PATIENT TRANSPORT APPARATUS WITH INTEGRATED SUBSYSTEMS FOR USE IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

• US 20100031443A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Stefka, Mark J., Meurer, Robert, Polzin, Jason A., Rindy, Ryan W., Georgiev, Emil Markov
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/601
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/06 raising or lowering of the whole table surface A61G13/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A patient transport apparatus having a table configured to support a patient, a base attached to the table, a docking system attached to the base, the docking system configured to couple to a mating docking system of an MR imaging system, and a plurality of bays formed in the base, with each bay configured to receive a patient care module therein. The patient transport apparatus further includes a control system configured to be electrically coupled to each patient care module received within the plurality of bays and configured to centrally control each patient care module.

Claims

1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:

a table configured to support a patient;

a base attached to the table;

a docking system attached to the base, the docking system configured to couple to a mating docking system of an MR imaging system;

a plurality of bays formed in the base, each bay configured to receive a patient care module therein; and

a control system configured to be electrically coupled to each patient care module received within the plurality of bays and configured to centrally control each patient care module.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of bays comprises:

a first bay configured to receive an anesthesia module, the anesthesia module configured to combine an anesthetic agent with a carrier gas;

a second bay configured to receive a ventilator module, the ventilator module configured to deliver gases to the patient via a breathing tube; and

a third bay configured to receive a patient monitoring module, the patient monitoring module configured to collect medical data from the patient and transmit the collected medical data to the control system.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of bays further comprises a fourth bay configured to receive one of an intravenous (IV) pump module configured to provide fluids intravenously to the patient and an injector module configured to provide an MRI contrast agent to the patient.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a video display module configured to display patient data and patient care module systems data.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 4 wherein the control system comprises a user input device integrated with one of the video display module and the base.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 wherein the table is detachable from the base and configured to be transferred into a bore of an MRI system magnet.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a compartment configured to store a container for life support gases.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a compartment configured to house one of a battery and a fuel cell configured to provide power to a patient care module.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connection port configured to receive one of electrical power, patient gases, and electronic communications from a source external to the patient transport apparatus.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is configured to permit adjustment to a height of the table.

11. A patient imaging system comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images;

a plurality of patient care modules configured to provide patient care during an imaging session; and

a patient transport apparatus comprising;

a table configured to support a patient; and

a base attached to the table, the base comprising;

a plurality of compartments having the plurality of modules positioned therein;

a controller configured to control each of the plurality of modules; and

a docking system configured to removeably attach the patient transport apparatus to the MRI system.

12. The patient imaging system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of patient care modules comprises an anesthesia module, a ventilator module, and a patient monitoring module.

13. The patient imaging system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of patient care modules further comprises one of an intravenous (IV) pump module and a contrast agent injector module.

14. The patient imaging system of claim 11 further comprising a video display module configured to display real-time patient and systems data.

15. The patient imaging system of claim 11 wherein the patient transport apparatus further comprises an external connector port configured to receive electrical power, patient gases, and electronic communications from a source external to the patient transport apparatus.

16. A method of manufacturing a patient transport apparatus comprising:

coupling a table for supporting a patient to a base;

forming a plurality of compartments in the base capable of accepting a plurality of patient care modules therein;

attaching a docking mechanism to the base, wherein the docking mechanism is capable of coupling the patient transport apparatus to an MRI system magnet; and

providing a controller capable of controlling each of the plurality of patient care modules.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein coupling the table to the base comprises detachably coupling the table to the base.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising assembling one of an anesthesia module, a ventilator module, and an IV pump module into one of the plurality of compartments.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising assembling a connector port to the base, the connector port configured to receive, from a source external to the patient transport apparatus, one of electrical power, patient gases, and electronic communications.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising forming a compartment in the base capable of accepting a life support gas container therein.