A magnetic field with a high degree of stability and homogeneity is essential for the successful application of a number of analytical techniques such as MRI. Assemblies comprising large amounts of permanent magnetic material can be used for the generation of such magnetic field.

Most permanent magnetic materials with sufficient energy density to be useful for these applications are generally sensitive to temperature variations. MRI devices require a controlled and rapid temporal or spatial variation of the principal magnetic field component. This is achieved by so called gradient coils. The gradient coils are generally located near the pole pieces, which include the permanent magnetic material. The gradient coils can dissipate a considerable amount of heat.

Even though the gradient coils are cooled by air or by liquid such as water, it is difficult to avoid a temperature rise after operation of the gradient coils. This increase of temperature will result in a flux of heat into the rest of the magnetic structure and will result in an increase of the temperature of the permanent magnetic material. The temperature increase will result in a drift of the magnetic field which will adversely effect the quality of the image.

An aim of the present invention is to provide means to minimise variations of the temperature of the permanent magnetic assemblies when gradient coils are operated.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for generating an accurate magnetic field in a magnetic resonance imaging device, wherein said device comprises a yoke having a number of permanent magnet assemblies mounted thereon, each of which is in thermal contact with a plate having good thermal conductivity, said plate being positioned between said permanent magnetic assemblies and gradient coils, characterised in that said plate has connected thereto one or more temperature sensors which provide a signal to control circuit means which is arranged to control the operation to a plurality of thermoelectric heat pumping devices which are connected to said plate so that the overall heat generated by the thermoelectric heat pumping devices and the gradient coils is kept constant and is dissipated by the yoke of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the thermoelectric heat pumping devices are fitted on a face of the plate between the gradient coils and the permanent magnetic material.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the thermoelectric heat pumping devices are fitted to an edge of said plate.

An embodiment of the present invention there is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a permanent magnetic assembly 1 consisting of a layer of permanent magnetic material 2. The gradient coils 3 are located between the permanent magnetic material 2 and the space 4 where good field quality is required. The permanent magnetic material 2 is in good thermal contact with a plate 5 having good thermal conductive properties. Between the gradient coils 3 and the plate 5 there is a thermally insulating layer 6. The plate 5 is fitted with one or more temperature sensors 7 such as thermistors or thermal resistive devices.

The temperature sensors provide an input signal to a control circuit 8.

The control circuit 8 controls the current to the thermoelectric heat pumping devices 9 which are fixed to the plate 5. Self adhesive heater pads readily available commercially, would be suitable for this purpose because of ease of mounting and the relatively small thickness of the thermoelectric heat pumping devices which means that the magnetic efficiency of the circuit is not greatly compromised. If transient effects are not taken into consideration, the control circuit is arranged to keep the sum of the heat introduced by the thermoelectric heat pumping devices and the heat introduced by the gradient coils constant. The heat flux from the plate 5 will flow through the permanent magnetic material and will be sinked into a yoke 10. The temperature of the yoke is kept sufficiently constant so that the temperature gradient generated by the heat flow will not change significantly over time. Alternatively, the temperature of the yoke 10 is measured and used as input to the temperature control algorithm.

An alternative arrangement is shown in Figure 2. In this arrangement, instead of mounting the thermoelectric heat pumping devices 9 on the flat surface of the plate 5, the heat pumping devices can be mounted at the edge of the plate 5. This gives better access to the heat pumping devices, which facilitates the use of thermoelectric heat pumping devices 9 because this arrangement allows the connection of heat source/sinks to the thermoelectric heat pumping devices. The heat generated by the gradient coils is a function of the current and the temporal structure of the current supply to the gradient coils. This current can be measured by several means, for example by a resistive shunt 12 or by a DC transformer.

The present invention as described provides a fast and effective means of minimising field drift due to the operation of the gradient coils, in a magnet assembly comprising permanent magnets.