Magnetic Field Generation for MRI:

State of the art and future challenges.

Pierre Vdrine,
CEA Saclay, Irfu
1 Sminaire Dautreppe 2011 24 novembre 2011
CEA Saclay, Irfu
Medical Imaging
Superconducting Magnet for MRI
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Objectives and challenges for high field MRI
Iseult 11.7 T MRI Magnet
MEDICAL IMAGING:
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A diagnostic and research tool in
neuroscience
Neuro-imaging
To study the human brain
Neurology / Neurosurgery
- Development, aging, rehabilitation
surgery
Neurosciences ...
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surgery
- Psychiatry, mental disorders
Health
- Social behavior and culture, art, ..
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Learning, education, ...
Neurosciences ...
structures & functions of the brain
Interaction, society
Brain functions and neurodegenerative diseases
Understand how the brain works
Early detection of Alzheimer's disease by MRI
using a dedicated contrast agent
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7 Tesla MRI Histology
Objective: To
develop the
technique in
humans
Proof of concept
at 7 Tesla on
animal model
The magnetic resonance imaging tomorrow:
A great tool for neuroscience
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MRI system
High field magnet
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Gradient coils
RF coils
SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET
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is the heart of the MRI system
Superconducting magnet is the heart of the MRI system
supports a very high current density with zero resistance,
generates magnetic fields (1.5 to 12 T) with little or no electrical
power.
The quality of the MRI image is linked to:
Magnetic field strength: Increased Signal to Noise ratio
1 tesla = 10,000 gauss - Earth's magnetic field = 0.5 gauss in Paris ...
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Magnetic field strength: Increased Signal to Noise ratio
Field Homogeneity usually defined on a spherical volume of 20mm :
B/B
0
10
-6
10
-8
B/B
0
10
-9
10
-10
for high resolution spectroscopy
10
-5
coming from the main coil, 10
-7
from superconducting shim coils +
resistive correction coils
Field stability : field decay < 10
-8
/hour (10
-9
/h high resolution
spectroscopy)
Magnetic Field Generation
Superconducting Magnet
Main Coils: Long Coil Length or Multicoils
Compensation Coils: z
2
, z
4
, z
6
0
Superconducting Shim Coils:
Field Correction
z
1
, z
2
, x, y, zx, zy, x
2
-y
2
,xy
z
J = current desnity, t = coil thickness
NI/L = ampere turns/unit length
L
NI
t J B
0 0
= =
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Persistent Operation
Field Homogeneity
Field Stability:
Room Temperature Shim Coils
Field Correction
z
0
, z
1
, z
2
, z
3
, z
4
,
x, y, x
2
-y
2
,xy
Higher Order Components
Courtesy of T. Kyoshi NIMS
Magnetic Field Shielding
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Shielding coils
Main coil
External Interference Shields
Winding scheme
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z
y
x
Gradient coils
Iron shims
Cryo-shims
Superconducting Materials
1000
10000
(
A
/
m
m

