MOBILE MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHODS

• US 20100172468A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregerson, Eugene A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0407 Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0478 Chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4447 Tiltable gantries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices

Abstract

A mobile medical imaging device that allows for multiple support structures, such as a tabletop or a seat, to be attached, and in which the imaging gantry is indexed to the patient by translating up and down the patient axis. In one embodiment, the imaging gantry can translate, rotate and/or tilt with respect to a support base, enabling imaging in multiple orientations, and can also rotate in-line with the support base to facilitate easy transport and/or storage of the device. The imaging device can be used in, for example, x-ray computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications.

Claims

1. A medical imaging system, comprising:

a base having a top surface;

a pedestal mounted to the base;

a gimbal support mounted to the base;

a gantry ring having a bore and an image collection apparatus, the gantry ring attached to the gimbal support and suspended above the top surface of base, the gantry ring configured to translate in a first direction relative to the base and to rotate at least about 90 degrees with respect to an axis extending generally normal to the top surface of the base.

2. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a mobile base having one or more wheels attached to the base.

3. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gantry ring translates and rotates by the translation and rotation of the gimbal support on the base.

4. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gimbal support comprises a generally U-shaped support having arms extending upwards from the base and connecting to opposite sides of the gantry ring.

5. The medical imaging system of claim 4, wherein the gantry ring is pivotable with respect to the gimbal support to tilt the gantry ring relative to the gimbal support and the base.

6. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image collection apparatus comprises an x-ray source and an x-ray detector array.

7. The medical imaging system of claim 6, wherein the x-ray source and the x-ray detector rotate 360 degrees around the interior of the gantry ring to obtain imaging data of an object positioned within the bore.

8. The medical imaging system of claim 7, wherein the x-ray source and x-ray detector are mounted to a rotor, the rotor rotating around the interior of the gantry ring.

9. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a tabletop support mounted to and disposed above the pedestal, the tabletop support extending at least partially into the bore of the gantry ring.

10. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein the tabletop support is detachable from the pedestal.

11. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein the tabletop support comprises a surgical or trauma table.

12. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein the tabletop support comprises a chair for imaging of a seated patient.

13. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein the tabletop support comprises a plurality of modular sections that can be added to and removed from the tabletop support to modify the configuration of the tabletop support.

14. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the pedestal is adapted to support any one of a plurality of interchangeable tabletop supports.

15. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the base has a length and a width, and the gantry translates along the length of the base.

16. The medical imaging system of claim 15, wherein the pedestal is mounted to the base at or near a first end of the base, and the gantry ring translates over substantially the entire length of the base from the pedestal to the second end of the base.

17. The medical imaging system of claim 15, wherein the gantry ring translates at least about one meter along the length of the base.

18. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gantry ring has an inner bore diameter that is greater than about 38 inches.

19. The medical imaging system of claim 18, wherein the bore diameter is between about 40 and 50 inches.

20. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the gantry ring is less than about 70 inches.

21. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gantry ring has a width of about 17 inches or less.

22. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gantry ring rotates about said axis between an imaging position, wherein the bore of the gantry ring is faced generally in the direction of the pedestal, and a transport position, wherein the bore is faced generally perpendicular to the pedestal.

23. The medical imaging system of claim 22, wherein the system has a first width when the gantry ring is in an imaging position and a second width when the gantry ring is in a transport position, the second width being less than the first width.

24. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the height of the pedestal above the top surface of the base is adjustable.

25. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the pedestal is rotatable about an axis extending generally normal to the top surface of the base.

26. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the pedestal is configured to receive and secure a tabletop support on a top surface of the pedestal, and the tabletop support translates in at least one direction relative to the pedestal and base.

27. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a releasable locking mechanism for securing a tabletop support on a top surface of the pedestal.

28. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator for translating and rotating the gantry ring on the base.

29. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling the operation of the image collection equipment and the translation and rotation of the gantry.

30. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a tabletop support mounted directly to the base, the tabletop support extending at least partially into the bore of the gantry ring.

31. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the tabletop support comprises a chair.

32. The medical imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a retractable support element that extends upwards from the base to support a cantilevered end of a tabletop support that is mounted to the pedestal.

33. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a mobile system and further comprises a drive mechanism for propelling the system.

34. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a computed tomography (CT) imaging system.

35. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.

36. A method of imaging an object, comprising:

rotating a gantry ring mechanically coupled to a base about an axis extending generally normal to a top surface of the base, the gantry ring rotating at least about 90 degrees from a transport position to an imaging position;

providing a tabletop support on a pedestal that is mounted to the base, the tabletop support extending from the pedestal into an imaging area that is above the base and in the direction of the gantry ring;

positioning an object to be imaged on the tabletop support;

translating the gantry support in a first direction relative to the base; and

obtaining image data of the object using an image collection apparatus on the gantry ring.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

removing at least a portion of the tabletop support from the imaging area; and

rotating the gantry ring at least about 90 degrees from the imaging position to the transport position.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the image collection apparatus comprises an x-ray source and x-ray detector array.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein obtaining image data comprises rotating at least one of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector array around the interior of the gantry ring.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising translating the gantry while at least one of the x-ray source and x-ray detector rotate in the gantry ring to perform a helical scan.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein rotating the gantry ring comprises rotating a gimbal support with respect to the base, the gimbal support being mounted to the base and extending upwards from the base to suspend the gantry ring above the top surface of the base.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein translating the gantry ring comprises translating a gimbal support with respect to the base, the gimbal support being mounted to the base and extending upwards from the base to suspend the gantry ring above the top surface of the base.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the object being imaged comprises a human or animal patient.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising performing a medical procedure on the patient while the patient is positioned on the tabletop support.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising translating the gantry ring to provide access to the patient for a medical procedure.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the medical procedure comprises brachytherapy.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

positioning the patient on the tabletop support and transporting the tabletop support to the pedestal;

securing the tabletop support on the pedestal;

adjusting the relative positions of the tabletop support and the gantry ring until a region of interest of the patient is located inside the gantry ring, and obtaining image data of the region of interest; and

removing the tabletop support and the patient positioned thereon from the pedestal.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the tabletop support and the patient are transported on a mobile cart.

49. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

removing the tabletop support from the pedestal and providing a second tabletop support for a second imaging operation.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein at least one of the tabletop supports comprises a chair.

51. The method of claim 36, further comprising transporting the base when the gantry ring is in the transport position.