Automatic configuration of a low field magnetic resonance imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016231404-A1
Application number	US-201615132703-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 configuring a magnetic resonance imaging system having a component to which radio frequency coils of different types can be operatively coupled, the method comprising:
detecting whether a radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the component of the magnetic resonance imaging system; determining information about the radio frequency coil in response to determining that the radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the magnetic resonance imaging system; and automatically performing at least one action to configure the magnetic resonance imaging system to operate with the radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on the information about the radio frequency coil.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining at least some of the information about the radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on detecting at least one electrical property of the at least one coil and/or on at least one mechanical property when the radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the at least one component.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing at least one action comprises automatically configuring at least one component of the magnetic resonance imaging system to operate with the radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on the information about the radio frequency coil.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining information about the radio frequency coil comprises automatically obtaining information from the radio frequency coil.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the information from the radio frequency coil includes information about coil type, operating requirements, field of view, and/or number of channels available.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein automatically configuring the at least one component comprises automatically tuning the radio frequency coil.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the radio frequency coil includes a storage device coupled thereto having information about the radio frequency coil.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the storage device comprises a programmable storage device programmed with configuration information for the radio frequency coil.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the storage device comprises an RFID tag storing information about the radio frequency coil.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the storage device is part of a microcontroller coupled to the radio frequency coil.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing at least one action comprises presenting for selection, by at least one operator, at least one imaging procedure available using the radio frequency coil.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system is a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system.

13 . A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a B0 magnet configured to provide at least a portion of a B0 magnetic field; a component to which radio frequency coils of different types can be operatively coupled; and at least one controller configured to:
detect whether a radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the component of the magnetic resonance imaging system;
determine information about the radio frequency coil in response to determining that the radio frequency coil is operatively coupled to the magnetic resonance imaging system; and
automatically perform at least one action to configure the magnetic resonance imaging system to operate with the radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on the information about the radio frequency coil.

14 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to automatically configure at least one component of the magnetic resonance imaging system to operate with the radio frequency coil based, at least in part, on the information about the radio frequency coil.

15 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to automatically obtain information from the radio frequency coil.

16 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the information from the radio frequency coil includes information about coil type, operating requirements, field of view, and/or number of channels available.

17 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to automatically tune the radio frequency coil.

18 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the radio frequency coil includes a storage device coupled thereto having information about the radio frequency coil.

19 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 18 , wherein the storage device comprises a programmable storage device programmed with configuration information for the radio frequency coil.

20 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 18 , wherein the storage device comprises an RFID tag storing information about the radio frequency coil.

21 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 18 , wherein the storage device is part of a microcontroller coupled to the radio frequency coil.

22 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to present for selection, by at least one operator, at least one imaging procedure available using the radio frequency coil.

23 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the B0 magnet is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 0.2 T and greater than or equal to approximately 0.1 T.

24 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the B0 magnet is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 0.1 T and greater than or equal to approximately 50 mT.

25 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the B0 magnet is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 50 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.

26 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the B0 magnet is configured to produce a B0 magnetic field having a field strength equal to or less than approximately 20 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 10 mT.

27 . A method of assisting in the automatic setup of a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising:
detecting a type of radio frequency coil coupled to the magnetic resonance imaging system and/or a position of a patient support; and automatically performing at least one setup process based, at least in part, on the type of radio frequency coil detected and/or the position of the patient support.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein performing the at least one setup process includes selecting an imaging protocol.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein selecting an imaging protocol includes loading a corresponding pulse sequence.

30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein performing the at least one setup process includes presenting at least one imaging protocol for selection.

Assignees

• Hyperfine Res Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01R33/546

  Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title

• G01R33/3875

  using correction coil assemblies, e.g. active shimming · CPC title

• G01R33/38

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