Air purifier and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

Abstract

To prevent dust and debris from being sucked into the device. [Solution] The air purifying device according to the embodiment comprises a container, a first pipe, and a second pipe. The container is filled with liquid. The first pipe guides the air drawn in so as to come into contact with the liquid in the container. The second pipe guides the air that comes into contact with the liquid so as to come into contact with a heating element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification and the drawings relate to an air purifying apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus cools some components by air cooling using air as a refrigerant. In order to prevent dust such as dirt and dust from being sucked in when air is taken in, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a filter at the intake port.

[0003] The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus can suppress sucking in fine dust inside by reducing the opening size of the mesh of the filter. However, a filter with a small opening size of the mesh of the filter has a large air resistance and deteriorates the performance of the fan. That is, when the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is equipped with a filter having a small opening size of the mesh of the filter, the components cannot be sufficiently cooled.

[0004] However, when the opening size of the mesh of the filter is increased, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus sucks in small dust. As a result, the maintenance personnel must periodically perform an operation to remove the small dust sucked into the inside of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] One of the problems that the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings aim to solve is to prevent dust from being sucked into the interior. However, the problems that the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings aim to solve are not limited to the above problem. Problems corresponding to the effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described later can also be positioned as other problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The air purifying device according to this embodiment comprises a container, a first pipe, and a second pipe. The container is filled with liquid. The first pipe guides air drawn in so as to come into contact with the liquid in the container. The second pipe guides air that comes into contact with the liquid so as to come into contact with a heating element. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the exterior of a control cabinet. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of an air purification mechanism in a control cabinet. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the air purification mechanism of the control cabinet according to Modification 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The air purifier and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts with the same reference numerals perform similar operations, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0010] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 shows an example of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 includes a static magnetic field magnet 101, a gradient magnetic field coil 103, a gradient magnetic field power supply 105, a bed 107, a bed control circuit 109, a transmitting circuit 113, a transmitting coil 115, a receiving coil 117, a receiving circuit 119, an imaging control circuit 121, a system control circuit 123, a memory 125, an input interface 127, a display 129, and a processing circuit 131.

[0011] The static magnetic field magnet 101 is a magnet formed in a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape. The static magnetic field magnet 101 generates a substantially uniform static magnetic field in its internal space. For example, a superconducting magnet can be used as the static magnetic field magnet 101.

[0012] The gradient coil 103 is a hollow, substantially cylindrical coil and is positioned on the inner surface of a cylindrical cooling container. The gradient coil 103 receives current individually from the gradient power supply 105 and generates gradient magnetic fields in which the magnetic field strength changes along the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. The gradient magnetic fields in the X, Y, and Z axes generated by the gradient coil 103 form, for example, a gradient magnetic field for slice selection, a gradient magnetic field for phase encoding, and a gradient magnetic field for frequency encoding. The gradient magnetic field for slice selection is used to arbitrarily determine the imaging cross-section. The gradient magnetic field for phase encoding is used to change the phase of the magnetic resonance signal (hereinafter referred to as the MR (Magnetic Resonance) signal) according to the spatial position. The gradient magnetic field for frequency encoding is used to change the frequency of the MR signal according to the spatial position.

[0013] The gradient magnetic field power supply 105 is a power supply device that supplies current to the gradient magnetic field coil 103 under the control of the imaging control circuit 121.

[0014] The bed 107 is a device equipped with a top plate 1071 on which the subject P is placed. Under the control of the bed control circuit 109, the bed 107 inserts the top plate 1071 on which the subject P is placed into the bore 111.

[0015] The bed control circuit 109 is a circuit that controls the bed 107. The bed control circuit 109 drives the bed 107 according to the operator's instructions via the input interface 127, thereby moving the top plate 1071 in the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and possibly the left-right direction.

