Abstract:
The invention provides a system for providing passage of fluid lines through an RF shield, the device comprising an RF shield having external and internal surfaces; a channel defined by the RF shield and extending from the external surface to the internal surface of the RF shield; a hollow cylinder rotatably communicating with said channel and extending substantially the length of the channel; a longitudinally extending region of said cylinder defining a gap adapted to receive a fluid conduit; mounting plates attached to the external surface and the internal surfaces of the RF shield; a movable member having a handle, the movable member attached to either end of the channel, the handle in slidable communication with the mounting plate so as to slide about the periphery of the plate; and a depending end of the handle rigidly attached to the cylinder which in turn is in rotatable communication with the circular plate such that the handle can be manipulated to a first position to allow loading of the conduit into the cylinder and whereby the handle can be manipulated to a second position to prevent unloading of the conduit from the cylinder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Patent Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/728,678 filed on Nov. 20, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a device for facilitating fluid flow to and from an MRI enclosure, and more specifically, the present invention relates to an intravenous conduit channel to facilitate intravenous treatment of patients positioned within MRI enclosures. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    MRI technology requires a pristine electromagnetic radiation environment to produce relevant images. Otherwise, stray radiation (such as that emanating from electric motors found in elevators, radio transmitters and other transmitters, equipment, passing vehicles, etc.) will create “noise” on diagnostic images. 
         [0006]    Elaborate enclosures are designed to prevent the aforementioned noise from reaching MRI equipment. These enclosures include door closing and sealing mechanisms to eliminate radiation encroachment into the enclosure during critical imaging periods. 
         [0007]    However, a need exists in the art for a device which allows fluid transfer in and out of an MRI enclosure without compromising the electromagnetic shield the enclosure embodies. The device should be easy to operate by medical personnel without the need for specialized training. Also, the device should be easily integrated with existing MRI enclosures. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the invention is to provide a channel adapted to removably receive an elongated substrate (such as an optical fiber, a fluid conduit (be it flexible or rigid) such as a gas line or liquid line, or an observation tube) which extends between an exterior and an interior of an MRI enclosure. An embodiment of the invention accommodates any conduit which, in the case of MRI applications, transports matter embodying a conductance of less than 100 siemens/m. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a device for facilitating fluid transfer between the exterior and interior of an MRI enclosure. A feature of the invention is a passageway adapted to first receive a fluid conduit, then electrically isolate a fluid conduit within a wall of the enclosure. An advantage of the invention is that the invention&#39;s ability for receiving and isolating of the conduit is reversible, such that the conduit can be as readily removed from within the wall of the enclosure. 
         [0010]    Briefly, the invention provides a system for providing passage of fluid and fluid lines through an RF shield, the device comprising an RF shield having external and internal surfaces; a channel defined by the RF shield and extending from the external surface to the internal surface of the RF shield; a hollow cylinder rotatably communicating with said channel and extending substantially the length of the channel; a longitudinally extending region of said cylinder defining a gap adapted to receive a fluid conduit; mounting plates attached to the external surface and the internal surfaces of the RF shield; a movable member having a handle, the movable member attached to either end of the channel, the handle in slidable communication with the mounting plate so as to slide about the periphery of the plate; and a depending end of the handle rigidly attached to the cylinder which in turn is in rotatable communication with the circular plate such that the handle can be manipulated to a first position to allow loading of the conduit into the cylinder and whereby the handle can be manipulated to a second position to prevent unloading of the conduit from the cylinder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         [0011]    The invention together with the above and other objects and advantages will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a device adapted to receive a fluid conduit; in accordance with features of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts the device shown in  FIG. 2 , but in this configuration enclosing a fluid conduit within a channel, in accordance with features of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device, in accordance with features of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a first exploded view of the device, in accordance with features of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a second exploded view of the device, in accordance with features of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
         [0018]    As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the invented device, designated as numeral  10  in its opened and closed configurations, respectively. The device  10  comprises a movable member  11  actuated by a handle  13  positioned at either end of a channel  14  extending transversely through an RF shield  16 . In one embodiment, the handle  13  is acted upon by a user&#39;s hand. In other embodiments, the handle  13  is a mounting point for mechanical actuation means. 
