ROBOTIC MAPPING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR MRI MAGNETS

THE IMMEDIATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A ROBOTIC MAGNETIC FIELD MAPPING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR USE WITH MRI MAGNETS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT: A HIGHLY AUTOMATED, PORTABLE SYSTEM, FOR USE BY FACTORY, FIELD INSTALLATION, AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS. THE SYSTEM IS BASED ON A COMPACT PROBE DESIGN IN WHICH THE FIELD-SENSOR IS MOVED AND POSITIONED BY MEANS OF A PROPRIETARY, MAGNETIC FIELD-DRIVEN ACTUATOR. THE PATH OF THE SENSOR IS HELISPHERICAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SINGLE-PASS AND SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF AXIAL AND RADIAL COMPONENTS OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD UP TO 6TH ORDER SPHERICAL HARMONIC COEFFICIENTS. WITH INCREASING HOMOGENEITY REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS FOR INDUSTRY-WIDE STANDARDS, COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE MRI BUSINESS WILL REALIZE THE FOLLOWING COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES FROM THIS SYSTEM; (1) SAVINGS IN MAGNET INSTALLATION TIME, (2) INCREASED RELEABILITY, (3) LOWER PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND (4) IMPROVED PERSONNEL SAFETY. ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES OF THE MAPPING SYSTEM MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO OPTIMIZE ADJUSTMENT OF THE FIELD HOMOGENEITY CONTROL SYSTEM, AND THOUGH THIS, IMPROVE DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE QUALITY AND SPECTROSCOPIC RESULTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SALES AND SERVICE BUSINESS ACTIVITY RESULTING FROM DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAPPING SYSTEM WILL GENERATE REVENUE OF $1 MILLION PER YEAR.