US20090167306A1 - Folded gradient terminal board end connector - Google Patents
Folded gradient terminal board end connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090167306A1 US20090167306A1 US12/006,118 US611807A US2009167306A1 US 20090167306 A1 US20090167306 A1 US 20090167306A1 US 611807 A US611807 A US 611807A US 2009167306 A1 US2009167306 A1 US 2009167306A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- folded
- end connector
- coil
- coils
- gradient
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000002595 magnetic resonance imaging Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000003475 lamination Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 12
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011889 copper foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002059 diagnostic imaging Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005476 soldering Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001575 pathological effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013024 troubleshooting Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R33/00—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
- G01R33/20—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance
- G01R33/28—Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
- G01R33/38—Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field
- G01R33/385—Systems for generation, homogenisation or stabilisation of the main or gradient magnetic field using gradient magnetic field coils
- G01R33/3858—Manufacture and installation of gradient coils, means for providing mechanical support to parts of the gradient-coil assembly
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R33/00—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
- G01R33/20—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance
- G01R33/28—Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
- G01R33/42—Screening
- G01R33/421—Screening of main or gradient magnetic field
- G01R33/4215—Screening of main or gradient magnetic field of the gradient magnetic field, e.g. using passive or active shielding of the gradient magnetic field
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.
- the invention relates to a terminal board end connector for the construction of a folded gradient coil in a MRI system.
- the embodiments described here are particularly directed to the construction of a folded gradient coil in an MRI system.
- its application can be expanded to other areas in which there is a need for complicated leads or coil connections and which has a limited space to assemble them, such as an electric machine with a closed slot structure.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a non-invasive method, based on the physical phenomenon of nuclear spin resonance to obtain the image of the inside of an object. It has been employed for many years in the past in the field of chemistry to identify the atomic constituents in the sample material. In the past 20 years, MRI has been successfully introduced into medical imaging to demonstrate pathological or other physiological alternations of living tissues. Now its medical and diagnostic applications appear to be numerous and significant.
- Radio-frequency waves can now excite these “ordered” nuclear spins to a specific oscillation (resonant frequency).
- this oscillation generates the actual measuring signal (RF response signal), which is picked up by suitable receiving coils.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of an MRI apparatus 10 that includes a magnetostatic field magnet unit 12 , a gradient coil unit 13 , an RF coil unit 14 , an RF driver unit 22 , a gradient coil driver unit 23 , a data acquisition unit 24 , a controller unit 25 , a patient bed 26 , a data processing unit 31 , an operating console unit 32 , and a display unit 33 .
- MRI magnetic resonance imaging
- the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 10 transmits electromagnetic pulse signals to a subject 16 placed in an imaging space 18 with a magnetostatic field formed to perform a scan for obtaining magnetic resonance signals from the subject 16 to reconstruct an image of the slice of the subject 16 based on the magnetic resonance signals thus obtained by the scan.
- the magnetostatic field magnet unit 12 includes, for example, typically an annular superconducting magnet, which is mounted within a toroidal vacuum vessel.
- the magnet defines a cylinder space surrounding the subject 16 , and generates a constant primary magneto static field, along the Z direction of the cylinder space.
- the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus 10 also includes a gradient coil unit 13 that forms a gradient field in the imaging space 18 to add positional information to the magnetic resonance signals received by the FR coil unit 14 .
- the gradient coil unit 13 includes three magnet systems, each of which generates a gradient magnetic field which inclines into one of three spatial axes perpendicular to each other, and generates a gradient field in each of frequency encoding direction, phase encoding direction, and slice selection direction in accordance with the imaging condition. More specifically, the gradient coil unit 13 applies a gradient field in the slice selection direction of the subject 16 , to select the slice; and the RF coil unit 14 transmits an RF pulse to a selected slice of the subject 16 and excites it.
- the gradient coil unit 13 also applies a gradient field in the phase encoding direction of the subject 16 to phase encode the magnetic resonance signals from the slice excited by the RF pulse.
