Magnetic resonance systems having ultra-wide bores and patient support assemblies with precise positioning

1 . A magnetic resonance (MR) system, comprising:

a magnet assembly comprising a superconducting magnet, the magnet assembly being a closed bore system and defining a bore, wherein the bore has a diameter of 80 centimeter (cm) or greater and a length equal to or greater than 1 meter, the magnet assembly defining an imaging region in the bore having a variation in magnetic field being 1 ppm or less and deviation from linearity of gradients being 17% or less, the imaging region having a field of view being at least one of i) greater than 45 cm in an x-y plane of the MR system or ii) greater than 40 cm in a z direction of the MR system; and

a patient support assembly comprising:

a table configured to accommodate a subject and configured to be positioned at least partially in the bore, the table configured to position the subject at least partially in the bore; and

a carriage assembly attachable to the table and configured to drive the table to move in six degrees-of-freedom while the table is at least partially in the bore to position an anatomy-of-interest of the subject in the imaging region in the bore, the six degrees-of-freedom including moving along an x direction, a y direction, or the z direction of the MR system and rotating around an x-axis, a y axis, or a z axis of the MR system.

2 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to position the subject at a position that facilitates an interventional procedure.

3 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to move in a left-and-right direction.

4 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to move in an anterior-posterior direction.

5 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the table comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a superior-inferior direction, wherein the patient support assembly is configured to drive the first end and the second end independently while the table is at least partially in the bore.

6 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the table comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section articulated with one another, and the carriage assembly is configured to drive the first section, the second section, and the third section independently while the table is at least partially in the bore.

7 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to rotate.

8 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to position the table in a Trendelenburg orientation or a reverse Trendelenburg orientation.

9 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the MR system is configured to accommodate the subject in a lithotomy position.

10 . The MR system of claim 1 , wherein the bore is sized to accommodate the subject in a sitting position, and the MR system further comprises a robot assembly coupled to the magnet assembly and configured to operate on the subject.

11 . The MR system of claim 10 , wherein the robot assembly is positioned on an exterior face of the magnet assembly, the robot assembly further comprising an articulated arm configured to extend into the bore.

12 . A patient support assembly of a magnetic resonance (MR) system including a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly including a superconducting magnet and being a closed bore system, the magnet assembly defining a bore having a diameter of 80 centimeter or greater and a length equal to or greater than 1 meter, the magnet assembly defining an imaging region in the bore having a variation in magnetic field being 1 ppm or less and deviation from linearity of gradients being 17% or less, the imaging region having a field of view being at least one of i) greater than 45 cm in an x-y plane of the MR system or ii) greater than 40 cm in a z direction of the MR system, the patient support assembly comprising:

a table configured to accommodate a subject and configured to be positioned at least partially in the bore, the table configured to position the subject at least partially in the bore; and

a carriage assembly attachable to the table and configured to drive the table to move in six degrees-of-freedom while the table is at least partially in the bore to position an anatomy-of-interest of the subject in the imaging region in the bore, the six degrees-of-freedom including moving along an x direction, a y direction, or the z direction of the MR system and rotating around an x-axis, a y axis, or a z axis of the MR system.

13 . The patient support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the carriage assembly further comprises:

a front table support coupled with a first end of the table and configured to control the first end; and

a rear table support coupled with a second end of the table opposite the first end and configured to control the second end,

wherein the front table support and the rear table support are configured to control the first end and the second end independently while the table is at least partially in the bore.

14 . The patient support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the table comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section articulated with one another, and the carriage assembly is configured to drive the first section, the second section, and the third section independently while the table is at least partially in the bore.

15 . The patient support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to position the table in a Trendelenburg orientation or a reverse Trendelenburg orientation.

16 . The patient support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to move in a left-and-right direction and/or an anterior-posterior direction.

17 . The patient support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the carriage assembly is configured to drive the table to rotate.