AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A LOW FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM
In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B 0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B 0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B 0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B 0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.
1 . A low-field magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
at least one BO magnetic component configured to generate a BO field having a magnetic field strength of approximately 0.2 Tesla (T) or less;
at least one communication interface that allows the low-field magnetic resonance imaging system to communicate with one or more external computing devices; and
at least one processor configured to:
initiate a connection with at least one external computing device; and
exchange information with the at least one external computing device using the at least one processor.
2 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one B0 magnetic component is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 0.2T and greater than or equal to approximately 0.1T.
3 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one B0 magnetic component is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 0.1T and greater than or equal to approximately 50 mT.
4 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one B0 magnetic component is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 50 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.
5 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one B0 magnetic component is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 20 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 10 mT.
6 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one external computing device includes a mobile computing device, and wherein exchanging information comprises providing information to the mobile computing device that facilitates operation of the magnetic resonance imaging system from the mobile computing device.
7 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device exchanges information while located proximate the magnetic resonance imaging system.
8 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device exchanges information while located in a same room as the magnetic resonance imaging system.
9 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system provides information to the mobile computing device regarding a type and/or capability of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
10 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system provides to the mobile computing device a status regarding the magnetic resonance imaging system.
11 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system provides an indication to the mobile computing device that the magnetic resonance imaging system is ready for operation.
12 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system provides to the mobile computing device information regarding at least one impediment to operating the magnetic resonance imaging system.
13 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the information regarding the at least one impediment includes at least one of the following: at least one noise source detected by the magnetic resonance imaging system, an open and/or short circuit detected within the magnetic resonance system, detection of one or more missing components, and/or indication that a start-up and/or warm-up procedure has not completed.
14 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , further comprising receiving instructions from the mobile computing device to perform at least one image acquisition process.
15 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises an interface that allows a user to operate the magnetic resonance imaging system, the method further comprising operating the magnetic resonance imaging system, via the interface on the mobile computing device, to acquire at least one image.
16 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a tablet.
17 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a smart phone.
18 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a wearable device.
19 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 18 , wherein exchanging information includes receiving from the wearable device at least one physiological parameter of a wearer.
20 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes heart rate, an indication of heart beat and/or heart cycle, breathing rate, and/or an indication of breathing cycle.
21 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one external computing device comprises at least one processor of at least one other magnetic resonance imaging system.
22 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 21 , wherein exchanging information comprises exchanging at least one operating parameter with the at least one other magnetic resonance imaging system.
23 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 22 , wherein exchanging information comprises negotiating at least one operating parameter to avoid interference with the at least one other magnetic resonance imaging system.
24 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 21 , wherein initiating the connection includes initiating connection to the at least one other magnetic resonance imaging system via at least one network.
25 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 21 , wherein initiating the connection includes initiating connection to the at least one other magnetic resonance imaging system via device-to-device communication.
26 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one external computing device includes a remote server accessible via at least one network, and wherein initiating a connection comprises connecting to the remove server via the at least one network.
27 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 26 , wherein the remote server stores information about a plurality of magnetic resonance imaging systems.
28 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 27 , wherein the remote server is configured to coordinate activity of and/or between the plurality of magnetic resonance imaging systems.
29 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 26 , wherein exchanging information comprises receiving from the remote server information used in operating the magnetic resonance imaging system.
30 . The low-field magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance imaging system is configured to be operated in an unshielded room.
31 . A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one communication interface that allows the magnetic resonance imaging system to communicate with at least one external computing device, the method comprising:
initiating, by at least one processor of the magnetic resonance imaging system, a connection with the at least one external computing device; and
exchanging information with the at least one external computing device using the at least one processor.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one external computing device includes a mobile computing device, and wherein exchanging information comprises providing information to the mobile computing device that facilitates operation of the magnetic resonance imaging system from the mobile computing device.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one external computing device comprises at least one processor of at least one other resonance imaging system.
34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one external computing device includes a remote server accessible via at least one network, and wherein initiating a connection comprises connecting to the remove server via the at least one network.
35 . A portable magnetic resonance imaging device comprising:
at least one first magnetic component configured to generate a BO field having a magnetic field strength of approximately 0.2 Tesla (T) or less;
at least second magnetic component configured to be operated according to a target pulse sequence;
a console configured to provide the target pulse sequence to operate the at least one second magnetic component;
at least one interface on the portable magnetic resonance imaging device that allows an operator to operate the magnetic resonance imaging system at the magnetic resonance imaging device to acquire at least one image.
36 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of 35 , wherein the at least one interface comprises a touch panel display.
37 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 36 , wherein the touch panel display presents an interface that allows the operator to operate the magnetic resonance imaging device.
38 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 37 , wherein the touch panel presents an interface that allows the operator to select an imaging application, imaging protocol and/or image type, and wherein the console automatically generates the target pulse sequence in accordance with the operator's selection.
39 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 36 , wherein the at least one image is displayed on the touch panel display.
40 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 35 , further comprising at least one communication interface that allows the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to communicate with one or more external computing devices.
41 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 40 , wherein the at least one communication interface is configured to transmit the at least one image to the one or more external computing devices via at least one network.
42 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 40 , wherein the at least one communication interface is configured to obtain information about a patient from a radio frequency identification tag, a bar code, a hospital tag and/or a mobile device.
43 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 35 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system comprises wheels to allow the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to be moved to desired locations.
44 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 35 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system is configured to be operated in an unshielded room.
45 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 35 , wherein the at least one second magnetic component comprises at least one gradient coil.
46 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 37 , wherein the at least one second magnetic component comprises at least one transmit/receive coil.
47 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 36 , wherein the at least one interface allows the operator to acquire at least one scout image.
48 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 47 , wherein the at least one interface is configured to present the at least one scout image for display and receive an indication of a desired scan volume via the at least one scout image displayed.
49 . The portable magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 35 , wherein the at least one interface is configured to, during an image acquisition sequence, receive information from the operator indicating a region of interest, and wherein the console is configured to automatically provide additional sequences corresponding to the region of interest.