Imaging device, local coil and method for correcting patient movement

Abstract

The invention relates to an imaging device for detecting image data of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient, comprising at least one sensor and a correction unit, wherein the sensor is designed to output a signal containing information about a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient, and the correction unit is designed to receive the signal of the at least one sensor and to apply a correction method as a function of the signal in order to reduce the influence of the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient on the imaging examination. The invention also relates to a local coil for detecting magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement, wherein at least one section of the local coil having a flexible sensor element is reversibly deformable, and the at least one sensor is designed to output a signal associated with the deformation of the flexible sensor element. The invention also relates to a method for correcting a movement of a patient during an imaging examination by means of an imaging device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an imaging device for detecting image data of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient, the imaging device comprising at least one sensor and a correction unit, wherein the correction unit is designed to receive signals of the at least one sensor and to apply a correction method as a function of the signals in order to reduce the influence of a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient on the imaging examination. The invention also relates to a local coil for detecting magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement, the local coil comprising at least one sensor, and to a method for correcting a movement of a patient during an imaging examination by means of an imaging device having at least one sensor and a correction unit. Background Art

[0002] Patient movement is a core challenge for imaging examination methods. Depending on the patient's body area of ​​diagnostic relevance and the imaging examination to be performed, patient movement can significantly impair the quality of the detected images and thus limit the diagnosis or make it impossible. In this case, the imaging examination is often repeated, which means a corresponding increase in time consumption.

[0003] There are various methods for handling the patient's motion. This includes, for example, the use of sequence-specific navigation measurements, pilot tone detection, retrospective correction methods, and external sensors, such as cameras or other optical measurement methods. In addition, there are so-called motion gating methods, in which recording is performed only under specific respiratory or ECG states. Here, the provision of the moment of image detection is usually achieved by means of navigation measurements or imaging optical sensors. In addition, methods that are inherently robust with respect to motion (e.g., radial imaging sequences), have a measurement duration as short as possible, or include multiple average values ​​can be used to reduce the influence of motion. It is also conceivable that different methods are used simultaneously, which may result in disadvantages in terms of duration and / or resolution of the imaging examination. In addition, many of the methods mentioned require expensive technical implementation solutions and / or require high computing power. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective alternative for reducing the influence of patient movements on image data of an imaging examination.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of the invention. Advantageous embodiments and advantageous developments are the subject matter of the exemplary embodiments.

[0006] An imaging device according to the invention for acquiring image data of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient comprises at least one sensor and a correction unit.

[0007] The imaging device can be designed to record diagnostic images, which contain information about the structure and / or function of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. The recorded images preferably have three-dimensional information about the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. Examples of such imaging devices are magnetic resonance tomography scanners, computed tomography scanners, positron emission tomography scanners, single photon emission computed tomography scanners, etc.

[0008] The patient's diagnosis-related body region can be any body region of the patient, such as an arm, hand, head, shoulder, chest, leg, foot, buttocks, etc. The diagnosis-related body region can especially have increased mobility and / or joints compared to the rest of the patient's body. The patient's diagnosis-related body region is preferably the patient's knee joint, wrist joint, jaw joint, foot joint, shoulder joint or head.

[0009] At least one sensor is configured to output a signal containing information about the movement of a body region relevant to the diagnosis of the patient. At least one sensor of the imaging device is a non-imaging sensor. Imaging sensors are here particularly to be understood as sensors based on the imaging of patients and / or objects in the examination room of the imaging device, for example using the photoelectric effect. Therefore, fiber optic sensors that use the change of the parameters of the light used as the measuring principle are not considered imaging sensors. At least one sensor can have a measurement-sensitive part and a measurement converter, which converts the detected input variable into an output variable corresponding to a predetermined relationship. However, it is also conceivable that at least one sensor has only a measurement-sensitive part. In the case, the transformation or conversion of the signal output by the at least one sensor can be performed with the help of a separate measurement converter and / or a computing unit of the imaging device.

[0010] The at least one sensor may have any non-imaging measuring principle which is suitable for determining information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. It is conceivable that the at least one sensor may be positioned in an application-dependent manner for this purpose. Position) is positioned at a body region relevant to the diagnosis. Preferably, at least one sensor is deformed, moved and / or subjected to force due to the movement of the body region relevant to the diagnosis when it is positioned according to the application. Correspondingly, the measurement principle can be applied to obtain and / or quantify the deformation of at least one sensor, the movement of at least one sensor and / or the application of force acting on at least one sensor. At least one sensor can be positioned at a body region relevant to the diagnosis so that the deformation of at least one sensor, the movement of at least one sensor, the force acting on at least one sensor and / or another measured variable of at least one sensor are related to the movement of the body region relevant to the diagnosis. This can mean that the signal of at least one sensor has a direct or indirect correlation with the movement of the body region relevant to the diagnosis of the patient. In the case of an indirect correlation, there may be a nonlinear relationship between the change of the signal of at least one sensor and the movement of the body region relevant to the diagnosis of the patient. In addition, in the case of an indirect correlation, it may be necessary to detect the second signal of a non-imaging second sensor or the signal of other non-imaging sensors in order to obtain or quantify the movement of the body region relevant to the diagnosis of the patient. The indirect correlation can also mean that the signal of at least one sensor has a ratio with a measured variable such as force, pressure and / or signal characteristics, and the ratio does not have a ratio with the change of the spatial position of the body region relevant to the diagnosis of the patient.

[0011] Examples of suitable sensors are gyroscopic sensors, acceleration sensors, pressure sensors, Hall sensors, distance sensors, etc. Another example is a bending sensor based on an optical fiber sensor, which is designed to determine bending losses induced by pressure from a transmission change in a glass fiber of the bending sensor.

[0012] It is conceivable that at least one sensor is mechanically connected to a support element, and the support element is configured to keep at least one sensor at a patient's diagnosis-related body area in a posture according to the application. Examples of suitable support elements are glasses, belts, gloves, shoes, etc. It is also conceivable that the support element has an adapter element, which connects the support element to the patient's body or body area in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner. In addition, the support element and / or at least one sensor can also be connected to the patient's body using an adhesive element. The signal of at least one sensor includes information about the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body area, which indicates the degree of deformation, movement and / or force. For example, the information about the movement of the diagnosis-related body area can contain an indication of the degree or magnitude of the deformation of at least one sensor, the movement of at least one sensor and / or the force applied to at least one sensor.

[0013] The correction unit is designed to receive signals from at least one sensor and to apply a correction method as a function of the signals in order to reduce the influence of a movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient on the imaging examination. The correction unit can be designed as part of a control unit and / or a computing unit of the imaging device. In particular, it is conceivable that the correction unit is designed to coordinate the course of the imaging examination and / or the image data acquisition and / or to influence the reconstruction of image data of the imaging examination as a function of the signals from at least one sensor. The correction unit can also have an image processing unit, which is designed to reconstruct an image as a function of the acquired image data of the imaging examination.

[0014] By providing an imaging device according to the invention, a cost-effective alternative for taking into account the patient's movement can be achieved compared to imaging systems for motion correction, such as camera-based systems. In particular, in imaging systems, computationally intensive image processing algorithms with a corresponding computing infrastructure are required, which can be advantageously avoided when using non-imaging sensors.

[0015] In one embodiment, the imaging device according to the invention is designed as a magnetic resonance tomography scanner having a local coil. The local coil can be designed, for example, as a laying coil or with a carrier element for fixing the local coil to the patient's body. It is also conceivable that the local coil is designed as a cage or a hollow body of any desired shape which at least partially surrounds the diagnostically relevant body region circumferentially.