         [0020]    The handle  13  is slidably received by an annular space formed by coaxially arranged mounting plates. A first mounting plate  12  is rigidly attached to the channel  14  while a second mounting plate  15 , is axially separated from the first mounting plate  12  at least a distance to accommodate the thickness of the handle  13  and the action of the handle sliding about the periphery of the plate  15 . This distance is maintained with a plurality of fasteners  38  whereby the fasteners pass through transverse apertures formed in the second mounting plate  15  and are matingly received by threaded apertures  36  formed in the first mounting plate  12 , the threaded apertures coaxially arranged with the transverse apertures. These fasteners rigidly reversibly attach the second mounting plate  15  to the first mounting plate in an area between the plates not traversed by the sliding handle. This area is generally diametrically opposite that annular space between the plates through which the handle traverses. 
         [0021]    A proximal end (which is depicted in  FIG. 1  as the depending end) of the handle  13  is rigidly attached to a notched cylinder  18 , which in turn is in rotatable communication with the channel  14 . The mounting plates  12 ,  15  and the cylinder  18  are coaxially aligned with each other. 
         [0022]    The channel  14  defined by the RF shield partially encircling it, is adapted to receive the cylinder  18  so as to enable the cylinder to rotate about both its longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the channel  14 . In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal axis of the cylinder  18  is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the door jamb. Therefore, the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and therefore the cylinder, extends in a transverse fashion through the RF shield. 
         [0023]    Longitudinally extending regions of the cylinder define a notch  20 . The notch  20  is adapted to receive one or a plurality of intravenous lines  22 , electrical lines, liquid lines, gas lines, etc. so as to allow the lines to extend uninterrupted from outside the RF shield to the interior of an enclosure defined by the RF shield. The lines are loaded into the cylinder when the device is in its open position ( FIG. 1 ) which is to say when the cylinder notch  20  is facing outwardly toward the opening of the channel  14  defined by the RF shield. The lines are enveloped by the cylinder  18  when nested in the cylinder and the cylinder is rotated by the handle  13  such that solid portions of the cylinder face outwardly toward the opening of the channel  14 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device  10 . Depicted in this view is a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves  24  formed into the channel  14 . These grooves are each adapted to receive a spiral gasket  25 . Such gaskets are flexible elongated substrates wound out of electrically conductive metal so as to confer both compression resistance and electromagnetic shielding. They are provided in a wide range of diameters. A myriad of spiral gaskets are commercially available, including Spira-Shield™, manufactured by Spira Manufacturing Corporation, North Hollywood, Calif. 
         [0025]    Once positioned (and held in place either via friction fit within the channel or due to a sandwiching effect between the channel and the cylinder), the spiral gaskets  25  provide a wave guide beyond cutoff which extends substantially the entire length of the channel  14 . A feature of the gaskets is that a portion of their peripheries are in physical contact with the cylinder to affect the wave guide beyond cutoff. As such, those portions extend medially so as to protrude out of the groove  24  and therefore beyond the inwardly facing surface of the channel  14  so as to contact the cylinder along substantially the entire length of the cylinder to confer an RF seal. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  also depicts peripheral regions of the lip  19  of the notched cylinder  18 , those peripheral regions defining a ramp  26  which directly opposes inwardly facing surfaces of the channel  14  (as labeled in  FIG. 2 ). This ramp provides a means for facilitating movement of the cylinder over the aforementioned protruding portions of the spiral gaskets. Generally the ramp  26  comprises a flat surface originating from an inner edge of the notch  20  to a region of the outside surface of the cylinder that is displaced along a radial arc of the cylinder. This results in the flat surface extending angularly away from the notch  20 . 
