Medical imaging system with integrated body monitoring device

• US 20050288572A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Graw, Ansgar
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

In some preferred embodiments, a medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device is disclosed which includes: a movable platform for supporting a patient during image acquisition; an image acquisition device for the acquisition of images of the patient upon the platform; a body monitoring device for the monitoring of a body function of the patient during image acquisition; the body monitoring device being adapted to transmit body function signals to the image acquisition device and the image acquisition device being adapted to effect image acquisition based on the signals received from the body monitoring device; wherein the body monitoring device is integrated with the image acquisition system. In the preferred embodiments, the medical imaging system is a nuclear medical imaging system and the body monitoring device is an ECG device.

Claims

1. A medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device, comprising:

a) a movable platform for supporting a patient during image acquisition;

b) an image acquisition device for the acquisition of images of the patient upon the platform;

c) a body monitoring device for the monitoring of a body function of the patient during image acquisition;

d) said body monitoring device being adapted to transmit body function signals to said image acquisition device and said image acquisition device being adapted to effect image acquisition based on said signals received from said body monitoring device;

e) wherein said body monitoring device is integrated with said image acquisition system.

2. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said medical imaging system is a nuclear medical imaging system.

3. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said medical imaging system includes a gamma camera.

4. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said body monitoring device is an ECG device.

5. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 2, wherein said body monitoring device is an ECG device.

6. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 5, wherein said ECG device is mounted on or within a housing of the nuclear medical imaging system.

7. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 5, wherein said medical imaging system includes at least one display adapted to display ECG data and nuclear medical imaging data substantially concurrently within an operating region for a technologist during data acquisition.

8. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 7, wherein said ECG data and said nuclear medical imaging data are concurrently displayed at the same time within about 3 feet from each other.

9. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 7, wherein said ECG data and said nuclear medical imaging data are concurrently displayed at the same time within about 2 feet from each other.

10. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 7, wherein said ECG data and said nuclear medical imaging data are concurrently displayed at the same time on the same monitor together.

11. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 9, wherein said ECG data includes bodily function acquisition data.

12. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 9, wherein said ECG data includes pulse data.

13. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 10, wherein said ECG data includes bodily function acquisition data.

14. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 10, wherein said ECG data includes pulse data.

15. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 5, wherein said ECG device includes at least one wire connected to at least one electrode, wherein said at least one wire does not extend significantly from the side of the platform during use such that risk of snagging on equipment is substantially avoided.

16. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 5, wherein said ECG device includes at least one wire connected to at least one electrode, wherein said at least one wire is fixedly connected within or to said platform or a support of the platform SO as not to extend significantly from a side of the platform during use such that risk of snagging on equipment is minimized.

17. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 16, further including means for reducing slack within said at least one wire during movement of said platform.

18. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 17, wherein said means for reducing slack includes a pulley system beneath said platform for reducing slack within said at least one wire.

19. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 17, wherein said means for reducing slack includes a sliding contact engagement.

20. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 16, further including a wireless transmitter supported to move along with said platform during use and a wireless receiver configured to receive communication signals from said wireless transmitter for communications to said ECG.

21. The medical imaging system of claim 20, wherein said transmitter is part of a first transceiver and said receiver is part of a second transceiver.

22. The medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device of claim 5, further including a wireless transmitter supported to move along with said platform during use and a wireless receiver configured to receive communication signals from said wireless transmitter for communications to said ECG.

23. A method of using a medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device, comprising:

a) situating a patient upon a movable platform for image acquisition;

b) initiating image acquisition with an image acquisition device to obtain images of the patient upon the platform;

c) monitoring a body function of the patient with a body monitoring device during image acquisition;

d) transmitting body function signals from said body monitoring device to said image acquisition device using a communication mechanism that is integrated with said medical imaging system and that avoids obstructing access around both sides of said movable platform;

e) controlling image acquisition with said image acquisition device based on said signals received from said body monitoring device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting using a communication mechanism that is integrated with said medical imaging system includes transmitting via at least one wire that does not extend significantly from a side of the platform during use such that risk of snagging on equipment is minimized.

25. The method of claim 24, further including reducing slack within said at least one wire at a location beneath said platform.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said reducing slack includes reducing slack using a pulley system beneath said platform.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said reducing slack includes reducing slack using a sliding contact connection.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting using a communication mechanism that is integrated with said medical imaging system includes transmitting via a wireless transmitter supported to move along with said platform during use and a wireless receiver configured to receive communication signals from said wireless transmitter for communications to said ECG.

29. The method of claim 28, further including moving said wireless transmitter along with movement of said platform by having said transmitter fixedly integrated within said medical imaging system relative to said platform.

30. The method of claim 23, further including performing nuclear medical imaging with said medical imaging system.

31. The method of claim 30, further including providing said body monitoring device as an ECG device.

32. The method of claim 31, further including locating said ECG within or attached to a housing of the nuclear medical imaging system.

33. The method of claim 23, further including displaying ECG data and nuclear medical imaging data substantially concurrently within an operating region for a technologist during data acquisition.

34. The method of claim 33, further including displaying said ECG data and said nuclear medical imaging data concurrently on the same monitor.