[0016] The local coil is positioned at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in a posture according to the application and is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement. Electromagnetic waves with a frequency between 1 MHz and 500 MHz, preferably between 10 MHz and 300 MHz, can be regarded as magnetic resonance signals. The power range of the magnetic resonance signals can be, for example, a few μW to several mW. It is also conceivable that the local coil is also designed to excite nuclear spins in the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. Depending on the static magnetic field (B0 magnetic field) of the magnetic resonance tomograph, the transmission power of the local coil can be in the power range of a few watts to several kilowatts.

[0017] The local coil comprises at least one sensor which is designed as an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor and / or a Hall sensor. When the local coil is positioned according to the application, the at least one sensor can be positioned at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient such that a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region causes a corresponding movement of the at least one sensor along a movement path. The at least one sensor is preferably designed to indirectly determine the movement path in the form of an acceleration and / or a rotational speed and transmit it to the correction unit.

[0018] In one embodiment, at least one sensor of the magnetic resonance tomograph is designed as a Hall sensor. The Hall sensor is preferably configured to use or take into account an existing static magnetic field and / or a dynamic magnetic field, such as a magnetic gradient field or a B1 magnetic field, to determine information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient.

[0019] In another embodiment, at least one sensor and / or a local coil has an electronic circuit which is designed to transmit the signal of the at least one sensor together with the detected magnetic resonance signal of the local coil to the magnetic resonance tomograph. It is conceivable that the signal is transmitted in the form of digital data via an electrical connection line which electrically connects the local coil to the magnetic resonance tomograph. However, it is also conceivable that the electronic circuit includes a modulation unit which modulates the signal of the at least one sensor onto the detected magnetic resonance signal of the local coil. In this case, the magnetic resonance tomograph preferably has a demodulation unit which is designed to separate the signal of the at least one sensor from the detected magnetic resonance signal by means of demodulation. The electronic circuit can also be designed to transmit the signal of the at least one sensor and / or the detected magnetic resonance signal wirelessly to the magnetic resonance tomograph. The electronic circuit can also be designed to transmit the signal of the at least one sensor as an electromagnetic wave in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance signal so that the signal can be received by a receiving unit of the magnetic resonance tomograph. The signal of the at least one sensor preferably differs from the detected magnetic resonance signal in terms of frequency, amplitude and / or bandwidth in order to simplify the differentiation or separation of the signal from the detected magnetic resonance signal.

[0020] By providing a local coil with at least one sensor, a particularly compact solution for determining the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient can be achieved, which advantageously reduces the number of electronic components in the image acquisition region of the magnetic resonance tomograph. Furthermore, the signal of the at least one sensor can be transmitted to the magnetic resonance tomograph together with the detected magnetic resonance signals of the local coil. This advantageously avoids additional connecting lines for the at least one sensor.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the imaging device has a transmitter-receiver device including at least one sensor, wherein the transmitter of the transmitter-receiver device is designed to transmit a reference signal, and wherein the receiver of the transmitter-receiver device is designed to receive a reference signal. The transmitter and / or the receiver are positioned in a patient receiving area of ​​the imaging device in a posture according to the application, so that the signal characteristic of the reference signal between the transmitter and the receiver is associated with the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body area. This can mean that the transmitter or the receiver is positioned at the patient's diagnosis-related body area in a posture according to the application, so that the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is associated with the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body area. For example, the transmitter can be positioned at the patient's diagnosis-related body area, while the receiver is mechanically connected to a static part of the imaging device. The receiver can be positioned in particular at a wall of a patient tunnel of the imaging device. In another example, the receiver is positioned at the patient's diagnosis-related body area, while the transmitter is mechanically connected to the imaging device. At least one sensor is preferably positioned at the patient's diagnosis-related body area together with the transmitter or the receiver. It is also conceivable that the transmitter and the receiver are mechanically connected to the static part of the imaging device or are positioned at the patient's diagnosis-related body area. This may mean that the reference signal emitted by the transmitter is reflected by the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient or by static components of the imaging device before being received by the receiver. Thus, a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient may cause changes in the signal characteristics of the reference signal, such as a change in the time of flight, a difference in time of flight, a degree of reflection and / or a degree of refraction, which are indirectly associated with the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. The patient accommodation area may include any volume of the imaging device which is suitable for accommodating, supporting and / or positioning a patient during an imaging examination depending on the application.

[0022] The imaging device is configured to determine the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body region with the help of at least one sensor based on the received reference signal. This can mean that the at least one sensor is configured to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on the received reference signal. However, it is also conceivable that the imaging device and / or the computing unit of the separate signal processing unit is configured to determine the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body region based on the signal of at least one sensor. The reference signal can be an electromagnetic wave, such as an ultrasound signal or a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement. For example, the transmitter can be configured as an ultrasound transmitter, which is configured to send an ultrasound signal to the receiver. The receiver can be correspondingly designed as an ultrasound receiver. At least one sensor can be configured to determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiver or the distance between the diagnosis-related body region and the static components of the imaging device based on the signal characteristics of the reference signal and / or output a signal associated with the signal characteristics.

[0023] It is also conceivable that the receiver and at least one sensor of the transmitter-receiver device are designed as a receiving unit of a magnetic resonance tomograph. In this case, the transmitter can include an antenna element, which is designed to excite a predetermined signal volume located at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. The excited signal volume can be, for example, tissue at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient or a water volume located at the patient together with the transmitter. Furthermore, the antenna element of the transmitter can also be designed to transmit a reference signal, which can be detected directly by the receiving unit of the magnetic resonance tomograph. The reference signal of the transmitter or of the excited signal volume is preferably in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement. The reference signal can differ from the detected magnetic resonance signal in terms of frequency, amplitude and / or bandwidth.

[0024] By using an ultrasound-based transmitter-receiver arrangement, a cost-effective implementation of motion detection can be achieved in an advantageous manner. By providing a transmitter that excites a signal volume at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient, a receiving unit of a magnetic resonance tomograph can be used as a receiver. As a result, the number of electronic components in the image recording region can be reduced in an advantageous manner.

[0025] In one embodiment of the imaging device according to the invention, at least one sensor comprises a flexible sensor element, which is positioned at a patient's diagnostically relevant body region in a posture according to the application and is designed to be deformed due to the movement of the patient's diagnostically relevant body region. The flexible sensor element can have an elastically deformable or plastically deformable material. The elastically deformable or plastically deformable material is preferably configured to fit the outer contour of the patient's diagnostically relevant body region. Examples of suitable materials are plastics, such as polyethylene, polyamide, polyester and polyurethane, but also natural materials, such as rubber. It is conceivable that at least one measurement-sensitive part of at least one sensor is electrically and / or mechanically connected to the flexible sensor element and / or embedded in the flexible sensor element. The measurement-sensitive part of at least one sensor can, for example, have a piezoelectric element, a piezoresistive element, but can also have a capacitive or inductive pressure sensor. In one example, at least one sensor is configured as a strain gauge, wherein the measurement grid film is embedded in the flexible sensor element in a meandering shape. The flexible sensor element is positioned at the patient's knee joint so that at least one first section of the flexible sensor element is positioned at a part of the patient's thigh and a second section of the flexible sensor element is positioned at the patient's lower leg. The flexible sensor element deforms accordingly when the knee joint moves.

