General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Scott Thomas Mansell

David E Dean

Michael J Radziun

Dewain Anthony Purgill

Robert Michael Vavrek

William A Edelstein

Robert Arvin Hedeen

Richard Scott Hinks

Mike James Radziun

Gopal Biligeri Avinash

Yu Wang

Sayed-Amr A El-Hamamsy

Timothy John Havens

Darren Lee Hallman

Cherik T Bulkes

Robert Adolph Ackermann

Paul Shadforth Thompson

Mark Lloyd Miller

Bernice Hoppel

Bruce Campbell Amm

Gregory Alan Lehmann

Anton Max Linz

Frederic Ghislain Pla

Thomas Gerard Ebben

John Edward Lorbiecki

Prathyusha K Salla

Peter Ping-Liang Sue

Bruce David Collick

Richard Philip Mallozzi

John Peter Fura

Clifford J Ginfrida

Kemakolam Michael Obasih

Long-Zhi Jiang

Donald Elroy Kosak

TinSu Pan

Paitoon Nimityongskul

Robert James Dobberstein

Thomas M Nixon

Andrew T Bollinger

David Glenn Lee

A method and system of gating for a medical imaging system includes utilizing a non-electrical sensor to acquire information for gating. A sensor assembly usable in the method and system of gating may include a non-electrical sensor coupled to one side of a patient-sensor interface, the other side adapted for securing to a patient.

Method and system using a non-electrical sensor for gating

A technique for reducing acoustic noise emitted by a magnetic resonance imaging system includes providing energy dampening elements in the scanner, such as within the gradient coil assembly, between the gradient coil assembly and the primary magnet, and around the outer and inner peripheries of the primary magnet and RF coil. The elements may be formed to conform to the structures of the scanner, and may be tile-like elements which can be fitted to new scanners and retrofitted to existing equipment.

Method and apparatus for reducing acoustic noise in MRI scanners

An MR system isolation impedance mismatch apparatus ( ) includes an impedance mismatch layer ( ). The impedance mismatch layer ( ) performs as a mechanical notch filter and isolates an MR system component ( ) from a surrounding structure ( ). A method of tuning the impedance mismatch apparatus ( ) includes determining a default notch filter frequency range. The impedance mismatch apparatus ( ) is formed and performs as a notch filter having the default notch filter frequency range. The impedance mismatch apparatus ( ) is installed and tested between the MR system component ( ) and the surrounding structure ( ). Vibrations are detected in the MR system component ( ) and in the surrounding structure ( ). The impedance mismatch apparatus is adjusted in response to the detected vibrations.

Impedance mismatch apparatus and system for isolation of an MR imaging system

A mechanical stabilizer-tuned damper is attachable to the first upper magnet assembly of a high field open magnet, which magnet includes a first upper magnet assembly, a lower second magnet assembly and at least one non-magnetizable support beam therebetween. The mechanical stabilizer-tuned damper reduces the dynamic response of the magnet. A connecting device is provided which consists of a threaded rod mounted to an attachment bracket through a linear bearing and vibration mount. A series of non-magnetic and extremely low conductivity plates of various weights are attachable to the rod to change the mass and the tuning frequency of the damper. The location and size of the mechanical stabilizer-tuned damper are determined to balance the frequency of the field oscillation and physical room. The direction of orientation depends upon the direction of motion to be dampened or controlled.

Mechanical stabilizer-tuned damper for high field open magnet

A low noise imaging apparatus for producing Magnetic Resonance (MR) images of a subject and for substantially minimizing acoustic noise generated during imaging is provided. The imaging apparatus comprises a magnet assembly, a gradient coil assembly, and a rf coil assembly, wherein at least one of the magnet assembly, the gradient coil assembly and the rf coil assembly are configured to reduce the generation and transmission of acoustic noise.

Low noise MRI scanner

An apparatus for supporting a patient support bridge member in an MR system where a first end of the bridge is supported by an upright support member on a first side of an MR imaging bore and the bridge extends through the bore so that a second end of the bridge extends out a second side of the bore, the apparatus including a bracket mounted to an MR main magnet on the second side of the bore and extending upwardly to contact and support the bridge there above.

MR bridge support

Apparatus is provided for reducing the level of acoustic noise or energy which is received by an imaging subject located within the bore of an MR imaging system. The apparatus comprises a bridge fixed within the bore to support the subject during MR data acquisition, and further comprises a curved frame, usefully formed of fiberglass, which is removably insertable in the bore for placement upon the bridge. The frame, when in place upon the bridge, defines a space within the bore which is disposed to receive the imaging subject. The frame is covered by a layer of material, such as open cell foam, which is capable of absorbing substantial amounts of acoustic energy present in the bore. At the same time, the material is highly transmissive to RF signals required for MR data acquisition and avoids spurious RF signal generation which would add noise to MR data.

