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According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a method of transporting a cryogenic device between first and second facilities. The exemplary method includes actively maintaining cryogen in the device within desired parameters. According to another embodiment, the present technique pro

According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a method of transporting a cryogenic device between first and second facilities. The exemplary method includes actively maintaining cryogen in the device within desired parameters. According to another embodiment, the present technique provides a portable resource supply, which provides resources to a cryogenic imaging device during transportation. Advantageously, the portable supply unit may actively maintain cryogen in the imaging device within desired parameters. Moreover, the portable supply unit may reduce the likelihood of a loss of cryogen and a loss of superconductivity in the imaging device. Furthermore, the present technique provides a maintenance system for cryogenic imaging devices. As one example, the maintenance system may include an intermediate facility having resources for maintaining a cryogenic imaging device during transportation thereof. That is, the intermediate facility may maintain the cryogenic imaging device within desired operating parameters, such as a superconductive state, once it has left a manufacturing facility and prior to its arrival at a destination facility, such as a medical imaging center.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of transporting a device having a cryogen from a first facility to a second facility, comprising providing commands remotely for actively maintaining the cryogen in the device within pre-determined parameters during at least a portion of a route of travel of the devi

What is claimed is: 1. A method of transporting a device having a cryogen from a first facility to a second facility, comprising providing commands remotely for actively maintaining the cryogen in the device within pre-determined parameters during at least a portion of a route of travel of the device from the first facility to the second facility, wherein the device comprises a cryogenically cooled magnet, an imaging device, a medical diagnostic device, a cryogenically cooled superconductive device, or a combination thereof. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising monitoring conditions of the cryogen during at least a portion of the travel of the device from the first facility to the second facility. 3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein monitoring comprises monitoring remotely. 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein actively maintaining comprises supplying the device with resources for cooling the cryogen via the resources of a third facility located at an intermediate point along the route of travel. 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein actively maintaining comprises supplying the device with resources for cooling the cryogen via a portable supply unit. 6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising providing the device to the second facility such that the device is in a superconductive state. 7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising providing power to a cryogen cooling system of the device to recondense the cryogen. 8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising providing replacement cryogen to the device. 9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is the imaging device. 10. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising maintaining the device in a superconductive state. 11. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising actively maintaining the cryogen in the device within pre-determined parameters upon delivery of the device to the second facility and prior to coupling of the device to resources of the second facility. 12. An apparatus for use with a device having cryogen and a cryogenic cooling system, comprising: a portable resource supply configured to provide resources to the cryogenic cooling system of the device such that the cryogen cooling system maintains the cryogen within pre-determined parameters during transportation of the device from a first facility to a second facility, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive commands for controlling the cryogen cooling system, wherein the device comprises a cryogenically cooled magnet, an imaging device, a medical diagnostic device, a cryogenically cooled superconductive device, or a combination thereof. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises monitoring circuitry configured to monitor conditions of at least one of the cryogen and the cryogen cooling system during transportation of the device. 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit information regarding the monitored conditions to a remote location. 15. The system apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the information regarding the monitored conditions via a network. 16. The system apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the device comprises and imaging device. 17. A method of maintaining a cryogenic imaging device during transport from a first facility to a second facility, comprising: receiving the cryogenic imaging device from the first facility at a third facility via a first transportation provider, wherein the third facility is located at an intermediate point on a transportation route between the first and second facilities; actively maintaining cryogen within the cryogenic imaging device within pre-determined parameters via resources of the third facility; and providing the cryogenic imaging device to a second transportation provider for transportation to the second facility. 18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein actively maintaining comprises providing replacement cryogen to the cryogenic imaging device. 19. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein actively maintaining comprises providing operating power to a cryogen cooling system of the cryogenic imaging device. 20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein actively maintaining comprises monitoring conditions of the imaging device while at the third facility. 21. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising maintaining the cryogenic device in a superconductive state. 22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the first and second transportation providers are the same. 23. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein actively maintaining comprises providing commands to a cryogen cooling system of the cryogenic imaging device. 24. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the third facility is located proximate to a transportation hub. 25. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising determining if the second facility is prepared to receive the cryogenic imaging device prior to providing the imaging device to the second transportation provider. 26. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising estimating a travel time for transportation of the cryogenic imaging device to the second facility from the third facility prior to providing the imaging device to the second transportation provider. 27. The method as recited in claim 26, comprising providing the cryogenic imaging device to the second transportation provider such that the estimated travel time is within a pre-determined time period. 28. A system for use with a cryogenic imaging device during transport from a first facility to a second facility, comprising: means for actively maintaining cryogen within the cryogenic imaging device within predetermined parameters via resources of an intermediate facility located on a route of travel between the first facility and the second facility. 29. A computer program for use with a cryogenic imaging device located at a first facility, wherein the first facility is located at an intermediate point on a route of travel between a second facility and a third facility, the computer program being located on one or more tangible media, comprising: code for actively maintaining cryogen within the cryogenic imaging device within predetermined parameters via resources of the first facility. 30. A maintenance system for use during transportation of a cryogenic imaging device from a first facility to a second facility, comprising: a third facility located at an intermediate point on a route of travel between the first facility and the second facility, wherein the third facility is configured to actively maintain cryogen in the cryogenic imaging device within predetermined parameters. 31. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30, wherein the third facility is located proximate to a transportation hub. 32. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30, wherein the third facility includes a supply of cryogen for the cryogenic imaging device. 33. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30, wherein the third facility is configured to provide operational power to a cryogen cooling system of the cryogenic imaging device. 34. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30, wherein the third facility is configured to monitor conditions of the cryogenic imaging device. 35. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30 wherein the third facility is configured to provide command instructions to the cryogenic imaging device. 36. The maintenance system as recited in claim 30 wherein the third facility is configured to communicate information regarding the cryogenic imaging device to a remote location via a network. 37. A method of transporting a device having a cryogen from a first facility to a second facility, comprising actively maintaining the cryogen in the device within pre-determined parameters during at least of portion of a route of travel of the device from the first facility to the second facility via resources of a third facility located on the route at a point intermediate the first and second facilities. 38. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises the cryogenically cooled magnet. 39. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises the medical diagnostic device. 40. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises the cryogenically cooled superconductive device. 41. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein actively maintaining comprises providing operating power to a cryogen cooling system of the device. 42. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable resource supply is configured to provide operational power to the cryogenic cooling system. 43. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the means for actively maintaining comprises providing operating power to the cryogenic imaging device. 44. The computer program as recited in claim 29, wherein the third facility is configured to provide operational power to a cryogen cooling system of the cryogenic imaging device.