[0026] In another embodiment, at least one sensor of the magnetic resonance tomography scanner is configured as a fiber optic sensor. The fiber optic sensor can be configured to determine the deformation of the flexible sensor element caused by the transmission change of the glass fiber connected to the flexible sensor element. The fiber optic sensor can include a photodiode and a glass fiber, wherein the glass fiber is connected to the flexible sensor element so that when the flexible sensor element is deformed, the glass fiber is also deformed. The photodiode is preferably configured to measure the intensity of the light guided through the glass fiber at a defined exit point of the glass fiber. For example, a light emitting diode (LED) is provided at one end of the glass fiber to couple light into the glass fiber, and a photodiode is provided at the other end of the glass fiber to measure the light emitted at the one end. The intensity of the light detected by means of the photodiode can be a measure of the deformation of the flexible sensor element in particular.

[0027] The imaging device is designed to determine information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient by means of at least one sensor based on the deformation of the flexible sensor element. The at least one sensor with a flexible sensor element can of course be positioned at different body regions. In addition, the at least one sensor can be positioned in the jaw region, the hand region, the hip region, the foot region, the shoulder region, etc., so that the movement of the corresponding body region causes a deformation of the flexible sensor element. The measurement-sensitive part of the at least one sensor can be designed to detect the degree or magnitude of the deformation of the flexible sensor element. The at least one sensor is preferably designed to provide a signal that is correlated with the degree or magnitude of the deformation.

[0028] By providing a sensor according to the invention having a flexible sensor element, a particularly cost-effective solution for ascertaining a movement of a patient during an imaging examination can be achieved in an advantageous manner.

[0029] In another embodiment, the imaging device according to the present invention also has a supporting element, which is mechanically connected to the flexible sensor element and is designed to hold the flexible sensor element at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient in a posture according to the application. The supporting element can be designed according to one of the embodiments described above. Preferably, the supporting element has an adapter element, such as a buckle, a clasp element, a locking element, a zipper, a clamping element, etc., which is configured to adapt the supporting element to the patient's body region in an individualized manner and / or to fix the supporting element on the patient's body region. The supporting element can preferably be positioned at the patient's body so that the flexible sensor element is held at the diagnostically relevant body region in a posture according to the application. The supporting element can be connected to the flexible sensor element and / or at least one sensor in a force-fitting, shape-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

[0030] The support element and the flexible sensor element are designed to be positioned relative to each other when the patient's diagnostically relevant body region moves while the flexible sensor element deforms, wherein the imaging device is designed to determine information about the movement of the patient's diagnostically relevant body region based on the relative movement of the support element and the flexible sensor element by means of at least one sensor. When positioned according to the application, the support element and the flexible sensor element are preferably positioned at opposite body regions of a joint of the patient, so that when the joint moves, the support element and the flexible sensor element move relative to each other when the flexible sensor element deforms. However, it is also conceivable that the support element is positioned essentially at the patient's joint or another movable body region and is connected to a plurality of flexible sensor elements, which deform in the case of different movements of the body region and move relative to the support element.

[0031] By providing the support element, the at least one sensor having a flexible sensor element can be positioned robustly and reproducibly at the diagnostically relevant body region. The quality of the ascertainment of the patient's movement can thereby be advantageously improved.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the imaging device according to the invention further comprises a second carrier element, which is connected to the carrier element by means of a flexible sensor element. The second carrier element can be designed according to one of the embodiments described above and can be connected to the flexible sensor element.

[0033] The support element and the second support element are positioned in a posture depending on the application at opposite body regions at a joint of a patient, wherein the flexible sensor element is designed to deform due to a movement of the joint, wherein the imaging device is designed to ascertain the movement of the joint based on the deformation of the flexible sensor element with the aid of at least one sensor.

[0034] By positioning the support element and the second support element at opposite body regions at the joint of the patient, the at least one sensor having a flexible sensor element can be positioned particularly precisely and reproducibly at the diagnostically relevant body region. Furthermore, the ascertainment of the patient's movement by means of the at least one sensor can advantageously be supplemented by a distance measurement between the support element and the second support element. Such a distance measurement can be designed, for example, by means of a transmitter-receiver arrangement according to the embodiments described above.

[0035] In one embodiment, the flexible sensor element is positioned on the dental arch of the patient in a posture according to the application and is designed to be deformed due to a movement of the patient's mandible, wherein the imaging device is designed to determine the movement of the mandible by means of at least one sensor as a function of the deformation of the flexible sensor element. It is conceivable that the flexible sensor element is designed as a bite splint or bite piece, which is positioned in the patient's oral cavity between the mandible and the upper jaw in a posture according to the application. The flexible sensor element is preferably designed to be deformed by the upper jaw and the mandible coming together. In this case, the at least one sensor can determine the movement of the mandible as a function of the deformation of the flexible sensor element.

[0036] In another embodiment, the support element is implemented as an occlusal splint and is positioned at the dental arch of the patient in a posture according to the application. The support element can be particularly contoured to the contour and / or shape of the dental arch and have a recess for the patient's tongue. Preferably, as described above, the flexible sensor element is connected to the support element at the first section and extends toward the opposite dental arch. The support element is positioned at the upper dental arch of the maxillary part, for example. On the contrary, at least one second section of the flexible sensor element is positioned at the lower dental arch of the mandibular part, so that the flexible sensor element is deformed when the mandibular part moves. It is also conceivable that the second support element is positioned at the lower dental arch of the patient. In the case, the support element at the upper dental arch and the second support element at the lower dental arch are preferably connected by means of a flexible sensor element, so that the relative movement of the support element and the second support element causes the deformation of the flexible sensor element due to the movement of the mandibular part. The deformation of the flexible sensor element can be extension, compression, twisting, bending, etc.

[0037] In another embodiment, at least the carrier element has at least one antenna element, which is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals from the jaw region of the patient in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement. The carrier element is preferably designed to hold the at least one antenna element on the dental arch of the patient in a posture that depends on the application. In this case, the carrier element can be a local coil in particular.

[0038] By providing a sensor with a flexible sensor element for positioning in the patient's oral cavity, the relative movement between the upper and lower jaw of the patient during the imaging examination can be advantageously determined and used by the correction unit. This advantageously avoids the influence of the movement of the patient's jaw region on the imaging examination.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the imaging device according to the invention is designed as a magnetic resonance tomography scanner, wherein the magnetic resonance tomography scanner has a local coil, which includes a sensor with a flexible sensor element, wherein the local coil is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement. The local coil can have a support element, which is designed to hold the local coil and / or at least one sensor in a posture depending on the application at a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient. As described above, the local coil can also have at least one antenna element, which is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient.

[0040] At least one section of the local coil having a flexible sensor element is reversibly deformable, wherein the at least one sensor is designed to output a signal that correlates with the deformation of the flexible sensor element. It is conceivable that the local coil has a plurality of elements connected by means of the flexible sensor element. Thus, the local coil can be reversibly deformable at the section having the flexible sensor element and can adapt to the movement of the patient. The at least one sensor is correspondingly designed to ascertain or quantify the deformation of the flexible sensor element.

[0041] In one example, the local coil has a support element positioned on the lower dental arch of the patient. The support element is preferably designed as a bite splint which is designed to hold the at least one antenna element on the lower dental arch of the patient in a position depending on the application.

