Actively shielded gradient coil design for an all-superconducting planar MRI system using progressively-enhanced...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Applied Physics
• Superconducting Magnet Technology

Background:

• Superconducting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems require robust shielding for gradient coils to maintain cryogenic stability.
• Planar-type superconducting MRI systems often embed gradient coils within the main magnet's open slots, utilizing high-conductivity materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel shielding constraint for gradient coils using a progressively enhanced shielding coil design method.
• To optimize gradient coil performance and reduce structural complexity within a specified diameter of the spherical volume (DSV).

Main Methods:

• Development of a progressively enhanced shielding coil design.
• Measurement of magnetic field distributions along axial directions.
• Evaluation of magnetic field distributions produced by the designed gradient coils.

Main Results:

• The proposed design effectively suppresses stray magnetic fields without increasing coil complexity.
• Highly linear gradient fields were achieved within the designated imaging region.
• The design meets imaging requirements within the specified diameter of the spherical volume (DSV).

Conclusions:

• The progressively enhanced shielding coil design method offers an effective solution for MRI gradient coil shielding.
• This approach balances performance optimization, structural simplicity, and stray field suppression.
• The findings contribute to the advancement of stable and high-performance superconducting MRI systems.