)
YBCO Insert Tape (B|| Tape Plane)
YBCO B|| Tape Plane
YBCO B YBCO B Tape Plane Tape Plane
2212
RRP Nb RRP Nb
33
Sn Sn
Nb Nb- -Ti Ti
SuperPower tape SuperPower tape
used in record used in record
breaking NHMFL breaking NHMFL
insert coil 2007 insert coil 2007
427 filament strand with
Ag alloy outer sheath
tested at NHMFL
Complied from Complied from
ASC'02 and ASC'02 and
ICMC'03 papers ICMC'03 papers
(J. Parrell OI (J. Parrell OI--ST) ST)
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10
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Applied Field (T)
J
E
YBCO Insert Tape (B|| Tape Plane)
YBCO Insert Tape (B Tape Plane)
MgB
2
19Fil 24% Fill (HyperTech)
2212 OI-ST 28% Ceramic Filaments
NbTi LHC Production 38%SC (4.2 K)
Nb
3
Sn RRP Internal Sn (OI-ST)
Nb
3
Sn High Sn Bronze Cu:Non-Cu 0.3
Bronze Bronze
Nb Nb
33
Sn Sn
MgB
2
18+1 MgB 18+1 MgB
22
/Nb/Cu/Monel /Nb/Cu/Monel
Courtesy M. Tomsic, 2007 Courtesy M. Tomsic, 2007
Maximal J
E
for
entire LHC Nb-Ti
strand production (
) CERN-T. Boutboul
'07, and (- -) <5 T
data from Boutboul
et al. MT-19, IEEE-
TASC06)
4543 filament High Sn 4543 filament High Sn
Bronze Bronze--16wt.%Sn 16wt.%Sn--
0.3wt%Ti (Miyazaki 0.3wt%Ti (Miyazaki--
MT18 MT18--IEEE04) IEEE04)
NbTi Conductor
NbTi
NbTi filaments in a copper matrix
- Standard wire : 54 filaments Cu/Sc
ratio 1.35.
Dimensions 0.4 to 1.6 mm, issulated
or not ou non (Formvar, glass fiber)
- Wire in channel to increase the copper
section
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NMR wire : NbTi/Cu
36 filaments
Copper
Bronze route
Internal Tin
Nb3Sn Conductor
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Bruker-EAS
Nb3Sn Externally stabilized, rectangular NbSn wire.
Cross section: 0.8 to 7.0 mm2
Number of filaments: 4000 to >100000
Recommended magnetic field range: 12.0 to 23.5 T
Oxford OST
Cryostat design
Coils fit inside cryostats, to keep the coil
at low temperature, with moderately low
consumption.
Thanks to persistent mode and very
accurate cryostat design, LHe refilling
is required every 6 to 12 months : 1-2
l/day, up to 6-7 l/day for bigger
systems.
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Since a certain amount of LHe is
usually present, up to 1000 l, the
cryogenic safety has to be seriously
considered in case of a quench due
to the He boil-off.
Quench valve opening 200 mbar,
bursting disk
Safety
Magnetic Fields :
- Strong magnetic fields
- Strong magnetic fields gradients
Effect of stray fields on :
-Operation of equipments
-Implants or prosthetic devices
Effect of field gradients :
- Large attractive forces induced on
Handling of cryogenic substances :
Helium & Nitrogen
- during a refill
- during a quench (rapid He boil-off )
avoid cold burning, suffocation
Protective clothing, no smoking,
Ventilation (emergency exhausts)
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1
- Large attractive forces induced on
ferromagnetic objects (especially for
active shielded magnet)
displacement of objects could cause
injuries
Definition of zones:
- Exclusion zone (5 Gauss line): no
access for individuals with implants
- Security zone : no ferromagnetic
objects
State of the art
MRI for animals
MRI for humans
Courtesy Agilent
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11.7T /680 mm
11.7T /900 mm
9.4T /900 mm
OBJECTIVES AND CHALLENGES
for high field MRI:
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A global competition
Why MRI at high field ?
Gain = 3.8 Gain = 2.8 Gain = ?
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7T
CNR = 7.9
1.5T
CNR = 0.6
CNR =2.3
3T
Comparison in Contrast to Noise ratio
11,7T
CNR = ?
High-field MRI = higher sensitivity, new contrasts
Spatial and time resolution