[0042] In another example, the local coil is designed as a laying coil that is positioned on the knee joint of the patient in a posture that depends on the application. In the embodiment described, the local coil preferably has a plurality of flexible sensor elements that deform when the knee joint moves. It is conceivable that the deadweight of the local coil is sufficient to hold the local coil at the knee joint in a posture that depends on the application, so that deformation of the flexible sensor elements occurs due to the movement of the knee joint. However, it is also conceivable that at least one section of the local coil is fastened to a body region of the patient, such as the thigh and / or the calf, by means of a supporting element in order to support the deformation of the flexible sensor elements with the movement of the knee joint. The local coil can of course be designed to be positioned at any other body region of the patient in order to detect the patient's movement.

[0043] By providing a local coil according to the invention with at least one sensor, the detection of magnetic resonance signals of a diagnostically relevant body region can be advantageously combined with the ascertainment of a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region. Furthermore, the local coil according to the invention can have a plurality of antenna elements which can be positioned relative to one another by means of flexible sensor elements. As a result, even in the event of patient movement, magnetic resonance signals of a diagnostically relevant body region can be advantageously detected which are corrected as a function of the signals of the at least one sensor by means of a correction method.

[0044] According to the method according to the invention for correcting the movement of a patient during an imaging examination by means of an imaging device, the imaging device having at least one sensor and a correction unit, wherein at least one sensor is a non-imaging sensor and is designed to output a signal containing information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient, the method comprises the following steps:

[0045] positioning ( S1 ) at least one sensor at a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient,

[0046] Positioning ( S2 ) the patient in the image recording area of ​​the imaging device,

[0047] performing (S3) an imaging examination to detect image data of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient,

[0048] detecting (S4) a signal from at least one sensor, and

[0049] Performing ( S5 ) a correction method with the aid of a correction unit as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor, wherein the correction method reduces the influence of a movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of the patient on the imaging examination.

[0050] The imaging device, the at least one sensor and the correction unit are preferably designed according to the embodiments described above. The imaging examination may include preparing the detection of image data, detecting the image data, but also creating or reconstructing an image based on the detected image data by means of the imaging device.

[0051] Positioning at least one sensor can include: laying, placing, placing, plugging and / or fastening at least one sensor on the patient's diagnosis-related body area. For example, at least one sensor can be connected to the surface of the diagnosis-related body area by means of an adhesive element. However, it is also conceivable that at least one sensor is connected to a carrier element, for example, to glasses, gloves, stockings or any other clothing element coordinated with the diagnosis-related body area and / or can be adapted to the diagnosis-related body area. In addition, the carrier element can be designed according to the embodiments described above. In a preferred embodiment, at least one sensor is connected to a local coil of a magnetic resonance tomography scanner. When the local coil is positioned at the diagnosis-related body area, the at least one sensor can be positioned accordingly in a posture according to the application.

[0052] The patient is preferably positioned in the image recording region of the imaging device using an examination couch. The examination couch can be designed in particular to position the diagnostically relevant body region in the image recording region of the imaging device or in the isocenter of a magnetic resonance tomograph. It is conceivable that, when the patient is positioned in the image recording region and / or when the at least one sensor is positioned at the diagnostically relevant body region, a test, calibration and / or functional monitoring of the at least one sensor and / or the transmitter-receiver arrangement according to the embodiments described above is performed.

[0053] An imaging examination for acquiring image data of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient may include, for example, carrying out a magnetic resonance tomography measurement, a computed tomography measurement, a positron emission tomography measurement, a single photon emission computed tomography measurement or similar imaging methods.

[0054] It is conceivable that the signal of the at least one sensor is detected during the preparation of the imaging examination and / or during the execution of the imaging examination. The signal of the at least one sensor can be detected in particular simultaneously or in parallel with the detection of magnetic resonance signals and / or photons or X-ray radiation. As described above, in particular during the imaging examination, the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region can be determined and / or quantified by means of the at least one sensor.

[0055] The correction method may include: applying one or more arbitrary methods for reducing the influence of the patient's movement on the imaging examination. In one example, the correction method may include: applying motion gating. In the case of motion gating, the moment of detecting the image data is coordinated with the patient's movement, in particular the signal of at least one sensor. Here, during the movement of the patient, in particular during the movement of the diagnostically relevant body area, the detection of the image data can be stopped for a short time. In another example, the correction method may include: adjusting the imaging parameters of the imaging examination, such as the imaging volume, the excitation pulse frequency, the pulse width, the focus of the ray, etc., according to the signal of at least one sensor. It is also conceivable that the correction method includes: reconstructing the image according to the detected image data and the signal of at least one sensor. For example, the image data detected during the movement of the diagnostically relevant body area of ​​the patient can be ignored when reconstructing the image. However, it is also conceivable that the correction method includes a model and / or compensation method, which can realize the reconstruction of the image data according to the signal of at least one sensor.

[0056] In the method according to the invention, by using signals of a non-imaging sensor according to the above-described embodiment of the imaging device according to the invention, the influence of movements of diagnostically relevant body regions on the imaging examination can be reduced in an advantageous manner, particularly cost-effectively and / or with low computational effort.

[0057] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, detecting the signal of at least one sensor comprises: detecting a second signal of at least one second sensor. The second sensor is here a non-imaging sensor and has a different measuring principle than the at least one sensor. The second sensor is preferably designed according to one of the embodiments described above. It is also conceivable that detecting the signal of at least one sensor also comprises: detecting a third signal of a third sensor. The third sensor is also preferably a non-imaging sensor, which has a different measuring principle than the first sensor and / or the second sensor.

[0058] The second signal contains information about the movement of the patient's diagnostically relevant body region. Like the at least one sensor, the second sensor and / or the third sensor can also be configured to provide a second signal and / or a third signal that is related to or directly or indirectly associated with the degree or magnitude of the movement of the patient's diagnostically relevant body region.

[0059] The correction method is performed as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor and the second signal of the second sensor. It is also conceivable that the correction method is performed as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor, the second signal of the second sensor and the third signal of the third sensor.

[0060] By using a plurality of non-imaging sensors, the accuracy of the ascertainment and / or quantification of the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient can be advantageously increased. In addition, in the case of a plurality of sensors, sensor data fusion methods can advantageously be used in order to increase and / or improve the completeness, consistency, accuracy and / or safety of the information about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region.

[0061] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, performing the correction method comprises performing at least one of the following methods:

[0062] Motion gating,

[0063] outputting feedback about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region to the patient by means of an output unit,

[0064] · Prospective and / or retrospective revision approaches.

[0065] According to the above described embodiments of the imaging device according to the invention, the motion gating may be performed based on a signal of at least one sensor.

[0066] The output unit can be configured to output visual, acoustic and / or tactile feedback to the patient. The feedback can be performed in particular based on information about the movement of the patient's diagnosis-related body area and / or can be associated with the degree of movement of the diagnosis-related body area. Examples of output units are screens, screens, touch screens, loudspeakers, headphones and / or active regulating elements that transmit perceptible information to the patient. The feedback to the patient is preferably associated with the patient's movement so that the patient is directly informed of the intensity of his movement. For this reason, for example, force feedback can also be used, which outputs tactile feedback to the patient, and the intensity of the tactile feedback is associated with the movement of the diagnosis-related body area. By outputting feedback about the movement of the diagnosis-related body area to the patient, the patient can be informed of the movement in an advantageous manner, and the patient can adjust the movement or inhibit the movement.

