Kyoto University and Tohoku University have jointly developed a high-temperature superconducting coil that does not require liquid helium, which is a concern for resource depletion, with Mitsubishi Electric, and installed it in a mini model of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).It is said that it succeeded in imaging with a magnetic field strength of 2 Tesla, which is twice that of the conventional one.MRI with high magnetic field strength enables higher-definition diagnostic imaging and leads to early detection of diseases. By 3, we will make a prototype of an MRI that is half the size of a practical machine, and then complete an MRI that is the size of a practical machine.
The developed high-temperature superconducting coil uses an yttrium-based superconducting wire whose electrical resistance becomes zero at minus 180 degrees Celsius or less.The accuracy of coil winding has been improved to ensure the uniformity of magnetic field strength required for commercial MRI.Furthermore, it was installed in a mini model of MRI, and the magnetic field strength was increased to 3 Tesla, which was the first in the world, and an image of a mouse foetation was actually taken. It can also be applied to devices other than MRI.In addition to constructing an imaging system for the MRI mini model, Kyoto University examined measures against magnetic field disturbance due to magnetization.Tohoku University was in charge of actual measurement evaluation of measures against this magnetic field turbulence.
Currently, low-temperature superconducting coils that cool to minus 269 degrees Celsius or less using liquid helium are used for MRI and the like.However, liquid helium may be exhausted in the future due to a rapid increase in demand, and it is desired to apply high-temperature superconducting coils that do not require cooling with liquid helium and can be miniaturized to electrical equipment.
