Modular Shim Blocks for Magnetic Resonance Field Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shimming procedures for magnetic resonance (MR) apparatuses are error-prone due to the need to accurately count and place thousands of shim irons into specific pockets, leading to potential misplacement and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The use of a set of separate shim blocks, each with a varying relative amount of shim iron, which can be individually inserted into shim openings of an MR apparatus, allowing for improved shimming accuracy and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shim irons are used in pockets of shim rails, then shimming can be performed, but the process is error-prone due to the need to count and place thousands of shim irons correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the traditional individual shim irons into modular shim blocks. Each shim block contains multiple shim irons pre-assembled together, reducing the number of individual components that need to be counted and placed. This segmentation maintains the functional capability while significantly reducing the complexity and error rate of the shimming process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple shim irons into single shim blocks. By combining multiple individual shim irons into one assembled block, the system reduces the total number of separate components that need to be handled, counted, and positioned, thereby reducing the error-prone aspects of the shimming procedure.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple shim irons are placed in each pocket to increase shim capacity, then more shimming adjustment is possible, but the error rate increases due to more components to count and place
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the shim capacity requirement into discrete shim blocks that can be individually selected and placed in pockets. Each block contains a predetermined number of shim irons, allowing operators to achieve the required total shim capacity by combining a manageable number of blocks rather than handling thousands of individual irons, thus maintaining placement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The shim irons are pre-assembled into blocks before being placed in the shim rails. This preliminary assembly action consolidates multiple components into single units, reducing the complexity of the final placement process while maintaining the total shim capacity needed for accurate field homogeneity adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If shim irons are placed in shim openings to correct field inhomogeneities, then magnetic field homogeneity improves, but the process becomes more complex with many components to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple shim irons into shim blocks, reducing the total number of separate components that need to be managed during the shimming process. This consolidation maintains the ability to achieve precise field homogeneity (1 ppm over several liters in MRI, better than 1 ppb in NMR) while significantly reducing the complexity of component management.
Solution Approach 2:
The shim blocks serve as universal units that can be placed in various shim openings to correct different types of field inhomogeneities. Each block contains multiple shim irons that can be configured to address specific field distortion patterns, providing multi-functional capability with fewer distinct components.
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 simplifies the shimming process, reduces errors, and increases the shim capacity by allowing multiple shim blocks to fill the pultrusion volume, thereby enhancing the homogeneity of the magnetic field.
Implementation Method 1
They become magnetized and produce their own magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
the additional magnetic fields from the coils or shim irons, respectively, add to the overall magnetic field of the superconducting magnet in such a way as to increase the homogeneity of the total field
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to shim elements (100, . . . , 115) for magnetic resonance applications. According to the invention, the shim elements (100, . . . , 115) comprise shim blocks (101, . . . , 115) which are each separate from each other such that each shim block (101, . . . , 115) may be individually inserted into a shim opening (9) of a magnetic field-generating unit (2) of the magnetic resonance apparatus (1), wherein each shim block (101, . . . , 115) comprises a relative amount of shim iron (10), and the set comprises at least two shim blocks (101, . . . , 115) for which the respective amount of the shim iron (10) is different from each other. In this way, the shimming procedure may be simplified and the shim capacity may be increased to a high pultrusion volume.