[0067] In the contemplated correction method, imaging parameters can still be adjusted during the imaging examination in order to reduce the influence of the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region on the imaging examination. For example, the position and / or orientation of the imaging region (field of view), slice thickness, pulse width, radiation focus, the distance between the patient and the radiation source, the angle of the radiation source relative to the patient, etc. can be adjusted. In a magnetic resonance examination, in particular, the frequency of the excitation pulses for the next sequence to be recorded in k-space can be adjusted in order to correct the influence of the translational movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient. Correspondingly, it is conceivable to rotate the encoded gradient field in order to correct the rotational movement of the diagnostically relevant body region of the patient.

[0068] Retrospective correction methods can be used in particular in magnetic resonance tomography measurements. In retrospective correction methods, k-space sequences can be transferred into image space before correcting the influence of the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region on the imaging examination. For example, translational movements of the diagnostically relevant body region can be corrected by phase changes of the detected image data. Conversely, rotational movements of the diagnostically relevant body region can be corrected by applying non-Cartesian reconstruction methods. The image data can be transferred in particular to an image processing algorithm for use in retrospective methods.

[0069] According to the above-described embodiments of the imaging device according to the invention, the translational and / or rotational movement of the diagnostically relevant body region is preferably ascertained by means of at least one sensor, in particular a flexible sensor element.

[0070] By applying one of the correction methods mentioned above, a robust and reproducible reduction and / or correction of the influence of a movement of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient on the imaging examination can be provided in an advantageous manner.

[0071] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the imaging device is designed as a magnetic resonance tomograph, wherein the local coil is positioned at the jaw region of the patient and has a plurality of antenna elements, wherein a first antenna element is positioned at the upper dental arch of the patient and a second antenna element is positioned at the lower dental arch of the patient. For this purpose, the local coil can be designed in particular according to the above-described embodiments of the imaging device according to the invention. It is conceivable that the local coil has a carrier element and / or a second carrier element, which holds the first antenna element at the upper dental arch in a posture according to the application and the second antenna element at the lower dental arch in a posture according to the application. In particular, at least one sensor can have a flexible sensor element, which is positioned between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch in a posture according to the application and, when deformed by a movement of the lower dental arch, outputs a signal that is associated with the degree or magnitude of the movement of the lower dental arch.

[0072] Performing the imaging examination includes receiving magnetic resonance signals of the lower dental arch and the upper dental arch by means of a plurality of antenna elements. During the imaging examination, preferably also the signal of at least one sensor is detected in order to perform the correction method as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor.

[0073] The correction method is performed including motion gating, wherein magnetic resonance signals of the lower and / or upper dental arch are detected by means of at least one sensor using a local coil. This can mean, in particular, that when the diagnostically relevant body region moves, the detection of magnetic resonance signals using the first antenna element and the second antenna element is briefly stopped.

[0074] In one embodiment, the method according to the present invention further comprises the following steps:

[0075] Reconstructing a single image of the upper dental arch based on the detected magnetic resonance signals of the first antenna element, and reconstructing a single image of the lower dental arch based on the detected magnetic resonance signals of the second antenna element, and fusing the single images of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch into one image in image space.

[0076] It is conceivable that during the imaging examination, the patient's head and thus also the patient's upper dental arch are fixed or locked. Movements in the jaw region of the patient can therefore be primarily limited to the lower jaw or the lower dental arch. When detecting movement with the aid of at least one sensor, the detection of magnetic resonance signals with the aid of the second antenna element can be specifically stopped, while the detection of magnetic resonance signals with the aid of the first antenna element continues. It is conceivable that the detected magnetic resonance signals of the first antenna element and the second antenna element are transmitted to an image processing unit for the purpose of reconstructing a single image of the upper dental arch and a single image of the lower dental arch. The single images of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch can subsequently be fused into one image of the patient's dentition with the aid of the image processing unit.

[0077] By the method according to the invention, the magnetic resonance signals of the patient's immobile body region can continue to be detected, while the image data of the patient's moving body region can be stopped. This allows high-quality images of the patient's immobile body region to be provided in an advantageous manner despite the application of motion gating.

[0078] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the imaging device is designed as a magnetic resonance tomograph with a local coil, wherein the signal of at least one sensor is modulated onto the magnetic resonance signal detected by means of the local coil. According to the above-described embodiments of the imaging device, at least one sensor and / or the local coil can have an electronic circuit that modulates the signal of at least one sensor onto the detected magnetic resonance signal of the local coil. The magnetic resonance tomograph can accordingly have a demodulation unit that separates the signal of at least one sensor from the magnetic resonance signal. In this case, the signal of at least one sensor preferably differs from the detected magnetic resonance signal in terms of frequency, amplitude and / or bandwidth in order to simplify the distinction or separation of the signal from the detected magnetic resonance signal. It is also conceivable that the signal of at least one sensor is a digital signal that is transmitted to the magnetic resonance tomograph together with the magnetic resonance signal of the local coil via a common data bus.

[0079] By modulating the signals of the at least one sensor onto the detected magnetic resonance signals of the local coils, the number of signal lines in the image acquisition region of the magnetic resonance tomograph can be reduced in an advantageous manner.

[0080] The local coil according to the invention for detecting magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement comprises at least one sensor having a flexible sensor element, wherein at least one section of the local coil having the flexible sensor element is reversibly deformable, and wherein the at least one sensor is designed to output a signal that is correlated with the deformation of the flexible sensor element. The local coil according to the invention is preferably designed according to the above-described embodiments of the imaging device according to the invention.

[0081] Compared to imaging methods, the complexity of motion detection can be advantageously reduced by the local coils according to the invention. Furthermore, the sensitivity and / or accuracy of motion detection can be increased in a simple manner by increasing the number of flexible sensor elements and / or local coils according to the invention.

[0082] The computer program product according to the present invention can be loaded into a storage unit of a computing unit of an imaging device according to the embodiment described above and has a program code mechanism so that when the computer program product is executed in the computing unit of the imaging device, the method according to the present invention according to the embodiment described above is executed.

[0083] By means of the computer program product according to the present invention, the method according to the present invention can be performed quickly, identically repeatably and robustly. The computer program product is configured so that the computer program product can perform the method steps according to the present invention by means of a computing unit. Here, the computing unit must have prerequisites, such as a corresponding working memory, a corresponding graphics card or a corresponding logic unit, respectively, so that the corresponding method steps can be performed efficiently. The computer program product is stored, for example, on a computer-readable medium or saved on a network, a server or a cloud, from which the computer program product can be loaded into the processor of a local computing unit. Here, the computing unit can be configured as an independent system component or as part of an imaging device. In addition, the control information of the computer program product can be stored on an electronically readable data carrier. The control information of the electronically readable data carrier can be designed so that when the data carrier is used in the computing unit of the imaging device, the control information performs the method according to the present invention. An example of an electronically readable data carrier is a DVD, a magnetic tape, a USB memory stick or any other data storage device, on which electronically readable control information, especially software, is stored. If the control information is read from the data carrier and transmitted to the control unit and / or computing unit of the imaging device, all embodiments of the method according to the present invention described can be performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] Further advantages and details of the invention are apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the accompanying drawings. Here, the following is shown:

[0085] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of an imaging device according to the invention,

[0086] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of an imaging device according to the invention,

[0087] Figure 3 An embodiment of the sensor according to the present invention is shown,

[0088] Figure 4 An embodiment of a local coil according to the present invention is shown.

[0089] Figure 5 An embodiment of a local coil according to the present invention is shown.

[0090] Figure 6 An embodiment of a local coil according to the present invention is shown.

