JPH0236842A - Mr magnet system for animal leg - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the early detection of a disease of a leg of a horse by introducing an animal to a predetermined position with the use of a frame, and by surrounding a leg with a splitable RF coil while opposing magnets are arranged so as to clamp the RF coil, and by moving the magnet up and down from and to the lower part of the leg. CONSTITUTION:The upper part of a carrier bed 4 is flush with the surface of a floor 16 when a horse 1 is led into a horse frame 2 so as to prevent the horse from being caught by hooves. In this condition, when a leg of the horse comes to a predetermined position which is the center part of opposing magnets 3, an RF coil 8 is set and then the carrier bed 4 is moderately raised to a predetermined height. After completion of a diagnosis, the carrier bed 4 is lowered to the level flush with the surface of the floor 16, and then the RF coil 8 is removed from the leg before the horse 1 is led out from the horse frame 2. It is noted that the RF coil is composed of two haves 2 which are coupled to a coil body 10 so as to constitute a coil. A soft material cover 11 is provided to the coil body 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Industrial Application Field" This invention is used to diagnose diseases, injuries, etc. of the legs of animals, such as horse legs, and applies a magnetic field to the legs of horses to obtain nuclear magnetic resonance information. The present invention relates to a leg MR magnet system.

``Conventional technology'' Traditionally, examinations of horses' legs were performed by manual palpation or X-ray examination.

``Problem to be solved by the invention'' However, with this conventional method, it is not possible to obtain sufficient information about the parts hidden behind bones, such as joints and muscles, and the quality of the muscles, not just whether they are broken or not, but their condition. Can not.

If we had nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic equipment, we would be able to obtain more information, but the current magnet system for human nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic equipment and the one for animals is too large for a live horse. Or (J) There were problems such as danger.

"Means for Solving the Problem" According to the animal leg MR magnet system of the present invention, a magnetic field is created between the tip of one leg of a standing animal and the vicinity of the upper joint for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance information. Apply.

More specifically, the animal is guided to a predetermined position by a frame, and a splittable RF coil is wound around the animal's legs.
Opposing magnets are provided to sandwich the coil, and the magnets are moved up and down from the bottom of the legs by a vertical mechanism.

"Embodiment" FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A horse 1 is guided to a predetermined position by a horse frame 2. Decide which leg of the horse 1 is to be detected, move the horse frame 2 left and right so that that leg is between the opposing magnets 3 as shown in Figure 2, and then move the horse frame 2 from side to side as shown in Figure 1 within the horse frame 2. A stopper 2a for stopping the horse 1 is slidably connected within the horse frame 2 so that the leg to be diagnosed is placed in the center of the magnet 3.

The magnet 3 is designed and manufactured to have the necessary magnetic field strength and highly uniform magnetic field. The magnets 3 are of a facing type and are arranged so as to sandwich one leg of the horse, as shown in FIG. 2, and are fixed to a mount 4 (which may be a yoke). Note that the gradient magnetic field coils are incorporated into the magnet 3 and are opposed to each other, and the whole is protected with rubber or the like to be safe for the horse.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 4 is U-shaped and has an upper and lower a structure 5 installed at the bottom so that it can be moved up and down between one of the horse's legs. The vertical mechanism 5 has a second link which is rotated by a cylinder 6 to move the pedestal 4 up and down. The vertical mechanism 5 may be of any type as long as it can move the pedestal 4 up and down. In order to prevent the pedestal 4 from wobbling laterally, a vertically extending slide shaft 7 is fixed to a heel 9 2, and a metal fitting 15 fixed to the lower part of the pedestal 4 is inserted through the slide shaft 7. This lateral wobbling prevention method may also be other methods.

RF coil 8 for receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals (NMR signals)
is wrapped around the lace of horse 1. That is, the RF coil 8 is divided into two parts as shown in FIG. One of the divided ends may be connected by a universal joint.

The coil body 10 constitutes one coil when the two divided RF coils 8 are connected. A coil body 10 is covered with a cover 11 made of a soft material.

A connecting pin 13 is protruded from one end surface of the divided RF coil 8, and a connecting pin 13 is protruded from the other end surface (not shown in the figure).
A hole is formed into which the is inserted.

After guiding horse 1 to the specified position, the RF
Insert coil 8 into the horse's leg.

After the cellar I. is completed, the pedestal 4 is slowly raised above the surface of the floor 16. As shown in FIG. 3, L-shaped metal fittings 14 are fixed to the pedestal 4 to hook and hold the stays 12 fixed to both sides of the l'lF coil 8.

The metal fittings 14 and the RF coil 8, especially the stay 12, are made to be as soft and flimsy as possible so as to be safe for the horse when the horse makes a sudden attack.

The movement of the pedestal 4 will be explained in more detail. Horse 1 is horse slot 2
When the horse is being led, the upper part of the mount 4 is on the same plane as the floor 16, so that the horse is not caught by its hooves. In this state, when the horse's legs come to a predetermined position, that is, at the center of the opposing magnet 3, set the RF coil 8 and slowly move the
When the examination is completed, the
Lower the mount 4 to the surface, remove the RF coil 8 from the horse's leg,
Take horse 1 out of horse frame 2.

``Effects of the invention'' With the above structure, the M
It is possible to obtain R information easily and safely. Therefore, early detection of diseases, injuries, etc. in the horse's legs becomes possible, which helps extend the lifespan of horses, especially race horses, and is of great clinical significance. This device can be applied to all four-legged and two-legged creatures, and has ripple effects such as being able to diagnose humans while still in a leg chair.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the RF coil.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A magnet system for animal leg MR that applies a magnetic field for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance information between the tip of one leg of a standing animal and the vicinity of the upper joint. (2) A frame that guides the animal to a predetermined position, a splittable RF coil that is wound around the leg of the animal guided by the frame, and an opposing magnet that is provided to sandwich the RF coil;
A magnet system for animal leg MR comprising a vertical mechanism that moves the magnet up and down from the lower part of the leg.