Ceramic Toroidal Cable Trap for MRI Heat and Detuning Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floating cable traps in MRI systems are bulky, sensitive to position, generate heat, and prone to detuning, making them difficult to use and posing safety risks due to patient burns.

Innovation Solution

A ceramic toroidal cable trap with grooves and conductive traces formed via metallization, which is additively manufactured and insensitive to temperature changes, allowing for smaller size and improved performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional floating cable traps are used, then current reduction function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent reduction functionVSAvoidcable trap size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from traditional metallic or composite construction to ceramic material, which enables higher dielectric strength and allows miniaturization of the cable trap while maintaining its current reduction function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) geometry for the ceramic cable trap, which provides symmetrical current distribution and optimized electromagnetic field interaction, achieving compact size while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If floating cable traps are placed far apart, then detuning is avoided, but the cable becomes difficult to manage and position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetuning preventionVSAvoidcable positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ceramic material parameters enable the cable traps to be placed closer together while maintaining frequency stability, as the ceramic's temperature compensation properties reduce detuning effects that would normally require larger spacing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional cable traps are used, then current suppression is achieved, but significant heat is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent suppression functionVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses ceramic material with specific electromagnetic and thermal properties that provide superior heat dissipation and temperature stability compared to traditional materials, reducing heat generation while maintaining current suppression function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic material's thermal conductivity and heat capacity parameters are optimized to dissipate heat more effectively, preventing excessive temperature rise during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If floating cable traps are made bulky, then manufacturing is simpler, but they become sensitive to position and prone to detuning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfrequency stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ceramic material parameters provide inherent frequency stability and temperature compensation, allowing compact designs that are less sensitive to positioning variations while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized ceramic forming processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The ceramic toroidal cable trap reduces heating, minimizes patient safety risks, and enhances usability by being insensitive to detuning and temperature changes, leading to safer and faster cable assembly.

Implementation Method 1

A ceramic toroidal cable trap with grooves and conductive traces formed via metallization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

which is additively manufactured and insensitive to temperature changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal stability: Zero Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12405330B2Ceramic toroidal cable trap

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

A current cable trap includes a ceramic toroid body having a first end and a second end. The ceramic toroid body includes grooves disposed on a surface of the ceramic toroid body and extending between the first end and the second end. The current cable trap also includes conductive traces formed within the grooves. A method for manufacturing a current cable trap includes forming a ceramic toroid body having a first end and a second end. The ceramic toroid body includes grooves disposed on a surface of the ceramic toroid body and extending between the first end and the second end. The grooves extend along both an inner surface and an outer surface of the ceramic toroid body between the first end and the second end. The method also includes performing metallization to form conductive traces within the grooves.