Water cooling device for magnetic resonance gradient coil

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of gradient coils, in particular to a magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device, which comprises a cylindrical gradient framework and copper pipes wound on the gradient framework, a plurality of parallel mounting grooves are processed on the surface layer of the gradient framework, and each mounting groove is internally provided with one copper pipe. The mounting groove is spirally formed in the surface layer of the gradient framework and extends from one end of the gradient framework to the other end of the gradient framework. And the head parts, the middle parts and the tail parts of the plurality of mounting grooves are arranged on the surface layer of the gradient framework in parallel. According to the water cooling device for the magnetic resonance gradient coil, the copper pipe is conveniently wound on the gradient framework, the contact area of the copper pipe and the gradient framework is large, the water cooling device has the advantages of simple structure, high heat exchange efficiency during use and the like, and the product quality and stability of the gradient coil can be effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of gradient coils, in particular to a water cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil. Background Art

[0002] Gradient coils are a prerequisite for magnetic resonance imaging. Through the X, Y, and Z coils in the gradient coil, gradient magnetic fields in different directions and with different functions are generated, thereby positioning the spatial position of the object to be measured and performing imaging. In order to perform more accurate spatial positioning and achieve better imaging effects, the production requirements of gradient coils are particularly strict, and the spatial position requirements are particularly accurate. During the use of the gradient, a large current is continuously and rapidly passed through the coil to quickly generate different gradient magnetic fields. In this process, a large amount of heat will be generated by the gradient coil, resulting in a temperature increase. The increase in temperature will affect parameters such as the resistance of the gradient coil. Therefore, the gradient coil must be cooled during use.

[0003] In order to quickly remove the large amount of heat generated during the use of the gradient coil, copper tubes are usually wound in the gradient skeleton, which is a structure for fixing the copper tubes. Flowing water is passed through the copper tubes to take away the heat. In order to improve the heat conduction efficiency, during the winding process of the copper tubes, they will be fully covered to the greatest extent. In the prior art, as Figure 1 shown, before winding the copper tubes, the positions of the copper tubes are evenly divided with a marker pen. During the winding of the copper tubes, there will be multiple bends, and the local wall thickness of the copper tubes will become thinner at the bending points, affecting the service life of the copper tubes.

[0004] As Figure 1 can be known, the bending of the copper tubes requires the use of bending tools to bend the copper tubes, or the use of a copper hammer to strike the copper tubes to a predetermined bend. During this period, it is inevitable to cause damage to the copper tubes. The bending angle of the copper tubes is not easy to control, and the copper tubes will also have large deformations during the bending process. Moreover, the surface of the gradient skeleton is flat, and the contact surface between the copper tubes and the gradient skeleton is curved, with a small contact area and it is not easy to fix. The coverage rate of the copper tubes on the gradient decreases, the cross-sectional area utilization rate of the copper tubes is low, the cooling effect is not good, and the imaging quality of magnetic resonance imaging is affected.

[0005] Moreover, after the copper tubes are wound, the copper tubes need to be fixed. A mixture of alumina powder and epoxy resin is used to fix and fill the space between the copper tubes and the gradient skeleton. During filling, since the filler is a mixture, it is very difficult to fill the contact surface between the bottom of the copper tubes and the skeleton completely, leaving gaps, resulting in poor heat conduction performance between the copper tubes and the gradient skeleton and poor cooling effect of the gradient coil. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present utility model is to provide a water cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil aiming at the above deficiencies. The copper tube is convenient to wind around the gradient skeleton, and the contact area between the copper tube and the gradient skeleton is large. It has the advantages of simple structure and high heat exchange efficiency during use, and can effectively improve the product quality and stability of the gradient coil.

[0007] To solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by the present utility model is as follows:

[0008] A water cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil includes a cylindrical gradient skeleton and a copper tube wound around the gradient skeleton. A plurality of parallel installation grooves are processed on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton, and the copper tube is arranged in each installation groove.

[0009] As an improvement, the installation grooves are arranged in a spiral shape on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton and extend from one end of the gradient skeleton to the other end.

[0010] As an improvement, the heads, middles, and tails of the plurality of installation grooves are arranged side by side on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton.

[0011] As an improvement, the cross-section of the installation groove is semi-circular, and the size of the cross-section of the installation groove is adapted to the outer diameter size of the copper tube.

