IP Library Granted Patent US 9,835,702
Granted Patent B2
US 9,835,702 · App. 13/766,831 · Granted Dec 5, 2017

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, magnetic field adjustment implement for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging method, and method of adjusting magnetic field for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

Inventors: Shohei Takami (Yokohama, JP); Yoshitomo Sakakura (Nasushiobara, JP); Kazuto Nogami (Nasushiobara, JP); Hidekazu Tanaka (Otawara, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
G01R33/421G01R33/3873G01R33/3875A61B5/0046A61B5/055
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,835,702
App. No.
13/766,831
Granted
Dec 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a magnetic field adjustment implement for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnetic field adjustment unit and a placing unit. The magnetic field adjustment unit is configured to improve a uniformity of a static magnetic field formed by a magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The static magnetic field is formed under an influence of a circumstance in a shield room in which the magnet is placed. The magnetic field adjustment is placed outside the magnet. The placing unit is configured to place the magnetic field adjustment unit outside the magnet.

Claims (47)

1. A magnetic field adjustment implement for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:

a magnetic field adjustment structure placed and configured to improve uniformity of a static magnetic field formed in an MRI signal acquisition region within and surrounded by a cylindrical static MRI magnet in a magnetically shielded room, the magnetic field adjustment structure being placed outside the cylindrical static MRI magnet,

wherein a bed of the magnetic resonance apparatus is located on a first side of the acquisition region and at least a part of the bed is arranged to be moved into the acquisition region towards an opposite second side of the acquisition region, and

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure is placed outside the acquisition region on at least one of said sides.

2. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a coil configured to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field.

3. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein said coil is placed at the second side outside the acquisition region.

4. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a ferromagnetic substance configured to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field.

5. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 4 ,

wherein said ferromagnetic substance is placed as a part of, or as a part added to, the bed.

6. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure comprises:

a coil configured to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field;

a data storage configured to store current values to be supplied to said coil according to placed objects in the shield room, the objects each influencing the static magnetic field; and

a current supply configured to supply a current to said coil, the current having a current value read from said storage.

7. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a coil which is configured to be divided with a connector, the coil improving uniformity of the static magnetic field, and

said coil is placed so as to set a top plate of the bed inside said coil.

8. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure has a coil configured to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field; and

said coil is placed inside a gantry in which the magnet is built.

9. The magnetic field adjustment implement for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a ferromagnetic substance configured to form a magnetic circuit with the shield room by leading magnetic flux lines to the shield room, the magnetic flux lines being formed by the magnet and passing inside said ferromagnetic substance, the magnetic circuit being formed at the first side outside the acquisition region.

10. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:

an imager configured to perform MRI by forming a static magnetic field with a cylindrical static MRI magnet and acquiring magnetic resonance signals from an object moved into an MRI signal acquisition region within and surrounded by the cylindrical static Mill magnet, the object being arranged to be moved from a bed located on a first side of the acquisition region into the acquisition region by moving at least part of the bed towards an opposite second side of the acquisition region;

a magnetic field adjustment structure placed and configured to improve flail uniformity of the static magnetic field formed in a magnetically shielded room in which the cylindrical static Mill magnet is placed, the magnetic field adjustment structure being placed outside the magnet, and

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure is placed outside the acquisition region on at least one of said sides.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a ferromagnetic substance, the ferromagnetic substance being an element of the bed.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure includes a ferromagnetic substance on the bed.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure comprises:

a coil configured to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field, the coil being placed on the second side and outside the acquisition region; and

a ferromagnetic substance placed to the bed or in the bed side, said ferromagnetic substance being a part of the bed or a part added to the bed.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure include a ferromagnetic substance whose height is changed with a top plate of the bed so as to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field by said ferromagnetic substance when a height of the top plate has become a height for sending the top plate into the acquisition region.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein said magnetic field adjustment structure has a ferromagnetic substance placed to the bed or on the first side, said ferromagnetic substance being a part of the bed or a part added to the bed, the bed being configured to move a top plate with a larger torque than a magnetic force attracting the ferromagnetic substance to the magnet.

16. A method of adjusting a magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) apparatus comprising:

arranging a magnetic field adjustment structure outside a cylindrical static MM magnet of the MRI apparatus, the cylindrical static Mill magnet surrounding an Mill signal acquisition region, and a bed of the MRI apparatus located on a first side of the acquisition region with at least a part of the bed being arranged to be moved into the acquisition region towards an opposite second side of the acquisition region, wherein the magnetic field adjustment structure is placed outside the acquisition region on at least one of said sides; and

improving uniformity of a static magnetic field by placing the magnetic field adjustment structure outside the acquisition region on at least one of said sides, the static magnetic field being formed by the cylindrical static Mill magnet in a magnetically shielded room.

17. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising:

performing a magnetic resonance imaging by forming a static magnetic field with a cylindrical static Mill magnet and acquiring magnetic resonance signals from an object moved into an MRI signal acquisition region surrounded by-the cylindrical static MM magnet, a bed located on a first side of the acquisition region with at least a part of the bed being arranged to be moved into the acquisition region towards an opposite second side of the acquisition region; and

arranging a magnetic field adjustment structure outside the cylindrical static Mill magnet to improve uniformity of the static magnetic field by placing the magnetic field adjustment structure outside the acquisition region on at least one of said sides, the static magnetic field being formed by the cylindrical static Mill magnet located in a magnetically shielded room.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038735/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2013
From: TAKAMI, SHOHEI; SAKAKURA, YOSHITOMO; NOGAMI, KAZUTO; TANAKA, HIDEKAZU
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029810/0786 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-105752 · May 10, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2012061690 · May 7, 2012
Related Publication 20130154636A1 · Jun 20, 2013