Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Bruker Biospin Gmbh

Nxp B.v.

St-ericsson Sa

Bruker Biospin Mri Gmbh

Bruker Switzerland Ag

Broker Biospin Gmbh

Bruker Biospin Gmbh & Co. Kg

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Rainer Pietig

Volker Niemann

Astrid Lewalter

Lukas Haenichen

Meng Cao

Christoph Herrmann

Christoph Loef

Christoph Martiny

Jochen Franke

Thomas Purr

Michael Heidenreich

Michael Grass

Gereon Vogtmeier

Werner Hufenbach

Dominic J Heuscher

Robert Schauwecker

Marc Anthony Chappo

Randall Peter Luhta

Rolf Karl Otto Behling

Walter Ruetten

Bernd R David

Jeroen Jan Lambertus Horikx

Kai Eck

Matthias Simon

Rainer Kiewitt

Guenter Zeitler

Carolina Ribbing

Gerald James Carlson

Joerg Hinderer

Christoph Helmut Bathe

Stefan Hauttmann

Georg Rose

Olaf Wischhusen

Wolfgang Chrost

Oliver Muelhens

Marc Maria Alex Bleukx

Stephen Alfred March

Albert Langkamp

Franck Borgnolutti

Martin Kimutai Duerr

Thomas Behnisch

Heiko Richter

Christoph Leof

Lukas Hänichen

Jörg Hinderer

Dieter Gross

Astrid Fatou Lewalter

A magnet arrangement () in a magnetic resonance apparatus having a permanent magnet system for generating a homogeneous magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a z-axis in a measurement volume. The magnet system has at least two ring-shaped magnet elements () in a ring plane, which are arranged coaxially around the z-axis and are constructed from individual magnet segments () arranged next to one another in a Halbach configuration. The magnetization direction of at least two ring-shaped magnet elements deviates from the ring plane such that the component perpendicular to the ring plane varies cosinusoidally with the azimuthal angle of the respective ring-shaped magnet element. The magnetization of in each case two ring-shaped magnet elements is mirror-symmetrical with respect to one another, wherein the mirror plane is the central x-y-plane perpendicular to the z-axis. The disclosed arrangement provides a compact and lightweight permanent magnet arrangement for an MR apparatus.

Permanent magnet arrangement for generating a homogeneous field ('3D Halbach')

A superconductor magnet apparatus () includes a superconductor bulk magnet (), a cryostat () and a ferromagnetic shielding body (). The bulk magnet has a superconductor bore (), an axis (z) of rotational symmetry, and a maximum outer diameter ODin a plane perpendicular to the z axis. The superconductor bore has a minimum cross-sectional area Sin a plane perpendicular to the z axis. The cryostat has a room temperature bore (), the bulk magnet is arranged within the cryostat and the room temperature bore is arranged within the superconductor bore. The shielding body has a shielding bore (), the bulk magnet is arranged within the shielding bore and the shielding body extends beyond the bulk magnet at each axial end by at least OD/3. For an average cross-sectional area Sof the shielding body, S&#x2265;2.5*S, and the shielding body is arranged within the cryostat.

Superconducting magnet apparatus and method for magnetizing a superconductor bulk magnet by field cooling through a ferromagnetic shield

A magnet arrangement having a hollow-cylindrical magnet element that has an axial length Land an inner radius R, is constructed from magnet segments arranged concentrically around the z-axis, and has a Halbach magnetization. At least one ring-shaped magnet element has a notched, hollow-cylindrical cutout extending circumferentially around the z-axis symmetrically with respect to the plane z=0, the axial extent Lof the cutout being less than the axial length Lof the magnet element. The cutout has a radial depth Tand an axial length L&#x3c;Lbetween the z-positions z=&#x2212;zto z=+z. The radial depth Tand the axial length Lof the cutout are to ensure that the remaining inhomogeneity of the homogenous magnetic field Bin a predefined measurement volume having an axial plateau length Lin the center of the magnet arrangement does not exceed 10 ppm.

