MRI Transfer Station and Dock
First Claim
1. A patient table adapted for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants, said patient table comprising:
- A patient table base;
an extendable and movable, MR-compatible patient bed attached to a top surface of said patient table base, said patient bed comprising an extending mechanism that when extended causes said patient bed to be extended and at least partially project from said patient table base, said patient bed being dimensionally constructed such that it may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner bore without requiring said patient table to enter the MR scanner bore;
a transport mechanism attached to an underside of said patient table adapted to permit the patient table to be readily moved over the floor on which the patient table rests;
a coupling adapted to releasably attach said patient table to a patient table docking assembly, said docking assembly being operative to selectively drive said patient table towards and away from said MR scanner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patient table adapted for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants is provided. The patient table has an extendable patient bed attached to and extendable from the patient table. The patient bed may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner without requiring the patient table to enter the MR scanner. A transport mechanism is on the underside of the patient table so that it may be readily moved over the floor on which it rests. The patient table includes a latching mechanism that may operate to releasably attach the patient table to a patient table docking assembly. The docking assembly is operative to selectively move the patient table towards, into and away from the MR scanner.
31 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A patient table adapted for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants, said patient table comprising:
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A patient table base; an extendable and movable, MR-compatible patient bed attached to a top surface of said patient table base, said patient bed comprising an extending mechanism that when extended causes said patient bed to be extended and at least partially project from said patient table base, said patient bed being dimensionally constructed such that it may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner bore without requiring said patient table to enter the MR scanner bore; a transport mechanism attached to an underside of said patient table adapted to permit the patient table to be readily moved over the floor on which the patient table rests; a coupling adapted to releasably attach said patient table to a patient table docking assembly, said docking assembly being operative to selectively drive said patient table towards and away from said MR scanner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A patient transfer station and docking system suitable for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants, said system comprising:
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a patient table comprising a patient table base and further comprising an extendable and movable, MR-compatible patient bed attached to a top surface of said patient table base, said patient bed comprising an extending mechanism that when extended causes said patient bed to be extended and at least partially project from said patient table base, said patient bed being dimensionally constructed such that it may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner bore without requiring said patient table to enter the MR scanner bore, said patient table further comprising a transport mechanism attached to an underside of said patient table adapted to permit the patient table to be readily moved over the floor on which the patient table rests; a transfer table docking assembly comprising a hitch attached to a movable tractor, said movable tractor configured to be driven by a dock motor, said docking assembly hitch configured to selectively engage patient table so as to releasably couple the docking assembly and the patient table together; wherein said dock motor is selectively operative to move said patient table towards and away from said MR scanner as desired. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing a neonatal infant with an MR imaging scan, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a patient table comprising a patient table base and further comprising an extendable and movable patient bed attached to a top surface of said patient table base, said patient bed comprising an extending mechanism that when extended causes said patient bed to be extended and at least partially project from said patient table base, said patient bed being dimensionally constructed such that it may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner bore without requiring said patient table to enter the MR scanner bore, said patient table further comprising a transport mechanism attached to an underside of said patient table adapted to permit the patient table to be readily moved over the floor on which the patient table rests; b) providing a transfer table docking assembly comprising a hitch attached to a movable tractor, said movable tractor configured to be driven by a dock motor, said docking assembly hitch configured to selectively engage said patient table so as to releasably couple the docking assembly and the patient table together, said dock motor selectively operative to move said patient table towards and away from said MR scanner as desired; c) placing an infant on said extendable and movable patient bed; d) engaging said docking assembly hitch with said patient table so as to releasably couple the docking assembly and the patient table together; e) operating said extending mechanism such that said patient bed at least partially projects from said patient table base; f) preparing the infant for MR scanning; g) positioning said infant within said MR scanner by operating said dock motor; and h) activating the MR scanner to obtain MR imaging of the infant. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification