Portable magnetic resonance imaging methods and apparatus
According to some aspects, a portable magnetic resonance imaging system is provided, comprising a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetics system comprises a permanent B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, and a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals, a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform image acquisition, and a base that supports the magnetics system and houses the power system, the base comprising at least one conveyance mechanism allowing the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to be transported to different locations. According to some aspects, the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 50 inches. According to some aspects, the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,500 pounds. According to some aspects, the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to five feet.
1. A portable magnetic resonance imaging system 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 permanent B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field for the portable magnetic resonance imaging system;
a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals; and
at least one radio frequency transmit coil;
a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to perform image acquisition; and
a base that supports the magnetics system above the base and houses the power system within the base, the base having a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 50 inches.
2. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 40 inches.
3. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 35 inches.
4. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 30 inches.
5. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,500 pounds.
6. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,000 pounds.
7. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to five feet.
8. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to four feet.
9. A portable magnetic resonance imaging system 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 permanent B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field for the portable magnetic resonance imaging system;
a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals; and
at least one radio frequency transmit coil;
a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetics system to operate the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to perform image acquisition;
a base that supports the magnetic system above the base and houses the power system within the base, wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,500 pounds.
10. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 40 inches.
11. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 40 inches.
12. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 35 inches.
13. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 30 inches.
14. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,000 pounds.
15. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to five feet.
16. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to four feet.
17. A portable magnetic resonance imaging system 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 permanent B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 field having a field strength of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 T;
a plurality of gradient coils configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of magnetic resonance signals; and
at least one radio frequency coil configured to, when operated, transmit radio frequency signals to a field of view of the portable magnetic resonance imaging system and to respond to magnetic resonance signals emitted from the field of view;
a power system comprising one or more power components configured to provide power to the magnetic system to operate the portable magnetic resonance imaging system to perform image acquisition; and a base that supports the magnetic system above the base and houses the power system within the base,
wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to five feet.
18. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 50 inches.
19. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 40 inches.
20. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 35 inches.
21. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the base has a maximum horizontal dimension of less than or equal to approximately 30 inches.
22. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,500 pounds.
23. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system weighs less than 1,000 pounds.
24. The portable magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the portable magnetic resonance imaging system has a 5-Gauss line that has a maximum dimension of less than or equal to four feet.