- the gradient coil unit 13 then applies a gradient field in the frequency encoding direction of the subject 16 to frequency encode the magnetic resonance signals from the slice excited by the RF pulse.
- the gradient coil unit 13 can employ known gradient coil structures such as a conventional gradient coil that employs a separate primary coil portion and a separate shield coil portion.
- a conventional folded gradient coil such as the coil 40 depicted in FIG. 2 can also be employed to formulate the gradient coil unit 13 .
- the folded gradient coil 40 has a primary coil portion 42 and a shield coil portion 44 that are connected via a folded portion 46 to provide a single gradient coil per axis.
- the folded coil structure advantageously provides for lower inductance, lower resistance, and a less leakage magnetic field as compared with the conventional structure that has two separated gradient coils.
- the transverse folded gradient coils, X and Y necessarily have to intercross with one another to ensure symmetry and optimize coil efficiency.
- the coil stack-up structure should be Y_shield, X_shield, Y_primary, X_primary. Manufacturing limitations such as spatial interferences associated with the folded part 46 of the coil prevent construction of such an ideal coil stack-up structure, resulting in a coil stack-up structure having a Y_shield, X_shield, X_primary, Y_primary sequence.
- the resultant stack-up structure causes nonsymmetry, lowers the gradient coil efficiency, and creates a higher complexity of manufacturing requiring special parts to support the folded portion(s) 46 of the coil in which both the Y_shield and Y_primary coils lie on the cylinder surface.
- a folded gradient terminal board end connector comprises a multi-layer terminal connection board having a plurality of connection paths and vias configured to provide intercrossing between a plurality of folded gradient coils and further to provide symmetry between the plurality of folded gradient coils without spatial interference between folded portions of the plurality of folded gradient coils to optimize efficiency of a folded gradient coil assembly comprising the plurality of folded gradient coils.
- a terminal board end connector comprises a multi-layer terminal connection board having a plurality of connection paths and vias configured to receive and interface a plurality of coil end leads to provide coupling symmetry between a plurality of coils and to optimize spatial and operating efficiency between the plurality of symmetrically coupled coils.
- a method of connecting a plurality of folded gradient coils comprises:
- connecting a plurality of corresponding folded gradient coil end leads to the end connector to provide a folded gradient coil assembly having symmetry between a plurality of folded gradient coils without spatial interference between folded portions of the plurality of folded gradient coils to optimize coil efficiency of the plurality of folded gradient coils.
- a method of interconnecting a plurality of coils comprises:
- connecting the plurality of coil end leads to the end connector to provide coupling symmetry between a plurality of corresponding coils and to optimize spatial and operating efficiency between the plurality of symmetrically coupled coils.
- FIG. 1 is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus known in the art
- FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a conventional folded gradient coil structure known in the art
- FIG. 3 is a pictorial view illustrating a folded gradient coil structure, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a folded gradient terminal board end connector suitable for use to implement the folded gradient coil structure depicted in FIG. 3 , according to one aspect of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a closed slot stator assembly suitable for use with a terminal board end connector, according to one aspect of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a folded gradient coil 50 , in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.
- Folded gradient coil 50 includes an outer surface Y_shield coil 52 that surrounds an X_shield coil 54 that surrounds a Y_primary coil 56 that surrounds an X_primary coil 58 that lies on the inner surface of the gradient coil 50 .
- a multi-layer terminal connection board 60 constructed in one embodiment of a laminated high thermal dielectric material is configured with connection paths and vias as described in further detail below with reference to FIG. 4 . Wire leads from each portion of the folded gradient coil 50 , i.e.
- Y_shield coil 52 , X_shield coil 54 , Y_primary coil 56 , X_primary coil 58 are attached (soldered) to corresponding vias on the surface of the multi-layer terminal connection board 60 .
- the requisite through channels on the multi-layer terminal connection board 60 are connected to predetermined vias by copper tracks in between the layers as well as on the surface of the terminal connection board 60 .
