Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

• US 5,059,906 A
• Filed: 11/27/1989
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Kayuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/441,773
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 324/300, 324/307, 324/318, 128/653 SC, 248/160, 248/276, 403/41, 403/56, 403/223, 403/291
• US Class Current: 324/318
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/341 comprising surface coils

Abstract

A retaining mechanism for retaining a surface coil of an MRI apparatus comprises a retaining unit for retaining the surface coil, supporting members each having a distal end connected to the retaining unit to support the same, and a mounting unit connected with the respective proximal ends of the supporting members so that the supporting members are mounted on a bed. Each supporting member is flexible enough to be bent by external force and retentive enough to maintain a bent posture. Thus, by bending the supporting members, the surface coil can be moved to and kept in a desired position. In this arrangement, the surface coil can be quickly moved onto a desired photographing region, and kept accurately on the predetermined region during photographing operation.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a retaining mechanism for retaining receiving means so that the receiving means is situated close to the surface of the body of a patient lying on a bed, said receiving means receiving a magnetic resonance signal induced in the body of the patient,

said retaining mechanism including:

retaining means for retaining the receiving means;

supporting means for supporting the retaining means, said supporting means having a distal end connected to the retaining means and a proximal end, said supporting means including a first flexible member flexible enough to be bent by external force and retentive enough to maintain a bent posture, and a flexible cylindrical covering member covering the first flexible member,

said first flexible member having a plurality of cylindrical engaging segments in frictional engagement with one another so as to define a hollow cylinder, and said supporting means further includes a second flexible member inserted in the cylindrical first flexible member, said second flexible member being flexible enough to be bent by external force and elastic to a degree such that the second flexible member tends to be restored to the original posture thereof; and

mounting means connected to the proximal end of the supporting means and adapted to mount the supporting means on a predetermined portion of the bed,

whereby as the supporting means is bent, said receiving means is moved to and kept in a desired position.

2. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first flexible member is constructed as an elongated spiral member.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second flexible member is solid.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second flexible member is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and said supporting means further includes plurality of cores inserted in the cylindrical second flexible member, each said core being flexible enough to be bent by external force and elastic to a degree such that the core tends to be restored to the original posture thereof.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical covering member is elastic with respect to both the axial and radial directions thereof.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a universal joint for achieving one of the connection between the distal end of the supporting means and the retaining means and the connection between the proximal end of the supporting means and the mounting means.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said universal joint is a spheric joint.

3. A retaining mechanism for retaining receiving means so that the receiving means is situated close to the surface of the body of a patient lying on a bed, said receiving means receiving a magnetic resonance signal induced in the body of the patient, comprising:

retaining means for retaining the receiving means;

supporting means for supporting the retaining means, said supporting means having a distal end connected to the retaining means and a proximal end, and said supporting means including a first flexible member flexible enough to be bent by external force and retentive enough to maintain a bent posture, and a flexible cylindrical covering member covering the first flexible member;

said first flexible member having a plurality of cylindrical engaging segments in frictional engagement with one another,

said first flexible member being in the form of a hollow cylinder, and said supporting means further includes a second flexible member inserted in the cylindrical first flexible member, said second flexible member being flexible enough to be bent by external force and elastic to a degree such that the second flexible member tends to be restored to the original posture thereof; and

mounting means connected to the proximal end of the supporting means and adapted to mount the supporting means on a predetermined portion of the bed;

whereby as the supporting means is bent, said receiving means is moved to and kept in a desired position.

4. The retaining mechanism according to claim 3, where in said second flexible member is solid.

5. The retaining mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said second flexible member is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and said supporting means further includes a plurality of cores inserted in the cylindrical second flexible member, each said core being flexible enough to be bent by external force and elastic to a degree such that the core tends to be restored to the original posture thereof.

11. The retaining mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising a universal joint for the connection between the distal end of the supporting means and the retaining means or between the proximal end of the supporting means and the mounting means.