Low field magnetic resonance imaging methods and apparatus

Abstract

According to some aspects, a laminate panel is provided. The laminate panel comprises at least one laminate layer including at least one non-conductive layer and at least one conductive layer patterned to form at least a portion of a B0 coil configured to contribute to a B0 field suitable for use in low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
 a B 0  magnet configured to generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B 0  magnetic field for the MRI system; and   at least one laminate panel comprising a plurality of laminate layers, the plurality of laminate layers comprising:
 a first laminate layer having patterned thereon a gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals; and 
 a second laminate layer having patterned thereon a coil configured to generate a magnetic field to contribute to the B 0  magnetic field. 
   
     
     
         2 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one laminate panel comprises a first laminate panel and a second laminate panel, and wherein the first laminate panel and the second laminate panel are arranged in a bi-planar configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , where the first laminate layer comprises:
 at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an x-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals in an x direction;   at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an y-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted MR signals in a y direction; and   at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an z-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) in a z direction.   
     
     
         4 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one laminate panel further comprises a plurality of electrical connections between the plurality of laminate layers, the plurality of electrical connections comprising through-hole vias provided through one or more layers of the plurality of laminate layers of the at least one laminate panel. 
     
     
         5 . The MRI system of  claim 4 , wherein a location of at least one of the through-hole vias is selected to minimize an effect on a homogeneity of a B 0  field and/or to optimize one or more electrical properties of at least one coil when energized. 
     
     
         6 . The MRI system of  claim 4 , wherein the through-hole vias comprise a plated through-hole via and/or a pin via. 
     
     
         7 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , wherein the MRI system is configured to generate a B 0  magnetic field having a field strength of less than or equal to 0.2 T. 
     
     
         8 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , wherein the MRI system is configured to generate a B 0  magnetic field having a field strength of less than or equal to 0.1 T. 
     
     
         9 . The MRI system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transportable housing configured to support the B 0  magnet and the at least one laminate panel and to be transported to desired locations. 
     
     
         10 . The MRI system of  claim 9 , wherein the transportable housing comprises wheels coupled to the transportable housing to allow the transportable housing to be transported to the desired locations. 
     
     
         11 . A laminate panel, comprising:
 a plurality of laminate layers, the plurality of laminate layers comprising:
 a first laminate layer having patterned thereon a gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals; and 
 a second laminate layer having patterned thereon a coil configured to generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B 0  magnetic field. 
   
     
     
         12 . The laminate panel of  claim 11 , wherein the first laminate layer comprises:
 at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an x-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals in an x direction;   at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an y-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted MR signals in a y direction; and   at least one laminate layer having patterned thereon an z-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) in a z direction.   
     
     
         13 . The laminate panel of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of electrical connections between the plurality of laminate layers, the plurality of electrical connections comprising through-hole vias provided through one or more layers of the plurality of laminate layers of the laminate panel. 
     
     
         14 . The laminate panel of  claim 13 , wherein the laminate panel does not include a via provided only through a subset of the plurality of laminate layers. 
     
     
         15 . The laminate panel of  claim 13 , wherein a location of at least one of the through-hole vias is selected to minimize an effect on a homogeneity of a B 0  field and/or to optimize one or more electrical properties of at least one coil when energized. 
     
     
         16 . The laminate panel of  claim 13 , wherein the through-hole vias comprise a plated through-hole via and/or a pin via. 
     
     
         17 . The laminate panel of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of laminate layers comprises a top laminate layer, a bottom laminate layer, and a plurality of intervening laminate layers, and wherein the plurality of electrical connections consist of through-hole vias provided through the top laminate layer, the bottom laminate layer and each of the plurality of intervening laminate layers. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a laminate panel comprising a plurality of laminate layers, the method comprising:
 patterning, on a first laminate layer, a gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals; and   patterning, on a second laminate layer, a coil configured to generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B 0  magnetic field.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein patterning the gradient coil comprises:
 patterning, on at least one laminate layer, an x-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) signals in an x direction;   patterning, on at least one laminate layer, an y-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted MR signals in a y direction; and   patterning, on at least one laminate layer, an z-gradient coil configured to, when operated, generate or contribute to a magnetic field to provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance (MR) in a z direction.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming a plurality of electrical connections between the plurality of laminate layers consisting of through-hole vias provided through the plurality of laminate layers of the laminate panel, wherein a location of at least one of the through-hole vias is selected to minimize an effect on a homogeneity of a B 0  field and/or to optimize one or more electrical properties of at least one coil when energized.