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A few millimeters to
better than a tenth of a
millimeter
From seconds to milliseconds
MRI for the future: towards the high fields ...
Medical : 0.1-3 teslas
Research : 3 5 teslas
High Field : 7 teslas and +
Push the limits
Ultra high field : 11.7 teslas
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Aimant 1.5T (GE) SHFJ/CEA
Aimant 3.0T (Siemens)
Aimant 9.4 T GE 600 mm
(USA)
Iseult 11,7 T
High Field MRI in the world
2011
- 3T : 850 systems in operation
- 7T : 50 systems in operation
- 1 system 8T WB, 4 systems 9.4T WB
11.7T, 65cm,
Passive shielding
2011
11.7T, 90cm,
Active shielding
2013
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2007
- 3T : 700 systems in operation
- 7T : 30 systems in operation
- 1 system 8T WB, 3 systems 9.4T WB
- 4 projects 11.7T WB
(NeuroSpin, Tokyo, Berkeley, NIH)
- 1 system 8T WB, 4 systems 9.4T WB
- 1 funded project 10.5T WB Minneapolis
- 2 funded project 11.7T WB : CEA et NIH
- 2 potential projects: Tokyo, Boston
- 1 potential project 14T Seoul
2003
- 3T : 100 systems in operation
- 2 systems7T WB
- 1 system8T WB
Neurospin Centre - CEA Saclay
17.2 T
Novembre 2006
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3 T
7 T
11.7 T
MEG
When art meets science: the arches
of Neurospin
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Claude
Vasconi,
Architect
1940-2009
ISEULT
11.7 T MRI MAGNET
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Objectives and Challenges
OBJECTIVES
Development of molecular imaging at high field
Three complementary aspects:
Construction of an MRI scanner at ultra high field (11.7T) whole body (CEA, Siemens)
Development of new technologies (MRI Univ.de Fribourg, Bruker, Siemens)
Study of new contrast agents for high field MRI on target
following pathologies: Alzheimer's, stroke, brain tumors (Guerbet, CEA)
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CHALLENGES
Obtain a spatial or temporal resolution unequaled in humans,
discover new contrasts
Completion of the MRI magnet = first world for the field and the technology used
Important technological innovations for the other elements of the imager 11.7T MRI
Innovative developments for contrast agents: EST, Gd / USPIO, 19F
Perspectives for industrial development & support industrial Guerbet
Iseult 11.7 T MRI Magnet
Observer
QUANTITY Unit Value
Stored Energy MJ 338
Inductance H 308
Current A 1483
Length m 5.2
Diameter m 5
Weight t 132

B0 / Aperture 11.75T / 900mm
Field stability 0.05 ppm/h
Homogeneity < 0.5 ppm on 22 cm DSV
Stray field 5 G 13.5 m axial, 10.5 m radial
An innovative design
- NbTi conductor 9,2 mm x 4,9 mm
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11.7 T magnet section : in orange the windings, in blue the mechanical
structure at 1.8 K and in violet the cryostat
- NbTi conductor 9,2 mm x 4,9 mm
-170 double pancakes for the main coil
- 2 shielding coils
- Cryostat for liquid helium at 1.8 K, 1.25 bars
- Voltage +/- 2000 V
- 3,9 bars maximum pressure in case of
quench
- Dedicated refrigerator 70 l/h + 40 W 4.2 K
Winding layout and design
Blocks design
Homogeneity (cancellation of terms up to the 12
th
order included)
30 Sminaire Dautreppe 2011 24 novembre 2011
Cancelation of the straight field
Double pancake design for Homogeneity
Original Double Pancake design
The objective is to design a magnet theoretically intrinsically
homogeneous

= =
(
(
(

|
|
|

\
|
+ + + =
1 1
0
) (cos
sin

cos
) (cos ) , , (
n
n
m
m
n
m
n
m
n
m
n
n n
n
z
P W
m Y
m X
P Z r B r B

x
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y
z
O O
2s
O
2s
Windings
Inter-pancake
Insulation [ IPI ]
(fiberglass)
Specific design Main coil made of cryostable double-pancakes
Shielding coils vacuum impregnated with epoxy resin
32
CC3D 9 juin 2010
Conductor [ SC ]
Inter-turn
Insulation [ ITI ]
(impr. Kapton)
Double pancake stacking
170 Double-Pancakes
82 turns
Main coil structure
(real size)
Design options validated by prototypes
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Conductor manufacturing
160 km of main coil conductor: 1500 A at 11.7 T and 2.8 K, 9.2 mm x 4.9 mm
60 km of shielding coil conductor: 2100 A at 5T, 1.8 K , 9.1 mm x 4.2 mm
Main coil conductor : Rutherford cable with
34 Sminaire Dautreppe 2011 24 novembre 2011
Main coil conductor : Rutherford cable with
10 Cu/NbTi strands in a copper channel using SnSb solder
Shielding coil conductor: Cu/NbTi strand in a
copper channel
Double pancake manufacturing
Winding of 10 preseries double pancake coils
Start of the serie production of 170 doubles
pancakes in december 2011
Winding machine at Alstom Belfort
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First double pancake April 2011
Double pancake coil on 3D measuring bench
11.7 T 68 cm MRI magnet for NIH
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See you in 2013 !.......
37 Sminaire Dautreppe 2011 24 novembre 2011