The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2006
Jianyu Lian, Quincy, MA (US);
Grum Teklemariam, Arlington, VA (US);
Xiaoping HU, Tucker, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A magnet primarily for use in MRI applications comprises a pair of poles oriented about a plane of symmetry parallel to each therebetween defining an air gap region, magnetic field sources secured on the surfaces of the poles opposite the air gap that have yokes disposed on them, the yokes connected to each other by returns so that the entire magnet assembly can form a closed magnetic flux circuit to substantially confine the magnetic fields generated by the apparatus in the air gap where an imaging region is formed to place subjects for the purposes of examination. The main assembly being cylindrical in geometry has permanent magnets for magnetic field sources that are composed of two regions, a central disk-like portion magnetized substantially along the axial direction and an outer ring-like region magnetized substantially along the radial direction extending axially to form part of the pole together producing a very efficient and even flux distribution throughout the entire magnet assembly with minimal flux leakage. A further means of reducing flux leakage is incorporated in the yokes which have two sections, a disk-like region and an ring-like section to enclose the permanent magnets. The poles are made of multiple sections with a central disk-like region and an outer ring-like region that is a combination of permanent magnets and high permeability materials. This magnet assembly can achieve 1.0 Tesla or greater magnetic fields for whole-body scanning without saturating the magnet pole and other structures.