Magnetic resonance imaging fixture mounting

• US 20040030241A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Charles A., Votruba, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/422
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/341 comprising surface coils

Abstract

A fixture such as a local receiver coil is secured to the patient support of a magnetic resonance imaging system so that the fixture remains in position relative to the support even when the support is in a vertical orientation. The positioning apparatus is arranged to allow adjustment of the fixture position, but to limit such adjustment so that the fixture cannot interfere with the poles or other elements defining the patient-receiving gap of the magnet during movement of the patient support.

Claims

1. A device for use in magnetic resonance imaging, said device comprising:

a base member;

a first antenna loop portion threaded through said base member; and

a second antenna loop portion threaded through said base member, and

wherein said base member may be oriented relative to a patient'"'"'s anatomy such that said first antenna loop portion is adjacent to an anterior surface of the patient and said second antenna loop portion is adjacent to a posterior surface of the patient

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said anterior surface and posterior surfaces comprise the front surface and rear surfaces of the patient'"'"'s head, respectively.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said anterior and posterior surfaces comprise a portion of the front and rear surfaces of the patient'"'"'s torso, respectively.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said anterior and posterior surfaces comprise a portion of the front and rear surfaces of the patient'"'"'s extremities, respectively.

5. A fixture for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:

a base plate; and

an antenna portion having a base member pivotably mounted to said base plate and including at least one coil winding forming a loop, said loop being threaded through said base member.

6. The fixture of claim 5 wherein said base member is pivotably mounted to said plate by a pair of saddle shape members and an arm having a donut shaped end, said donut shaped end of said arm being pivotably mounted between said saddle shape members.

7. The fixture of claim 5 wherein said base plate further comprises a pair of control latches mounted to a bottom surface of said base plate.

8. The fixture of claim 5 further comprising at least one enclosure through which said at least one coil is threaded.

9. The fixture of claim 5 wherein said at least one coil windings includes two coil windings each forming a loop and further includes a base member through which is threaded each of said loops, said base member suspending each of said loops in planes parallel to each other.

10. A system for magnetic resonance imaging comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having a structure including opposed elements defining a patient receiving space and a patient support movable relative to said structure through a range of support positions;

a mounting apparatus; and

a fixture usable in conjunction with said magnetic resonance apparatus,

said mounting apparatus being operative to secure the fixture to the patient support and to permit adjustment of the position of the fixture relative to the patient support over a range of fixture positions and said fixture including a base plate and an antenna assembly having a base member pivotably mounted to said base plate and including at least one coil antenna in the shape of a loop that is threaded through said base member.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said base member is pivotably mounted to said plate by a pair of saddle shape members and an arm having a donut shaped end, said donut shaped end of said arm being pivotably mounted between said saddle shape members.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said base plate further comprises a pair of control latches mounted to a bottom surface of said plate and wherein said control latches function to hold the fixture in position when said base plate is engaged with said mounting apparatus.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said mounting apparatus defines a track direction that is adapted to engage with said patient support such that said track direction is substantially traverse to a longitudinal direction of the patient support.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising detents arranged to hold said mounting unit at predetermined locations along said track direction.

15. A system for magnetic resonance imaging, the system comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having a structure including opposed elements defining a patient-receiving space therebetween, a magnet axis extending substantially horizontally and a patient support disposed within said patient-receiving space capable of supporting a patient in a substantially upright position; and

a support arm mounted to said patient support such that said support arm projects from said patient support in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal direction of said patient support.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said support arm further comprises a base member, at least one support member projecting from a surface of said base member and an arm mounted to said at least one support member, said arm being rotatable in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of said magnet axis.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising at least one support arm mounted to a distal end of said arm and a loop antenna coil threaded through an opening at a distal end of said at least one support arm.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a support member mounted to a distal end of said arm, said support member including at least one finger member through which is threaded a loop coil antenna.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a support arm rotatably mounted to a distal end of said arm, said support arm having a distal end to which is attached an antenna support arm having a loop antenna threaded there-through.

20. The system according to claim 15 wherein said support arm further comprises a base member, at least one support member projecting from a surface of said base member and a rotatable arm mounted to said at least one support member.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said support arm is slidably mounted to a mounting unit and said mounting unit is adapted to engage said patient support.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said support arm is of a unitary construction and includes a base member that is adaptable to said patient support.

23. A method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

positioning a fixture on a patient support of a magnetic resonance apparatus using a mounting device; and

positioning a patient on the patient support such that a shoulder of the patient is saddled by the fixture.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising arranging the fixture such that one coil of the saddle is at the anterior surface of the patient'"'"'s anatomy and such that another coil of the saddle is at the posterior surface of the patient'"'"'s anatomy.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising moving the patient support within a range of support positions between a pair of magnet elements defining a gap.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein positioning the fixture includes engaging positioning elements on the fixture with mating elements on the patient support.