Rf shielding conduit in an mri closure assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides, in a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) comprising (a) a main longitudinal axis with a distal and proximal ends; (b) an open bore extended along the axis and terminated by an aperture located in the proximal end; and (c) a closure assembly which is shaped to fit the aperture; an RF shielding conduit (RFSC), having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of the MRD to inner space of the bore, affixed to the closure assembly, wherein the conduit is characterized by a length (l) and width (w), l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding.

1 . In a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) comprising (a) a main longitudinal axis with a distal and proximal ends; (b) an open bore extended along said axis and terminated by an aperture located in said proximal end; and (c) a closure assembly which is shaped to fit said aperture; an RF shielding conduit (RFSC), having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of said MRD to inner space of said bore, affixed to said closure assembly, wherein said conduit is characterized by a length (l) and width (w), l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding. 
     
     
         2 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFSC is connected in a non protruding manner to said closure assembly, thereby indirect access is provided between the MRD bore and said external environment. 
     
     
         3 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFSC profile along said width is of a shape selected from a group consisting of: curved U-shape, polygonal U-shape, C-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped, symmetrical, non-symmetrical, cylinder, polygonal, straight faced, curved, closed shape, open shape and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , comprising an RFSC wall along said length, wherein said wall is of a shape selected from a group consisting of: straight, curved, polygonal, symmetrical, non symmetrical and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said RFSC comprises electromagnetic conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein said conduit is configured to attenuate the passage of frequencies selected from a group consisting of: 0 to about 1000 MHz, 0 to about 500 MHz, 0 to about 200 MHz and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein said conduit is configured to attenuate electro magnetic interference by means selected from a group consisting of: waveguide, RF filter, waveguide filter, attenuating material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said RFSC comprises shielding selected from a group consisting of: magnetic shielding, RF shielding, physical shielding and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The RFSC according to  claim 1 , wherein said RFSC is affixed to said closure assembly further comprising a hinge having at least one first connecting member connected to said MRD and at least one second connecting member, connected to said closure assembly, further wherein said at least one first connecting member is maneuverably coupled to said at least one second connecting member. 
     
     
         10 . In a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) comprising (i) a main longitudinal axis with a distal and proximal ends; (ii) an open bore extended along said axis and terminated by an aperture located in said proximal end; and (iii) a closure assembly which is shaped to fit said aperture; an RF shielding hinge (RFSH) comprising at least one first connecting member connected to said MRD or open bore thereof and at least one second connecting member, connected to said closure assembly; said at least one first connecting member is maneuverably coupled to said at least one second connecting member; comprising a conduit, having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of said MRD to inner space of said bore, said conduit having a length (l) and width (w) is provided within at least a portion of said one first member, at least a portion of said one second member or in at least a portion of both members; l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby RF shielding. 
     
     
         11 . The RFSH according to  claim 10 , wherein said RFSH member connected to said MRD is connected at a location selected from a group consisting of: at least a portion of said MRD external wall, within at least a portion of said MRD bore, at least a portion of said MRD aperture perimeter and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The RFSH according to  claim 10 , wherein said hinged first connecting member is connected at a location, in respect to said MRD aperture, selected from a group consisting of: left, right, below, above and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The RFSH according to  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of said RFSH comprises shielding selected from a group consisting of: magnetic shielding, RF shielding, physical shielding and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The RFSH according to  claim 10 , wherein said conduit is configured to attenuate the passage of frequencies selected from a group consisting of: 0-1000 MHz, 0-500 MHz, 0-200 MHz and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The RFSH according to  claim 10 , wherein said conduit is configured to attenuate electro magnetic interference by means selected from a group of: waveguide, RF filter, waveguide filter, attenuating material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method for RF shielding an MRD from its external environment generated EMI, and RF shielding said external environment from said MRD generated EMI, comprising steps of:
 a. obtaining an MRD comprising (i) a main longitudinal axis with a distal and proximal ends; (ii) an open bore extended along said axis and terminated by an aperture located in said proximal end; and (iii) a closure assembly shaped to fit said aperture comprising at least one conduit having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of said MRD to inner space of said bore, affixed to said closure assembly;   b. installing said closure assembly comprising said conduit;   c. inserting patient into said MRD bore;   d. passing said medical equipment tubing through said conduit;   e. covering said MRD bore with said closure assembly; and   f. imaging patient;
 wherein said conduit is characterized by a length (l) and width (w), l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , additionally comprising a step of obtaining an RF shielding hinge (RFSH) comprising at least one first connecting member connected to said MRD and at least one second connecting member, connected to said closure assembly; said at least one first connecting member is maneuverable coupled to said at least one second connecting member, comprising a conduit, having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of said MRD to inner space of said bore. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing an RF shielding conduit (RFSC) in an MRD closure assembly comprising steps of:
 a. obtaining a closure assembly shaped to fit an aperture of an MRD bore;   b. defining dimensions of said RFSC a length (l) and width (w), so that l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n;   c. defining dimensions of said RFSC to permit passage of medical equipment tubing within;   d. defining the location of said RFSC within the closure assembly to enable access to the handler;   e. forming defined said RFSC; and   f. connecting said RFSC to said closure assembly;
 wherein said closure assembly comprises a conduit having a longitudinal axis, comprising a proximal end having a cutout facing said MRD bore, and a distal end having a cutout facing environment external of said MRD. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , additionally comprising a step of defining said conduit in at least a portion of an RF shielding hinge (RFSH), having at least one said first connecting member connected to said MRD and at least one said second connecting member, connected to said closure assembly; said at least one first connecting member is maneuverable coupled to said at least one second connecting member. 
     
     
         20 . A standard of care protocol for magnetic resonance imaging a patient placed within MRD bore, connected to medical equipment, whilst not leaking RF into the MRD characterized by providing in a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) comprising (i) a main longitudinal axis with a distal and proximal ends; (ii) an open bore extended along said axis and terminated by an aperture located in said proximal end; and (iii) a closure assembly which is shaped to fit said aperture; an RF shielding conduit (RFSC), having apertures shaped to permit passage of medical equipment tubing from the external environment of said MRD to inner space of said bore, affixed to said closure assembly, said conduit is characterized by a length (l) and width (w), l:w ratio is greater than a predefined value n, thereby providing RF shielding, wherein at least one of the following is held true:
 a. the average number of MRD associated patient's health complications when utilizing said RFSC is n times lower than the average number of patient's MRI associated health complications, n is equal or greater than 1.05;   b. the average number of insurable claims of a selected from a group consisting of: manufacturer, handler, user, operator, medical care personal, medical facility, medical facility management or any combination thereof when utilizing said RFSC is m times lower than patient MRI associated insurable claims; m is equal or greater than 1.05;   c. the average number of repeated MRI due to EMI when utilizing said RFSC is p times lower than the average number of repeated MRI; p is equal or greater than 1.05;   d. the average number of misinterpreted Mill due to EMI produced artifacts when utilizing said RFSC is o times lower than the average number of repeated MRI; o is equal or greater than 1.05;   e. the average number of patients detached from medical equipment during Mill when utilizing said RFSC is z times lower than the average number patients detached from medical equipment during MRI; z is equal or greater than 1.05; and   f. the average number of patient's health complications due to EMI interfering with medical equipment is u times higher than when utilizing said RFSC assembly; u is equal or greater than 1.05.