Patent ID: 6157280
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A gradient coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for selectively generating transverse and longitudinal gradient fields, comprising:a first set of sub-coils disposed in a primary plane;a second set of sub-coils disposed in a secondary plane, said secondary plane being radially spaced from said primary plane;each sub-coil in said first set of sub-coils and said second set of sub-coils having open conductor ends which are respectively free for making connections thereto;a switch system composed of a plurality of standard switches, including at least four bipolar switches for logically interconnecting respective sub-coils in said first and second sets of sub-coils;a first of said bipolar switches comprising a power connection switch for connecting one of said conductor ends of one of said sub-coils to a power terminal;a second of said bipolar switches being connected in parallel with one of said sub-coils;a connecting branch, containing at least one of said switches, for selectively connecting respective sub-coils to each other, said connecting branch branching between said power connection switch and a conductor end of one of said sub-coils; andsaid switch system being operable for selectively connecting said conductor ends of said first set of sub-coils to conductor ends of said second set of sub-coils and for selectively connecting conductor ends of said first set of sub-coils to each other and for selectively connecting conductor ends of said second set of sub-coils to each other, to selectively form different gradient coil arrangements with different field qualities and performance characteristics.