Active Magnetic Field Suppression for MRI Installation Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance devices face challenges in effectively suppressing electric and/or magnetic emissions, which are necessary to achieve a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio for imaging while also adhering to emission limit values, often requiring expensive screened rooms that limit installation flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a computer-implemented approach to measure the signature of emitted electric and/or magnetic fields, apply a trained function to generate a field information item, and then produce a counterfield to at least partially suppress the emissions, allowing for more flexible installation and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a screened room is used to suppress electric and magnetic fields, then emission limit values are met, but costs increase and installation flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the field suppression function from the physical screened room structure and implements it through a portable suppression apparatus with transmitting facilities. This separates the suppression capability from the permanent architectural feature, enabling flexible installation locations while maintaining emission compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary suppression apparatus that acts between the magnetic resonance device and the external environment. This apparatus includes transmitting facilities that generate counterfields to cancel harmful emissions, serving as a mediating layer that protects the environment without requiring a screened room.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a screened room is used to suppress electric and magnetic fields, then emission limit values are met, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive, permanent screened room structure with a more economical portable suppression apparatus. The apparatus uses standard transmitting facilities and control systems that are less costly than constructing and maintaining a dedicated screened room, while achieving the same emission suppression goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/physical screened room barrier with an electromagnetic field-based suppression system. Instead of using physical materials to block fields, the system uses controlled electromagnetic counterfields to actively cancel emissions, reducing structural costs and enabling flexible deployment.
3Productivity
If radio frequency pulses are generated to excite nuclear spins, then imaging is enabled, but electromagnetic interference is produced that must be screened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful electromagnetic interference into a beneficial control mechanism. The suppression apparatus uses the detected electromagnetic fields (including those from the imaging pulses) to generate counterfields that cancel the interference. This transforms the problem of electromagnetic emissions into the solution for active interference cancellation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback-based suppression system where sensors detect the electromagnetic fields generated during imaging, the control facility processes this information, and transmitting facilities generate counterfields in response. This closed-loop feedback mechanism continuously suppresses interference while maintaining imaging functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables active suppression of electric and/or magnetic fields emitted by magnetic resonance devices, improving the signal-to-noise ratio without the need for expensive screened rooms, thus enhancing flexibility and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a signature of the emitted field with a sensor facility
Implementation Method 2
suppressing the emitted field by generating a counterfield with a transmitting facility based on the created field information item, the counterfield being at least one of an electric counterfield or a magnetic counterfield
Data Source
AI summary
According to one or more example embodiments, a computer-implemented method for at least partially suppressing a field emitted by a magnetic resonance device during an examination, the emitted field being at least one of an electric field or a magnetic field, the method comprises measuring a signature of the emitted field with a sensor facility; providing a trained function which is configured, based on a signature to generate a field information item relating to the emitted field upon which the respective signature is based; creating a field information item for the emitted field by inputting the signature into the trained function; and suppressing the emitted field by generating a counterfield with a transmitting facility based on the created field information item, the counterfield being at least one of an electric counterfield or a magnetic counterfield, wherein the counterfield is generated such that the counterfield least partially suppresses the emitted field.