Shielded compartment for a magnetic resonance apparatus
A shielded compartment for a magnetic resonance apparatus for shielding electromagnetic radio-frequency fields has at least one region that is formed of a foamed metal.
1. A shielded compartment for a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
an enclosure having a floor and ceiling connected by walls having a size to contain a magnetic resonance examination apparatus therein, said enclosure having an interior and an exterior and shielding electromagnetic radio-frequency fields, associated with operation of said magnetic resonance examination apparatus, between said interior and said exterior; and
said enclosure having at least one region formed of a foamed metal.
2. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foamed metal shields said radio-frequency fields.
3. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foamed metal, in addition to shielding said radio-frequency fields, shields propagation of a quantity between said interior and said exterior selected from the group consisting of sound and heat.
4. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one region is selected so that said propagation of said quantity is shielded in at least one direction between said interior and said exterior.
5. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foamed metal comprises an aluminum foam.
6. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foamed metal comprises a plurality of abutting plates of foamed metal connectable to each other.
7. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said region comprises a surface of said enclosure selected from the group consisting at least one of said walls, said ceiling and said floor.
8. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is self-supporting.
9. A shielded compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is climate-controlled.