Patent ID: 6023165
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:a pair of opposed ferromagnetic poles disposed facing each other and defining therebetween a patient-receiving gap for receiving a patient to be studied by magnetic resonance;a ferromagnetic yoke and establishing a magnetic flux return path for magnetic flux which passes from one pole to the other through the patient-receiving gap;said ferromagnetic yoke comprising upper and lower pole supports comprised of ferromagnetic material supporting said pair of poles one above the other, said poles projecting toward one another from said pole supports, and at least three columns comprised of ferromagnetic material disposed between said pole supports for supporting said upper pole support above said lower pole support with said pair of poles spaced one above the other; andmeans for generating magnetic flux flowing through said projecting poles and flowing from one to the other of said poles through the patient-receiving gap and having a strength sufficient to develop a flux in excess of 3000 gauss at the center of the patient-receiving gap.