- the multi-layer terminal connection board 60 is constructed in a fashion such that intercrossing between the gradient coils 52 , 54 , 56 , and 58 is accomplished to provide symmetry without spatial interference to optimize the gradient coil efficiency and reduce complexity of manufacturing.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion 100 of the folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 suitable for use to implement the folded gradient coil structure 50 depicted in FIG. 3 , according to one aspect of the present invention.
- the leads from both the primary and shield portions of the folded gradient coil 50 can be soldered to the vias 102 which are on the outer surface of the board 60 .
- Copper tracks 104 having a desired thickness are bounded to the high thermal dielectric material 106 using a thermal bonding procedure of prepreg that ensures the proper thermal conduction and insulation requirements are met.
- the copper tracks 104 represent the wire patterns of the folded parts of the folded gradient coil structure 50 . All of the wire leads will pass through the via 102 channels, crossing the different layers 108 , 110 , 112 , 114 , and 116 of the board connector 60 . Each via 102 channel has an internal surface that is clad with a layer of copper foil.
- the copper foil which has a certain thickness to handle the current up to about a couple of hundreds of amperes, provides a conductive path between the vias 102 and predetermined tracks 104 on different layers. In this way, two wire leads soldered on different vias 102 respectively, can be internally connected through the copper tracks 104 on the board connector 60 .
- the primary and shield portions 52 , 54 , 56 , and 58 of the two transverse folded gradient coils 50 are soldered on one surface of the board connector 60 such that the board connector 60 becomes the folded part of the folded gradient coils 50 , and such that the requisite connections are implemented in different board connector layers 108 , 110 , 112 , 114 , and 116 .
- the folded gradient coil structure 50 depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 substantially eliminates spatial interference generally associated with conventional gradient coil structures. Further, the folded gradient coil structure 50 allows use of well developed techniques associated with convention gradient coil manufacturing processes to manufacture the primary and shield coil parts separately, and then bond the individual parts together using the folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 .
- the foregoing structure 50 advantageously provides a simpler solution for testing and troubleshooting manufacturing flaws due to the ease soldering and de-soldering the primary and shield coil parts to the folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 .
- Folded gradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 advantageously has a higher efficiency with less manufacturing complexity than conventional folded gradient coil assemblies known in the art.
- the folded gradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 further advantageously allows more folded gradient to be used in MRI systems such as MRI apparatus 10 depicted in FIG. 1 .
- Further benefits include lower manufacturing costs, lower manufacturing risks, and lower maintenance costs.
- Another benefit associated with folded gradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 is an assembly having a lower inductance which translates into a lower cost on the corresponding gradient drive assembly and lower AC loss performance that now requires reduced cooling requirements and enhance image quality. The foregoing features allow use of higher speed image capture and larger patient bores in MRI systems.
- the folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 is particularly advantageous when used to implement a folded gradient coil assembly, because the folded gradient terminal board end connector 60 allows construction of a cross sectional symmetric geometry for the folded gradient X and Y coils 50 due to elimination of spatial interference between the folded portions of the folded gradient X and Y coils 50 .
- a closed slot in an electric motor/generator contributes to lower AC losses in the stator iron portion of the electric electric motor/generator. This feature is very important to a high speed machine having high efficiency requirements.
- Typical stator winding schemes are not capable of providing a winding solution for such a closed slot stator structure such as that depicted in FIG. 5 however since such winding schemes employ a winding machine to wind a stator coil that subsequently needs to be inserted into the stator slot.
- the closed slot stator structure prevents insertion of the stator coil into the slot.
- a terminal board end connector such as that described above allows a stator coil assembly 120 to be constructed for a closed-slot stator structure such as that illustrated in FIG. 5 that depicts a plurality of closed slots 124 .
- a winding machine is used to wind the stator coils first and then insert them as a whole part into the stator slots for a regular open-slot stator structure.