[0016] The transmitting circuit 113 supplies a high-frequency pulse modulated at the Larmor frequency to the transmitting coil 115 under the control of the imaging control circuit 121. For example, the transmitting circuit 113 includes an oscillator, a phase selector, a frequency converter, an amplitude modulator, and an RF (Radio Frequency) amplifier. The oscillator generates an RF pulse at a resonance frequency specific to the target atomic nucleus in a static magnetic field. The phase selector selects the phase of the RF pulse generated by the oscillator. The frequency converter converts the frequency of the RF pulse output from the phase selector. The amplitude modulator modulates the amplitude of the RF pulse output from the frequency converter according to, for example, a sinc function. The RF amplifier amplifies the RF pulse output from the amplitude modulator and supplies it to the transmitting coil 115.

[0017] The transmitting coil 115 is an RF coil located inside the gradient magnetic field coil 103. The transmitting coil 115 generates RF pulses corresponding to a high-frequency magnetic field in response to the output from the transmitting circuit 113.

[0018] The receiving coil 117 is an RF coil positioned inside the gradient magnetic field coil 103. The receiving coil 117 receives the MR signal radiated from the subject P by the high-frequency magnetic field. The receiving coil 117 outputs the received MR signal to the receiving circuit 119. The receiving coil 117 is a coil array having, for example, one or more, typically multiple coil elements (hereinafter referred to as multiple coils). To make the explanation more specific, the receiving coil 117 will be described below as a coil array having multiple coils.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the transmission coil 115 and the reception coil 117 are described as separate RF coils. However, the transmission coil 115 and the reception coil 117 may be implemented as an integrated transmission / reception coil. The transmission / reception coil corresponds to the imaging region of the subject P and is, for example, a local transmission / reception RF coil such as a head coil.

[0020] The reception circuit 119 generates digital MR signals (hereinafter referred to as MR data) based on the MR signals output from the reception coil 117 under the control of the imaging control circuit 121. Specifically, the reception circuit 119 performs signal processing such as detection and filtering on the MR signals output from the reception coil 117, and then performs analog-to-digital (A / D) conversion (hereinafter referred to as A / D conversion) on the data subjected to the signal processing to generate MR data. The reception circuit 119 outputs the generated MR data to the imaging control circuit 121. For example, MR data is generated for each of a plurality of coils and is output to the imaging control circuit 121 together with tags for identifying each of the plurality of coils.

[0021] The imaging control circuit 121 controls the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, the transmission circuit 113, the reception circuit 119, etc. according to the imaging protocol output from the processing circuit 131, and performs imaging on the subject P. The imaging protocol has a pulse sequence corresponding to the type of examination. The imaging protocol defines the magnitude of the current supplied to the gradient magnetic field coil 103 by the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, the timing at which the current is supplied to the gradient magnetic field coil 103 by the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, the magnitude and time width of the high-frequency pulse supplied to the transmission coil 115 by the transmission circuit 113, the timing at which the high-frequency pulse is supplied to the transmission coil 115 by the transmission circuit 113, the timing at which the MR signal is received by the reception coil 117, etc. When the imaging control circuit 121 drives the gradient magnetic field power supply 105, the transmission circuit 113, the reception circuit 119, etc. to image the subject P and then receives MR data from the reception circuit 119, the received MR data is transferred to the processing circuit 131.

[0022] Incidentally, the imaging control circuit 121 may collect MR data related to the generation of an image showing the sensitivity distribution of the reception coil 117 used for imaging the subject P by any imaging method. An image showing the sensitivity of the coil is represented by complex number data. The collection of MR data related to the generation of an image showing the sensitivity distribution of the reception coil 117 is executed by the imaging control circuit 121 in a prescan including a locator scan or the like prior to scanning the subject P, for example. The imaging control circuit 121 is realized by, for example, a processor.

[0023] The term "processor" means, for example, a circuit such as a CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (for example, a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA)).

[0024] The system control circuit 123 has a processor (not shown) as a hardware resource, a memory such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and controls the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 by a system control function. Specifically, the system control circuit 123 reads out a system control program stored in the memory, expands it on the memory, and controls each circuit of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 according to the expanded system control program.

