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Design, Instrumentation and Usage Protocols for Distributed In Situ Thermal Hot Spots Monitoring in Electric Coils using FBG Sensor Multiplexing
Published on: March 8, 2020
Minimizing hot spot temperature in asymmetric gradient coil design
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|June 16, 2011
Summary
Gradient coil heating in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners can cause hot spots, especially in asymmetric designs. This study presents a new coil design method to significantly reduce these hot spot temperatures without compromising MRI performance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Electrical Engineering
- Applied Physics
Background:
- Gradient coils in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners generate heat during operation.
- Closely spaced windings and asymmetric target regions can lead to problematic hot spots.
- High temperatures can affect scanner performance and longevity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an extended coil design method for asymmetric gradient coils.
- To reduce hot spot temperatures in MRI gradient coils.
- To present an improved model for predicting gradient coil temperature distributions.
Main Methods:
- An extension of an existing gradient coil design method was utilized.
- An improved model for predicting steady-state spatial temperature distributions was developed.
- A relaxed fixed-point iteration routine was employed, using temperature gradient features to alter coil windings.
Main Results:
- The proposed method enables the design of asymmetric gradient coils with reduced hot spot temperatures.
- The improved model offers flexibility for various geometries and material properties.
- Significant peak temperature reductions were achieved.
Conclusions:
- The developed method effectively reduces hot spot temperatures in asymmetric gradient coils.
- The design modifications minimally impact coil performance compared to minimum power coils.
- This approach offers a viable solution for managing gradient coil heating in MRI systems.
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