Automatic configuration of a low field magnetic resonance imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016231399-A1
Application number	US-201615132742-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B 0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B 0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B 0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B 0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B 0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B 0 magnet during operation, the method comprising:
providing operating power to the B 0 magnet; monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B 0 magnet; and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet comprises using a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet comprises measuring a voltage associated with the B 0 magnet.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the at least one event includes powering up the magnetic resonance imaging system, and wherein operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity reduces a time needed for the B 0 magnet to be ready for imaging.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the at least one event includes a transition to a low-power mode.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermal management component is operated at less than operational capacity while the current temperature of the B 0 magnet is below a first threshold value.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first threshold value corresponds to a thermal equilibrium and/or a B 0 field stability of the B 0 magnet.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the at least one event includes the magnetic resonance imaging system being idle for a designated amount of time.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the B 0 magnet using a reduced amount of current while the at least one thermal management component is operated at less than operational capacity to reduce power consumption in a low power mode.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising acquiring at least one image while the at least one thermal management component is operating at less than operational capacity.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining fluctuations in at least one parameter of the magnetic resonance imaging system, and wherein acquiring at least one image comprises compensating for the determined fluctuations in the at least one parameter.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one parameter is a Larmor frequency of the B 0 magnet and/or a homogeneity of the B 0 field produced by the B 0 magnet.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining fluctuations in the at least one parameter comprises determining fluctuations based, at least in part, on the current temperature of the B 0 magnet.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein monitoring a temperature of the B 0 magnet comprises measuring a voltage associated with the B 0 magnet, and wherein determining fluctuations in at least one parameter comprises determining the fluctuations based, at least in part, on the measured voltage of the B 0 magnet.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises at least one gradient coil, and wherein the method further comprises modifying an operating state of the at least one gradient coil in response to the occurrence of the at least one event.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein modifying an operating state of the at least one gradient coil comprises providing operating power to the at least one gradient coil.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein modifying an operating state of the at least one gradient coil comprises reducing operating power provided to the at least one gradient coil.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the B 0 magnet to produce at least a portion of a B 0 field suitable for low-field magnetic resonance imaging.

19 . A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:
a B 0 magnet configured to provide at least a portion of a B 0 field; at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B 0 magnet during operation; and at least one processor programmed to:
monitor a temperature of the B 0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B 0 magnet; and
operate the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.

20 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19 , further comprising at least one gradient coil, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to control an operating state of the at least one gradient coil based, at least in part, on the current temperature of the B 0 magnet.

21 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19 , further comprising at least one radio frequency coil configured to provide a B 1 field, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to control an operating state of the at least one radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on the current temperature of the magnet.

22 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19 , further comprising at least one shim coil, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to control an operating state of the at least one shim coil based, at least in part, on the current temperature of the B 0 magnet.

23 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 19 , wherein the B 0 magnet configured to provide a B 0 field suitable for low-field magnetic resonance imaging.

24 . A method of degaussing subject matter proximate a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B 0 magnet configured to provide, at least in part, a B 0 field, the method comprising:
operating the B 0 magnet with a first polarity; and periodically operating the B 0 magnet with a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the B 0 magnet is configured to generate at least part of a B 0 magnetic field suitable for use in low-field magnetic resonance imaging.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the B 0 magnet is operated with the first polarity for a first interval of time.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the B 0 magnet is operated with the second polarity for a second interval of time approximately equal in duration to the first interval of time.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the B 0 magnet alternates between operation with the first polarity for the first interval of time and operation with the second polarity for the second interval of time.

29 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising operating at least one shim coil with the first polarity or the second polarity in dependence upon whether the B 0 magnet is operating with the first polarity or the second polarity.

30 . A magnetic resonance imaging system configured to degauss proximate subject matter, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a B 0 magnet configured to provide, at least in part, a B 0 field; and a controller configured to operate the B 0 magnet with a first polarity, and to periodically operate the B 0 magnet with a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

31 . The magnetic reson

Assignees

• Hyperfine Res Inc

Inventors

• Rothberg Jonathan M
• Jordan Jeremy Christopher
• Poole Michael Stephen
• Sacolick Laura
• Rearick Todd
• Charvat Gregory L

Classifications

• G01R33/38

  Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field · CPC title

• G01R33/48

  NMR imaging systems · CPC title

• G01R33/34007

  Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system · CPC title

• G01R33/3802 Primary

  Manufacture or installation of magnet assemblies; Additional hardware for transportation or installation of the magnet assembly or for providing mechanical support to components of the magnet assembly · CPC title

• G01R33/3806

  Open magnet assemblies for improved access to the sample, e.g. C-type or U-type magnets · CPC title