[0091] Figure 7 A flow chart showing one specific embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] exist Figure 1 1 shows an embodiment of an imaging device 10 according to the invention. In the present example, the imaging device 10 is implemented as a magnetic resonance tomograph 10. However, it is also conceivable that the imaging device 10 is designed as a computed tomograph, a positron emission tomograph, a single photon computed tomograph or the like.

[0093] The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 comprises a magnet unit 11, which has, for example, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet or a superconducting main magnet 12 for generating a strong and particularly uniform main magnetic field 13 (B0 magnetic field). In addition, the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 comprises a patient accommodation area 14 for accommodating a patient 15. In the present embodiment, the patient accommodation area 14 is cylindrically designed and is surrounded by the magnet unit 11 in the circumferential direction. In principle, however, a different design of the patient accommodation area 14 from the example described is also conceivable.

[0094] A patient 15 can be positioned in the patient accommodation area 14 by means of a patient support device 16 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10. For this purpose, the patient support device 16 has an examination couch 17 which is designed to be movable in the patient accommodation area 14. The magnet unit 11 also has a gradient coil 18 for generating a magnetic gradient field, which is used for position encoding during imaging. The gradient coil 18 is controlled by means of a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10. The magnet unit 11 can also include a radio frequency antenna, which in the present embodiment is designed as a body coil 20 which is fixedly integrated into the magnetic resonance tomograph 10. The body coil 20 is designed to excite nuclear spins in the main magnetic field 13 generated by the main magnet 12. The body coil 20 is controlled by a radio frequency unit 21 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 and radiates radio frequency excitation pulses into an image recording area which is essentially formed by the patient accommodation area 14 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10. The body coil 20 is also designed to receive magnetic resonance signals and can be a receiving unit of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10.

[0095] The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 has a control unit 22 for controlling the main magnet 12, the gradient control unit 19 and for controlling the radio frequency unit 21. The control unit 22 is designed to control the execution of an imaging sequence of an imaging examination, for example a GRE (gradient echo) sequence, a TSE (turbo spin echo) sequence or a UTE (ultra-short echo time) sequence. In addition, the control unit 22 includes a calculation unit 28 for evaluating magnetic resonance signals detected during the magnetic resonance examination. The calculation unit 28 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 can be designed to execute a correction method in order to reduce the influence of a movement of a diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15 on the magnetic resonance examination. For this purpose, the calculation unit 28 and / or the control unit 22 in particular have a correction unit 37.

[0096] The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 further comprises a user interface 23 which has a signal connection to the control unit 22. Control information, such as imaging parameters, but also reconstructed images can be displayed to the user on a display unit 24, such as at least one monitor, of the user interface 23. The user interface 23 further comprises an input unit 25, by means of which parameters of the magnetic resonance examination can be input by the user.

[0097] In the present example, the computing unit 28 is connected to a storage unit 29 of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 and to a cloud 30. The computing unit 28 can be designed to store data, for example images and / or image data, on the storage unit 29 and / or the cloud 30 and / or to retrieve the data by means of a suitable interface from the storage unit 29 and / or the cloud 30. In particular, it is conceivable that the cloud 30 is designed to receive the image data and the signals detected by at least one sensor, to execute the correction method, and to transmit the results of the correction method to the computing unit 28.

[0098] The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 may also have a local coil 26, which is positioned at a diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15 in a posture according to the application and detects magnetic resonance signals of the diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15 and transmits them to a computing unit 28 and / or a correction unit 37 of the control unit 22. The local coil 26 preferably has an electrical connection line 27, which provides a signal connection with the radio frequency unit 21 and the control unit 22. Like the body coil 20, the local coil 26 may also be designed for exciting nuclear spins and for receiving magnetic resonance signals. For this purpose, the local coil 26 may be controlled by the radio frequency unit 21. In one example, the local coil 26 is implemented as a laying coil positioned at the elbow 31 of the patient 15.

[0099] The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 shown can of course include other components that are usually present in magnetic resonance tomographs. It is also conceivable that the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 has a C-shaped, triangular or asymmetrical design of the components that generate the magnetic field instead of a cylindrical design. The magnetic resonance tomograph 10 can be designed in particular for performing a magnetic resonance examination on a patient 15 who is standing or sitting.

[0100] Figure 2An embodiment of a magnetic resonance tomograph 10 is shown with a transmitter-receiver arrangement, which comprises a transmitter 35 and a receiver 36. In the present example, the receiver 36 is held on the head of the patient 15 by a support element 32, wherein the support element 32 is designed as glasses. The receiver 36 and the support element 32 are positioned on the head of the patient 15 such that the distance between the transmitter 35 and the receiver 36 is at least dependent on the movement of the head of the patient 15 in the Y direction and the X direction. The transmitter 35 is designed to transmit a reference signal to the receiver 36. The receiver 36 and / or the support element 32 preferably have at least one sensor 33 (not shown), which is designed to determine information about the movement of the patient 15 based on the received reference signal. The transmitter 35 can be designed in particular to transmit an ultrasound signal to the receiver. In the present embodiment, the local coil 26 is positioned in the jaw region 31 of the patient 15. Since the movement of the head usually coincides with the movement of the upper jaw, the receiver 36 is also positioned in a posture depending on the application close to the diagnosis-relevant position, for example close to the support element 32.

[0101] Figure 3 A possible embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention is shown. In the present example, the local coil 26 is positioned at the knee joint 31 of the patient 15. The local coil 26 has at least one antenna element 34, which is held by a carrier element 32c at the knee joint 31 of the patient 15 in a posture according to the application. In addition, the local coil 26 has at least one sensor 33 with flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b. The flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b are mechanically connected to the local coil 26.

[0102] In the present embodiment, the first sections of the flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b are respectively mechanically connected to the supporting element 32c. The second section of the flexible sensor element 33a is positioned at the thigh of the patient 15, and the second section of the flexible sensor element 33b is positioned at the calf of the patient 15. The thigh and calf of the patient 15 are the opposite body regions of the knee joint 31 of the patient 15. It is conceivable that the second sections of the flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b are held in a posture according to the application by means of the supporting elements 32a and 32b. Therefore, due to the bending and / or extension of the knee joint 31, the flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b are deformed. The deformation is particularly associated with the degree of bending and / or extension of the knee joint 31. At least one sensor 33 is preferably designed to transmit the degree of movement of the knee joint 31 to the electronic circuit (not shown) of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10 and / or the local coil 26 according to the deformation of the flexible sensor elements 33a and 33b.

[0103] Figure 4Another embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention is shown. In the example, the local coil 26 has a plurality of antenna elements 34a, 34b and 34c (34a-34c) positioned at the knee joint 31 of the patient 15. The local coil 26 also has at least one sensor 33 with at least one flexible sensor element 33a, 33b. The at least one flexible sensor element 33a, 33b is a reversibly deformable section of the local coil 26, which is deformed due to the movement of the knee joint 31. In particular, the local coil 26 can be designed as a laid coil laid on the surface of the patient 15. Preferably, the weight of the local coil 26 is sufficient to deform the at least one flexible sensor element 33a, 33b when the knee joint 31 is bent and / or extended. However, it is of course also conceivable that the local coil 26 has at least one support element 32, which holds the local coil 26 and / or the antenna elements 34a-34c at the knee joint 31 of the patient 15 in a posture depending on the application.

