MRI system having high field strength open access magnet

Claim 2

An MRI system comprising a magnet system configuration, said magnet system comprising a plurality of C-shape solenoidal magnets arranged around a central longitudinal axis to form an imaging volume in a central region of the magnets along said central axis so that the magnetic flux from each C-shape solenoidal magnet is superposed with the flux from the other C-shape solenoidal magnets and contributes to the magnetic field in the imaging volume, each C-shape solenoidal magnet comprising a tubular structure of a non-ferromagnetic material configured in a C-shape, one end of the C-shape tubular structure providing the N-pole and the other end providing the S-pole, the tubular structure having a plurality of electrical coils wound around the circumference of the tubular structure to provide a toroidal shape magnetic flux through the air space defined by the tubular structure and the imaging volume, the MRI system further comprising a gradient coil for providing a magnetic field gradient in the imaging volume and an Rf coil for providing an Rf signal in the imaging volume.

Claim 3

The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the Rf coil also receives NMR signals from a specimen in the imaging volume.

Claim 4

The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the magnet system further comprises two conically shaped electromagnets on the central axis of the C-shape solenoidal magnets, one adjacent and in the center of the N-poles of the C-shape solenoidal magnets and the second adjacent and in the center of the S-poles of the C-shape solenoidal magnets.

Claim 5

The MRI system of claim 1, wherein the magnet system further comprises an angular space between two adjacent C-shape solenoidal magnets, the space providing access to the imaging volume.

Claim 6

The MRI system of claim 4, wherein access is provided for a patient along one direction and access is provided along another direction for conducting a medical procedure on the patient.

Claim 7

The MRI system of claim 5, wherein the two directions are along orthogonal axes.

Claim 8

An MRI system comprising a magnet system configuration, said magnet system comprising two pair of C-shape solenoidal magnets arranged around a central longitudinal axis to form an imaging volume in a central region of the C-shape solenoidal magnets along said central axis so that the magnetic flux from each C-shape solenoidal magnet is superposed with the flux from the other C-shape solenoidal magnets and contributes to the magnetic field in the imaging volume, each C-shape solenoidal magnet comprising a tubular structure of a non-ferromagnetic material configured in a C-shape, one end of the C-shape tubular structure providing the N-pole and the other end providing the S-pole, the tubular structure having a plurality of electrical coils wound around the circumference of the tubular structure to provide a toroidal shape magnetic flux through the air space defined by the tubular structure and the imaging volume, the MRI system further comprising a gradient coil for providing a magnetic field gradient in the imaging volume and an Rf coil for providing an Rf signal in the imaging volume, wherein each pair of C-shape solenoidal magnets comprises two diametrically opposed magnets with the N-pole of the first C-shape solenoidal magnet facing the N-pole of the second C-shape solenoidal magnet so that the flux from each of the C-shape solenoidal magnets flows in the same direction through the imaging volume.

Claim 9

An MRI system comprising a magnet system configuration, said magnet system comprising two pair of C-shape solenoidal magnets arranged around a central longitudinal axis to form an imaging volume in a central region of the C-shape solenoidal magnets along said central axis so that the magnetic flux from each C-shape solenoidal magnet is superposed with the flux from the other C-shape solenoidal magnets and contributes to the magnetic field in the imaging volume, each C-shape solenoidal magnet comprising a tubular structure of a non-ferromagnetic material configured in a C-shape, one end of the C-shape tubular structure providing the N-pole and the other end providing the S-pole, the tubular structure having a plurality of electrical coils wound around the circumference of the tubular structure to provide a toroidal shape magnetic flux through the air space defined by the tubular structure and the imaging volume, the MRI system further comprising a gradient coil for providing a magnetic field gradient in the imaging volume and an Rf coil for providing an Rf signal in the imaging volume, wherein each pair of C-shape solenoidal magnets comprises two diametrically opposed magnets with the N-pole of the first C-shape solenoidal magnet facing the N-pole of the second C-shape solenoidal magnet so that the flux from each of the C-shape solenoidal magnets flows in the same direction through the imaging volume.

Claim 10

The MRI system of claim 7, wherein the Rf coil also receives NMR signals from a specimen in the imaging volume.

Claim 11

The MRI system of claim 7, wherein the magnet system further comprises two conically shaped electromagnets on the central axis of the C-shape solenoidal magnets, one adjacent and in the center of the N-poles of the C-shape solenoidal magnets and the second adjacent and in the center of the S-poles of the C-shape solenoidal magnets.

Claim 12

The MRI system of claim 7, wherein the magnet system further comprises an angular space between two adjacent C-shape solenoidal magnets, the space providing access to the imaging volume.

Claim 13

The MRI system of claim 10, wherein access is provided along another direction for a patient along one direction and access is provided for conducting a medical procedure on the patient.

Claim 14

The MRI system of claim 10, wherein the two directions are along orthogonal axes.