[0012] As an improvement, a groove inlet is provided at the head end of the gradient skeleton, and the extending direction of the groove inlet is the same as the extending direction of the gradient skeleton; the groove inlet is connected to the head end of the installation groove through a first arc-shaped groove.

[0013] As an improvement, a first arc-shaped groove and a groove inlet are sequentially provided at the head end of each installation groove.

[0014] As an improvement, the cross-section of the first arc-shaped groove and the cross-section of the groove inlet are the same as the cross-section shape of the installation groove.

[0015] As an improvement, a groove outlet is provided at the tail end of the gradient skeleton, and the extending direction of the groove outlet is the same as the extending direction of the gradient skeleton; the groove outlet is connected to the tail end of the installation groove through a second arc-shaped groove.

[0016] As an improvement, a second arc-shaped groove and a groove outlet are sequentially provided at the tail end of each installation groove.

[0017] As an improvement, the cross-section of the second arc-shaped groove and the cross-section of the groove outlet are the same as the cross-section shape of the installation groove

[0018] The present utility model adopts the above technical solutions and has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0019] In the present utility model, the structure of the gradient skeleton enables less bending during the winding of the copper tube. The copper tube bends smoothly without the need to use tools such as copper hammers to strike the copper tube, reducing copper tube damage and local thinning, and effectively reducing copper tube breakage.

[0020] The direction of the copper tube along the installation groove is clear, and the staff can more accurately control the bending angle of the copper tube, and can easily wind the copper tube on the gradient skeleton, improving the winding efficiency of the copper tube. Moreover, the contact area between the copper tube and the gradient skeleton is large, with the advantages of simple structure and high heat exchange efficiency during use, and can effectively improve the product quality and stability of the gradient coil.

[0021] The present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a water-cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil in the prior art;

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a water-cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram between the copper tube and the installation groove in the water-cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil of the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a schematic structural diagram of the gradient skeleton in

[0026] Among them: 1 - gradient skeleton, 2 - copper tube, 3 - installation groove, 4 - groove entrance, 5 - first arc-shaped groove, 6 - groove exit, 7 - second arc-shaped groove. Specific Embodiments

[0027] For the sake of convenience of description rather than limitation, the left end of the gradient skeleton 1 in Figure 2 is defined as the head end, and the right end is defined as the tail end. Embodiment

[0028] As Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 collectively show, a water-cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil includes a cylindrical gradient skeleton 1 and a copper tube 2 wound around the gradient skeleton 1. Multiple parallel installation grooves 3 are processed on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1, and the copper tube 2 is arranged in each installation groove 3. The installation groove 3 is arranged in a spiral shape on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1 and extends from one end of the gradient skeleton 1 to the other end. The heads, middles, and tails of the multiple installation grooves 3 are arranged side by side on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1.

[0029] Preferably, in this embodiment, eight juxtaposed mounting grooves 3 are machined on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1. The heads, middles, and tails of the eight mounting grooves 3 are juxtaposed on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1. The cross-section of the mounting groove 3 is semi-circular, and the size of the cross-section of the mounting groove 3 is adapted to the outer diameter size of the copper tube 2.

[0030] As Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 Collectively shown, a groove inlet 4 is provided at the head end of the gradient skeleton 1. The extending direction of the groove inlet 4 is the same as the extending direction of the gradient skeleton 1. The groove inlet 4 is connected to the head end of the mounting groove 3 through a first arc-shaped groove 5. The head end of each mounting groove 3 is successively provided with a first arc-shaped groove 5 and a groove inlet 4. The cross-section of the first arc-shaped groove 5 and the cross-section of the groove inlet 4 are the same as the cross-sectional shape of the mounting groove 3.

[0031] As Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 Collectively shown, a groove outlet 6 is provided at the tail end of the gradient skeleton 1. The extending direction of the groove outlet 6 is the same as the extending direction of the gradient skeleton 1. The groove outlet 6 is connected to the tail end of the mounting groove 3 through a second arc-shaped groove 7. The tail end of each mounting groove 3 is successively provided with a second arc-shaped groove 7 and a groove outlet 6. The cross-section of the second arc-shaped groove 7 and the cross-section of the groove outlet 6 are the same as the cross-sectional shape of the mounting groove 3.

[0032] In the prior art, copper tubes with an outer diameter of 6 mm and an inner diameter of 4 mm are commonly used in the water-cooling device of the magnetic resonance gradient coil. Compared with Figure 1 the water-cooling device of the magnetic resonance gradient coil in the prior art, when manufacturing the water-cooling device of the magnetic resonance gradient coil in this embodiment, compared with the gradient skeleton in the prior art, its outer diameter size increases by 6 mm, and the mounting grooves 3 are evenly distributed and can comprehensively cover the surface layer of the gradient skeleton to the greatest extent.