         [0027]    A myriad of lines are accommodated by the invention, including but not limited to optical fibers, liquid lines such as cryogenic and intravenous lines, gas lines (e.g., oxygen gas and nitrogen feed lines) and combinations thereof. Solid lines (for example electrical wiring) are also accommodated by the device. Generally, when installing the device within an RF enclosure wall, conductance values of the fibers, conduits, wires or other elongated substrates nesting within the device should not exceed those values which would cause RF leakage into the enclosure at a level which would compromise the testing or diagnostic imaging going on there. 
         [0028]    As further depicted in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the device comprises a plurality of mounting flanges  27 , each flange generally defined by two flat plates at right angles to each other. Distal edges  29  of one of the plates of each mounting flange are affixed (either permanently or reversibly) to portions of the device forming a lip  30  of the channel  14  so that the two mounting flanges so arranged define an access trough to the channel. In an embodiment of the invention, a flat surface  34  of one mounting flange is co-planar with a flat surface of a second mounting flange. The plane resulting from this configuration is mounted flush with any door jamb defined by the RF enclosure. However, in more custom installations, the mounting flanges are not necessarily co-planar. 
         [0029]    The device can be incorporated in new construction situations, but can also be utilized to retrofit already existing MRI enclosures and door jambs. Regions of the mounting flanges define a plurality of transversely extending apertures  36  adapted to removably receive a plurality of fasteners  38 . 
         [0030]    Thus, the invention can be utilized in retrofitting existing door jambs of already built MRI enclosures. Attention is now directed to exploded views ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) of the device. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment of the invention, the channel  14 , the first circular plate  12 , and the flanges  27  are integrally molded together to form a rigid structure. In other embodiments the flanges are reversibly attached to the channel to allow for modularity in replacing worn parts. 
         [0031]    The first circular plate  12  is not shown in  FIG. 5  to clarify how the slotted cylinder  18  is slidably received by the channel  14 . In operation, the retrofitting process first involves positioning the channel  14  into a previously formed void in a door jamb or void  9  in an EMF shield. Once positioned, the fasteners  38  are utilized to secure the mounting flanges (previously attached to the channel via welds, drop-forging or fasteners) and the first mounting plate  12  to the periphery of the void in the door jamb. 
         [0032]    As noted previously, the handle  13  is rigidly attached to the notched cylinder  18 . This combination is placed within the channel as a second step in the retrofit process. No fasteners are used to effectuate this placement inasmuch as the cylinder  18  must rotate freely within the channel  14  but for a slight brushing interaction with the spiral gaskets  25  protruding from their grooves  24  in a direction toward the longitudional axis a of the device. 
         [0033]    As a third and final step in the installation process, the rotating cylinder is held in place within the channel  14  with the coaxial alignment and installation of the second plate  15  over the first plate  12 . As discussed supra, the second plate  15  is secured to the assembly via fasteners,  38  along regions  40  of the second plate that are diametrically opposed to the region defining the annular space between the first and second plates. Optionally, that diametrically opposed region  40  projects axially from a first inwardly facing surface  42  of the second plate and toward the first plate. This confers additional width to the annular space through which the handle  13  traverses its arc. 
         [0034]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. The fluid conduit passageway may be straight or may be curved. Similarly, the fluid conduit may be reversibly deformable so as to follow the passage defined by the conduit passageway. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the invention, they are by no means limiting, but are instead exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure. 
         [0035]    As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “more than” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. In the same manner, all ratios disclosed herein also include all subratios falling within the broader ratio. 
         [0036]    One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that where members are grouped together in a common manner, such as in a Markush group, the present invention encompasses not only the entire group listed as a whole, but each member of the group individually and all possible subgroups of the main group. Accordingly, for all purposes, the present invention encompasses not only the main group, but also the main group absent one or more of the group members. The present invention also envisages the explicit exclusion of one or more of any of the group members in the claimed invention.