The optimal design method of permanent magnet assemblies with completely open architecture for MRI

Abstract

This paper presents a flexible design method to facilitate the construction of permanent magnet assemblies with completely open architectures for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The initial design is based on the ideally analytical assumptions. Then the dimensions and directions of the magnetization of each permanent element are optimized by using a modified genetic algorithm. Numerical implementations show that the proposed method provides a main magnetic field with modified homogeneity and strength at the imaging region, which is defined outside of the magnet structure, and minimizes the cost of the MRI equipment.