US6054856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Magnetic resonance detection coil that is immune to environmental noise
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1998-04-01
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Granted: 2000-04-25
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Expires: 2018-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A noise immune gradiometer split shield coil for use in magnetic resonanceetection, such as in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR). The coil is formed by a transmission line configured as a magnetic field gradiometer. The transmission line has a conductor which is electrically continuous through the coil, and a shield which is split at a position that causes the gradiometer to be electrically balanced. In this manner, the coil provides a high degree of internal shielding to reduce the effects of environmental noise pick-up. Such coils are also less sensitive to the effects of nearby conducting media.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen N. Garroway
- 👤 Bryan H. Suits
- 👤 Joel B. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/32; G01R33/34; G01R33/343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second ends to cause the coil to be electrically balanced and to define first and second sections in series and the two sections are geometrically arranged so that a uniform magnetic field through the coil induces currents in each section with the sum of those currents being substantially less than the current flowing in either section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second ends to cause the coil to be electrically balanced and to define first and second sections in series and the two sections are geometrically arranged so that a uniform magnetic field through the coil induces currents in each section with the sum of those currents being substantially less than the current flowing in either section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein said sum is less than 10% of the current flowing in either section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sections is an inductor forming a loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coil as in claim 3, wherein each loop is one of the group consisting of a circle shape, an oval shape, a rectangle shape a square shape, and a meanderline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sections is an inductor forming a loop with a plurality of turns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein the first and second sections together form a magnetic field gradiometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a coaxial cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A coil as in claim 1, further comprising: means for providing additional electrical shielding for the coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A coil as in claim 1, further comprising: a first plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the first section; and a second plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the second section, so that the first and second plurality of strips provide additional electrical shielding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A coil as in claim 1, further comprising: a transmit/receive mechanism to switch between a first state where the coil is used to receive, and a second state where the coil is used to transmit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A coil as in claim 1, further comprising: a transmit mechanism which grounds the shield of one of the sections at the split and provides a signal to the other section, to use the coil to transmit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coil as in claim 1, further comprising: a transmit mechanism which provides a signal across the split, to use the coil to transmit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coil as in claim 1, wherein the coil is one of the group consisting of a transmitter coil and a receiver coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A coil as in claim, 1, wherein the coil is for use in one of the group consisting of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the transmission line forms first and second loops in series between the first and second ends, the first and second loops together having a geometric configuration so that a uniform magnetic field through the coil induces currents in each loop with the sum of those currents being substantially less than the current flowing in either loop, the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second loops to cause the coil to be electrically balanced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the transmission line forms first and second loops in series between the first and second ends, the first and second loops together having a geometric configuration so that a uniform magnetic field through the coil induces currents in each loop with the sum of those currents being substantially less than the current flowing in either loop, the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second loops to cause the coil to be electrically balanced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coil as in claim 15, wherein said sum is less than 10% of the current flowing in either loop.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A coil as in claim 15, wherein each loop has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle shape, an oval shape, a rectangle shape, a square shape, and a meanderline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and configured as a magnetic field gradiometer, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous through the coil, and the shield is split at a position which causes the gradiometer to be electrically balanced.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and configured as a magnetic field gradiometer, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous through the coil, and the shield is split at a position which causes the gradiometer to be electrically balanced.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coil as in claim 18, wherein the magnetic field gradiometer forms first and second inductors in series, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second inductors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A coil as in claim 18, wherein the magnetic field gradiometer forms two loops in series.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coil as in claim 20, wherein each loop is one of the group consisting of a circle shape, an oval shape, a rectangle shape, a square shape, and a meanderline.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
A coil as in claim 19, further comprising: a first plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the first inductor; and a second plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the second inductor, so that the first and second plurality of electrically conducting strips provide additional electrical shielding.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second ends to cause the coil to be electrically balanced and to define first and second inductors in series which create fields in the opposite sense.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
69 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line including a conductor and a shield and having first and second ends, wherein the conductor is electrically continuous from the first to the second end, and the shield is split at a position between the first and second ends to cause the coil to be electrically balanced and to define first and second inductors in series which create fields in the opposite sense.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
86 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line forming at least one inductor; and a plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the outside of the inductor, to provide additional electrical shielding, wherein the transmission line forms first and second inductors in series, a first plurality of electrically conducting strips are electrically connected to the first inductor, and a second plurality of electrically conducting strips are electrically connected to the second inductor, so that the first and second plurality of electrically conducting strips provide additional electrical shielding.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
86 words
A coil comprising: a transmission line forming at least one inductor; and a plurality of electrically conducting strips electrically connected to the outside of the inductor, to provide additional electrical shielding, wherein the transmission line forms first and second inductors in series, a first plurality of electrically conducting strips are electrically connected to the first inductor, and a second plurality of electrically conducting strips are electrically connected to the second inductor, so that the first and second plurality of electrically conducting strips provide additional electrical shielding.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4079730A
Cited
US4816766A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-25 | 2003-10-25 | 2004-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-25 | 2007-10-25 | 2008-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-25 | 2011-10-25 | 2012-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |