Shigetaka Hirosato

Magnetic Field Analyses of Architectural Components Using Homogenization Technique

When the magnetic field analyses of the architectural components, in which magnetic materials are distributed complicatedly, are carried out, great efforts toward the modellings and high computational costs are required. To overcome these problems, the homogenization technique seems to be attractive. In this paper, from the standpoint of a practical use, the effectiveness of the homogenization technique is investigated in the analyses of the magnetic disturbance due to a building and the shielding performance of an open-type magnetically shielded room with a wall made up of magnetic cylinders. First, the effect of the region, where the homogenization technique is applied, on the accuracy of the flux distribution is investigated. Then, to examine the possibility that the homogenization technique can be applied to a practical design, the accuracy of the homogenization technique to a real model is investigated. Moreover, the reproduction of the flux distribution of the real model using that obtained from the homogenization technique is also tried. It is shown that the homogenization technique should be applied to not only the region of the magnetic materials but also the air region surrounding them. Moreover, the accuracy of the flux distribution obtained from the homogenization technique is satisfactory for a practical design.

Open-Type Magnetically Shielded Room Combined With Square Cylinders Made of Magnetic and Conductive Materials for MRIs

To improve the comfort of hospital patients, we have developed a new open-type magnetically shielded room (MSR) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), constructed by stacking square cylinders composed of magnetic material on the inside and a conductive material on the outside. The magnetic cylinder shields against leakage of the magnetic field from the MRI, while the conductive outer cylinder prevents intrusion of the electromagnetic field from outside by waveguide attenuation. First, the optimal design of the magnetic cylinder was determined, using 3-D magnetic field analysis with a simple cubic MSR. Second, the validity of the analysis and the practical realization of the designed MSR were investigated using a small experimental model. Finally, from a design perspective and the standpoint of saving space, the optimal combination of electromagnetically shielded glass and conductive cylinders made of aluminum was studied by measuring the electromagnetic shielding effect. As the optimal design of an open-type MSR for an MRI, we have adopted a combination of single-layered electromagnetically shielded glass together with stacked cylinders. These cylinders are made of a square cylinder, 144 x 144 mm and 300 mm long, made of silicon steel (thickness t =1 mm) and divided into three parts along the axial direction, placed inside a second square cylinder made of aluminum, 150 x 150 mm and 300 mm long (t = 3 mm). This MSR construction technique creates an open, spacious feeling inside the facility and can be easily fabricated at low cost.

Open Type of Magnetically Shielded Room Combined With Cancelling Coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In this paper, an open type of MSR combined with cancelling coils is investigated. The optimal position of the cancelling coil from the standpoints of the leakage flux density outside the room and the required current is determined using 3-D magnetic field analysis with the finite element method. Moreover, the structure for maximizing the opening of a MSR is proposed.

Design and Construction Method of an Open-Type Magnetically Shielded Room for MRI Composed of Magnetic Square Cylinders

To shield the leakage flux densities of 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) higher than 1.5 T MRI and to reduce the degradation of magnetic properties during construction, the design of an open-type magnetically shielded room (MSR) combined with square cylinders made of magnetic and conductive materials should be improved. This paper reports on an optimal design for magnetic cylinders to improve the shielding effect, while also considering ease of construction with a view to practical use. Firstly, the structure of the magnetic cylinders, such as their opening width and the slit width were optimized using a 3D linear magnetic-field analysis. Using optimal magnetic cylinders, when the relative permeability (mur) of the magnetic material is larger than 10 000, the reluctance of gaps between the cylinders is the main contributor to the leakage flux. So, the required mur of the magnetic material is 10 000 and oriented silicon steel is adopted instead of the non-oriented type. Secondly, as an optimal construction method, it was determined by experiment that oriented silicon steel sheets, annealed after bending, should be laminated so that the effect of gaps on butt joints between steel sheets on the magnetic property of the cylinder becomes smaller. This enables the relative permeability of 10 000 when the maximum flux density of the material in the cylinder is less than 1.7 T. Finally, the minimum thickness of oriented silicon steel sheet of cylinders depending on the distance from a 3 T MRI is obtained using linear magnetic analysis under the condition that the maximum flux density of the material of the cylinder is less than 1.7 T. In the case of the thickness of 3.8 mm, the leakage flux density of 3 T MRI is decreased to less than a guideline (0.5 mT) when the distance between the cylinders and the center of MRI is larger than 2 750 mm. This indicates that the optimal design and construction method of an open-type MSR for 3 T MRI composed of magnetic square cylinders are realized.

Design Method for Realization of Open-Type Magnetically Shielded Room Composed of Magnetic Square Cylinders for MRI

In order to increase amenity for hospital patients, we introduce an open-type magnetically shielded room (MSR) in tight space composed of magnetic and conductive cylinders for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This paper presents a design for the MSR opening part for an actual 3T MRI that combines magnetic cylinders with magnetic mullions to decrease the leakage flux density to less than 0.5 mT, taking magnetic saturation into account. The design utilizes the homogenization technique to model the opening part which reduces the number of elements. Moreover, a newly optimized design approach is proposed for the design of openings. First, the opening part is designed while treating the magnetic property in linear analysis to obtain an ideal flux distribution without magnetic saturation. Then, the thickness of the magnetic cylinders is determined for magnetic cylinders to stay unsaturated. Finally, the open-type MSR presented in this paper is built in a hospital, and the design method is verified.

Open-Type Magnetically Shielded Room Using Only Canceling Coil Without a Ferromagnetic Wall for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In order to improve amenities for patients in hospitals, a new open type of magnetically shielded room (MSR) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses only canceling coils without a ferromagnetic wall, has been developed. The device was designed by three-dimensional magnetic field analysis and experimentally investigated using an actual MRI of 1.5 T. First, a coil and ferromagnetic material were modeled on an actual MRI, so that the distribution of the leakage magnetic flux vectors was in agreement with that measured. Second, the optimal shaped canceling coil, a saddle-shaped coil which can reduce the leakage flux from the edge plane to the side plane of the room, was designed using the modeled MRI, and realized. The effectiveness of this coil for shielding and its influence on MRI imaging were confirmed experimentally using an actual MRI. In addition, an optimal U-shaped enclosure that can sufficiently shield the leakage flux generated by the coil itself was designed; its effectiveness was confirmed experimentally by using an actual canceling coil.

Investigation on demagnetization of residual magnetization in architectural components using 3-D magnetic field analysis

In order to investigate an effective method for removing the residual magnetization in the steel structure of a building by a demagnetizing coil, a method for estimating the distribution of residual magnetization by means of a three-dimensional nonlinear eddy-current analysis was proposed. The tendency of the result obtained from the proposed method was in good agreement with the experimental result. Moreover, it was found that the demagnetizing coil should be set perpendicular to the steel structure.

Design method for realization of open-type magnetically shielded room combined with square cylinders made of magnetic material for MRI

To improve amenity for patients in hospitals, we have proposed an open-type magnetically shielded room (MSR) composed of magnetic and conductive cylinders for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The design method of the opening part, that enables the leakage flux densities outside to be less than 0.5mT, is discussed taking account of magnetic saturation. First, the homogenization technique is applied to the design method of the opening part to reduce the number of elements for cylinders. Moreover, the magnetic characteristic of the opening part is assumed to be linear to obtain the ideal flux distribution. Next, the thickness of the magnetic cylinders is determined using the flux distribution in the real model reproduced from that in the homogeneous model so that the magnetic cylinders are not saturated. Finally, the design method is verified using the realized open-type MSR.