- One does not have the access space necessary to insert a pre-wound coil for a closed-slot stator structure such as depicted in FIG. 5 .
- One can first insert a desired number of conductor bars into the slot 124 to obtain a desired number of turns for a desired stator coil 122 by using a terminal board end connector 126 .
- Terminal end connector board 126 thus allows use of a closed-slot stator structure to provide a highly efficient stator coil assembly 120 during manufacture of an electric motor/generator.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In particular, the invention relates to a terminal board end connector for the construction of a folded gradient coil in a MRI system.
- The embodiments described here are particularly directed to the construction of a folded gradient coil in an MRI system. However, its application can be expanded to other areas in which there is a need for complicated leads or coil connections and which has a limited space to assemble them, such as an electric machine with a closed slot structure.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method, based on the physical phenomenon of nuclear spin resonance to obtain the image of the inside of an object. It has been employed for many years in the past in the field of chemistry to identify the atomic constituents in the sample material. In the past 20 years, MRI has been successfully introduced into medical imaging to demonstrate pathological or other physiological alternations of living tissues. Now its medical and diagnostic applications appear to be numerous and significant.
- During the imaging process of MRI, an object is exposed to a strong constant magnetic field. This aligns the nuclear spins of the atoms in the object, which were previously oriented irregularly. Radio-frequency waves can now excite these “ordered” nuclear spins to a specific oscillation (resonant frequency). In MRI, this oscillation generates the actual measuring signal (RF response signal), which is picked up by suitable receiving coils.
- The foregoing medical imaging techniques are generally implemented via a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus such as that shown in
FIG. 1 that illustrates a structure of anMRI apparatus 10 that includes a magnetostaticfield magnet unit 12, agradient coil unit 13, anRF coil unit 14, anRF driver unit 22, a gradientcoil driver unit 23, a data acquisition unit 24, acontroller unit 25, apatient bed 26, adata processing unit 31, an operating console unit 32, and adisplay unit 33. The magneticresonance imaging apparatus 10 transmits electromagnetic pulse signals to asubject 16 placed in animaging space 18 with a magnetostatic field formed to perform a scan for obtaining magnetic resonance signals from thesubject 16 to reconstruct an image of the slice of thesubject 16 based on the magnetic resonance signals thus obtained by the scan. - The magnetostatic
field magnet unit 12 includes, for example, typically an annular superconducting magnet, which is mounted within a toroidal vacuum vessel. The magnet defines a cylinder space surrounding thesubject 16, and generates a constant primary magneto static field, along the Z direction of the cylinder space. - The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
apparatus 10 also includes agradient coil unit 13 that forms a gradient field in theimaging space 18 to add positional information to the magnetic resonance signals received by theFR coil unit 14. Thegradient coil unit 13 includes three magnet systems, each of which generates a gradient magnetic field which inclines into one of three spatial axes perpendicular to each other, and generates a gradient field in each of frequency encoding direction, phase encoding direction, and slice selection direction in accordance with the imaging condition. More specifically, thegradient coil unit 13 applies a gradient field in the slice selection direction of thesubject 16, to select the slice; and theRF coil unit 14 transmits an RF pulse to a selected slice of thesubject 16 and excites it. Thegradient coil unit 13 also applies a gradient field in the phase encoding direction of thesubject 16 to phase encode the magnetic resonance signals from the slice excited by the RF pulse. Thegradient coil unit 13 then applies a gradient field in the frequency encoding direction of thesubject 16 to frequency encode the magnetic resonance signals from the slice excited by the RF pulse. - The
gradient coil unit 13 can employ known gradient coil structures such as a conventional gradient coil that employs a separate primary coil portion and a separate shield coil portion. A conventional folded gradient coil such as thecoil 40 depicted inFIG. 2 can also be employed to formulate thegradient coil unit 13. The foldedgradient coil 40 has aprimary coil portion 42 and ashield coil portion 44 that are connected via a foldedportion 46 to provide a single gradient coil per axis. The folded coil structure advantageously provides for lower inductance, lower resistance, and a less leakage magnetic field as compared with the conventional structure that has two separated gradient coils. - The transverse folded gradient coils, X and Y necessarily have to intercross with one another to ensure symmetry and optimize coil efficiency. Ideally, the coil stack-up structure should be Y_shield, X_shield, Y_primary, X_primary. Manufacturing limitations such as spatial interferences associated with the folded
part 46 of the coil prevent construction of such an ideal coil stack-up structure, resulting in a coil stack-up structure having a Y_shield, X_shield, X_primary, Y_primary sequence. The resultant stack-up structure causes nonsymmetry, lowers the gradient coil efficiency, and creates a higher complexity of manufacturing requiring special parts to support the folded portion(s) 46 of the coil in which both the Y_shield and Y_primary coils lie on the cylinder surface. - A need therefore exists for a gradient coil structure that is easy to manufacture and that does not require special parts to support the folded portions of the gradient coil.
