MRI magnet with enhanced patient entry and positioning
First Claim
1. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
- (a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) supports holding said frame so that said pole axis is above a floor of a structure so that a patient may enter said patient-receiving space by moving across said floor of said structure;
(c) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space; and
(d) an elevator for raising or lowering a patient relative to said frame, wherein said elevator has a platform and said elevator is arranged to move said platform into a patient boarding position wherein said platform is close to said floor so that a patient standing on said floor of said structure can step onto said platform or can be wheeled onto said platform on a wheeled carriage.
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet in combination with a mobile patient-positioning device, including a patient support and a method of using same for positioning patients for MRI scanning. The patient support is rotatable through a range of orientations from a horizontal to a vertical position, including being lockable at any oblique angle with respect to the horizontal. The patient disposed on the patient-positioning device in a predetermined orientation can then be moved horizontally into and out of a patient-receiving space in the MRI magnet at the predetermined angle or orientation. A preferred embodiment includes a plurality of patient-positioning devices in which a series of patients can be placed in a ready state while one patient is within the patient-receiving space. As an alternative embodiment, the patient may be moved vertically into position for MRI scanning by way of an elevator which is actuatable from the floor below the patient receiving space. This elevator also may be used in combination with the patient-positioning device. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) supports holding said frame so that said pole axis is above a floor of a structure so that a patient may enter said patient-receiving space by moving across said floor of said structure;
(c) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space; and
(d) an elevator for raising or lowering a patient relative to said frame, wherein said elevator has a platform and said elevator is arranged to move said platform into a patient boarding position wherein said platform is close to said floor so that a patient standing on said floor of said structure can step onto said platform or can be wheeled onto said platform on a wheeled carriage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet in combination with a mobile patient-positioning device, said magnet comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) supports holding said magnet frame so that said pole axis is above a floor of a structure so that a patient may enter said patient-receiving space by moving across said floor of said structure; and
(c) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space;
said mobile patient-positioning device comprising;
(a) a support frame;
(b) a patient support mounted to said support frame for movement through a range of orientations relative to said support frame; and
(c) a transporter operable to move said support frame relative to the magnet frame so that a patient on said patient support can be positioned in said patient-receiving space of said magnet with said support in any desired orientation in said range of orientations. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) supports holding said frame so that said pole axis is above a floor of a structure so that a patient may enter said patient-receiving space by moving across said floor of said structure;
(c) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space;
(d) a patient-positioning device constructed and arranged to support a patient in an upright or partially upright position in said patient-receiving space; and
(e) an elevator adapted to raise or lower said patient-positioning device relative to said magnet frame with said patient thereon in an upright or partially-upright position in said patient-receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A magnetic resonance imaging unit comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis disposed above a floor of a structure, said pole faces defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space;
(c) a patient positioning device including a platform; and
(d) an elevator for raising or lowering said patient positioning device with a patient thereon relative to said frame so as to position at least a part of the patient within said patient-receiving space, wherein said elevator is arranged to move said platform into a patient boarding position wherein said platform is close to said floor so that a patient standing on said floor can step onto said platform. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A magnetic resonance imaging unit comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis, said pole faces defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space;
(c) a mobile patient positioning unit including a support frame movable into and out of alignment with said magnet frame and a patient positioning device carried on said support frame, and (d) an elevator for raising or lowering said patient positioning device with a patient thereon relative to said magnet frame so as to position at least a part of the patient within said patient-receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising:
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(a) a magnet frame having a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis disposed above a floor of a structure, said pole faces defining a patient-receiving space therebetween;
(b) a magnetic flux generator operable to provide magnetic flux in said patient-receiving space; and
(c) an elevator for raising or lowering a patient relative to said frame so as to position at least a part of the patient within said patient-receiving space, wherein said elevator is operable to move at least a part of the patient below said floor.
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Specification