Magnetic field generating apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging

1. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

a cryogenic magnet assembly comprising a cryogenic vessel and a superconducting magnet disposed within the vessel;

a gradient coil module disposed radially inboard of the cryogenic magnet assembly; and

a plurality of room temperature steel rings proximate to the gradient coil module and disposed radially inboard of the cryogenic magnet assembly;

wherein at least the superconducting magnet, the gradient coil module, and the plurality of room temperature steel rings define a field of view (FOV);

wherein in response to the superconducting magnet being energized, the plurality of room temperature steel rings create high order harmonics that serve to expand the magnetic field homogeneity FOV, and low order harmonics that tend to degrade the magnetic field homogeneity within the FOV; and

wherein the low order harmonics are compensated for by the cryogenic magnet assembly.

2. The MRI system of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are configured to create the high order harmonics having an order greater than or equal to a defined value n0.

3. The MRI system of claim 2 , wherein:

the degrading low order harmonics have an order less than the defined value n0; and

the cryogenic magnet assembly is configured to compensate for the degrading low order harmonics.

4. The MRI system of claim 3 , wherein:

the defined value n0 equals 6.

5. The MRI system of claim 2 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are configured to create high order harmonics having two consecutive, even high order terms.

6. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings comprises circumferential segments of steel; and

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are axially disposed and comprises axial gaps between the axially disposed rings.

7. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are radially disposed and comprises radial gaps between the radially disposed rings.

8. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings comprises laminations.

9. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are configured to reduce vibration and acoustic energy within the gradient coil module.

10. The MRI system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a potting compound disposed within the gradient coil module and about the plurality of room temperature steel rings.

11. The MRI system of claim 9 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings are fixedly secured within the gradient coil module.

12. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the superconducting magnet is configured to compensate for the degrading low order harmonics.

13. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the superconducting magnet is configured to provide a first field of view having a defined homogeneity in the absence of the room temperature steel rings;

the superconducting magnet and the room temperature steel rings are configured to provide a second field of view having about the same homogeneity as the first field of view; and

an axial dimension measured along the z-axis of the second field of view is greater than the axial dimension of the first field of view.

14. The MRI system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a set of superconducting compensation coils disposed within the cryogenic vessel, the compensation coils configured to compensate for the degrading low order harmonics.

15. The MRI system of claim 14 , wherein:

the set of superconducting compensation coils define shim coils that are separate and independent of the superconducting magnet.

16. The MRI system of claim 14 , wherein:

the set of superconducting compensation coils define auxiliary coils that are an extension of the coils of the superconducting magnet.

17. The MRI system of claim 14 , wherein:

the cryogenic magnet assembly is configured to be a double-donut arrangement that allows for interventional access from at least one axis;

the superconducting magnet and the plurality of room temperature steel rings are capable of providing a first field of view and a second field of view; and

the superconductor compensation coils are capable of receiving a first level of current and a second different level of current.

18. The MRI system of claim 17 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings comprise a first set of room temperature steel rings;

the superconducting magnet and the first set of room temperature steel rings are configured to provide the first field of view having a defined homogeneity;

the interventional access is allowed from two axes; and

the superconductor compensation coils are responsive to the first level of current.

19. The MRI system of claim 17 , wherein:

the plurality of room temperature steel rings comprise a second set of room temperature steel rings;

the superconducting magnet and the second set of room temperature steel rings are configured to provide the second field of view having about the same homogeneity as the first field of view;

the axial dimension of the second field of view is greater than the axial dimension of the first field of view;

the interventional access is allowed from only one axis; and

the superconductor compensation coils are responsive to the second level of current.

20. The MRI system of claim 19 , wherein:

a uniformity volume of the second field of view is greater than the uniformity volume of the first field of view.

21. The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein:

the superconducting magnet is configured to provide a first field of view having a defined homogeneity in the absence of the room temperature steel rings;

the superconducting magnet and the room temperature steel rings are configured to provide a second field of view having about the same homogeneity as the first field of view; and

only a radial dimension of the second fiedl of view is greater than the respective radial dimension of the first field of view.