Time Medical Holdings Company Limited

Qiyuan Ma

Erzhen Gao

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

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

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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Milburn, NJ, United States of America

Qiyuan Ma