[0025] For example, the system control circuit 123 reads the imaging protocol from the memory 125 based on the imaging conditions input by the operator via the input interface 127. The system control circuit 123 transmits the imaging protocol to the imaging control circuit 121 to control imaging of the subject P. The system control circuit 123 is implemented by, for example, a processor. Alternatively, the system control circuit 123 may be incorporated into the processing circuit 131. In this case, the system control function is executed by the processing circuit 131, and the processing circuit 131 functions as a substitute for the system control circuit 123. The processor that implements the system control circuit 123 is similar to the one described above, so its explanation is omitted.

[0026] Memory 125 stores various programs related to system control functions executed in the system control circuit 123, various imaging protocols, and imaging conditions including multiple imaging parameters that define the imaging protocols. Memory 125 also stores various functions realized by the processing circuit 131 in the form of programs executable by a computer.

[0027] Memory 125 may also store various data received via a communication interface (not shown). For example, memory 125 stores information regarding the examination order of subject P (such as the area to be imaged and the purpose of the examination) received from an information processing system within a medical institution, such as a Radiology Information System (RIS).

[0028] Memory 125 can be implemented using, for example, semiconductor memory elements such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or optical disc. Alternatively, memory 125 may be implemented using a drive device that reads and writes various information to and from a portable storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM drive, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive, or flash memory.

[0029] The input interface 127 receives various instructions (e.g., power-on instructions) and information input from the operator. The input interface 127 can be implemented by, for example, a trackball, switch buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, a touchpad that performs input operations by touching the operating surface, a touchscreen that integrates a display screen and a touchpad, a non-contact input circuit using an optical sensor, and an audio input circuit. The input interface 127 is connected to the processing circuit 131 and converts the input operations received from the operator into electrical signals and outputs them to the processing circuit 131. In this specification, the input interface 127 is not limited to those equipped with physical operating components such as a mouse or keyboard. For example, an electrical signal processing circuit that receives electrical signals corresponding to input operations from an external input device provided separately from the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 and outputs these electrical signals to a control circuit is also included as an example of the input interface 127.

[0030] The input interface 127 inputs the field of view (FOV) to the pre-scan image displayed on the display 129 according to the user's instructions. Specifically, the input interface 127 inputs the FOV to the locator image displayed on the display 129 according to the user's range setting instructions. In addition, the input interface 127 inputs various imaging parameters related to the scan according to the user's instructions based on the examination order.

[0031] The display 129, under the control of the processing circuit 131 or the system control circuit 123, displays various GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) and MR images generated by the processing circuit 131. The display 129 also displays imaging parameters related to scanning and various information related to image processing. The display 129 can be implemented by a display device such as a CRT display, liquid crystal display, organic EL display, LED display, plasma display, or any other display or monitor known in the art.

[0032] The processing circuit 131 is implemented, for example, by the processor described above. The processing circuit 131 has various functions. These functions are stored in memory 125 in the form of programs that can be executed by the computer. For example, the processing circuit 131 reads a program from memory 125 and executes it to implement the functions corresponding to each program. In other words, the processing circuit 131, in the state where each program has been read, has various functions.

[0033] In the above description, an example was given in which the "processor" reads and executes programs corresponding to each function from memory 125, but the embodiments are not limited to this. If the processor is, for example, a CPU, the processor realizes the function by reading and executing programs stored in memory 125. On the other hand, if the processor is an ASIC, instead of storing programs in memory 125, the function is directly incorporated as a logic circuit within the processor's circuitry. In this embodiment, each processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit for each processor, but may also be configured as a single processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize its functions. Furthermore, although it was described as a single memory circuit storing programs corresponding to each processing function, it is also possible to have multiple memory circuits distributed and have the processing circuit 131 read the corresponding programs from individual memory circuits.

[0034] The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 has a control cabinet 300. For example, the control cabinet 300 houses a gradient magnetic field power supply 105, a transmitting circuit 113, a receiving circuit 119, and an imaging control circuit 121.

