Yasumi Otani

RandD Project on HTS Magnets for Ultrahigh-Field MRI Systems

An R&D project on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets using (RE)Ba2Cu3O7 (REBCO; RE = rare earth) wires for ultrahigh-field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems is described. Our targets are 9.4-T MRI systems for whole-body imaging and brain imaging. REBCO wires are promising components for UHF-MRI because REBCO wires have high critical current density in high magnetic fields and high strength against hoop stresses, which allows MRI magnets to be smaller and lighter than conventional ones. The aim of the project is to establish basic magnet technologies for adapting REBCO coils for UHF-MRI. The project term is three years, and this year is the final year. We have already demonstrated the generation of an 8.27-T magnetic field with a small test coil composed of 22 REBCO pancake coils. A magnetic field spatial distribution with inhomogeneity of several hundreds of parts per million within 100-mm diameter spherical volume (DSV) was demonstrated with a 1-T model magnet. A stable magnetic field of a few parts per million per hour was also demonstrated with the 1-T model magnet. The targets of the project, to be achieved by March 2016, are to demonstrate the generation of a 9.4-T field with the small REBCO coil, and to demonstrate a homogeneous magnetic field in 200-mm DSV with a 1.5-T magnet having three pairs of split coils. Imaging will be performed with the 1.5-T magnet.

Evaluation of Magnetic Field Homogeneity of a Conduction-Cooled REBCO Magnet with a Room-Temperature Bore of 200 mm

Development of a high-temperature superconducting magnet wound with REBa2Cu3O7-δ (REBCO)-coated conductor for ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is in progress. Our final targets are 9.4-T MRI systems for whole-body and brain imaging. Since REBCO-coated conductors feature high mechanical strength under a tensile stress and high critical current density, superconducting magnets could be made smaller by using REBCO coils. Superconducting magnets for MRI require homogeneous stable magnetic fields. The homogeneity of the magnetic field is highly dependent on the size and current density of the coils. Furthermore, in REBCO magnets, the screening-current-induced magnetic field that changes the magnetic field distribution of the magnet is one of the critical issues. In order to evaluate the magnetic field homogeneity and the screening-current-induced magnetic field of REBCO magnets, a conduction-cooled REBCO magnet with a room-temperature bore of 200 mm was fabricated and tested. The REBCO coils were composed of 12 single pancakes, and the size of the homogeneous magnetic field region was 100-mm diameter spherical volume (DSV). The central magnetic field was as high as 1 T at 285 A. The magnetic field distribution on the z-axis was measured by using an NMR probe. The maximum error magnetic field was 470 parts per million (ppm) in the range from -50 to +50 mm, as well as in the coefficients of the spherical harmonic expansion for a 100-mm DSV. The error magnetic fields due to the screening-current-induced magnetic field were less than 5 ppm, because there was a sufficient distance between the coil and the homogeneous magnetic field region. The main reason for the error magnetic field was dimensional errors in the outer diameters and positions on the z-axis.

Design of a conduction-cooled 9.4 T REBCO magnet for whole-body MRI systems

A project on the development of REBa2Cu3O7−δ (REBCO) magnets for ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was started in 2013. Since REBCO-coated conductors feature high mechanical strength under tensile stress and high critical current density, use of REBCO coils would allow superconducting magnets to be made smaller and lighter than conventional ones. In addition, a conduction-cooled superconducting magnet is simpler to use than one cooled by a liquid helium bath because the operation and maintenance of the cryogenic system become simpler, without the need to handle cryogenic fluid. Superconducting magnets for MRI require homogeneous, stable magnetic fields. The homogeneity of the magnetic field is highly dependent on the coil shape and position. Moreover, in REBCO magnets, the screening-current-induced magnetic field, which changes the magnetic field distribution of the magnet, is one of the critical issues. In order to evaluate the magnetic field homogeneity and the screening-current-induced magnetic field, a 1 T model magnet and some test coils were fabricated. From an evaluation of the 1 T model magnet, it was found that the main reason for magnetic field inhomogeneity was the tolerances in the z-axis positions of the coils, and therefore, it is important to control the gap between the single pancakes. In addition, we have already demonstrated the generation of an 8.27 T central magnetic field at 10 K with a small test coil. The screening-current-induced magnetic field was 0.43 T and was predictable by using an electromagnetic field simulation program. These results were reflected in the design of a conduction-cooled 9.4 T REBCO magnet for whole-body MRI systems. The magnet was composed of six main coils and two active shield coils. The total conductor length was 581 km, and the stored energy was 293 kJ. The field inhomogeneity was 24 ppm peak to peak and 3 ppm volume-root-mean-square (VRMS) for a 500 mm diameter spherical volume (DSV). The axial and radial 5 gauss line locations were less than 5 m and 4.2 m respectively.

A Conduction-Cooled REBCO Magnet With a Single-Stage GM Cryocooler and a Stainless Steel Case for Storing the Coil and Covering it From Thermal Radiation

A conduction-cooled REBCO racetrack coil that is stored and impregnated in a stainless steel case is proposed for mechanical reinforcement of the straight parts. Two racetrack coils composed of a stack of four single pancakes wound with two kinds of the REBCO tapes were fabricated and tested using conventional and new advanced conduction cooling systems, respectively. As the latter a more simplified cooling structure for a REBCO coil without the need for a conventional thermal radiation shield is currently under development. One challenge is restricting the flow of heat to the coil when the cryocooler stops due to an unexpected electrical and/or mechanical breakdown. In this research, the stainless steel case was thermally connected to a single-stage GM cryocooler. Most of the heat load was received by the case, and thermal resistance layers were inserted between the case and the coil surface for controlling the flow of heat into the coil. The REBCO coil was cooled indirectly and operated successfully without any degradation and the temperature rise when the cryocooler stopped was evaluated by experiments and calculations.