Magnet Support Element With Displaceable Sections for Field Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnet support structures for magnetic resonance devices are heavy, complex, and prone to distortion due to increasing tension loads, especially with high-field magnets, affecting magnetic field homogeneity.
Innovation Solution
A support element with displaceable and fixed sections, designed using a computer-implemented method, to distribute forces evenly and prevent deformation of the magnet, reducing material and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If tension is applied to suspension elements to support high-field magnets, then the magnet can be held in position, but the magnet becomes distorted and magnetic field homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is divided into multiple displaceable sections and fixed sections. The fixed sections maintain rigid connection to the magnet at precise locations, while displaceable sections allow controlled movement to absorb tension forces, preventing force transmission to the magnet and preserving field homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element incorporates displaceable sections that can dynamically adjust their position in response to applied tension forces. This dynamic capability allows the support structure to accommodate force loads without transmitting distortion to the magnet, maintaining magnetic field homogeneity while providing necessary support.
2Manufacturing precision
If stiffness of the support structure is increased to reduce distortion, then magnetic field homogeneity is maintained, but the mass and complexity of the support structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is segmented into fixed sections that provide rigid support at critical locations and displaceable sections that provide flexibility. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain sufficient stiffness where needed while reducing overall complexity and mass compared to a fully rigid support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the support element have different mechanical properties: fixed sections have high stiffness to maintain positional accuracy, while displaceable sections have lower stiffness to absorb forces. This local differentiation of mechanical properties maintains magnetic field homogeneity without requiring the entire structure to be overly stiff and complex.
3Power
If mass of the magnet increases for higher field strength, then magnetic field strength improves, but the tension required for support increases
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable sections provide dynamic response to tension forces generated by heavy high-field magnets. By allowing controlled displacement, the structure can support greater weights without requiring proportionally higher tension forces in rigid connections, enabling support of higher field strength magnets.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is pre-configured with displaceable sections that are designed to engage and absorb tension forces before excessive forces can be transmitted to the magnet. This preliminary design feature allows the structure to handle the increased tension requirements of high-field magnets from the outset.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support element (34) for supporting a cold mass (17; 31) of a magnetic resonance device (11), comprising at least one attachment point (44), a plurality of displaceable sections (34b) and a plurality of fixed sections (34a), wherein each displaceable section of the plurality of displaceable sections (34b) is configured to be reversibly displaced relative to fixed sections of the plurality of fixed sections (34a) when a predefined force is applied to the at least one attachment point (44) and wherein the fixed sections of the plurality fixed sections (34a) are configured to remain in a predefined relative spatial arrangement to each other when the predefined force is applied to the at least one attachment point (44), wherein the predefined force is oriented in at least one spatial direction. The invention further relates to a magnet support structure (30), comprising an outer vacuum chamber (42), a cold mass (17; 31), and an inventive support element (34). The invention also relates to a computer-implemented method for designing an inventive support element (34).