Cooling system for magnetic resonance imaging device having reduced noise and vibration

1. A cooling system for a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising:

a compressor;

a supply conduit in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein a cooling medium is transferred from the compressor through the supply conduit, wherein the supply conduit has a tube that has a through aperture and an inner surface that defines a helical channel that is continuous from a first turn of the helical channel to a second turn of the helical channel, wherein the helical channel has a concave shape, wherein the inner surface has a first convex portion located between the first turn and the second turn of the helical channel, wherein a width of the helical channel of the first turn is greater than a width of the first convex portion;

a heat exchanger that receives the cooling medium from the supply conduit and heats the cooling medium; and

a return conduit in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein the cooling medium is transferred through the return conduit to the compressor.

2. The cooling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the helical channel has a concave shape and is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

3. The cooling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tube has a length, wherein the helical channel extends along a plurality of turns that number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube.

4. The cooling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the cooling medium is helium that is in a gas state, wherein the supply conduit is flexible, and wherein the return conduit is flexible and has a tube that has a through aperture and an inner surface that defines a helical channel, wherein the supply conduit and the return conduit are separate from one another such that the supply conduit does not surround the return conduit and such that the return conduit does not surround the supply conduit.

5. The cooling system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a magnet that is included as part of the magnetic resonance imaging device; and

a closed loop cooling circuit through which a second cooling medium that is helium is transferred, wherein the closed loop cooling circuit has a helium vessel, wherein the second cooling medium is helium that is in a liquid state in at least one point in the closed loop cooling circuit, wherein heat from the magnetic resonance imaging device is transferred to the second cooling medium and is then in turn transferred to the cooling medium in the heat exchanger.

6. A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium, comprising:

a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length, wherein the tube has an inner surface that defines a channel, wherein the channel has a plurality of turns that number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube, wherein the channel has a concave shape and is discontinuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube, wherein the tube has a longitudinal axis and wherein the channel is circumferential about the longitudinal axis such that a portion of the channel farthest from the longitudinal axis is oriented at a 90 degree angle to the longitudinal axis.

7. The conduit as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the channel is helical and has a concave shape.

8. The conduit as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the channel is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

9. A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium, comprising:

a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length, wherein the tube has an inner surface that defines a helical channel, wherein the helical channel is continuous along a length of the tube such that the helical channel is continuous along a plurality of turns of the helical channel along the inner surface, wherein the helical channel has a concave shape and extends along a first turn and a second turn of the plurality of turns, wherein the inner surface has a first convex portion located between the first turn and the second turn of the helical channel, wherein a width of the helical channel of the first turn is greater than a width of the first convex portion.

10. The conduit as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of turns of the helical channel number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube.

11. The conduit as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the helical channel is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

12. A cooling system for a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising:

a compressor;

a supply conduit in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein a cooling medium is transferred from the compressor through the supply conduit, wherein the supply conduit has:

(i) a tube made of stainless steel having a through aperture and an inner surface that defines a helical channel that is continuous from a first turn of the helical channel to a second turn of the helical channel,

(ii) a stainless steel braid that surrounds the tube,

(iii) an insulation layer made of flexible foam that surrounds the stainless steel braid;

a heat exchanger that receives the cooling medium from the supply conduit and heats the cooling medium;

a return conduit in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein the cooling medium is transferred through the return conduit to the compressor;

a first supply conduit end cap attached to the supply conduit and to the compressor; and

a second supply conduit end cap attached to the supply conduit and to the heat exchanger.

13. The cooling system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the helical channel has a concave shape and is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

14. The cooling system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the tube has a length, wherein the helical channel extends along a plurality of turns that number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube.

15. The cooling system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the cooling medium is helium that is in a gas state, wherein the supply conduit is flexible, and wherein the return conduit is flexible and has a tube that has a through aperture and an inner surface that defines a helical channel, wherein the supply conduit and the return conduit are separate from one another such that the supply conduit does not surround the return conduit and such that the return conduit does not surround the supply conduit.

16. The cooling system as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising:

a magnet that is included as part of the magnetic resonance imaging device; and

a closed loop cooling circuit through which a second cooling medium that is helium is transferred, wherein the closed loop cooling circuit has a helium vessel, wherein the second cooling medium is helium that is in a liquid state in at least one point in the closed loop cooling circuit, wherein heat from the magnetic resonance imaging device is transferred to the second cooling medium and is then in turn transferred to the cooling medium in the heat exchanger.

17. A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium, comprising:

a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length, wherein the tube has an inner surface that defines a channel, wherein the channel has a plurality of turns that number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube, wherein the channel extends along a first turn and a second turn, wherein the inner surface has a first convex portion located between the first turn and the second turn of the channel, wherein a width of the channel of the first turn is greater than a width of the first convex portion.

18. The conduit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the channel is helical and has a concave shape.

19. The conduit as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the channel is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

20. A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium, comprising:

a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length, wherein the tube has an inner surface that defines a channel, wherein the channel has a plurality of turns that number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube,

a stainless steel braid that surrounds the tube; and

an insulation layer made of flexible foam that surrounds the stainless steel braid;

wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with a compressor and with a heat exchanger of a magnetic resonance imaging device, wherein cooling medium that is helium that is in a gas state is present in the through aperture, wherein the tube is flexible and is made of stainless steel.

21. The conduit as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the channel is helical and has a concave shape.

22. The conduit as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the channel is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

23. A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium, comprising:

a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length, wherein the tube has an inner surface that defines a helical channel, wherein the helical channel is continuous along a length of the tube such that the helical channel is continuous along a plurality of turns of the helical channel along the inner surface;

a stainless steel braid that surrounds the tube;

an insulation layer made of flexible foam that surrounds the stainless steel braid; and

wherein the tube, the stainless steel braid, and the insulation layer are flexible such that the conduit is flexible.

24. The conduit as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the plurality of turns of the helical channel number at least 120 turns per foot of the length of the tube.

25. The conduit as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the helical channel is continuous from an end of the tube to an opposite end of the tube.

26. The conduit as set forth in claim 23 , wherein the tube is in fluid communication with a compressor and with a heat exchanger of a magnetic resonance imaging device, wherein cooling medium that is helium that is in a gas state is present in the through aperture.