1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems for generating diagnostic images of a patient's internal organs and more particularly, this invention relates to improved MRI systems exhibiting decreased interference between the magnetic field used for producing diagnostic images and spurious magnetic fields created by ancillary equipment, such as the electric motors used for driving the pistons of the contrast media injectors. Additionally, the system employs an improved communication link between an externally located system controller and the injection head control unit which is located within the electromagnetic isolation barrier of the magnetic imaging suite.

2. Description of the Related Art

It has become recognized that MRI systems require isolation from external sources of electromagnetic fields, if optimum image quality is to be obtained from MRI diagnostic procedures. Conventional MRI systems have typically employed some form of electromagnetic isolation chamber which is generally a room enclosed by copper sheeting or conductive mesh material that isolates the room from undesirable sources of electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic noise inherent in the atmosphere.

In order to realize the full benefit of the shielded room, these systems employ a controller for the contrast media injector portion of the system which is isolated from the media injector. Such isolation is effected to prevent undesirable electromagnetic radiation generated by the system controller from interfering with the signals used to create the magnetic resonance images.

The external, isolated location of the system controller creates various problems associated with the installation and operation of these systems. One such problem is the need to provide a communications link between the externally located controller and the contrast media injectors, without introducing extraneous electromagnetic radiation. That is, there is a need to provide electrical power supply lines for operation of the contrast media injectors and the injector control circuitry while maintaining the integrity of the electromagnetic shield.

Previous attempts to solve these problems included drilling holes in the wall of the electromagnetic shield for inserting the necessary lines or, alternatively, laying the lines under a shielded floor of the imaging room. These alternatives have proven to be less than optimum, since spurious radiation arose from the presence of the various supply cables within the shielded imaging suite. Additionally, MRI systems which employed these solutions required substantial site dedication and were therefore not very portable.

Another problem associated with conventional magnetic resonance imaging systems is the interference which occurs between the high power magnetic field used for generating the magnetic resonance image and the magnetic fields created by the electric motors which control the operation of the contrast media injection heads. The magnetic field generated by the magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging system is extremely powerful and adversely affects the operation of the electric motors used in the injector head. Additionally, operation of the electric motors in close proximity to the magnetic field used to generate the magnetic resonance image also has an adverse impact on the quality of the resulting image.

In conventional MRI systems, the injection head unit is located adjacent to the patient being examined and the electric motors associated with the injection syringes are directly connected to the syringe pistons. Characteristically, the syringes and the drive motors have been mounted on the injection head unit. The close proximity of the electric motors to the magnetic field used for generating the magnetic resonance image typically resulted in a decrease in motor performance and the ability to control the electric motors used in the injector heads, as well as an overall decrease in system performance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic resonance imaging contrast media delivery system having decreased interference between the magnetic field used to obtain the magnetic resonance image and the magnetic fields created by ancillary equipment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an MRI system which minimizes the interference between fields created by the electric motors used to drive the contrast media injection plungers and the magnetic field used to generate the magnetic resonance image.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an MRI contrast media injection system having an improved communication link between the system controller and the injection control unit.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following summary, drawings and detailed description of the invention and its preferred embodiment; in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram outlining the functional design of the system; and,

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the system of the present invention.

The invention comprises an improved magnetic resonance imaging system which decreases the amount of electromagnetic interference that has heretofore been found within a MRI isolation suite while increasing the portability and ease of system installation. The invention reduces deleterious interaction between the imaging magnetic field and the magnetic field generated by the electric motors which control and operate contrast media injectors.

The system includes a master controller located externally of the shielded imaging room within which a contrast media injection head and a separate injection control unit are located. The system controller communicates with the head control unit via external and internal transceivers which form a communications link for traversing the electromagnetic isolation barrier of the imaging room.

