CURRENT SUPPLY OF A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING INSTALLATION

Abstract

A circuit arrangement is provided for the current supply of a magnetic resonance imaging installation with a radio-frequency shielding cabin and at least one basic field magnet. The arrangement includes a first circuit arranged outside the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a DC link voltage from a grid voltage, and a second circuit arranged within the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a magnetization current for the basic field magnet from the DC link voltage. This architecture makes it possible to realize a cost-effective solution for an integrated (fixedly installed) modular magnetization current supply.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for the current supply of a magnetic resonance imaging installation comprising a radio-frequency shielding cabin and at least one basic field magnet, the circuit arrangement comprising: a first circuit arranged outside the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a DC link voltage from a grid voltage, and a second circuit arranged within the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a magnetization current for the basic field magnet from the DC link voltage.

2. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grid voltage is an AC voltage.

3. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises: a transformer; and a three-phase inverter connected in series.

4. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the three-phase inverter is a twelve-pulse rectifier or six-pulse rectifier.

5. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second circuit comprises a current sink configured to discharge the basic field magnet.

6. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second circuit comprises: an input filter, a plurality of parallel-connected first DC-DC converters, and a current or voltage sensor connected in series.

7. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first DC-DC converters are regulatable current sources with an adjustable voltage limiting.

8. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a controller of the second circuit, the controller configured to control the current sink, first DC-DC converters and a current or voltage sensor.

9. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cable having at least one feed line and at least one return line, said cable connecting the first and second circuits.

10. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second circuit comprises a second DC-DC converter fed by the DC link voltage and configured to supply electrical components in the radio-frequency shielding cabin with current.

11. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second circuit comprises a current sink configured to discharge the basic field magnet.

12. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second circuit comprises: an input filter, a plurality of parallel-connected first DC-DC converters, and a current or voltage sensor connected in series.

13. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first DC-DC converters are regulatable current sources with an adjustable voltage limiting.

14. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a cable having at least one feed line and at least one return line, said cable connecting the first and second circuits.

15. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a controller of the second circuit, the controller configured to control a current sink, the first DC-DC converters and the current or voltage sensor.

16. A magnetic resonance imaging installation comprising: a circuit arrangement for current supply having: a first circuit arranged outside the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a DC link voltage from a grid voltage, and a second circuit arranged within the radio-frequency shielding cabin and configured to generate a magnetization current for the basic field magnet from the DC link voltage.

17. A method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging installation, the method comprising: generating a DC link voltage from a grid voltage with a first circuit arranged outside the radio-frequency shielding cabin; generating a magnetization current for a basic field magnet from the DC link voltage with a second circuit arranged within the radio-frequency shielding cabin, the second circuit comprising an input filter, a plurality of parallel-connected first DC-DC converters, a current or voltage sensor connected in series with the input filter and the first DC-DC converters, and a second DC-DC converter fed by the DC link voltage; supplying current from the second DC-DC converter to components within the radio-frequency shielding cabin; and charging the basic field magnet by switching on first DC-DC converters and switching off a second DC-DC converter.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after the charging of the basic field magnet, switching the first DC-DC converters off and switching the second DC-DC converter on.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further special features and advantages will become apparent from the following explanations of a plurality of exemplary embodiments with reference to schematic drawings.

[0031] In the figures:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a block diagram of a current supply, and

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a current supply, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a current supply for feeding a basic field magnet 5 divided into a first circuit or first circuit device 1 for generating a DC link voltage U.sub.Z and into a second circuit or second circuit device 2 for actually generating the magnetization current I.sub.M.

[0035] A three-phase AC grid voltage U.sub.L is fed to a transformer 6. The stepped-down AC current is applied to a three-phase inverter 7, which generates the DC link voltage U.sub.Z. Inter alia, the residual ripple is also reduced by a bushing filter 8. The DC link voltage U.sub.Z has a value of a maximum of 60 V. The transformer 6 and the three-phase inverter 7 are situated in a non-shielded technical room 4.

[0036] In the simplest case, the three-phase inverter (rectifier circuit) is a single rectifier, a switched rectifier or an active rectifier with PFC. The DC link voltage U.sub.Z is lower than the peak value of the grid voltage U.sub.L, but higher by a multiple than the output voltage with the highest power demand. The voltage ratio may be set either by the transformer 6 or by an active rectifier. The transformer 6 or the rectifier is designed such that the transformer 6 or the rectifier satisfies the normative requirements made of power supply units with regard to surge, isolation, leakage, etc.

[0037] Via an electrical cable 9, the DC link voltage U.sub.Z is fed to an input filter 11 (a capacitor in the simplest case) of the second circuit device 2. Thus only a single cable 9 having outgoing and return lines is required for the current supply of the basic field magnet 5. The cable 9 and the input filter 11 are designed in accordance with the maximum power demand. In this case, in comparison with an external magnetization current supply, the current loading capacity may be reduced significantly, virtually as the ratio of the DC link voltage U.sub.Z to the output voltage of the magnetization current supply. The DC link circuit likewise reduces disturbances and the (changing) force effects on components and cables that are caused by the Lorentz force, particularly in comparison with an AC supply.

[0038] The DC link voltage U.sub.Z filtered in this way is then brought to a low voltage level in a plurality of parallel-connected first DC-DC converters 12, in order to provide the required magnetization current I.sub.M of a magnitude of approximately 400 A (up to max. 600 A) for charging (ramp-up) of the basic field magnet 5. The magnetization current I.sub.M and the output voltage are monitored with the aid of the current/voltage measuring device or sensor 13. Other electrical and electronic components may be supplied with the aid of second DC-DC converters 15.

[0039] The input filter 11, the first DC-DC converters 12, the second DC-DC converter 15 and the current/voltage measuring device 13 are situated in the radio-frequency shielding cabin 3 and are part of the second circuit device 2.

[0040] The first DC-DC converters 12 may be operated with high clock frequency on account of the relatively low DC link voltage U.sub.Z. In this case, ferrite-free inductive components may be used, the function of which is not influenced by the basic magnetic field. The second DC-DC converter 15, which is active during the operation of the magnetic resonance imaging installation, may also be operated with frequencies that match the frequency plan of the magnetic resonance imaging installation and thus cannot cause any disturbances.

[0041] The magnetization current supply is implemented by a plurality of parallel-connected current sources with voltage limiting. The current sources may be operated with an optimum mark-space ratio, or with one or a plurality of parallel high-resolution current sources. The function of a DAC arises from the construction, the connection and disconnection of individual modules. This architecture may also be applied to other current supplies for high power demand.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a current supply for a magnetic resonance imaging installation. In particular the current supply is for charging a superconducting basic field magnet. The current supply is subdivided into two function blocks or circuits: a first circuit 1 in the non-shielded technical room 4 for generating a DC link voltage U.sub.Z, and a second circuit 2 in the radio-frequency shielding cabin 3 for generating the magnetization current I.sub.M. The first circuit 1 is electrically connected to the second circuit 2 via the cable 9. Four twisted cores that are short-circuited in pairs are used for suppressing interference.

[0043] The three-phase AC grid voltage U.sub.L is fed to a transformer having an iron core and, on the secondary side, via thermomagnetic switches 16 (as fuse), to a three-phase inverter 7. The three-phase inverter 7 is a twelve-pulse rectifier or a six-pulse rectifier depending on the switching position of the switches 16. The DC link voltage U.sub.Z occurring at the output is also freed of its residual ripple, inter alia, in the case of current flow, by the two bushing filters 8. The bushing filters 8, the shielding effect of which corresponds to that of the radio-frequency shielding cabin 3, substantially serve for suppressing the line-conducted electromagnetic interference into and out of the radio-frequency shielding cabin 3.

[0044] Via the cable 9, the DC link voltage U.sub.Z passes via the input filter 11 to the parallel-connected first DC-DC converters 12, which supply the magnetization current I.sub.M via the current/voltage measuring device.

[0045] A current sink 10 connected to the outputs of the first DC-DC converters 12 is used for discharging (ramp-down) of the basic field magnet. A control and evaluation unit 14 controls the first DC-DC converters 12 and the current sink 10 and evaluates the measurement data of the current/voltage measuring device or sensor 13. Alternatively, the discharging may also be effected by grid feedback by first DC-DC converters 12 and three-phase inverter 7.

[0046] Although the invention has been more specifically illustrated and described in detail by the exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the examples disclosed and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0047] It is intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0048] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims can, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.