[0035] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the control cabinet 300. The control cabinet 300 has a box-shaped housing 301. The housing 301 has an air intake port 302 and an exhaust port 304 (see Figure 3). The air intake port 302 is an opening for drawing in air to be used as a refrigerant. The exhaust port 304 is an opening for exhausting air.

[0036] Furthermore, the intake port 302 and the exhaust port 304 are provided with guards 303. The guards 303 prevent objects from being inserted into the housing 301. For example, the guards 303 are formed in a grid pattern. However, the guards 303 are not limited to a grid pattern and may be formed in other shapes.

[0037] Next, the air purification mechanism of the control cabinet 300 will be described. Figure 3 shows an example of the air purification mechanism of the control cabinet 300.

[0038] The control cabinet 300 has a water cooling system 310 and an air cooling system 320.

[0039] The water cooling system 310 cools the first heat-generating element 331 using a coolant. The water cooling system 310 is an example of a cooling unit. For example, the coolant is a liquid such as water. However, the coolant is not limited to water and may be other liquids. The water cooling system 310 includes a water storage tank 311, a first water cooling pipe 312, a chiller 313, and a second water cooling pipe 314.

[0040] The water storage tank 311 is a container filled with coolant.

[0041] The first water-cooling pipe 312 is a pipe that connects the water storage tank 311 and the chiller 313. In other words, the first water-cooling pipe 312 is a pipe that sends the coolant from the water storage tank 311 to the chiller 313. Furthermore, the first water-cooling pipe 312 sends the coolant to the chiller 313 via the first heat-generating element 331. In this way, the first water-cooling pipe 312 cools the first heat-generating element 331 with the coolant.

[0042] The first heat-generating element 331 is a heat-generating element that is cooled by the water cooling system 310. For example, the first heat-generating element 331 is an electronic component of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1. More specifically, the first heat-generating element 331 is a power electronics component. Specifically, the first heat-generating element 331 is an amplifier such as an RF amplifier. Furthermore, the first heat-generating element 331 may be cooled not only by the water cooling system 310 but also by the air cooling system 320.

[0043] The chiller 313 is a device that circulates the coolant contained in the water tank 311. The chiller 313 is an example of a circulation section. More specifically, the chiller 313 circulates the coolant between the water tank 311, the first water cooling pipe 312, and the second water cooling pipe 314. In this way, the chiller 313 cools the first heat-generating element 331.

[0044] Furthermore, the chiller 313 has a filtration unit 3131 that filters the coolant. The filtration unit 3131 removes dust, dirt, and other debris contained in the coolant that has passed through it. In other words, the filtration unit 3131 removes objects such as debris. The filtration unit 3131 also has a filter through which the coolant passes.

[0045] Furthermore, the filter is detachably attached to the chiller 313. This allows maintenance personnel to easily replace the filter. By replacing the filter, maintenance personnel can also remove any debris that has accumulated on it.

[0046] The second water cooling pipe 314 is a pipe that connects the chiller 313 and the water storage tank 311. In other words, the second water cooling pipe 314 is a pipe that sends the coolant from the chiller 313 to the water storage tank 311.

[0047] The air cooling system 320 uses purified air as a coolant to cool some of the components. In other words, the air cooling system 320 cools the components with air drawn in from outside the housing 301. The air cooling system 320 includes a guard 303, a first air cooling pipe 321, an intake fan 322, and a second air cooling pipe 323.

[0048] The intake fan 322 is a fan that blows air by rotating its blades. The intake fan 322 is installed on the intake port 302 side of the first air cooling piping 321. For example, the intake fan 322 is installed on the water tank 311 side of the air intake port 302 than the guard 303. As a result, the intake fan 322 blows air from outside the housing 301 into the first air cooling piping 321. In other words, the intake fan 322 draws air from outside the housing 301 into the first air cooling piping 321.

