Project Background
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is widely used to pinpoint abnormal tissues location and sizing in human body. The goal of this project is to further increase spatial resolution of gradient coil with manageable thermal solutions. We have worked extensively with our client using CAD modeling and numerical simulation approaches to identify product performance as well as risk assessment.
Our dedicated team not only facilitates the product design iterations, but also validated our numerical simulation results through testing. The entire effort helped our client to achieve optimal design solutions considering magnetic field, thermal management, coolant flow distribution, prototyping and manufacture cost control. In addition, we are proud to help our client secured a US patent.
Structure CAD Modeling (Solidworks)
Numerical Simulation Driven Concept Visualization
MRI gradient coil design is a very complex 3D concept, which requires CAD modeling for design visualization as well as prototyping. We thoroughly analyzed CAD modeling - Magnetic Field Simulation - Thermal/ Fluid Simulation coupling effect through 9 design iterations and achieved optimal design solution for best performance and manufacture cost.
Numerical Thermal/ Fluid Simulation
Coolant Micro-channel Distribution Visualization
The desired magnetic field distribution requires significant power consumption for highest spatial resolution. Therefore, it’s essential to optimize coolant flow distribution for advanced cooling solutions for the entire 3-axis system. Distribution header dimension and flow rate in each micro-channel is numerically simulated to identify the header thickness. We helped our client to keep well balance between thermal management performance and product form factor/ manufacture cost.
Thermal Simulation for Temperature Visualization
With numerical thermal simulation, it’s straightforward to view the temperature variation inside the gradient coil system. The low temperature region (blue) indicates the coolant flow path, there the high temperature region (red) provides us critical information of high risk region of thermal management.
Numerical Magnetic Field Simulation
3-Axis Magnetic Field Simulation
The core of this project is to design a 3-Axis Magnetic Gradient Coil with highest spatial resolution during MRI process. Therefore, it requires highest contrast in the magnetic field. To verify the gradient coil design, a magnetic field simulation is performed to visualize the “invisible” magnetic field distribution. Our visual simulation helped our client to confirm the gradient coil design for prototyping and production.
Simulation To Test Correlation
Simulation to Test Correlation
It’s critical to have numerical simulation for product design, but it’s even more important to validate the simulation results through testing. We not only worked on numerical simulation aspect, but also helped our client design validation test plans. From the correlation visualization, our client gained more confidence in our modeling accuracy as well as general methodology. It again proved our expertise in various aspects and we are happy to share that we have been granted a patent for this unique and optimal design.