

Dedicated superconductor MRI imaging system

A magnetic resonance imaging system () includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil () that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing () that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample.

The present invention relates to an integrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF apparatus and method of constructing the same. One Embodiment of the present invention provides an MRI apparatus comprising an examination region, a patient support, at least one vacuum thermal isolation housing, a main magnet system for generating a main magnetic field in the examination region, and a cryogenic system. The vacuum thermal isolation housing comprises a hermetically sealed high vacuum jacket that encloses a low vacuum space hosting at least one superconductor RF coil and a heat sink assembly therein. The RF coil is in thermal contact with the heat sink assembly that is coupled to the cryogenic system through a heat pipe to achieve and maintain a desired low temperature at the superconductor RF coil.

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Millburn, NJ, United States of America

Erzhen Gao