Halbach magnet arrangement with notch

A magnet arrangement () having a permanent magnet system with at least two ring-shaped magnet elements () which are made of individual magnet segments (), are arranged cylindrically symmetrically and stacked on one another in the z direction and/or concentrically, and arranged such that the magnetization directions of the individual segments in the rings extend parallel in an x-y plane. The magnet elements align relative to one another in the z direction and have a Halbach magnetization Before final mounting in the magnetic resonance apparatus, the magnet elements are prefabricated as solid structures and their respective magnet segments are fixed undisplaceably relative to one another. But the magnet elements are displaceable relative to one another in the x-y plane, and are mounted rotatably and/or tiltably relative to one another.

Permanent magnet arrangement for MR apparatuses with axially and laterally displaceable, rotatably mounted ring modules

A device for alternating examination of a measurement object () by means of MPI and MRI with two magnetic field-generating elements is presented. The device is characterized by a main magnet coil system with two coaxial partial coil systems () arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a central plane running perpendicularly to the z-axis through the first volume under investigation (). The volumes under investigation are superimposed. A polarity reversal device () reverses the polarity of the current through a partial coil system and the main magnet coil system generates a homogeneous magnetic field of at least sixth order in the first volume under investigation when the partial coil systems have identical polarity, and a spatially strongly varying magnetic field profile in the second volume under investigation when the polarities are opposite. Repositioning of the measurement object is thereby simplified or can even be eliminated.

Device for sequential examination of a measurement object by means of MPI and MRI methods

A magnetic resonance arrangement with a permanent magnet system and having magnet elements, pole piece elements and yoke elements of magnetic material arranged cylinder-symmetrically with respect to the z axis. The yoke elements have a first lid () and a second lid () and also a hollow cylindrical drum () arranged axially between the lids. The yoke elements enclose the measuring volume in the axial and radial direction. The magnet elements each include a pair of cylinder-symmetrical axial magnets () and also radial magnet rings (). The axial magnets are each arranged axially adjoining the lids and are arranged radially within the radial magnet rings and respectively axially further away from the measuring volume than the radial magnet rings. The outer diameter of the axial magnets is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the radial magnet rings.

Low-stray-field permanent magnet arrangement for MR apparatuses

Device for alternating examination of a measurement object () by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements () generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region () and in the second examination region (), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus () by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.

Device for generating a magnetic field profile which meets the requirements for MPI and for MRI

For the generation of multiple-energy X-ray radiation, an X-ray tube () for generating multiple-energy X-ray radiation includes an anode () and a filter (). At least a first () and a second focal spot position () are offset from each other in an offset direction () transverse to an X-ray radiation projection direction. The filter includes a first plurality () of first portions () with first filtering characteristics for X-ray radiation and a second plurality () of second portions () with second filtering characteristics for X-ray radiation. The filter is a directional filter adapted in a such a way that at least a first X-ray beam () emanating from the first focal spot position at least partly passes through the filter unit via the first portions, and a second X-ray beam () emanating from the second focal spot position passes obliquely through the first and the second portions when passing through the filter unit.

Multiple focal spot X-ray radiation filtering

Device and method for synchronously switching activating a first and second charge accumulation section () for a duration of a first and second predetermined sub-frame and a first and second X-ray source until lapse of a predetermined time frame for each of the first and second charge accumulation section () for the accumulation of a plurality of temporally distributed partial charges according to an origin of a respective one of the plurality of spatially distributed X-ray sources so as to establish a specific relation between the focal spot position and a rule for accumulating the respective partial measurements, e.g. temporally distributed partial charges, belonging to the same focal spot positions, and to keep the focal spot temperature low by only activating the focal spot for a limited time according to a sub-frame.

