MR Scanner with Embedded Quantum Processor Sharing Cryogenic Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of maintaining superconducting quantum processors in medical imaging scanners, particularly MR scanners, due to the need for expensive refrigeration systems and sensitive cooling requirements, make them unaffordable for widespread hospital use.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a superconducting quantum processor within an MR scanner's existing cooling infrastructure, utilizing a multi-stage refrigeration system that shares cryogenic cooling with the scanner's magnet, and additional shielding to minimize magnetic field interference and enhance cooling efficiency, allowing for reduced operational costs and improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a superconducting quantum processor is integrated into an MR scanner, then computational power and image reconstruction capability are improved, but device complexity and maintenance cost increase due to requiring separate refrigeration systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the refrigeration systems of the MR scanner and quantum processor into a single integrated system. The quantum processor is positioned within the MR scanner's existing cryogenic environment, sharing the same liquid helium coolant and thermal management infrastructure. This merging eliminates the need for separate refrigeration systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining high computational power.
Solution Approach 2:
The MR scanner's refrigeration system is designed to serve dual purposes: cooling the superconducting magnet for MRI operations and cooling the superconducting quantum processor for quantum computations. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to support both medical imaging and quantum computing tasks, reducing overall system complexity and maintenance requirements.
2Reliability
If a separate refrigeration system is used for the quantum processor, then quantum computing performance is maintained, but operational cost and maintenance demand increase
Solution Approach 1:
The quantum processor is integrated into the MR scanner's existing cryogenic infrastructure, sharing the liquid helium coolant system and thermal management components. This consolidation reduces the number of separate systems requiring maintenance, while the quantum processor maintains its required operating temperature and performance characteristics through the shared cooling system.
3Volume of moving object
If the quantum processor is placed in the MR scanner's magnetic field environment, then space utilization is improved, but quantum processor reliability deteriorates due to magnetic field interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized low-field environment for the quantum processor within the broader high-field MR scanner environment. The quantum processor is positioned in a specific region where the magnetic field strength is minimized, and additional magnetic shielding is applied locally around the processor. This allows the processor to maintain stability while being integrated into the scanner's space.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic shielding materials and structures are introduced as intermediaries between the MR scanner's main magnetic field and the quantum processor. These shields act as mediators that block or redirect the magnetic field lines, protecting the sensitive quantum processor from interference while allowing the processor to remain in the scanner's environment for space efficiency.
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 integration simplifies the MR scanner's structure, enhances performance, and reduces costs by leveraging the robust cooling infrastructure of the MR scanner, while providing the computational power of a superconducting quantum processor, leading to better reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The MR scanner includes a superconducting magnet
Implementation Method 2
this cooling method similarly depends on reliable supply of liquid Helium as a coolant and on a cold head as the cryogenic cooling engine used to reduce the operating temperature of the superconducting coils from room temperature down to 4K
Implementation Method 3
Quantum computers are quantum mechanical systems using phenomena of superposition and entanglement of quantum mechanical states
Implementation Method 4
Quantum computers are quantum mechanical systems using phenomena of superposition and entanglement of quantum mechanical states
Implementation Method 5
The multi-stage refrigeration system includes a first cooling system surrounding the superconducting magnet and a second cooling system surrounding the superconducting quantum processor, wherein the second cooling system is embedded in the first cooling system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The MR scanner includes a superconducting magnet, a superconducting quantum processor, a first cooling system surrounding the superconducting magnet, and a second cooling system surrounding the superconducting quantum processor. The second cooling system is embedded in the first cooling system.