Low field magnetic resonance methods and apparatus

1. A system, comprising:

a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) device comprising:

a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising:

a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field for an imaging region of the low-field MR device, the B 0 magnet comprising at least one first B 0 magnet and at least one second B 0 magnet, which are positioned in a bi-planar arrangement about the imaging region; and

at least one laminate panel comprising a plurality of laminate layers, each of the plurality of laminate layers including at least one non-conductive layer and at least one conductive layer patterned to form at least a portion of a gradient coil configured to produce a gradient magnetic field, wherein the at least one laminate panel comprises a first laminate panel comprising a first gradient coil and a second laminate panel comprising a second gradient coil, the first and second gradient coils of the first and second laminate panels being disposed on opposite sides of the imaging region;

a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the low-field MR device to perform image acquisition, the one or more power components comprising at least one power component configured to provide power to the first and second laminate panels;

a base that supports the magnetics system and houses the power system; and

at least one conveyance mechanism coupled to the base allowing the low-field MR device to be transported to different locations;

at least one electrophysiological device; and

at least one controller configured to operate the low-field MR device to obtain MR data and to operate the at least one electrophysiological device to obtain electrophysiological data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrophysiological device comprises an electroencephalography (EEG) device comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to obtain EEG data while a patient is within a field of view of the low-field magnetic resonance device, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the EEG device to obtain the EEG data.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to adapt at least one characteristic of the low-field magnetic resonance device based, at least in part, on the EEG device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to adapt at least one characteristic of the low-field magnetic resonance device based, at least in part, on the EEG data.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to change a field of view of an MR acquisition process based on the EEG data.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to change a signal-to-noise ratio of an MR acquisition process based on the EEG data.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to change a resolution of an MR acquisition process based on the EEG data.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the EEG device is operably connected to the low-field magnetic resonance device by at least one communications connection.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetics components are configured to produce the B 0 field having a strength equal to or less than 0.1 T and greater than or equal to 50 mT.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base is further configured to support the at least one electrophysiological device such that the system can be transported and operated in different locations.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system is configurable in a configuration for transporting the system and a configuration for operating the system.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device is configured to generate an MR image having an in-plane resolution of at least three millimeters and up to and including one millimeter.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device is configured to generate an MR image having a resolution up to and including three millimeters isotropic.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the low-field MR device and the electrophysiological device to obtain the MR data and the electrophysiological data while a patient remains in a field of view of the low-field MR device.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the low-field magnetic resonance device and the at least one electrophysiological device simultaneously.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power component configured to provide power to the first and second laminate panels comprises at least one gradient coil amplifier.

17. A method of operating a system comprising at least one electrophysiological device and a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) device comprising a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field for an imaging region of the low-field MR device, the B 0 magnet comprising at least one first B 0 magnet and at least one second B 0 magnet positioned in a bi-planar arrangement about the imaging region, and at least one laminate panel, a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the low-field MR device to perform image acquisition, the one or more power components comprising at least one power component configured to provide power to the at least one laminate panel, a base that supports the magnetics system and houses the power system, and at least one conveyance mechanism coupled to the base allowing the low-field MR device to be transported to different locations, the method comprising:

while a patient is positioned within a field of view of the low-field MR device:

operating the low-field magnetic resonance device to obtain MR data using the at least one laminate panel, the laminate panel comprising a plurality of laminate layers, each of the plurality of laminate layers including at least one non-conductive layer and at least one conductive layer patterned to form at least a portion of a gradient coil configured to produce at least a portion of a gradient magnetic field, wherein the at least one laminate panel comprises a first laminate panel comprising a first gradient coil and a second laminate panel comprising a second gradient coil, the first and second gradient coils of the first and second laminate panels being disposed on opposite sides of the imaging region; and

operating the at one electrophysiological device to obtain electrophysiological data.