Apparatus for reducing acoustic noise in an MR imaging system

A magnetic resonance imaging device has a compensation circuit for compensating for magnetic disturbances therein. The compensation circuit includes a sensor for sensing magnetic field changes and generating a magnetic field change signal. The sensor is coupled to a control circuit that has a transfer function therein. The control circuit is used to generate a compensation signal in response to the magnetic field change signal. The compensation signal may be coupled to the compensation coils located by the first magnet portion and the second magnet portion of the device. Also, the compensation signal may produce a time-dependent bias or change the center frequency to cancel magnetic disturbances.

Magnetic resonance imaging device having magnetic field disturbance compensation

Apparatus which provides a barrier for vibrational energy between an MR imaging system and an associated horizontal support surface includes a stiff platform of substantial mass, which is disposed to carry the entire weight of the MR imaging system. The apparatus further includes a number of vibration isolation elements positioned to support the platform and the MR imaging system upon the horizontal support surface. Each of the isolation elements comprises an enclosure containing pressurized air which is disposed to dampen vibrations, in order to oppose the transmission of vibrations between the platform and the support surface. An air pressure regulator is coupled to respective isolation elements to maintain specified air pressure levels therein, in order to support the platform in selected spaced-apart orientation with respect to the horizontal support surface.

Vibration isolation apparatus for MR imaging system

In an MR system, a mounting assembly is provided at each end of the bore of the main magnet for supporting a cylindrical gradient coil assembly within the bore. Each mounting assembly comprises first and second brackets, the first bracket being provided with a concave bearing surface having a specified curvature. The first bracket is fixably joined to the main magnet proximate to the lower side of the bore, and the second bracket is provided with a convex bearing surface which is selectively similar to the curvature of the concave bearing surface of the first bracket. The second bracket is attached to a lower portion of the gradient coil, so that the convex bearing surface extends longitudinally outward from the gradient coil assembly. A vibration attenuator is positioned between the convex and concave bearing surfaces of each mounting assembly, the vibration attenuator acting to transmit a static force between the two bearing surfaces to support the gradient coil assembly within the bore. At the same time, the vibration attenuator acts to oppose transmission of mechanical vibrations from the gradient coil assembly to the main magnet. The vibration attenuator comprises first and second pads formed of elastomeric vibration isolation material, which are joined together in a stacked interlocking relationship.

Apparatus for supporting MR gradient coil assembly

Vibration and noise isolation for a magnetic resonance imager (MRI) superconducting magnet cryocooler includes a bellows between the cryocooler and its vacuum sleeve in the magnet, a mass suspended along the axis of, but at a distance from, the cryocooler, elastomeric blocks parallel to the axis, and braided copper wires connecting the vacuum sleeve and the heat shields of the MRI. Motion limiters and bellows flexures are provided for dynamic loads which might be encountered during transport of the magnet.

Cryocooler vibration isolation and noise reduction in magnetic resonance

A magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) scanner subassembly. In one subassembly, a preferably annularly-cylindrical-shaped enclosure contains a first vacuum, and an MRI gradient coil assembly is located within the enclosure in the first vacuum. Preferably, an annularly-cylindrical housing is included which is coaxially aligned with the enclosure and contains a second vacuum which is higher than the first vacuum, and an MRI superconductive main coil is located within the housing in the second vacuum. In another subassembly, an MRI gradient coil assembly has a threshold excitation frequency, and an isolation mount assemblage supports the MRI gradient coil assembly.

The shock isolation system for CT equipment or the like employs a C-support holding isolation unit on either side of a support plate for the CT machine. Each isolation unit is made up of an elastomeric tube capped by a diaphragm and enclosing an air-tight volume. Different spring constants are produced by the isolation unit depending on whether only the diaphragm or the entire tube is compressed, allowing effective vibration isolation and shock protection for the supported equipment. The elastomeric tube provides both axial and lateral isolation eliminating the need for isolation units along multiple axes.

Isolation system for medical imaging equipment

A probe for measuring the displacement between the outer supporting wall of a cryostat and the inner magnet coil form employs magnetically balanced strain gauges attached to a beam with one end fixed to the cryostat wall and the other end held by the magnet coil form. The magnetically balanced strain gauges comprise two superimposed strain gauges with countervailing current flow. In one embodiment, two sets of gauges are attached in conventional bridge arrangement to provide temperature compensation.

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Waterford, WI, United States of America

Scott Thomas Mansell