Method for operating a medical imaging apparatus to correct for deflection of the patient support board

• US 20060184012A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Marzendorfer, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,607,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5276 involving measuring table sag

Abstract

In a method for operation of an imaging medical apparatus, a recumbent board supporting an examination subject is positioned in the scan region of the medical-technical apparatus, an exposure of both a section of the recumbent board and of a part of the tissue of the examination subject to be examined in the scan region is generated, the acquired real position of the section of the recumbent board is compared with an expected position of the recumbent board by image evaluation of the exposure generated with the medical-technical apparatus, and the exposure generated with the medical-technical apparatus of the examined tissue is corrected using the expected-real comparison of the position of the recumbent board.

Claims

1. A method for operating a medical imaging apparatus comprising the steps of:

horizontally supporting a recumbent board, with an examination subject thereon, in a scan region of a medical apparatus, said board with said patient thereon being subject to deflection, due to loading of the board, from an expected position of the board;

generating an exposure with said medical apparatus both of a section of said board and at least a portion of tissue of the examination subject in the scan region, with said tissue and said section of said board being detectable in said exposure;

electronically analyzing said exposure to identify a real position of said section of said board, and automatically electronically comparing said real position with said expected position to identify a deviation of said real position from said expected position; and

automatically electronically modifying said exposure to correct for said deviation.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising associating material with said board that enhances an ability to detect said section of said board in said exposure.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of associating said material with said board comprises introducing said material into said board.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising distributing said material within said board.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of associating said material with said board comprises attaching said material to said board.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising forming a marking, detectable in said exposure, on said board with said material.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising forming a marking, detectable in said exposure, in said board with said material.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising providing said board with a profiled projection that is detectable in said exposure.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said medical apparatus is a first medical apparatus, and comprising providing a second medical apparatus having a scan region and successively positioning said examination subject on said board in the scan region of the first medical apparatus and in the scan region of the second medical apparatus, said second medical apparatus having a detection capability for said board that is different from a detection capability for said board by said first medical apparatus, and using an exposure of a further section of said board with said examination subject thereon obtained with said second apparatus to determine said real position of said board.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of modifying said exposure comprises linearly displacing an image of said board in said exposure dependent on said deviation.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining a three-dimensional exposure as said exposure, and wherein the step of modifying said exposure comprises three-dimensionally modifying said exposure to correct for said deviation.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising providing said board with a marking that is detectable in said exposure, and obtaining a plurality of exposures of said tissue and said board as said board moves through said scan region of said medical apparatus with said examination subject thereon, and determining a relative speed between said board and said scan region by detecting said marking in each of said plurality of exposures, and using said relative speed to modify said exposure to correct for said deflection.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 comprising obtaining a plurality of three-dimensional exposures as said plurality of exposures, and wherein said movement of said board through said scan region is non-uniform, and using said marking structure detected in each of said plurality of three-dimensional exposures to modify each of said three-dimensional exposures to correct for said deviation and to compensate for said non-uniform movement.