Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

摘要

A magnetic resonance imaging configuration to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus allows multi-positioning of a patient within the magnetic field lines.

主权项

1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a vertically-oriented magnetic device, said magnetic device comprising a primary magnet, a secondary magnet and at least one correction magnet, said primary magnet having a first upper coil and a second lower coil, and generating a primary field through a patient-receiving portion therethrough, said primary field containing inhomogeneities within the patient-receiving portion and fringe fields outside thereof, said secondary magnet generating a secondary field substantially countering said fringe fields produced by said primary magnet outside of said patient-receiving portion, and said at least one correction magnet having respective at least one upper corrective coil and at least one lower corrective coil, and substantially correcting said inhomogeneities and straightening field lines associated with said primary field within said patient-receiving portion, wherein the distance between said first upper coil and said second lower coil is greater than the distance between said at least one upper corrective coil and said at least one lower corrective coil; and a patient positioning system, said patient positioning system adjustably positioning a patient within said patient-receiving portion.