- According to one embodiment, a folded gradient terminal board end connector comprises a multi-layer terminal connection board having a plurality of connection paths and vias configured to provide intercrossing between a plurality of folded gradient coils and further to provide symmetry between the plurality of folded gradient coils without spatial interference between folded portions of the plurality of folded gradient coils to optimize efficiency of a folded gradient coil assembly comprising the plurality of folded gradient coils.
- According to another embodiment, a terminal board end connector comprises a multi-layer terminal connection board having a plurality of connection paths and vias configured to receive and interface a plurality of coil end leads to provide coupling symmetry between a plurality of coils and to optimize spatial and operating efficiency between the plurality of symmetrically coupled coils.
- According to yet another embodiment, a method of connecting a plurality of folded gradient coils comprises:
- providing a folded gradient terminal board end connector having a plurality of connection paths and vias; and
- connecting a plurality of corresponding folded gradient coil end leads to the end connector to provide a folded gradient coil assembly having symmetry between a plurality of folded gradient coils without spatial interference between folded portions of the plurality of folded gradient coils to optimize coil efficiency of the plurality of folded gradient coils.
- According to still another embodiment, a method of interconnecting a plurality of coils comprises:
- providing a multi-layer terminal board end connector having a plurality of connection paths and vias configured to receive a plurality of coil end leads; and
- connecting the plurality of coil end leads to the end connector to provide coupling symmetry between a plurality of corresponding coils and to optimize spatial and operating efficiency between the plurality of symmetrically coupled coils.
- These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus known in the art; -
FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a conventional folded gradient coil structure known in the art; -
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view illustrating a folded gradient coil structure, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a folded gradient terminal board end connector suitable for use to implement the folded gradient coil structure depicted inFIG. 3 , according to one aspect of the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a closed slot stator assembly suitable for use with a terminal board end connector, according to one aspect of the present invention. - While the above-identified drawing figures set forth alternative embodiments, other embodiments of the present invention are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents illustrated embodiments of the present invention by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention.
