US 11,921,183 B2
Vibration inducing apparatus for magnetic resonance elastography
Ralph Sinkus, London (GB); Ondrej Holub, London (GB); Simon Lambert, London (GB); and Rachel Clough, London (GB)
Assigned to King's College London, London (GB)
Appl. No. 15/553,933
Filed by King's College London, London (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 25, 2016, PCT No. PCT/GB2016/050490
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 25, 2017,
PCT Pub. No. WO2016/135493, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 1503177 (GB), filed on Feb. 25, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2018/0172789 A1, Jun. 21, 2018
Int. Cl. G01R 33/563 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/055 (2006.01); G01R 33/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 33/56358 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0051 (2013.01); A61B 5/055 (2013.01); G01R 33/28 (2013.01); G01R 33/56308 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A magnetic resonance (MR) compatible transducer system for magnetic resonance elastography, comprising:
a rotationally mounted eccentric mass arranged to rotate within a container having at least one outer surface that in use transmits vibrations to contacting objects; and
a flexible drive shaft functionally connected to the rotationally mounted eccentric mass and arranged to impart rotational energy to the rotationally mounted eccentric mass, wherein the rotationally mounted eccentric mass, the container, and the flexible drive shaft are made from MR compatible material, and wherein the flexible drive shaft comprises a flexible rotating core within a flexible non-rotating sheath,
wherein the MR compatible transducer is configured to determine the rotational position of the rotationally mounted eccentric mass about its rotational axis, whereby a phase of vibrations is maintained and matched between subsequent uses of the MR compatible transducer.