System and method for medical imaging utilizing a robotic device, and robotic device for use in medical imaging
First Claim
1. A robotic system for use in an imaging system comprising:
- an end effector adapted to engage a body segment of a patient;
a mounting assembly movably mounting said end effector wherein said end effector and said mounting assembly are formed of magneto-translucent materials;
a position sensing system for providing positional information of the end effector;
an actuator system for moving said end effector; and
wherein said position sensing system includes a magneto-translucent encoder coupled to one of said mounting assembly and said end effector of said robotic system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic device for use in conjunction with an imaging system and an imaging method is provided. The robotic device can provide mechanical measurements within the imaging system, and can also control the mechanical environment within the imaging system. An end effector of the robotic device engages a body segment of the patient. In addition, position and force sensors are associated with the robotic device such that the position and forces applied to the end effector can be sensed/measured and recorded, while images are obtained. In addition, the robotic device includes actuators to move the end effector to a desired position, and/or to provide a force to a body segment of a patient by way of the end effector. In a particularly preferred form, structural, sensory, and actuator components of the robotic device are magneto-translucent, such that the robotic device can control and/or provide measured information regarding the mechanical environment within a magnetic resonance imaging system.
123 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A robotic system for use in an imaging system comprising:
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an end effector adapted to engage a body segment of a patient; a mounting assembly movably mounting said end effector wherein said end effector and said mounting assembly are formed of magneto-translucent materials; a position sensing system for providing positional information of the end effector; an actuator system for moving said end effector; and wherein said position sensing system includes a magneto-translucent encoder coupled to one of said mounting assembly and said end effector of said robotic system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A robotic system for use in an imaging system comprising:
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an end effector adapted to engage a body segment of a patient; a mounting assembly movably mounting said end effector; a position sensing system for providing positional information of the end effector; and an actuator system for moving said end effector; the robotic system further including a force sensing system for providing force information of forces applied to said end effector, wherein said force sensing system includes a magneto-translucent deformable member coupled to one of said end effector and said mounting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) an imaging system for obtaining an image of a first body segment of a patient; (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage a second body segment of a patient while said imaging system is obtaining an image of said first body segment, and wherein said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; and (ii) a sensing system for sensing movement of said end effector and providing sensed information for correlation with an image of said first body segment obtained by said imaging system; wherein said robotic system is at least partially disposed within said imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) an imaging system for obtaining an image of a first body segment of a patient; (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage a second body segment of a patient while said imaging system is obtaining an image of said first body segment, and wherein said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; and (ii) a sensing system for sensing movement of said end effector and providing sensed information for correlation with an image of said first body segment obtained by said imaging system; wherein said imaging system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system, and wherein said end effector and at least part of said sensing system are formed of magneto-translucent materials, the diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system further including means for recording movement of said end effector, wherein said means for recording movement is disposed outside of said imaging system.
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21. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) an imaging system for obtaining an image of a first body segment of a patient; (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage a second body segment of a patient while said imaging system is obtaining an image of said first body segment, and wherein said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; and (ii) a sensing system for sensing movement of said end effector and providing sensed information for correlation with an image of said first body segment obtained by said imaging system; (c) wherein said sensing system includes; an encoder for sensing movement of said end effector, said encoder including an encoder disk disposed in said imaging system; (ii) a light source disposed outside of said imaging system; and (iii) an optical cable extending from said encoder disk to said light source. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) an imaging system for obtaining an image of a first body segment of a patient; (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage a second body segment of a patient while said imaging system is obtaining an image of said first body segment, and wherein said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; and (ii) a sensing system for sensing movement of said end effector and providing sensed information for correlation with an image of said first body segment obtained by said imaging system; (c) wherein the system further includes an optical strain gauge comprising; (i) a deformable member coupled to said robotic system such that said deformable member is deformed in response to a force applied to said end effector; (ii) a light source disposed outside of said imaging system; and (iii) an optical cable extending from said deformable member to said light source. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) an imaging system for obtaining an image of a first body segment of a patient; (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage a second body segment of a patient while said imaging system is obtaining an image of said first body segment, and wherein said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; and (ii) a sensing system for sensing movement of said end effector and providing sensed information for correlation with an image of said first body segment obtained by said imaging system; (c) an instructional display for instructing a patient to perform a task; and (d) wherein the system further includes a computer which stores information sensed by said sensing system, and wherein said computer stores a plurality of images to be displayed by said instructional display. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A robotic system for use in a diagnostic/therapeutic imaging, comprising:
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(a) an end effector to be disposed within an imaging system, said end effector providing a coupling between the robotic system and a body segment of a patient, said end effector formed of a magneto-translucent material; (b) a mounting assembly for movably mounting said end effector; (c) at least one sensor component coupled to one of said mounting assembly and said end effector, said at least one sensor component including at least one of; (i) an encoder disk which moves in response to movement of said end effector; and (ii) a deformable member which deforms in response to a force applied to said end effector; (d) a light source; and (e) an optical cable extending from said light source to said at least one sensor component. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An imaging method utilizing a robotic system, comprising:
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providing a robotic system having an end effector selectively movable in at least two degrees of freedom to allow performance of a plurality of different tasks; coupling the end effector to a body segment of a patient; sensing at least one of;
(a) a force applied to said end effector, and (b) a position of said end effector;obtaining at least one brain image during the sensing step; and correlating the at least one brain image to information obtained during said sensing step. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An imaging method utilizing a robotic system, comprising:
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providing a robotic system having an end effector selectively movable in at least two degrees of freedom to allow performance of a plurality of different tasks; coupling the end effector to a body segment of a patient; sensing at least one of;
(a) a force applied to said end effector, and (b) a position of said end effector;obtaining at least one image during the sensing step; wherein said end effector is a handle member adapted to engage an extremity of a patient, the method further including sensing position of said end effector and sensing forces applied to said end effector while said patient is performing a task with said handle member; wherein the step of obtaining an image includes obtaining an image utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging system, and wherein at least a portion of said robotic system is disposed inside of said magnetic resonance imaging system; and wherein the sensing step includes providing a plurality of sensor components inside of said magnetic resonance imaging system, providing at least one light source outside of said magnetic resonance imaging system, and providing optical cables for feeding light from said at least one light source to said plurality of sensor components. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A diagnostic/therapeutic imaging system comprising:
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(a) a magnetic resonance imaging system; and (b) a robotic system including; (i) an end effector adapted to engage an extremity of a patient during imaging of said patient by said magnetic resonance imaging system; (ii) a mounting assembly for movably mounting said end effector such that said end effector is selectively movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom; (iii) an actuator system for moving said end effector and thereby moving the extremity of the patient; (iv) position sensor means for sensing position of said end effector; and (v) control means for controlling said actuator system to cause said actuator system to move said end effector. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A robotic system for use in a magnetic field comprising:
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(a) an end effector formed of a magneto-translucent material; (b) a mounting assembly for movably mounting the end effector; (c) a position sensor formed of a magneto-translucent material, said position sensor coupled to one of said end effector and said mounting assembly; (d) a light source; and (e) an optical cable extending from said light source to said position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification