R&D Progress of HTS Magnet Project for Ultrahigh-field MRI

Publication date: 2016 Source:Physics Procedia, Volume 81 Author(s): Taizo Tosaka, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Sadanori Iwai, Yasumi Otani, Masahiko Takahashi, Kenji Tasaki, Shunji Nomura, Tsutomu Kurusu, Hiroshi Ueda, So Noguchi, Atsushi Ishiyama, Shinichi Urayama, Hidenao Fukuyama An R&D project on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets using rare-earth Ba2Cu3O7 (REBCO) wires was started in 2013. The project objective is to investigate the feasibility of adapting REBCO magnets to ultrahigh field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. REBCO wires are promising components for UHF-MRI magnets because of their superior superconducting and mechanical properties, which make them smaller and lighter than conventional ones. Moreover, REBCO magnets can be cooled by the conduction-cooling method, making liquid helium unnecessary. In the past two years, some test coils and model magnets have been fabricated and tested. This year is the final year of the project. The goals of the project are: (1) to generate a 9.4 T magnetic field with a small test coil, (2) to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in a 200mm diameter spherical volume with a 1.5 T model magnet, and (3) to perform imaging with the 1.5 T model magnet. In this paper, the progress of this R&D is described. The knowledge gained through these R&D results will be reflected in the design of 9.4 T MRI magnets for brain and whole body imaging.

Source: Physics Procedia - May 9, 2016 Category: Physics Source Type: research