Improvements in or relating to MRI magnets

Abstract: A superconducting annular electro-magnet for MRI purposes comprising an annular winding within which a generally cylindrical space is provided, the winding comprising at least one pair of annular coils, each having an outer cylindrical surface which is suitably formed to define a feature which facilitates fixing.

Description: This invention relates to annular superconducting electro-magnets for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. Such electro-magnets comprise annular windings which are immersed in liquid helium to produce the low temperatures necessary for superconductivity. Such annular electro-magnets afford a cylindrical space within which a patient is positioned, the space including a predetermined substantially spherical volume, hereinafter referred to as the imaging volume, of high homogeneity magnetic field produced by current in the annular windings. US-A-4 758 812 discloses a frame structure for supporting individual magnetic coils in a magnet system for nuclear spin tomography. The frame comprises several parts made from ferromagnetic material to provide relatively simple magnetic shielding. Individual magnetic coils are concentrically aligned along a common axis to form the magnet system. A plurality of elongate beam, rod or plate-shaped magnetic shielding elements extend parallel to the common axis and are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction around the magnet system. The individual magnetic coils are immovable mounted within the frame structure. EP-A-0 413 571 discloses a magnet cartridge for a magnetic resonance magnet in which three pairs of coils supported concentrically by cylindrical spacers. Each spacer is machined at its ends to form rabbets in which the coils are located. The outermost coil is supported in a cantilever fashion from the ends of the outer spacers. One of the problems with known electro-magnet arrangements is that in order to provide a desirable degree of magnet field homogeneity and magnetic field strength in the imaging volume, annular electro-magnets having a comparatively long axial length are necessary. One consequence of this is that patients positioned therein tend to suffer claustrophobia. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electro-magnet in which the axial length is reduced, whereby the provision of MRI apparatus is facilitated wherein the tendency to produce claustrophobia is reduced correspondingly. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved fixing for annular windings in superconducting electro-magnets suitable for use in MRI apparatus. According to the present invention, there is provided a superconducting annular electro-magnet for magnetic resonance imaging as defined in claim 1. In an aspect of the present invention, each annular end coil is fabricated as a formerless unit by impregnation of the turns thereof with a suitable impregnant. In a further aspect of the present invention, each end coil is wound on a mandrel and enclosed in a mould, in which said step is formed, and impregnated with the impregnant which is cured before the coil is removed from the mould and mandrel. The mandrel on which each end coil is wound is shaped so that the coil is formed with a chamfer, to provide flaring at each end of the said space. By providing flaring at each end of the space wherein a patient is positioned, an impression of reduced axial length of the space is conveyed to the patient, and consequently a feeling of reduced enclosure, which is effective to reduce claustrophobia. An outer annular space between the end coil and the mould may be filled with a suitable filler, such as glass beads or glass fibre, prior to impregnation so that the step is formed in the impregnated filler. Each end coil may be clamped to the support means by means of a plurality of clamps which engage the step. Each clamp may be generally L-shaped and bolted at one end to the support means and arranged at the other end remote from the support means to engage the step. A plurality of clamps may be provided which are equi-angularly spaced around the outer cylindrical surface of the end coils. The annular winding of the electro-magnet may comprise a plurality of annular coils, the coils being disposed symmetrically along a common longitudinal axis, the two end coils being similar and positioned one at each end of the cylindrical space, the chamfer of each end coil allowing the flaring at each end of the cylindrical space. The winding is contained in a vessel filled with liquid helium, the vessel being contained in a vacuum chamber with at least one heat shield positioned in the chamber between the vessel and an outer wall of the chamber. The magnet may form a part of MRI apparatus which includes gradient coils and RF coils as required for imaging. One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic sectional side view of MRI apparatus, including an annular superconducting electro-magnet and wherein, FIGURE 2 is a somewhat schematic sectional side view showing in greater detail a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Referring now to Figure 1, the apparatus comprises an electro-magnet winding defined by coils 1 to 6, which are serially connected to carry a magnetising current. The coils 1 to 6 are symmetrically disposed about a central vertical axis 7 and a longitudinal axis 8 which is common to the coils 1 to 6. In order to provide shielding from the magnetic field produced when the coils 1 to 6 are energised, shielding coils 9 and 10 are provided which are serially connected with the coils 1 to 6 and arranged to produce a field which substantially cancels the magnetic field produced by the coils 1 to 6 outside the assembly. Electrical connection to the coils just before described, is effected in a known manner via a service turret 11, which is arranged to communicate with the interior of a helium vessel 12 having an outer wall 13. The helium vessel 12 is filled with liquid helium via the service turret 11, whereby the coils 1 to 6 and 9, 10 contained therein are maintained at a temperature of about 4K necessary to produce superconductivity. In order to reduce heat gain by the liquid helium, the vessel 12 is contained in a vacuum chamber 14 having an outer wall 15. Between the outer wall 15 of the vacuum chamber and the wall 13 of the helium vessel, two heat shields 16 and 17 are provided may be fabricated from aluminium and which serve to reduce heat gain by radiation. A cylindrical space 18 is provided within the apparatus, within which space 18 a patient 19 is positioned so that a portion of the patient to be examined lies within a spherical imaging volume 20, wherein the magnetic field is highly homogeneous. In order to provide for magnetic resonance imaging, gradient coils 21 and RF coils 22 are provided. Operation of the gradient coils and RF coils is well understood by those skilled in the art and so details of the imaging process, which is not central to the present invention, will not herein be described. As hereinbefore explained, one of the problems with MRI apparatus is that in order to produce a desirable degree of magnetic field linearity within the imaging volume 20, magnets having a relatively long longitudinal axial length are required which tend to produce claustrophobia in patients, due to the degree of enclosure. In the present arrangement, in order to reduce the possibility of claustrophobia, the coils 3 and 6 which constitute end coils, are shaped to provide chamfers 23 and those portions 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the vessel 13, the shields 16 and 17 and the vacuum chamber outer wall 15 respectively, which are adjacent the chamfer 23, are chamfered correspondingly to provide flaring at each end of the space 18. The provision of this flaring affords to the patient 19 a feeling of reduced enclosure and accordingly provides for a reduced tendency to claustrophobia. Various modifications may be made to the arrangement shown and for example, in alternative arrangements different chamfer angles and shapes may be provided. In order to fabricate the coils 3 and 6, they may be wound on a suitably shaped mandrel, thereby to form the chamfers 23, and thereafter impregnated with an epoxy resin impregnant which is cured so that it solidifies prior to the coil being removed from the mandrel. As shown in Figure 2, wherein parts corresponding to Figure 1 bear the same numerical designations, the coil 3 may be provided with an outer layer 28, of impregnated glass beads or glass fibre, in which a step 29 is formed, which serves to facilitate fixing by means of 'L-shaped' clamps 30 (only one of which is shown), which are held in place by means of screw threaded bolts 31. In order securely to clamp the coils, a single clamp may be used or several clamps may be used, as in this embodiment, spaced equi-angularly around the outer cylindrical surface of the coil and engaging the step. The bolts 31 are arranged to pass through an aluminium support structure 32 on which the coils 1 to 6 and 9, 10 are mounted. By providing this kind of fixing, the need for a clamp which embraces an end portion 33 of the coil 3 so as to extend its axial length, is obviated. This is particularly advantageous because it facilitates a reduction in the overall axial magnet length which in turn facilitates the provision of apparatus wherein the tendency to produce claustrophobia in patients is reduced.

