Radio frequency shield for nuclear magnetic resonance procedures

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing RF shielding for performing nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) procedures, comprising a radio-opaque holder in combination with radio-opaque magnet components to form an RF shield around a patient undergoing an NMR procedure. In embodiments, a radio-opaque holder having a radio-opaque bottom portion and a radio-opaque canopy is adjoined to an NMR magnet having a radio-opaque cryostat and a radio-opaque service end cap to form an RF shield. A patient is placed on a patient support unit located in the holder bottom portion. The patient support unit, including the patient, is then inserted into the cavity of the NMR magnet and a canopy is placed on top of the bottom portion of the holder. An RF shield is thus created comprising the canopy, the bottom portion, the cryostat of the magnet, and an end cap on the service end of the magnet.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for use in RF shielding, comprising: 
 a holder comprising RF shielding and configured for forming a substantially complete RF shield when the holder is adjoined to the cavity of a magnet associated with magnet-RF-shielding.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a bottom portion comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the holder further comprises a canopy comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the holder further comprises a patient end cap comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the canopy removably attaches to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom portion comprises apertures.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the patient end cap comprises apertures.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning means attached to the holder.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the positioning means comprises a support configured to support the holder and means for locomotion.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises wheels.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises rollers.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a patient support unit.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF transmitter antenna and an RF receiver antenna.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF coil.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold an animal.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold a human.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the support is configured to hold an animal in an inverted position.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a cross section of the support is configured to substantially match the curvature of an animal's spine.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially V-shaped.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF transmitter antenna and an RF receiver antenna.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF coil.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the RF coil comprises a non-planar coil.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a cross section of the RF coil substantially matches a cross section of the support.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the RF coil comprises a plurality of loops.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the RF coil comprises an upper RF coil connected to a lower RF coil.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the RF coil is movable.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the patient support unit comprises straps for holding an animal.  
     
     
         29 . A system for providing RF shielding comprising: 
 a holder comprising holder-RF-shielding;    a magnet comprising magnet-RF-shielding, the magnet-RF-shielding configured, when the holder adjoined to the magnet, for combining with the holder-RF-shielding to form a substantially complete RF shield.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the holder comprises a bottom portion comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the holder further comprises a canopy comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the holder further comprises a patient end cap comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the canopy removably attaches to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the patient end cap removably attaches to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the patient end cap comprises apertures.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the bottom portion comprises apertures.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding comprises a service end cap.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding further comprises a cryostat.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding further comprises an RF shield liner configured to combine with the service end cap and the holder-RF-shielding to form a substantially complete RF shield.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a positioning means attached to the holder.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the positioning means comprises a support configured to support the holder and means for locomotion.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises wheels.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises rollers.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the holder comprises a patient support unit.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF transmitter antenna and an RF receiver antenna.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF coil.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold an animal.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold a human.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the support is adapted to hold an animal in an inverted position.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein a cross section of the support is configured substantially to match the curvature of an animal's spine.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially V-shaped.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF transmitter antenna and an RF receiver antenna.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF coil.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the RF coil comprises a non-planar coil.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein a cross section of the RF coil substantially matches a cross section of the support.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the RF coil comprises a plurality of loops.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the RF coil comprises an upper RF coil connected to a lower RF coil.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the RF coil is movable.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the patient support unit comprises straps for holding an animal.  
     
     
         61 . A method of providing RF shielding for a patient comprising: 
 placing the patient on a holder, the holder comprising RF shielding configured for forming a substantially complete RF shield around the patient when the holder is adjoined to the cavity of a magnet associated with magnet-RF-shielding; and    adjoining the holder to the cavity of the magnet.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising placing an RF shield over the service end of the magnet.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the holder comprises a bottom portion comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the holder further comprises a canopy comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the holder further comprises a patient end cap comprising RF shielding.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the canopy removably attaches to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the patient end cap removably attaches to the bottom portion or is integral to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the patient end cap comprises apertures.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the bottom portion comprises apertures.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding comprises a service end cap.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding further comprises a cryostat.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the magnet-RF-shielding further comprises an RF shield liner configured to combine with the service end cap and the holder-RF-shielding to form a substantially complete RF shield.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising a positioning means attached to the holder.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the positioning means comprises a support configured to support the holder and means for locomotion.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises wheels.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the means for locomotion comprises rollers.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the holder further comprises a patient support unit.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF transmitter antenna and an RF receiver antenna.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the patient support unit comprises an RF coil.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 61 , where the patient is an animal.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold an animal.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 61 , where the patient is a human.  
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein the patient support unit comprises a support configured to hold a human.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the support is adapted to hold an animal in an inverted position.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein a cross section of the support is configured substantially to match the curvature of an animal's spine.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein a cross section of the support is substantially V-shaped.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the patient support unit comprises straps for holding an animal.  
     
     
         89 . An apparatus for use in RF shielding, comprising: 
 a member comprising RF shielding and configured for forming a substantially complete RF shield when the member is adjoined to the cavity of a magnet associated with magnet-RF-shielding.    
     
     
         90 . The apparatus of  claim 89 , further comprising a patient support unit configured to support a patient inside the RF shield.  
     
     
         91 . The apparatus of  claim 89 , wherein the member comprises a support for supporting the patient support unit.  
     
     
         92 . The apparatus of  claim 91 , wherein the member is attachable to the magnet.  
     
     
         93 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the member is attachable to the patient support unit.  
     
     
         94 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the member comprises apertures.