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Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures

a radio frequency shield and nuclear magnetic resonance technology, applied in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance procedures, can solve the problems that the majority of non-human patients are not readily available for nmr procedures, and the veterans are typically unable to offer nmr procedures to their patients

Inactive Publication Date: 2003-05-08
ADVANCED VETERINARY TECH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, due to the cost associated with obtaining NMR equipment and providing a dedicated, RF-shielded room for the procedure, veterinarians typically are unable to offer NMR procedures to their patients.
Accordingly, NMR procedures are not readily available to most non-human patients; indeed, pet owners wishing to have NMR procedures conducted on their pets normally have to pay to have their pets taken after business hours to hospitals or offices having NMR equipment for use with humans.

Method used

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  • Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures
  • Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures
  • Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures

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Embodiment Construction

[0043] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B, a system for use in an NMR procedure comprises a holder 103 (comprising bottom portion 105 and canopy 109) and a magnet 115 and associated components (including cryostat 117 and service end cap 119). Bottom portion 105, canopy 109, cryostat 117 and service end cap 119 are all radio-opaque. When the holder 103 is adjoined to the magnet 115 and service end cap 119 is put in place at the service end 118 of magnet 115, a substantially complete RF shield is formed, consisting of canopy 109, bottom portion 105, cryostat 117, and service end cap 119. The term "adjoined to," as used in this specification, refers to the position of holder 103 in relation to magnet 115 such that an RF shield is formed from holder-RF-shielding and magnet-RF-shielding.

[0044] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1B, bottom portion 105 contains or is made of a non-ferromagnetic radio-opaque materia...

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing RF shielding for performing nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR") procedures, comprising a radio-opaque holder in combination with radio-opaque magnet components to form an RF shield around a patient undergoing an NMR procedure. In embodiments, a radio-opaque holder having a radio-opaque bottom portion and a radio-opaque canopy is adjoined to an NMR magnet having a radio-opaque cryostat and a radio-opaque service end cap to form an RF shield. A patient is placed on a patient support unit located in the holder bottom portion. The patient support unit, including the patient, is then inserted into the cavity of the NMR magnet and a canopy is placed on top of the bottom portion of the holder. An RF shield is thus created comprising the canopy, the bottom portion, the cryostat of the magnet, and an end cap on the service end of the magnet.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR") procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"), magnetic resonance angiography ("MRA") and magnetic resonance spectroscopy ("MRS"). More specifically, the present invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for shielding against unwanted radio frequency signals when performing an NMR procedure. The invention is designed for clinical veterinary applications, but could be employed for any NMR application.[0003] 2. Related Art[0004] NMR technology has provided physicians with the ability to view the inside of a human patient's body in order to form accurate diagnoses and prescribe proper treatments. Because NMR procedures rely on the detection of RF signals with low signal-to-noise ratios, NMR procedures are typically conducted in environments that are substantially free of unwanted RF signals. The usual manner by which a "clean" environment (that is, an environmen...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G01R33/422
CPCG01R33/422
Inventor BRANCH, CRAIG A.HELPERN, JOSEPH A.
Owner ADVANCED VETERINARY TECH
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