[0104] Figure 5 Another embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention is shown. The local coil 26 is positioned at the jaw region 31 of the patient 15. The local coil 26 also has two support elements 32a and 32b, which hold a plurality of antenna elements 34ai and a plurality of antenna elements 34bi at the upper and lower dental arches of the patient 15 in a posture according to the application. In the example shown, at least one sensor 33 has a flexible sensor element 33a, which is mechanically connected to the support element 32a at the upper dental arch and the support element 32b at the lower dental arch. In particular, the flexible sensor element 33a can be connected to the support element 32a at a first section and to the support element 32b at a second section. Thus, the flexible sensor element 33a can be deformed due to the relative movement between the upper and lower dental arches. In this embodiment, the support elements 32a and 32b are preferably designed as bite splints, which are designed for positioning at the dental arches of the patient 15.

[0105] Figure 6Another embodiment of a local coil 26 according to the invention is shown. The support element 32 is designed as a mask, which is designed to hold the local coil 26 on the surface of the jaw region 31 of the patient 15. In addition, the support element 32 holds a plurality of antenna elements 34ai on the upper dental arch of the patient 15 in a posture according to the application, and a plurality of antenna elements 34bi on the lower dental arch of the patient 15 in a posture according to the application. In contrast, a flexible sensor element 33a of at least one sensor 33 is positioned between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch in the oral cavity of the patient 15. In this case, a first section of the flexible sensor element 33a can be positioned on the upper dental arch, while a second section of the flexible sensor element 33a is positioned on the lower dental arch. The flexible sensor element 33a can be designed in particular as an occlusal piece, which is deformed due to the relative movement of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch of the patient 15. The flexible sensor element 33a can be connected to the at least one sensor 33 and / or the local coil 26 by means of an electrical signal connection (not shown). The electrical signal connection between the flexible sensor element 33a and the at least one sensor 33 and / or the local coil 26 can be led, in particular, from the oral cavity to the outside between the closed lips of the patient 15. However, it is also conceivable that the at least one sensor 33 and / or the flexible sensor element 33a is designed to wirelessly transmit information about the movement of the diagnostically relevant position of the patient 15 to the magnetic resonance tomograph 10.

[0106] Figure 7 A possible flow chart of the method according to the invention for correcting a movement of a patient 15 during an imaging examination with the aid of an imaging device 10 having at least one sensor 33 and a correction unit 37 is shown.

[0107] In step S1, at least one sensor 33 is positioned at a diagnostically relevant body region 31 of a patient 15. For example, Figure 4 As shown in FIG, at least one sensor 33 can be positioned at the diagnostically relevant body region 31 by means of a coil 26. However, it is also conceivable, as in Figure 3 As shown in FIG, at least one sensor 33 is held at a diagnostically relevant body region 31 by means of carrier elements 32a, 32b and / or 32c. During preparation for the imaging examination, at least one sensor 33 is preferably positioned at the diagnostically relevant body region 31. Figures 1 to 6 In addition to the embodiment shown in , other possibilities for positioning the at least one sensor 33 according to the embodiment described above are of course conceivable.

[0108] In step S2, the patient 15 is positioned in the image recording area of ​​the imaging device 10. Figure 1, the patient 15 can be moved into the image recording region 14 of the imaging device 10 by means of an examination couch 17. However, it is also conceivable that the imaging device 10 is designed as a special scanner, which is coordinated with the imaging examination of the diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15 and / or can be positioned relative to the diagnostically relevant body region 31 in an application-dependent position for the imaging examination of the diagnostically relevant body region 31. Furthermore, the positioning of the patient 15 in the image recording region can already include the functions of calibrating, synchronizing and / or testing the at least one sensor 33 and / or the transmitter-receiver arrangement.

[0109] In a further step S3, an imaging examination is performed to detect image data of a diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15. Detecting the image data may, for example, include detecting magnetic resonance signals from the diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15. However, it is also conceivable that when detecting the image data, photons or X-rays are detected by means of a suitable detector of the imaging device 10. Detecting the image data may correspondingly include detecting magnetic resonance image data, computed tomography image data, and image data of other imaging modalities.

[0110] In step S4, the signal of the at least one sensor 33 is detected. Preferably, the step of detecting the signal of the at least one sensor 33 at least partially overlaps with the execution of an imaging examination, in particular the detection of image data of a diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15. The signal of the at least one sensor 33 is preferably transmitted to the computing unit 28, the control unit 22 and / or the correction unit 37 of the imaging device 10 by means of a wired or wireless connection.

[0111] In one embodiment, the imaging device 10 is a magnetic resonance tomograph 10, in which the signal of the at least one sensor 33 is modulated onto the magnetic resonance signal detected by means of the antenna element 34. The local coil 26 and / or the at least one sensor 33 can have an electronic circuit with a modulation unit, which modulates the signal of the at least one sensor 33 onto the detected magnetic resonance signal of the antenna element 34. The magnetic resonance tomograph 10, in particular the correction unit 37, can have a demodulation unit, which extracts the signal of the at least one sensor 33 from the modulated magnetic resonance signal. The electronic circuit can also transmit the signal of the at least one sensor 33 to the imaging device 10 wirelessly. In the case of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10, the signal can be present in particular in the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance signal, so that the signal can be directly received by a receiving unit of the magnetic resonance tomograph 10.

[0112] In one embodiment, detecting the signal of at least one sensor 33 comprises: detecting a second signal of a second sensor and / or a third signal of a third sensor. In this case, the second sensor and the third sensor have a different measuring principle than the at least one sensor 33. The second signal and / or the third signal provide information about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region 31, which is used in the correction method. In one example, the second sensor is a Hall sensor and the third sensor is a sensor of a transmitter-receiver device according to the embodiment described above. However, the second sensor and / or the third sensor can also be designed as a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, a bending sensor, a spacing sensor and / or an optical fiber sensor.

[0113] In a further step S5, a correction method is performed by means of the correction unit 37 as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor, wherein the correction method reduces the influence of a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region 31 of the patient 15 on the imaging examination. Performing the correction method may include performing at least one of the following methods:

[0114] Motion gating,

[0115] outputting feedback about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region to the patient by means of an output unit,

[0116] · Prospective and / or retrospective revision approaches.

[0117] In one example, according to Figure 2 The glasses 32 of the patient 15 have an output unit, such as a display, an active adjustment element and / or a loudspeaker, which output feedback about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region 31 to the patient 15. The patient 15 can thus be informed that the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region 31 is disadvantageous for the performance of the imaging examination. However, it is also conceivable to inform the patient 15 about the extent of involuntary movements, such as tongue movements, swallowing movements and / or breathing movements. Therefore, taking into account the information of the output unit, the patient 15 can try to suppress the movements accordingly. It is also conceivable that the output unit is designed to transmit messages or movement specifications of a user of the imaging device 10 to the patient.

[0118] In an optional step S6, individual images of the upper and lower dental arches of the patient 15 are reconstructed based on the detected magnetic resonance signals of the upper and lower dental arches, and the individual images of the upper and lower dental arches are fused into one image in the image space. The imaging device 10 can be designed in particular to Figure 2 Magnetic resonance tomograph 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1 , wherein a local coil 26 is positioned in the jaw region 31 of a patient 15 and has a plurality of antenna elements 34ai, 34bi (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 6), wherein the first antenna element is positioned at the upper dental arch of the patient 15 and the second antenna element is positioned at the lower dental arch of the patient 15. Performing the imaging examination here includes receiving magnetic resonance signals of the lower dental arch by means of the second antenna element and receiving magnetic resonance signals of the upper dental arch by means of the first antenna element. Performing the correction method includes motion gating, wherein the magnetic resonance signals of the lower dental arch and / or the upper dental arch are detected by means of the local coil 26 according to at least one sensor 33. In particular, it is conceivable that in the case of a movement of the mandible detected by means of at least one sensor 33 with flexible sensor elements 33a, the detection of magnetic resonance signals by means of the second antenna element is stopped. On the other hand, the magnetic resonance signals of the first antenna element can be detected continuously, because the movement of the mandible usually has a negligible effect on the position of the upper dental arch of the patient 15. Subsequently, a single image of the upper dental arch and a single image of the lower dental arch can be reconstructed from the detected magnetic resonance signals of the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and the single image of the upper dental arch and the single image of the lower dental arch can be fused in image space to form an image of the jaw region 31 of the patient 15.