Multiframe X-ray detector for imaging system with distributed X-ray sources

The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. Providing an electron collecting element of an X-ray generating device statically may allow for the manufacture of X-ray systems with reduced moving parts and actuating parts, possibly reducing manufacturing costs and sources for failure. Consequently, an electron collecting element with increased thermal loadability is presented. According to the present invention, an electron collecting element () is provided, comprising a surface element () and a heat conducting element (). The heat conducting element () comprises a first thermal conductivity in a first direction and at least a second thermal conductivity in at least a second direction. The first thermal conductivity is greater than the second thermal conductivity. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to the surface element ().

Electron collecting element with increased thermal loadability, X-ray generating device and X-ray system

A distributed X-ray source () and an imaging system () comprising such an X-ray source () are proposed. The X-ray source () comprises an electron beam source arrangement () and an anode arrangement (). The electron beam source arrangement () is adapted to emit electron beams () towards at least two locally distinct focal spots () on the anode arrangement (). Therein, the X-ray source is adapted for displacing the anode arrangement () with respect to the electron beam source arrangement (). While the provision of a plurality of focal spots allows acquisition of projection images under different projection angles thereby allowing reconstruction of three-dimensional X-ray images e.g. in tomosynthesis application, a displacement motion of the anode arrangement () with respect to the electron beam source arrangement () may allow for distributed heat flux to the anode arrangement thereby possibly reducing cooling requirements.

Distributed X-ray source and X-ray imaging system comprising the same

This invention relates to high power X-ray sources, in particular to those equipped with a rotating X-ray anode capable of delivering a higher short time peak power than conventional rotating x-ray anodes. This invention can overcome the thermal limitation of peak power by allowing fast rotation of the anode and by introducing a lightweight material with high thermal conductivity in the region adjacent to the focal track material. The fast rotation can be provided by using sections of the rotating anode disk made of anisotropic high specific strength materials with high thermal stability that can be specifically adapted to the high stresses of anode operation. Uses include high speed image acquisition for X-ray imaging, for example, of moving objects in real-time such as in medical radiography.

Hybrid design of an anode disk structure for high prower X-ray tube configurations of the rotary-anode type

A method and device for operating a device for high-voltage switching for driving capacitive loads, having a first and a second input terminal () for applying a high voltage supply, such that a higher potential of the high-voltage supply may be applied to the first input terminal () and a lower potential may be applied to the second input terminal (); a first and a second switch (S, S), connected in series between the first and the second input terminal (); a first and a second clamping diode (D, D), connected in series and in the same blocking direction between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, such that the first second clamping diode block with respect to the applied high voltage; a storage inductor Ls, which is connected with one of its terminals to a connecting point () of the both switches and with another terminal to a connecting point () of the both clamping diodes; and an output terminal () for connecting a capacitive load Cl, which output terminal is connected with the connecting point () of the both clamping diodes (D, D). The method comprises starting with both switches (S, S) open; closing of the first switch (S) after a first predetermined time; opening (ST) of the first switch (S) after a second predetermined time; closing (ST) of the second switch (S), after arriving a zero voltage over the second switch.

Method to drive a high-voltage tube grid

An x-ray tube disclosed here in includes an emitter arranged to emit electrons on to a focal spot on a rotatable anode. The x-ray tube also includes a hollow tube arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation from the focal spot at one end of the hollow tube and transmit it to another end. The x-ray tube also includes two or more sensors arranged to detect the electromagnetic radiation through the hollow tube.

Dual-color pyrometric measurement of X-ray focal spot temperature

The invention relates to a non-reciprocal circuit element () having a plurality of strip conductor elements () insulated electrically from one another, which conductor elements are embedded in a multilayer core () of ferrimagnetic material and are arranged in superposed conductor planes in such a way that the conductor elements () cross over one another in at least one crossover area (). To provide such a circuit element, which is particularly cost-effective to produce and which is suitable in particular for use in mobile phones, the invention proposes that the core () comprises, at least in the crossover area of the conductor elements (), hard magnetic material, which is permanently magnetized in a spatial direction perpendicular to the conductor planes.

Non-reciprocal circuit element

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Herzogenrath, Germany

Rainer Pietig