-
FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a foldedgradient coil 50, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Foldedgradient coil 50, according to one embodiment, includes an outersurface Y_shield coil 52 that surrounds an X_shield coil 54 that surrounds a Y_primary coil 56 that surrounds an X_primary coil 58 that lies on the inner surface of thegradient coil 50. A multi-layerterminal connection board 60 constructed in one embodiment of a laminated high thermal dielectric material is configured with connection paths and vias as described in further detail below with reference toFIG. 4 . Wire leads from each portion of the foldedgradient coil 50, i.e. Y_shieldcoil 52, X_shield coil 54, Y_primary coil 56, X_primary coil 58, are attached (soldered) to corresponding vias on the surface of the multi-layerterminal connection board 60. The requisite through channels on the multi-layerterminal connection board 60 are connected to predetermined vias by copper tracks in between the layers as well as on the surface of theterminal connection board 60. - The multi-layer
terminal connection board 60 is constructed in a fashion such that intercrossing between thegradient coils 52, 54, 56, and 58 is accomplished to provide symmetry without spatial interference to optimize the gradient coil efficiency and reduce complexity of manufacturing. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of aportion 100 of the folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60 suitable for use to implement the foldedgradient coil structure 50 depicted inFIG. 3 , according to one aspect of the present invention. Using this multilayer folded gradientterminal board connector 60, the leads from both the primary and shield portions of the foldedgradient coil 50 can be soldered to thevias 102 which are on the outer surface of theboard 60.Copper tracks 104 having a desired thickness are bounded to the high thermaldielectric material 106 using a thermal bonding procedure of prepreg that ensures the proper thermal conduction and insulation requirements are met. - The
copper tracks 104 represent the wire patterns of the folded parts of the foldedgradient coil structure 50. All of the wire leads will pass through the via 102 channels, crossing thedifferent layers board connector 60. Each via 102 channel has an internal surface that is clad with a layer of copper foil. The copper foil, which has a certain thickness to handle the current up to about a couple of hundreds of amperes, provides a conductive path between thevias 102 andpredetermined tracks 104 on different layers. In this way, two wire leads soldered ondifferent vias 102 respectively, can be internally connected through the copper tracks 104 on theboard connector 60. - Although all of the requisite gradient coil leads are soldered on the
vias 102 of the multilayer folded gradientterminal board connector 60 using the same outer surface, the leads can thus have connections to different and distinct layers respectively. The primary and shieldportions 52, 54, 56, and 58 of the two transverse folded gradient coils 50, in one embodiment, are soldered on one surface of theboard connector 60 such that theboard connector 60 becomes the folded part of the folded gradient coils 50, and such that the requisite connections are implemented in different board connector layers 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116. - The folded
gradient coil structure 50 depicted inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4 substantially eliminates spatial interference generally associated with conventional gradient coil structures. Further, the foldedgradient coil structure 50 allows use of well developed techniques associated with convention gradient coil manufacturing processes to manufacture the primary and shield coil parts separately, and then bond the individual parts together using the folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60. The foregoingstructure 50 advantageously provides a simpler solution for testing and troubleshooting manufacturing flaws due to the ease soldering and de-soldering the primary and shield coil parts to the folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60. - Folded
gradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60 advantageously has a higher efficiency with less manufacturing complexity than conventional folded gradient coil assemblies known in the art. The foldedgradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60 further advantageously allows more folded gradient to be used in MRI systems such asMRI apparatus 10 depicted inFIG. 1 . Further benefits include lower manufacturing costs, lower manufacturing risks, and lower maintenance costs. Another benefit associated with foldedgradient coil 50 that includes folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60 is an assembly having a lower inductance which translates into a lower cost on the corresponding gradient drive assembly and lower AC loss performance that now requires reduced cooling requirements and enhance image quality. The foregoing features allow use of higher speed image capture and larger patient bores in MRI systems. - The folded gradient terminal
