PREMATURE NEONATE LIFE SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER FOR USE IN MRI/NMR DEVICES

• US 20170188879A1
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
• Inventors: RAPOPORT, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 10,499,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/045 Newborns, e.g. premature baby monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3806 Open magnet assemblies for improved access to the sample, e.g. C-type or U-type magnets

Abstract

A magnetic resonance system, useful for imaging a patient, comprising: (a) a magnetic resonance device (MRD) for imaging a patient, comprising an open bore, the MRD at least partially contained in an envelope comprising in its circumference at least one recess; and, (b) an MRI-safe cart made of MRI-safe material, comprising a substantially horizontal base and at least one substantially horizontal incubator above the base, the base and the incubator are interconnected by at least one pillar. At least a portion of the cart and the MRD are configured to fit together such that at least a portion of the incubator is reversibly housed within the MRD, and further at least a portion of the base is reversibly housed within at least one recess.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance system (MRS), useful for imaging a patient accommodated within an incubator, the system comprising:

a. a magnetic resonance device (MRD) for imaging a patient, comprising an open bore, said MRD at least partially contained in an envelope comprising at least one recess below said open bore; and

b. an MRI-safe cart made of MRI-safe material, comprising a substantially horizontal base and at least one substantially horizontal incubator above said base for accommodating a patient, said base and said incubator are interconnected by at least one pillar and said base comprising a motion enabling element for facilitating transportation of said cart;

wherein said open bore is sized and shaped to accept said incubator and said recess is sized and shaped to accept said base such that when said cart is transported to said MRD for imaging said patient, said incubator is reversibly housed within said open bore and said base is reversibly housed within said at least one recess; and

wherein said incubator comprises an RF shield configured to sealingly enclose said open bore when said incubator housed within said MRD.

2. The MRS according to claim 1, wherein said pillar is a telescopic pillar configured to provide an adjustable height of said incubator.

3. The MRS according to claim 1, wherein said RF shield comprises a conduit configured to provide an RF shielding pass for medical tubing.

4. The MRS according to claim 1, wherein said pillar is at least partially hollow and comprises a conduit sized and shaped for passage of medical equipment tubing and/or electric current connection through said pillar to said incubator.

5. The MRS according to claim 1, wherein said cart further comprises a reversibly collapsible column, useful for supporting said incubator, said column is configured to be reversibly collapsible when the incubator is inserted inside into said open bore.

6. The MRS according to claim 5, wherein said column has at least two opposite ends and wherein:

a. at least one of said at least two opposite ends is maneuverably connected to said incubator, and at least one second opposite end is reversibly connected to said said base;

or

b. at least one of said at least two opposite ends is maneuverably connected to said base and at least one second opposite end is reversibly connected to said incubator.

7. The MRS according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the following is held true:

a. said column is configured to be normally deployed;

b. said column is collapsible upon application of horizontal force in an axis parallel to said open bore;

c. said column is at least partially reversibly collapsible into or onto an element selected from a group consisting of;

said base, said upper tray, said pillar, or any combination thereof, when said cart is at least partially intercepted within said MRD; and

,

d. said column is made of MRI-safe material.

8. A magnetic resonance device (MRD) useful for imaging a patient accommodated within an incubator interconnected to a mobile base, said MRD is at least partially contained in an envelope comprising an open bore, and at least one recess in the circumference of said envelope below said open bore, wherein said open bore is sized and shaped to accept said incubator and said at least one recess is sized and shaped to accept said base such that when said cart is transported to said MRD for imaging said patient, said incubator is reversibly housed within said open bore, and said base is reversibly housed within said at least one recess.

9. An MRI-safe cart, made of MRI-safe material, useful for imaging a patient with a magnetic resonance device (MRD), the MRD is at least partially contained in an envelope comprising an open bore and at least one recess below said open bore, said cart comprising

a substantially horizontal mobile base and at least one substantially horizontal incubator above said base for accommodating a patient, said base and said incubator are interconnected by at least one pillar and said base comprising a motion enabling element for facilitating transportation of said cart;

wherein said incubator is configured to be received in the open bore of the MRD and said mobile base is configure to be received in the at least one recess in the envelope of the MRD such that when said cart is transported to the MRD for imaging said patient, said incubator is reversibly housed within the open bore, and said base is reversibly housed within the at least one recess; and

wherein said incubator comprises an RF coil assembly and an RF shield configured to sealingly enclose the open bore of the MRD when housed therewithin.

10. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9, wherein said cart'"'"'s base comprises at least one protrusion sized and shaped to be inserted at least partially into said MRD'"'"'s at least one recess or under said MRD.

11. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9, wherein said cart comprises a reversibly collapsible column, useful for supporting said incubator, said column is is configured to be reversibly collapsible when the incubator is inserted inside into said open bore. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9, wherein said column has at least two opposite ends and wherein:

a. at least one of said at least two opposite ends is maneuverably connected to said incubator and at least one second opposite end is reversibly connected to said base;

or

b. at least one of said at least two opposite ends is maneuverably connected to said base and at least one second opposite end is reversibly connected to said incubator.

12. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the following is held true:

a. said column is configured to be normally deployed;

b. said column is collapsible upon application of horizontal force in an axis parallel to said open bore;

c. said column is at least partially reversibly collapsible into or onto an element selected from a group consisting of;

said base, said upper tray, said pillar, or any combination thereof, when said the cart is at least partially intercepted within said MRD; and

d. said column is made of MRI-safe material.

13. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9 wherein said pillar is a telescopic pillar configured to provide an adjustable height of said incubator.

14. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9 wherein said RF shield comprises a conduit configured to provide an RF shielding pass for medical tubing.

15. The MRI-safe cart according to claim 9 wherein said pillar is at least partially hollow and comprises a conduit sized and shaped for passage of medical equipment tubing and/or electric current connection through said pillar to said incubator.