Claims: A superconducting annular electro-magnet for magnetic resonance imaging comprising:- support means (32); an annular winding defined by a plurality of annular coils (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) disposed symmetrically along a common longitudinal axis and mounted on the support means (32); a cylindrical space (18) located within the winding: characterised in that two similar annular end coils (3, 6) of the winding are positioned one at each end of said cylindrical space (18) and shaped to provide a chamfer (23) to facilitate the provision of flaring at each end of said cylindrical space (18), and in that the end coils (3, 6) each have an outer cylindrical surface (28) in which a step (29) is formed along the axial direction thereof for fixing the end coils (3, 6) to the support means (32). An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each annular end coil (3,6) is fabricated as a formerless unit by impregnation of the turns thereof with a suitable impregnant. An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the impregnant is an epoxy resin. An electro-magnet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each end coil (3,6) is fabricated by being wound on a mandrel and enclosed in a mould in which said step is formed, and impregnated with an impregnant which is cured before the coil (3,6) is removed from the mould and mandrel, the mandrel being shaped to form the chamfers (23). An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 4, wherein an annular space between the end coil (3,6) and the mould is filled with a suitable filler prior to impregnation so that the step (29) is formed in the impregnated filler. An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the filler comprises glass beads or fibre. An electro-magnet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each end coil (3,6) is clamped to the support means (32) by means of at least one clamp (30) which engages the step (29). An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each clamp (30) is generally L-shape, bolted at one end thereof to the support means (32) and arranged at the other end thereof remote from the support means (32) to engage the step (29). An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, comprising a plurality of clamps (30) equi-angularly spaced around the outer cylindrical surface (28) of the end coils (3,6). An electro-magnet as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the winding is contained in a vessel (12) filled with liquid helium, the vessel being contained in a vacuum chamber (14) with at least one heat shield (16,17) positioned in the chamber (14) between the vessel and an outer wall (15) of the chamber (14). Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including an electro-magnet as claimed in any preceding Claim, and including gradient coils (21) and RF coils (22) as required for imaging.

Inventors: GORE RUSSELL PETER, GORE, RUSSELL PETER
Applicants: OXFORD MAGNET TECH, OXFORD MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G01R33
IPC codes: H01F7, H01F6, A61B5, G01R33