Embodiments of a compact portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device are described which generally include a housing that provides a magnetic shield; an axisymmetric permanent magnet assembly in the housing and having a bore, a plurality of magnetic elements that together provide a well confined axisymmetric magnetization for generating a near-homogenous magnetic dipole field Bo directed along a longitudinal axis and providing a sample cavity for receiving a sample, and high magnetic permeability soft steel poles to improve field uniformity: a shimming assembly with coils disposed at the longitudinal axis for spatially correcting the near homogenous magnetic field Bo; and a spectrometer having a control unit for measuring a metabolite in the sample by applying magnetic stimulus pulses to the sample, measuring free induction delay signals generated by an ensemble of hydrogen protons within the sample; and suppressing a water signal by using a dephasing gradient with frequency selective suppression.

A magnetic resonance imaging system can include a basic field magnetic arrangement for generating a main magnetic field and a number of spatially separated imaging regions, the basic field magnetic arrangement including several spatially separated magnet segments, in order to generate segment magnetic fields with a defined segment field direction, at least two of the spatially separated magnet segments being configured in a way that their defined segment field directions are running in an angular fashion to each other so that the segment magnetic fields result in a main magnetic field which has the form of toroid, where the magnetic resonance imaging system is designed to be adapted to MR imaging of dedicated body or organ parts of a patient.

A portable NMR probe for the analysis of dispersions, the portable NMR probe comprising: a base part; a detachable probe assembly detachably mounted on the base part and electrically connected to the base part, the detachable probe assembly comprising: a housing; and a radio-frequency coil assembly received in the housing, the radio-frequency coil assembly comprising an RF coil support that has a channel for receiving an NMR sample, and an RF coil wound around the RF coil support for transmitting radio-frequency pulses to the NMR sample and for detecting magnetic resonance responses from the NMR sample; and a field magnet arranged to generate a magnetic field in the detachable probe assembly.

A liquid-state nuclear-magnetic-resonance measurement cell includes a reservoir for a liquid medium; a fluidic circuit connected to the reservoir and comprising a measurement chamber; a gas injector opening into the fluidic circuit, at a distance from the measurement chamber; and a coil encircling the measurement chamber; wherein it also comprises at least one capacitive element forming, with the coil, an electromagnetic resonator; and in that it has a shape allowing its introduction into a nuclear-magnetic-resonance probe in replacement of an assembly formed by a nuclear-magnetic-resonance tube and a spinner bearing the tube, the coil encircling the measurement chamber being then positioned so as to couple by induction to at least one radiofrequency coil of the probe. Nuclear-magnetic-resonance measurement system comprising such a measurement cell. Magnetic-resonance measurement method using such a cell is also provided.

A line for an electrical connection in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus and a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus with a corresponding line are provided. The line includes an electrical interference conductor that may pick up an electromagnetic interference signal from an environment and/or irradiate the electromagnetic interference signal into the environment. The line also includes a sensor that is electrically and/or magnetically coupled to the interference line.

Methods and apparatus for reducing noise in RF signal chain circuitry for a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. A switching circuit in the RF signal chain circuitry may include at least one field effect transistor (FET) configured to operate as an RF switch at an operating frequency of less than 10 MHz. A decoupling circuit may include tuning circuitry coupled across inputs of an amplifier and active feedback circuitry coupled between an output of the amplifier and an input of the amplifier, wherein the active feedback circuitry includes a feedback capacitor configured to reduce a quality factor of an RF coil coupled to the amplifier.

A radio-frequency (RF) coil for use in a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system and methods of making the same are provided. The RF coil may include a substrate having a first and second side and a conductor. The conductor may include a first portion wound around the substrate from the first side to the second side at a first plurality of locations spaced between the first side and the second side and a second portion wound around the substrate from the second side to the first side at a second plurality of locations spaced between the first side and the second side, wherein the first plurality of locations alternate with the second plurality of locations spaced between the first side and the second side.

This invention relates generally to detection devices having one or more small wells each surrounded by, or in close proximity to, an NMR micro coil, each well containing a liquid sample with magnetic nanoparticles that self-assemble or disperse in the presence of a target analyte, thereby altering the measured NMR properties of the liquid sample. The device may be used, for example, as a portable unit for point of care diagnosis and/or field use, or the device may be implanted for continuous or intermittent monitoring of one or more biological species of interest in a patient.

Methods and apparatus for reducing noise in RF signal chain circuitry for a low-field magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. A switching circuit in the RF signal chain circuitry may include at least one field effect transistor (FET) configured to operate as an RF switch at an operating frequency of less than 10 MHz. A decoupling circuit may include tuning circuitry coupled across inputs of an amplifier and active feedback circuitry coupled between an output of the amplifier and an input of the amplifier, wherein the active feedback circuitry includes a feedback capacitor configured to reduce a quality factor of an RF coil coupled to the amplifier.

An extended forward looking RF coil is shaped similarly to the tip of a pencil, for use in imaging and visualization of anatomy or certain conditions, including cancer. The RF coils are designed using the concept of image RF fields. The coils all include an inner void, which is surrounded by a cone-shaped plastic enclosure. A metallic layer is deposited on a surface of the cone and serves as a metallic layer backing the coils. The metallic layer includes a dielectric region, with altered size and geometry. Several solenoidal coil windings are placed outside the dielectric. The coil windings are denser on the Left (Forward) as compared to the Right (Backwards), in order to concentrate the magnetic field in the Forward direction. The extended forward looking coil is further integrated into an anatomy-specific, imaging array with sideways-looking RF coils, intended for improved imaging along cylindrical sides of the pencil-shaped device.