board end connector 60 is particularly advantageous when used to implement a folded gradient coil assembly, because the folded gradient terminalboard end connector 60 allows construction of a cross sectional symmetric geometry for the folded gradient X and Y coils 50 due to elimination of spatial interference between the folded portions of the folded gradient X and Y coils 50. - The present invention is not so limited however, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the principles described herein above with reference to
FIGS. 3-4 depicting particular embodiments, can just as easily be employed in many other applications such as, but not limited to, electric machine design and manufacturing. A closed slot in an electric motor/generator, for example, contributes to lower AC losses in the stator iron portion of the electric electric motor/generator. This feature is very important to a high speed machine having high efficiency requirements. - Typical stator winding schemes are not capable of providing a winding solution for such a closed slot stator structure such as that depicted in
FIG. 5 however since such winding schemes employ a winding machine to wind a stator coil that subsequently needs to be inserted into the stator slot. The closed slot stator structure prevents insertion of the stator coil into the slot. - A terminal board end connector such as that described above allows a
stator coil assembly 120 to be constructed for a closed-slot stator structure such as that illustrated inFIG. 5 that depicts a plurality ofclosed slots 124. A winding machine is used to wind the stator coils first and then insert them as a whole part into the stator slots for a regular open-slot stator structure. One does not have the access space necessary to insert a pre-wound coil for a closed-slot stator structure such as depicted inFIG. 5 . One can first insert a desired number of conductor bars into theslot 124 to obtain a desired number of turns for a desiredstator coil 122 by using a terminal board end connector 126. The ends of conductor bars indifferent slots 124 are then connected to form the conducting loop and achieve a desiredfinal stator coil 122 winding structure by using the terminal end connector board 126. Terminal end connector board 126 thus allows use of a closed-slot stator structure to provide a highly efficientstator coil assembly 120 during manufacture of an electric motor/generator. - While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/006,118 US7548064B1 (en) | 2007-12-29 | 2007-12-29 | Folded gradient terminal board end connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/006,118 US7548064B1 (en) | 2007-12-29 | 2007-12-29 | Folded gradient terminal board end connector |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US7548064B1 US7548064B1 (en) | 2009-06-16 |
US20090167306A1 true US20090167306A1 (en) | 2009-07-02 |
Family
ID=40748607
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/006,118 Active US7548064B1 (en) | 2007-12-29 | 2007-12-29 | Folded gradient terminal board end connector |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7548064B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10137542B2 (en) | 2010-01-14 | 2018-11-27 | Senvion Gmbh | Wind turbine rotor blade components and machine for making same |
EP2524134B1 (en) | 2010-01-14 | 2014-05-07 | Neptco, Inc. | Wind turbine rotor blade components and methods of making same |
US9355774B2 (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2016-05-31 | General Electric Company | System and method for manufacturing magnetic resonance imaging coils using ultrasonic consolidation |
US9869734B2 (en) | 2013-04-09 | 2018-01-16 | General Electric Company | System and method for manufacturing magnetic resonance imaging gradient coil assemblies |
CN106199471B (en) * | 2015-05-04 | 2019-10-01 | 通用电气公司 | Partially folded gradient coil unit and device |
US10101417B2 (en) | 2015-08-03 | 2018-10-16 | General Electric Company | Methods and devices for RF coils in MRI systems |
US10132883B2 (en) | 2016-05-31 | 2018-11-20 | General Electric Company | Foldable coil array |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4367450A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1983-01-04 | Ernie Carillo | Electrical reactor construction |
US4571663A (en) * | 1982-06-19 | 1986-02-18 | Ferranti Plc | Electrical circuit assemblies |
US4873757A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1989-10-17 | The Foxboro Company | Method of making a multilayer electrical coil |
US5666054A (en) * | 1994-12-21 | 1997-09-09 | Bruker Analytische Messtechnik Gmbh | Gradient coils for therapy tomographs |
US6073339A (en) * | 1996-09-20 | 2000-06-13 | Tdk Corporation Of America | Method of making low profile pin-less planar magnetic devices |
US6236209B1 (en) * | 1998-10-28 | 2001-05-22 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Actively shielded, transversal gradient coil system with 3D connection technology |
US6696837B2 (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2004-02-24 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Coil system |