[0049] Here, a guard 303 is provided at the air intake port 302. However, the guard 303 cannot remove dust and other debris contained in the air. Therefore, the intake fan 322 is treated to suppress the adhesion of dust and other debris. As a result, the intake fan 322 has a surface on which the adhesion of objects is suppressed.

[0050] For example, the intake fan 322 is treated to remove static electricity, which can cause dust and other debris to adhere to it. For example, the intake fan 322 is coated with a coating agent that suppresses static charge, applied to its surface. For example, the intake fan 322 is made of metal. The intake fan 322 is connected to ground to prevent static charge buildup.

[0051] The first air-cooling pipe 321 guides the air that has been drawn in so that it hits the coolant in the water tank 311. The first air-cooling pipe 321 is an example of the first piping. More specifically, the first air-cooling pipe 321 is a pipe that guides the air drawn in by the intake fan 322 to the water tank 311 and directs the air to hit the coolant in the water tank 311.

[0052] For example, the first air-cooling pipe 321 is installed in a nearly straight vertical line from the top surface of the water tank 311. Furthermore, the first air-cooling pipe 321 extends to just above the surface of the coolant. As a result, the air that passes through the first air-cooling pipe 321 is directed onto the surface of the coolant.

[0053] The air drawn in from the outside contains dust and other debris. The first air-cooling pipe 321 directs the drawn-in air onto the surface of the coolant. As a result, the debris in the air adheres to the coolant. In this way, the coolant removes the debris from the air.

[0054] Here, if the distance between the end of the first air-cooling pipe 321 in the water tank 311 and the water surface of the coolant stored in the water tank 311 is large, some of the dust contained in the air will not adhere to the coolant. The dust contained in the air will then enter the interior of the housing 301 through the second air-cooling pipe 323. For this reason, it is preferable that the distance between the end of the first air-cooling pipe 321 in the water tank 311 and the water surface of the coolant stored in the water tank 311 be less than a specified value. For example, the specified value is 5 centimeters.

[0055] The second air-cooling pipe 323 guides the air that has been directed over the coolant so that it hits the heat-generating elements. The second air-cooling pipe 323 is an example of the second piping. More specifically, the second air-cooling pipe 323 is a pipe that guides the air that has been directed over the coolant in the water tank 311 and directs it to the group of heat-generating elements, including the second heat-generating element 332. In other words, the second air-cooling pipe 323 guides the air in the water tank 311 into the interior of the control cabinet 300.

[0056] For example, the second heating element 332 is an electronic component that generates heat, although it does not reach the same high temperature as the first heating element 331. Note that the second air-cooling pipe 323 shown in Figure 3 does not target the first heating element 331 for cooling. However, the second air-cooling pipe 323 may be a pipe that guides air from the water tank 311 to the group of heating elements, including the first heating element 331.

[0057] Furthermore, the air inside the water tank 311 is exhausted to the outside of the housing 301 via a group of heating elements, which includes one or more heating elements, including the second heating element 332. This allows the air cooling system 320 to cool the group of heating elements.

[0058] Furthermore, the air inside the water tank 311 has less debris because it has been cleaned by the coolant. Therefore, the control cabinet 300 is less likely to suck in small debris. As a result, the control cabinet 300 can reduce the amount of work required from maintenance personnel to remove debris.

[0059] Furthermore, dust contained in the air adheres to the coolant. The chiller 313 has a filtration unit 3131 that filters the coolant. In other words, the chiller 313 can remove dust contained in the air by circulating the coolant. Moreover, the filter of the filtration unit 3131 is detachable. Therefore, maintenance personnel can remove the dust removed by filtration by replacing the filter of the filtration unit 3131.

[0060] As described above, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment directs the air drawn in from the intake port 302 onto the cooling liquid in the water tank 311. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 also guides the air that has been directed onto the cooling liquid in the water tank 311 so that it comes into contact with the heating element. In this way, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 cools the heating element by drawing in air that has been treated with dust by being directed onto the cooling liquid in the water tank 311. Therefore, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 1 can suppress the ingestion of dust into its interior.

[0061] (Variation 1) Figure 4 shows an example of an air purification mechanism in the control cabinet 300 according to Modification 1. In the air cooling system 320a according to Modification 1, the end of the first air cooling pipe 321a on the water tank 311 side may be immersed in the coolant. Also, the second air cooling pipe 323a may have an exhaust fan 324 on the exhaust port 304 side. The exhaust fan 324 is a fan that exhausts the air inside the housing 301. That is, the exhaust fan 324 exhausts the air from the water tank 311 and the second air cooling pipe 323a. More specifically, the exhaust fan 324 is provided on the exhaust port 304 side of the second air cooling pipe 323a, and has a stronger suction force for drawing air into the first air cooling pipe 321 than when it is provided on the intake port 302 side of the first air cooling pipe 321. In other words, the exhaust fan 324 is located on the exhaust port 304 side of the second air-cooling pipe 323a, and has a stronger exhaust force for exhausting air from the second air-cooling pipe 323a than when it is located on the intake port 302 side of the first air-cooling pipe 321.

[0062] Thus, the exhaust fan 324 located on the exhaust port 304 side exhausts the air from the water tank 311. As a result, the air pressure in the water tank 311 decreases, and the intake port 302 draws in outside air from the housing 301 via the first air-cooling pipe 321a, the end of which is immersed in the coolant, on the water tank 311 side. Furthermore, since the exhaust fan 324 located on the exhaust port 304 side needs to lower the air pressure in the water tank 311 and draw in outside air from the first air-cooling pipe 321a which is immersed in the coolant, it is preferable that it has a stronger suction force than the intake fan 322 located on the intake port 302 side.

[0063] Furthermore, dust and other debris contained in the air drawn in from the outside are removed by the coolant in the water tank 311 because the first air-cooling pipe 321a is immersed in the coolant. In other words, the air guided by the second air-cooling pipe 323a has its debris removed by the coolant. Therefore, the exhaust fan 324 provided on the exhaust port 304 side does not need to be treated to remove static electricity, which is a factor that causes dust and other debris to adhere to it.

[0064] According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to prevent dust from being sucked into the device.

[0065] While several embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging System 105 Gradient magnetic field power supply 113 Transmitter Circuit 119 Receiving circuit 121 Imaging control circuit 300 Control Cabinet 301 cabinet 302 Air intake 303 Guard 304 Exhaust vent 310 Water Cooling System 311 Water storage tank 312 First water cooling piping 313 Chiller 314 Second water cooling piping 320, 320a air-cooled systems 321, 321a First air cooling piping 322 Intake fan 323, 323a Second air-cooling piping 324 Exhaust fan 331 First heating element 332 Second heating element 3131 Filtration section P Subject

Claims

1. A container filled with liquid, A first pipe that guides the air drawn in so as to come into contact with the liquid in the container, A second pipe that guides the air directed at the liquid so as to hit the heating element, An air purifier equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The system further includes a water cooling section that uses the aforementioned liquid as a refrigerant to cool the heat-generating element. The air purifier according to claim 1.

3. The system further includes a circulation unit for circulating the liquid contained in the container. The air purifier according to claim 1.

4. The circulation unit further comprises a filtration unit that removes objects contained in the liquid. The air purifier according to claim 3.

5. The first piping is further equipped with a fan for drawing in air. The air purifier according to claim 1.

6. The fan has a surface on which the adhesion of objects is suppressed. The air purifier according to claim 5.

7. The fan is provided on the intake side of the first piping. The air purifier according to claim 6.

8. The fan is provided on the exhaust side of the second piping, and the suction force for drawing air into the first piping is stronger than when it is provided on the intake side of the first piping. The air purifier according to claim 5.

9. The heating element is an electronic component of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. An air purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A container filled with liquid, A first pipe that guides the air drawn in so as to come into contact with the liquid in the container, A second pipe that guides the air directed at the liquid so as to hit the heating element, A magnetic resonance imaging system equipped with the following features.

Images