General Electric Company
Magnetic resonance imaging gradient driver systems and methods

Abstract:

A gradient amplifier for use in a MRI system can be located in the scan room. The gradient amplifier includes pair of rails connected to a gradient power supply. The gradient amplifier also includes a H-bridge of switches which includes a first high side switch and a first low side switch connected in series between the pair of rails, and a second high side switch and a second low side switch connected in series between the pair of rails. The gradient amplifier further includes a first high side driver circuit, a first low side driver circuit, a second high side driver circuit, and a second low side driver circuit, each configured to drive the corresponding switch in the H-bridge. A common power source supplies power to all driver circuits, wherein power is supplied to the high side driver circuits through bootstrap circuits.