In the preferred embodiment, this communication link is made through a window in the isolation room barrier. These windows are typically in the form of a glass laminate containing a conductive wire mesh, or alternatively, a window that is coated with a thin sheet of conductive material such as gold to maintain the shielding characteristics of the isolation room. The communications link consists of electromagnetic transceivers which operate in a frequency range which permeates the window while maintaining the integrity of the isolation barrier. Infrared or electromagnetic energy in the visual range provide the best results. Alternatively, a fiberoptic communication link can be used to provide the communication link, since fiberoptics do not create electromagnetic radiation.

The present invention also incorporates a contrast media injection unit located within the shielded room which comprises separate contrast media injector head and injection head control unit. The contrast media injection head, and specifically the syringe pistons are located in close proximity to the patient and consequently are located within the powerful magnetic field used to generate the magnetic resonance image. The head control unit which controls operation of the injector head is located from 10-15 feet away from the injector head control unit. The head control unit incorporates electric motors to control and to operate the pistons of syringes used for the injection of patients. A non-rigid operating drive connects the electric motors and control unit to the syringe pistons located on the injection head. In a preferred form, the drive connection can be by way of flexible shafts. Each flexible drive shaft forms a mechanical link between an electric motor located on the head control unit and a piston of the syringes on the injector head. Alternatively, a hydraulic system could be used to control the piston of the injector head. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible drive shaft is manufactured from a non-ferrous metal such as hard brass. The distancing of the head control unit and drive motors from the injector head decreases the adverse effects that the imaging magnetic field has on the electric motors of the injectors and conversely, the adverse affects of spurious electromagnetic radiation arising from operating of the electric motors used to control and operate the contrast media injectors is also reduced significantly.

FIG. 1 illustrates an improved magnetic resonance imaging system according to the present invention and is shown generally at 10. The MRI system includes a system controller 12 which incorporates a computer 14 and a battery charging unit 16. The system controller 12 is located externally of the imaging room 17, the imaging room being shielded from electromagnetic interference by a shield 18. Isolation can be achieved by completely enclosing the room with copper sheet material or some other suitable, conductive layer such as wire mesh. Communication line 20, connects the system controller 12 with an external infrared/optical communications transceiver 22. The shielded imaging room 17 also incorporates a patient viewing window 24 in the shield 18 which allows an observer to view the room without breaching the electromagnetic shield 18. The window 24 can be formed by sandwiching a wire mesh material (not shown) between sheets of glass or coating the window with a thin coating of conductive material such as gold (not shown) to maintain the continuity of the electromagnetic shield 18.

An infrared/optical communications transceiver 26 is positioned internally of the imaging room 17 at the viewing window 24 opposite the external communications transceiver 22 such that the internal and external communications transceivers communicate with each other through the viewing window with no breach of the electromagnetic shield. A communications link 28 located within the shielded area connects the internal infrared/optical transceiver with a contrast media injection control unit 30. The injection control unit 30 is powered advantageously by rechargeable battery 32. The injection control unit 30 also incorporates control circuitry which controls electric motors 35, 36 which are also located within the injection control unit. The injection control unit is contained within an electromagnetic shield 37 to prevent the undesired electromagnetic radiation generated by the electric motors from interfering with the magnetic field used to generate the magnetic resonance image.

The injection control unit 30 is separated from the injection head unit 38 by as great a distance as possible. In the preferred embodiment, this is typically ten to fifteen feet. The injection head unit must be located in close proximity to the patient in order to decrease the distance that the contrast media fluid must travel from the contrast media injectors. The injection head unit 38 includes contrast media injection syringe and piston units 40, 42. The syringes 40, 42 are connected to the electric motors in the injection control unit by flexible mechanical drive shafts 44, 46, respectively. The drive shafts are made from a nonferrous metal such as hard brass.

The separation of the electric motors from the injection head, as well as the additional electromagnetic shielding, results in improved system performance and overall resulting image quality. Additionally, the use of an infrared/optical communications link results in a system which is both portable and easy to use.