MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, which includes a floor surface, a static magnetic field generator, two pieces of which are placed opposite each other vertically across an image pickup space, and a plurality of support legs for supporting a weight of the resonance imaging apparatus, the support legs being elastically deformed in a direction in which the weight is to be applied, and being arranged between the floor surface and a floor. Furthermore, each of the support legs has a spring constant which is set to absorb a displacement between the floor surface and the floor, while bearing the weight. This MRI apparatus has the simple structure enabling the efficient damping of the vibrations which may cause the deterioration of magnetic resonance images.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages hereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section view depicting an inner structure of an MRI apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting an appearance of the MRI apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a view depicting an arrangement of vertical support members in the apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a view depicting an arrangement of support legs in the apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus that undergoes a first bending vibration along an X axis;

FIG. 4B is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus that undergoes a vibration of a first bending mode along a Y axis;

FIG. 5A is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus that undergoes the vibration of the first bending mode along an X axis;

FIG. 5B is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus that undergoes the rocking vibration along a Y axis;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a relationship between the arrangement of the support leg and a rotational moment of the apparatus:

FIG. 7A is a view depicting an arrangement of vertical support members in an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a view depicting an arrangement of support legs in the apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view depicting an arrangement of support legs in an apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus, of which floor surface undergoes a vibration;

FIG. 9B is a view exaggeratedly depicting the apparatus, of which floor surface undergoes a vibration; and

FIG. 10 is a view depicting an arrangement of support legs in an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a floor surface;a static magnetic field generator, two pieces of which are placed opposite each other vertically across an image pickup space; anda plurality of support legs for supporting a weight of said magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the support legs being elastically deformed in a direction in which the weight is applied, and being arranged between the floor surface and a floor.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the support legs has a spring constant which is set to absorb a displacement between the floor surface and the floor, while bearing the weight.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the support legs comprises a stack of a first member and a second member, and the first and second members have different spring constants.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support legs include more than three support legs.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a support mechanism for supporting the static magnetic field generator, the support mechanism having different strengths in first and second horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, wherein a strength of the first horizontal direction is higher than that of the second horizontal direction, wherein each of four of the support legs is placed at a 25° to 45° angle with respect to the first horizontal direction.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of superconductive coils constituting the static magnetic field generator;a cooling container module including a plurality of cooling containers for containing the superconductive coils, respectively;a vacuum container module including a plurality of vacuum containers for containing the cooling containers, respectively;the cooling container module being erected on a bottom of the vacuum container module; anda plurality of support members for supporting the cooling container module.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a support mechanism for supporting the static magnetic field generator, the support mechanism having different strengths in first and second horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, wherein a strength of the first horizontal direction is higher than that of the second horizontal direction, wherein the support members include four support members, and each of the support members is placed at a 25° to 45° angle with respect to the first horizontal direction.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the four support members are aligned with four of the support legs, respectively.