[0119] Of course, the embodiments of the method according to the invention, the imaging device according to the invention, and the local coil according to the invention described here are to be understood as examples. The individual embodiments can be expanded here with features of other embodiments. The sequence of the method steps of the method according to the invention is to be understood in particular as an example. The individual steps can also be performed in a different sequence or partially or completely overlap in time.

Claims

1. An imaging device (1) for detecting image data of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of a patient (15), the imaging device (1) comprising at least one sensor (33) and a correction unit (37), wherein the at least one sensor (33) is designed to output a signal containing information about a movement of the diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15), and wherein the correction unit (37) is designed to receive the signal of the at least one sensor (33) and to apply a correction method as a function of the signal in order to reduce the influence of the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15) on the imaging examination, It is characterized in that The at least one sensor (33) is a non-imaging sensor and the signal of the at least one sensor (33) has a correlation with the movement of a body region (31) relevant to the diagnosis of the patient (15), wherein the imaging device (1) has a transmitter-receiver arrangement including the at least one sensor (33), wherein the transmitter (35) of the transmitter-receiver arrangement is designed to transmit a reference signal, and wherein the receiver (36) of the transmitter-receiver arrangement is designed to receive the reference signal, wherein the transmitter (35) and / or the receiver (36) are positioned in a patient receiving area (14) of the imaging device in a posture according to the application, so that the signal characteristic of the reference signal between the transmitter (35) and the receiver (36) is correlated with the movement of the diagnostically relevant body area (31) of the patient (15), The imaging device (1) is designed to determine the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15) by means of the at least one sensor (33) as a function of the received reference signal, and The reference signal of the transmitter-receiver device is an ultrasound signal and / or a radio frequency electromagnetic signal within the frequency and power range of the magnetic resonance measurement.

2. The imaging device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device (1) is designed as a magnetic resonance tomograph (10), the imaging device (1) further comprising a local coil (26), which is positioned in a posture depending on the application at a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15) and is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals in a frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement, wherein the local coil (26) comprises the at least one sensor (33), and wherein the at least one sensor (33) is designed as an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor and / or a Hall sensor.

3. An imaging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sensor (33) includes a flexible sensor element (33a, 33b), which is positioned at a diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15) in a posture depending on the application and is designed to deform due to a movement of the diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15), wherein the imaging device (1) is configured to determine the movement of the diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15) with the aid of the at least one sensor (33) based on the deformation of the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b).

4. The imaging device (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a support element (32), the support element (32) being mechanically connected to the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) and being designed to hold the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) in a posture depending on the application at a diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15), wherein the support element (32) and the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) are designed to be positioned relative to each other when the diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15) moves so that the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) is deformed, wherein the imaging device (1) is configured to determine the movement of the diagnosis-related body region (31) of the patient (15) by means of the at least one sensor (33) based on the relative movement of the support element (32) and the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b).

5. The imaging device (1) according to claim 4 further comprises a second supporting element (32), the second supporting element (32) being connected to the supporting element (32) by means of the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b), wherein the supporting element (32) and the second supporting element (32) are positioned at opposite body regions at a joint of the patient (15) in a posture according to the application, and wherein the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) is designed to deform due to the movement of the joint, wherein the imaging device (1) is configured to determine the movement of the joint by means of the at least one sensor (33) based on the deformation of the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b).

6. An imaging device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) is positioned on the dental arch of the patient (15) in a posture depending on the application and is configured to deform due to the movement of the mandible of the patient (15), wherein the imaging device (1) is configured to determine the movement of the mandible with the aid of the at least one sensor (33) based on the deformation of the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b).

7. The imaging device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the imaging device (1) is designed as a magnetic resonance tomography (10), wherein the magnetic resonance tomography (10) has a local coil (26), the local coil (26) comprising the at least one sensor (33) having the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b), wherein the local coil (26) is designed to receive magnetic resonance signals in the frequency and power range of a magnetic resonance measurement, and wherein at least one section of the local coil (26) having the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b) is reversibly deformable, wherein the at least one sensor (33) is designed to output a signal that is correlated with the deformation of the flexible sensor element (33a, 33b).

8. A method for correcting the movement of a patient (15) during an imaging examination with the aid of an imaging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the imaging device (1) having at least one sensor (33) and a correction unit (37), wherein the at least one sensor (33) is a non-imaging sensor and is designed to output a signal containing information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15), the method comprising the following steps: positioning (S1) the at least one sensor (33) at a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15), Positioning (S2) the patient (15) in the image recording area of ​​the imaging device (1), performing (S3) the imaging examination to detect image data of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15), Detecting (S4) a signal of said at least one sensor (33), and executing (S5) a correction method with the aid of the correction unit (37) as a function of the signal of the at least one sensor (33), wherein the correction method reduces the influence of a movement of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15) on the imaging examination, The imaging device (1) is designed as a magnetic resonance tomography scanner (10) having a local coil (26), and In this case, a signal of the at least one sensor (33) is modulated onto a magnetic resonance signal detected by means of the local coil (26).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein detecting (S4) the signal of the at least one sensor (33) comprises: A second signal of at least one second sensor is detected, wherein the second sensor is a non-imaging sensor and has a different measuring principle than the at least one sensor (33), wherein the second signal contains information about the movement of a diagnostically relevant body region (31) of the patient (15), and wherein the correction method is performed (S5) based on the signal of the at least one sensor (33) and the second signal of the second sensor.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein performing (S5) the correction method comprises performing at least one of the following methods: Motion gating, outputting feedback about the movement of the diagnostically relevant body region (31) to the patient (15) by means of an output unit, · Prospective and / or retrospective revision approaches.

11. The method according to claim 8 or 9, using an imaging device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the imaging device (1) is designed as a magnetic resonance tomograph (10), and wherein the local coil (26) is positioned in the jaw region of the patient (15) and has a plurality of antenna elements (34), wherein a first antenna element (34ai) is positioned in the upper dental arch of the patient (15) and a second antenna element (34bi) is positioned in the lower dental arch of the patient (15), wherein performing (S3) the imaging examination comprises: Magnetic resonance signals of the lower dental arch and the upper dental arch are received by means of the plurality of antenna elements (34), and the correction method is performed (S5) including motion gating, wherein the magnetic resonance signals of the lower dental arch and / or the upper dental arch are detected by means of the local coil (26) according to the at least one sensor (33), and the method further comprises the following steps: Reconstructing (S6) single images of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch of the patient (15) based on the detected magnetic resonance signals of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch, and fusing the single images of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch into one image in the image space.

12. A computer program product, which can be loaded into a storage unit of a computing unit (28) of an imaging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and which has a program code mechanism so that when the computer program product is executed in the computing unit (28) of the imaging device (1), the method according to any one of claims 8 to 11 is executed.

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