[0033] The heads of the eight mounting grooves 3 are juxtaposed along a direction at 45 degrees to the gradient skeleton 1 and are evenly distributed at the head end of the gradient skeleton 1. Then the eight mounting grooves 3 are evenly distributed in a spiral shape on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton 1 as shown in Figure 4 . The head end of the mounting groove 3 is smoothly transitioned and connected to the groove inlet 4 through the first arc-shaped groove 5. The tail end of the mounting groove 3 is smoothly transitioned and connected to the groove outlet 6 through the second arc-shaped groove 7.

[0034] When the copper tube 2 is wound around the gradient skeleton 1, one end of the copper tube 2 is fixed in the groove inlet 4, and then the copper tube 2 is successively wound in the first arc-shaped groove 5, the installation groove 3, the second arc-shaped groove 7 and the groove outlet 6, and the other end of the copper tube 2 is fixed in the groove outlet 6. Fixing the two ends of the copper tube 2 in the groove inlet 4 and the groove outlet 6 respectively is not the innovation point of this application. Commonly used methods in the prior art, such as bundling, using glue, etc., as long as they can fix the copper tube, are applicable to this utility model and will not be elaborated here.

[0035] The structure of the gradient skeleton 1 enables the copper tube 2 to have fewer bends during winding. The copper tube 2 bends smoothly without the need to use tools such as copper hammers to strike the copper tube, reducing the damage and local thinning of the copper tube, and effectively reducing the breakage of the copper tube. Moreover, the trend of the copper tube 2 along the installation groove 3 is clear, and the staff can more accurately control the bending angle of the copper tube, and can easily wind the copper tube 2 around the gradient skeleton 1, improving the winding efficiency of the copper tube. In addition, the contact area between the copper tube 2 and the gradient skeleton 1 is large, improving the heat exchange efficiency and the product quality of the gradient coil.

[0036] In summary, for a water-cooling device of a magnetic resonance gradient coil of this utility model, the copper tube 2 is convenient to wind around the gradient skeleton 1, and the contact area between the copper tube 2 and the gradient skeleton 1 is large. It has the advantages of simple structure and high heat exchange efficiency during use, and can effectively improve the product quality and stability of the gradient coil.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above are only the preferred embodiments of this utility model and are not used to limit this utility model. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, for those skilled in the art, they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of this utility model shall be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A water cooling device for a magnetic resonance gradient coil, characterized in that: It comprises a cylindrical gradient skeleton (1) and a copper tube (2) wound on the gradient skeleton (1); the surface of the gradient skeleton (1) is processed with a plurality of parallel-arranged mounting grooves (3); and each mounting groove (3) is provided with the copper tube (2).

2. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting groove (3) is arranged in a spiral shape on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton (1), and the mounting groove (3) extends from one end of the gradient skeleton (1) to the other end.

3. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The head, middle and tail parts of the plurality of installation grooves (3) are arranged in parallel on the surface layer of the gradient skeleton (1).

4. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross section of the installation groove (3) is semicircular, and the size of the cross section of the installation groove (3) is compatible with the outer diameter of the copper tube (2).

5. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The head end of the gradient skeleton (1) is provided with a slot inlet (4), and the extension direction of the slot inlet (4) is consistent with the extension direction of the gradient skeleton (1); the slot inlet (4) is connected to the head end of the installation slot (3) through the first arc-shaped slot (5).

6. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The head end of each installation groove (3) is provided with a first arc groove (5) and a groove entrance (4) in sequence.

7. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The cross-section of the first arc-shaped groove (5) and the cross-section of the groove inlet (4) are consistent with the cross-section shape of the installation groove (3).

8. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A slot outlet (6) is provided at the rear end of the gradient skeleton (1); the extension direction of the slot outlet (6) is consistent with the extension direction of the gradient skeleton (1); the slot outlet (6) is connected to the rear end of the installation slot (3) via a second arc-shaped slot (7).

9. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The tail end of each installation groove (3) is provided with a second arc groove (7) and a groove outlet (6) in sequence.

10. The magnetic resonance gradient coil water cooling device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cross-section of the second arc-shaped groove (7) and the cross-section of the groove outlet (6) are consistent with the cross-section shape of the installation groove (3).

Images