US20040085067A1 (en) * | 2002-07-31 | 2004-05-06 | Stefan Stocker | Gradient coil system and method for manufacturing a gradient coil system |
US6870457B2 (en) * | 2002-12-10 | 2005-03-22 | National Central University | Symmetrical stacked inductor |
US7365542B1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-04-29 | General Electric Company | Flexible RF coil assembly and method of making same |
US7408425B2 (en) * | 2005-01-14 | 2008-08-05 | Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research | Differential signal termination block |
US7434739B2 (en) * | 2005-04-25 | 2008-10-14 | Lintec Corporation | Antenna circuit, IC inlet, IC tag, and IC card, as well as manufacturing method of IC tag and manufacturing method of IC card |
-
2007
- 2007-12-29 US US12/006,118 patent/US7548064B1/en active Active
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4367450A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1983-01-04 | Ernie Carillo | Electrical reactor construction |
US4571663A (en) * | 1982-06-19 | 1986-02-18 | Ferranti Plc | Electrical circuit assemblies |
US4873757A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1989-10-17 | The Foxboro Company | Method of making a multilayer electrical coil |
US5666054A (en) * | 1994-12-21 | 1997-09-09 | Bruker Analytische Messtechnik Gmbh | Gradient coils for therapy tomographs |
US6073339A (en) * | 1996-09-20 | 2000-06-13 | Tdk Corporation Of America | Method of making low profile pin-less planar magnetic devices |
US6236209B1 (en) * | 1998-10-28 | 2001-05-22 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Actively shielded, transversal gradient coil system with 3D connection technology |
US6696837B2 (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2004-02-24 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Coil system |
US20040085067A1 (en) * | 2002-07-31 | 2004-05-06 | Stefan Stocker | Gradient coil system and method for manufacturing a gradient coil system |
US6870457B2 (en) * | 2002-12-10 | 2005-03-22 | National Central University | Symmetrical stacked inductor |
US7408425B2 (en) * | 2005-01-14 | 2008-08-05 | Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research | Differential signal termination block |
US7434739B2 (en) * | 2005-04-25 | 2008-10-14 | Lintec Corporation | Antenna circuit, IC inlet, IC tag, and IC card, as well as manufacturing method of IC tag and manufacturing method of IC card |
US7365542B1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-04-29 | General Electric Company | Flexible RF coil assembly and method of making same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7548064B1 (en) | 2009-06-16 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7548064B1 (en) | Folded gradient terminal board end connector | |
EP1085338B1 (en) | Magnetic resonance apparatus | |
US7319329B2 (en) | Cold mass with discrete path substantially conductive coupler for superconducting magnet and cryogenic cooling circuit | |
EP1844348B1 (en) | Orthogonal coil for magnetic resonance imaging | |
JP3779395B2 (en) | Magnetic resonance equipment | |
EP1657561A1 (en) | Gradient coil apparatus and method of assembly thereof | |
US10031198B2 (en) | Methods and systems for a dual wind gradient coil | |
GB2432898A (en) | Cryogenic cooling circuit arrangement to avoid direct conductive thermal engagement of the inlet path with a coupler for a superconducting magnet | |
US6441615B1 (en) | Crossed-ladder RF coils for vertical field MRI systems | |
JP2009530050A (en) | Shielded MULTIX coil array for parallel high field MRI | |
CN101473239A (en) | Magnetic resonance receive coil array integrated into wall of scanner bore | |
EP2414859B1 (en) | Devices and cabling for use in a multi-resonant magnetic resonance system | |
US8179137B2 (en) | Magnetic resonance compatible multichannel stripline balun | |
US8766636B2 (en) | MRI short coils | |
US20110074422A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy using multiple-mode coils | |
CN102338863B (en) | Trommel-MWS | |
WO1994011749A1 (en) | Local transverse gradient coil | |
CN112540331A (en) | Method and system for floating cable trap | |
KR101856376B1 (en) | Multi- channel Helmholtz coil for magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance imaging system | |
JP2011172647A (en) | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and high frequency coil | |
EP3761872B1 (en) | Mri tracking device design, fabrication, and methods of use for mri-guided robotic system | |
JP6886908B2 (en) | Array coil and magnetic resonance imaging device | |
US6933825B2 (en) | Gradient coil for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, and method for producing same | |
JP3866960B2 (en) | Magnetic resonance imaging device | |
CN213069147U (en) | Balun assembly and magnetic resonance imaging system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WANG, WENSEN (NMN);AMM, BRUCE COURTNEY CAMPBELL;YIN, WEIJUN (NMN);AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020554/0012;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080205 TO 20080225 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 12 |