Rotatable magnet methods and apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging system
According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the B 0 magnet comprising at least one first B 0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, at least one second B 0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the at least one first B 0 magnet and the at least one second B 0 magnet are arranged relative to one another so that an imaging region is provided there between, a surface configured to support a patient anatomy within the imaging region, and a positioning member coupled to the B 0 magnet and configured to allow the B 0 magnet to be tilted to position the planar surface at a corresponding incline.
1. A 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 B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system;
at least one radio frequency transmit coil; and
a plurality of gradient coils, configured to, when operated, generate magnetic fields to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals;
a yoke configured to capture at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B 0 magnet to increase the magnetic flux density within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system;
a surface configured to support a patient anatomy within the imaging region; and
a positioning member configured to allow the yoke and the surface to be concurrently tilted at a corresponding incline.
2. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning member comprises a positioning goniometer configured to rotate the B 0 magnet substantially about a center of mass of the B 0 magnet over a range of angles.
3. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,500 pounds.
4. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,000 pounds.
5. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising:
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 positioning member and the magnetics system and houses the power system.
6. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the B 0 magnet is configured to produce the B 0 magnetic field at a field strength of less than or equal to approximately 0.2 T and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.
7. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning member comprises:
at least one locking member to hold the B 0 magnet at a selected one of a plurality of positions corresponding to different angles of rotation; and
at least one manual release mechanism that allows a user to manually release the at least one locking member and rotate the B 0 magnet to a different one of the plurality of positions.
8. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the B 0 magnet comprising at least one ring comprising a plurality of permanent magnet segments;
a surface configured to support a patient anatomy within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system; and
a positioning member coupled to the B 0 magnet and configured to allow the B 0 magnet and the surface to be concurrently tilted at a corresponding incline, the positioning member comprising:
at least one locking member to hold the B 0 magnet at a selected one of a plurality of positions corresponding to different angles of rotation; and
at least one manual release mechanism that allows a user to manually release the at least one locking member and rotate the B 0 magnet to a different one of the plurality of positions.
9. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 8 , wherein the positioning member comprises a positioning goniometer configured to rotate the B 0 magnet substantially about a center of mass of the B 0 magnet over a range of angles.
10. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 8 , further comprising a yoke configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B 0 magnet to increase magnetic flux density within the imaging region, wherein:
the positioning member is coupled to the yoke such that the positioning member tilts the yoke along with the B 0 magnet; and
the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,500 pounds.
11. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,000 pounds.
12. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a magnetics system having a plurality of magnetics components configured to produce magnetic fields for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the magnetics system comprising:
the B 0 magnet; 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 positioning member and the magnetics system and houses the power system.
13. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 8 , wherein the B 0 magnet is configured to produce the B 0 magnetic field at a strength of less than or equal to approximately 0.2 T and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.
14. A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the MRI system, a surface configured to support a patient anatomy disposed within an imaging region of the MRI system, and a positioning member coupled to the B 0 magnet and configured to allow both the B 0 magnet and the surface to be concurrently tilted at a corresponding incline, the method comprising:
positioning the patient anatomy on the surface;
tilting the B 0 magnet and the surface to the corresponding incline using the positioning member; and
acquiring at least one magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the patient anatomy using the MRI system, wherein the positioning member comprises:
at least one locking member to hold the B 0 magnet at a selected one of a plurality of positions corresponding to different angles of rotation; and
at least one manual release mechanism that allows a user to manually release the at least one locking member and rotate the B 0 magnet to a different one of the plurality of positions.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the positioning member comprises a positioning goniometer configured to rotate the B 0 magnet substantially about a center of mass of the B 0 magnet over a range of angles.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises a yoke configured to capture and direct at least some of the magnetic field generated by the B 0 magnet to increase flux density within the imaging region;
tilting the B 0 magnet and the surface to the corresponding incline using the positioning member comprises tilting the yoke to the corresponding incline; and
the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,500 pounds.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the B 0 magnet and the yoke together weigh less than 1,000 pounds.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the B 0 magnet is configured to produce the B 0 magnetic field at a field strength of less than or equal to approximately 0.2 T and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.