Split magnetic resonance imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356869-A1
Application number	US-201615242452-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2010
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a split magnet system having a pair of MRI magnet housings separated by gap. A pair of main MRI magnets are disposed within respective MRI magnet housings. A plurality of buttress assemblies are attached to the MRI magnet housings. Some or all of the buttress assemblies are provided with removable connections to the MRI magnet housings. This allows for partial disassembly of the MRI system for improved transport and maneuverability for relocating the MRI system. The MRI system can include a gantry in the gap for supporting a radiation therapy system. Also, the removably buttress assemblies can be used for housing conduits, such as electrical and fluid conduits, between the pair of MRI magnet housings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:
first and second MRI magnet housings separated by an MRI magnet gap; a first main MRI magnet disposed within the first MRI magnet housing; a second main MRI magnet disposed within the second MRI magnet housing; a first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies attached to the first MRI magnet housing; a second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies attached to the second MRI magnet housing; and a plurality of central buttress connectors, each configured to be removably connected to a respective one of the first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies and to a respective one of the second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies; wherein at least one of the first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies and at least one of the second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies is removably attached to the respective MRI magnet housing.

2 . The MRI system of claim 1 , further comprising a gantry positioned in the MRI magnet gap.

3 . The MRI system of claim 2 , further comprising a radiation therapy device supported by the gantry.

4 . The MRI system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system, the cooling system including fluid conduit for carrying coolant for cooling the first and second main MRI magnets.

5 . The MRI system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid conduit extends from within the first MRI magnet housing to within the second MRI magnet housing via at least one of the removably attached first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies and at least one of the removably attached second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies.

6 . The MRI system of claim 1 , further comprising a power system, the power system including electrical conduit for providing electrical power to the first and second main MRI magnets.

7 . The MRI system of claim 6 , wherein the electrical conduit extends from within the first MRI magnet housing to within the second MRI magnet housing via at least one of the removably attached first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies and at least one of the removably attached second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies.

8 . The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of buttress sub-assemblies extends radially from an outer surface of the first MRI magnet housing.

9 . The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of buttress sub-assemblies extends radially from an outer surface of the second MRI magnet housing.

10 . The MRI system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second MRI magnet housings are substantially cylindrical.

11 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:
first and second MRI magnet housings separated by an MRI magnet gap; a first main MRI magnet disposed within the first MRI magnet housing; a second main MRI magnet disposed within the second MRI magnet housing; and a plurality of buttress assemblies attached to the first and second MRI magnet housings; wherein at least one of the plurality of buttress assemblies is removably attached to at least one of the first and second MRI magnet housings.

12 . The MRI system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttress assemblies is removably attached to the first and second MRI magnet housings.

13 . The MRI system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttress assemblies includes a sub-assembly that is removably attached to one of the first and second MRI magnet housings.

14 . The MRI system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttress assemblies includes a first buttress sub-assembly attached to the first MRI magnet housing and a second buttress sub-assembly attached to the second MRI magnet housing.

15 . The MRI system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttress assemblies includes a central buttress connector that is removably connected to first and second buttress sub-assemblies.

16 . The MRI system of claim 14 , wherein the first buttress sub-assembly extends radially from an outer surface of the first MRI magnet housing, and the second buttress sub-assembly extends radially from an outer surface of the second MRI magnet housing.

17 . The MRI system of claim 11 , further comprising a gantry positioned in the MRI magnet gap.

18 . The MRI system of claim 17 , further comprising a radiation therapy device supported by the gantry.

19 . The MRI system of claim 11 , further comprising a cooling system, the cooling system including fluid conduit for carrying coolant for cooling the first and second main MRI magnets.

20 . The MRI system of claim 19 , wherein the fluid conduit extends from within the first MRI magnet housing to within the second MRI magnet housing via at least one of the removably attached buttress assemblies.

Assignees

• Viewray Tech Inc

Inventors

• Dempsey James F
• Patrick John L
• Shvartsman Shmaryu M
• Demeester Gordon D

Classifications

• A61N2005/1055

  using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] · CPC title

• G01R33/3806 Primary

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

• A61B5/055 Primary

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• G01R33/4808

  Multimodal MR, e.g. MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET], MR combined with ultrasound or MR combined with computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61N5/1049

  for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam · CPC title