MRI Cable Support Bracket Resists Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MRI systems face challenges in adequately supporting electrical cables connecting gradient coils, leading to image artifacts from vibration and potential cable or terminal damage due to inadequate or excessive support.
Innovation Solution
A rigid support structure with a channel is used to secure electrical cables, coupled to a stationary component of the MRI system, resisting movement and vibration, and optionally crimped or potted for additional stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid mounting arrangement is used to support cables, then vibration and motion of gradient coils are reduced, but stress on gradient coil terminal increases causing cable or terminal breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arrangement is divided into multiple brackets distributed along the cable length, with each bracket providing localized support. This segmentation distributes the stress and vibration resistance functions across multiple points rather than concentrating them at a single rigid mounting point, reducing stress on the terminal while maintaining cable stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cable are provided with different levels of support through strategically placed brackets. The mounting arrangement provides localized rigid support at specific intervals while allowing other portions to remain more flexible, creating varying degrees of constraint along the cable length to balance stability and stress reduction.
2Strength
If a flexible mounting arrangement is used to support cables, then stress on gradient coil terminal is reduced, but vibration and motion of gradient coils increase causing image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The cable support function is segmented into multiple discrete bracket locations rather than using a continuous rigid mounting. This allows the cable to have flexible portions between brackets while receiving localized support at intervals, reducing terminal stress while preventing excessive vibration through distributed support points.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement allows dynamic movement of the cable within controlled limits by using multiple discrete bracket attachment points rather than continuous rigid constraint. This dynamic flexibility accommodates thermal expansion and vibration while maintaining sufficient support to prevent image artifacts.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional brackets and plates are used for cable mounting, then cable support is provided, but installation difficulty increases and additional components such as strain relief are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket design integrates the cable support function and strain relief capability into a single unified component. The bracket structure inherently provides both mechanical support and stress absorption without requiring separate strain relief devices, simplifying the overall mounting arrangement while maintaining cable stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing rigid support for cable positioning, absorbing vibration and stress, and eliminating the need for additional strain relief components. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of parts and simplifies installation while ensuring adequate cable support.
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 solution effectively reduces image artifacts and prevents cable or terminal damage by providing appropriate support against electromagnetic coupling and vibration, ensuring stable electrical connections within the MRI system.
Implementation Method 1
current pulses applied (e.g., as part of a pulse sequence) to the gradient coils to generate time-varying magnetic fields can induce eddy currents that cause motion or vibration of the gradient coils
Implementation Method 2
If adequate support is not provided and excess motion results, such as from electro-magnetic coupling and vibration during coil pulsing, image artifacts can be caused in resultant images
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for mounting cables within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided. One apparatus includes a cable assembly having a rigid support structure defining a channel with a cross-section and an electrical cable having a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the channel. The electrical cable is secured within the channel of the rigid support structure, with the rigid support structure configured for coupling to a stationary component of the MRI system to resist movement from a movable component to which the electrical cable is connected.