Gradient Coil Cooling Pipe Curvature for MRI Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face challenges in effectively cooling the ends of gradient coils, leading to incomplete cooling and potential heat-related issues that can affect image quality and subject comfort.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cooling system where cooling pipes extend from one end of the gradient coil, bend, and return in a spiral fashion around the drum shape, ensuring uniform cooling by circulating coolant in opposite directions through first and second cooling pipes, with manifolds to manage the flow and prevent electrical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling pipes are introduced from one end and bent in a spiral fashion, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling pipe is configured to extend from one end of the gradient coil in a straight line, then bend at approximately 90 degrees to return along the longitudinal direction, and finally bend again to extend in the circumferential direction toward the other end. This curved configuration allows the cooling pipe to cover the entire gradient coil surface area, including both ends, while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic bending points.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling pipe transitions from a simple linear path to a three-dimensional configuration that wraps around the drum-shaped gradient coil. By utilizing the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial dimensions, the cooling pipe achieves comprehensive coverage of the gradient coil surface, ensuring that both ends and the central region are effectively cooled.
2Reliability
If multiple cooling pipes are wound in parallel to improve cooling efficiency, then the cooling performance is enhanced, but the space required for bending increases the uncooled area
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient coil is divided into multiple cooling zones by introducing a plurality of cooling pipes in parallel between the gradient coil and the inner wall of the vacuum container. Each cooling pipe is independently configured to cover specific regions, ensuring that the entire surface area including both ends is uniformly cooled without requiring excessive bending space.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling pipe follows a curved path that extends longitudinally, bends to return, and then extends circumferentially. This systematic curvature allows multiple pipes to be arranged in parallel with optimized spacing, maximizing cooling coverage while minimizing the uncooled areas at the ends.
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 configuration allows for efficient cooling of the gradient coil ends, reducing the uncooled area and maintaining image quality while ensuring subject safety by uniformly distributing coolant, thus addressing the heat generation issues associated with gradient magnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
cooling pipes provided inside the gradient coil has been proposed... by circulating a coolant through cooling pipes
Implementation Method 2
cooling pipes provided inside the gradient coil has been proposed... circulating a coolant through cooling pipes provided inside the gradient coil
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a gradient coil and a coil cooling pipe. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field onto a subject placed in a static magnetic field. The coil cooling pipe is provided to the gradient coil, and cools the gradient coil by circulating a coolant inside pipe. The coil cooling pipe is provided so as to extend from one end of the gradient coil in the direction toward the other end, then to bend, and to return to the one end along the shape of the gradient coil.