Illumination arrangement for medical imaging system

Abstract

An illumination arrangement for a medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel to receive a patient to be scanned. The illumination arrangement includes a light transmissive portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light transmissive portion forms part of the tunnel. The lighting arrangement also includes a reflector portion radially outward of the light transmissive portion. Further, the lighting arrangement comprises at least one lighting device located between the reflector portion and the light transmissive portion, where the lighting device emits light reflected by the reflector portion onto the light transmissive portion, and where the light then transmits through the light transmissive portion and into the tunnel to illuminate the tunnel circumferentially.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application No. 18 / 188,513, filed on March 23, 2023, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No. 16 / 949,229, filed on October 21, 2020, and issued on May 16, 2023 as U.S. Patent No. 11,647,971, entitled “LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM,” each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of the present invention relate to a lighting arrangement for illuminating a patient tunnel of a medical imaging system, and more particularly to a lighting arrangement for a medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned. The lighting arrangement comprises a light-transmitting portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light-transmitting portion forms a portion of the tunnel. The lighting arrangement also comprises a reflector portion radially outside the light-transmitting portion. Furthermore, the lighting arrangement comprises at least one lighting device located between the reflector portion and the light-transmitting portion, wherein the lighting device emits light reflected by the reflector portion onto the light-transmitting portion, and wherein the light is then transmitted through the light-transmitting portion and into the tunnel to illuminate the tunnel circumferentially. Background Art

[0004] Medical imaging systems include a patient bore that accommodates a patient to be imaged or scanned. The bore is typically elongated and forms a cylindrical patient tunnel through which the patient moves in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the tunnel. For example, for young people or adults suffering from claustrophobia, the tunnel may be imposing or daunting. This effect is becoming more pronounced as the average bore length of medical imaging systems (such as positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET / CT) systems) tends to become longer. In particular, imaging systems with an extended axial field of view (FoV), coupled with an aperture that has remained largely unchanged, have made PET systems less attractive because patients often experience a "feeling of an enclosed space" or claustrophobia when located in the tunnel. This is particularly true in imaging systems with even longer tunnels (such as MR-PET imaging systems and imaging systems with a FoV of one meter or more).

[0005] Adding light to the tunnel improves the look and feel of the system and gives the tunnel a spacious appearance, thereby alleviating the effects of claustrophobia. For example, lights can be incorporated into the front and rear covers of the tunnel. Additionally, light projectors located on the longitudinal axis of the tunnel can be used to direct light through the tunnel in the longitudinal direction. Summary of the invention

[0006] A lighting arrangement for a medical imaging system is disclosed, the medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned. The lighting arrangement comprises a light-transmitting portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light-transmitting portion forms a portion of the tunnel. The lighting arrangement further comprises a reflector portion radially outside the light-transmitting portion. Furthermore, the lighting arrangement comprises at least one lighting device located between the reflector portion and the light-transmitting portion, wherein the lighting device emits light reflected by the reflector portion onto the light-transmitting portion, and wherein the light is then transmitted through the light-transmitting portion and into the tunnel to illuminate the tunnel along a circumference.

[0007] In addition, a method of illuminating a tunnel of a medical imaging system is disclosed, the medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall that forms a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned, wherein the medical imaging system includes first and second imaging portions having first and second fields of view. The method includes providing a light-transmitting portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light-transmitting portion forms a portion of the tunnel. The method also includes providing a reflector portion radially outside the light-transmitting portion. In addition, the method includes providing light reflected by the reflector portion onto the light-transmitting portion, wherein the light is then transmitted through the light-transmitting portion and into the tunnel to illuminate the tunnel circumferentially.

[0008] Those skilled in the art may apply the corresponding features of the present invention jointly or separately in any combination or sub-combination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are further described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A medical imaging system according to one aspect of the invention is depicted.

[0011] Figure 2A A lighting arrangement according to an aspect of the invention is depicted.

[0012] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A Magnified view of area 2B.

[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the wall and lighting fixtures.

[0014] Figure 4 A lighting arrangement according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted.

[0015] Figure 5 and Figure 6A perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a further alternative embodiment of a lighting arrangement for illuminating a tunnel.

[0016] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a dual-modality imaging system having first and second imaging portions.

[0017] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a further alternative embodiment of a lighting arrangement.

[0018] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 0 is an enlarged view of the balloon portion 9 of FIG. 1 , and depicts the various parts of the reflector portion and the flange portion.

[0019] Fig.10 yes Figure 8 1 and 2. An enlarged view of the balloon portion 10 is shown, and the various parts of the trim portion are depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Although various embodiments incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can easily design embodiments that still incorporate many other variations of these teachings. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the application of the exemplary embodiment construction details and component arrangements set forth in the specification or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure encompasses other embodiments that are practiced or implemented in various ways. In addition, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. The use of "comprising", "including" or "having" and its variants herein is intended to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents and additional items. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "install", "connect", "support" and "couple" and their variants are widely used and cover direct and indirect installation, connection, support and coupling. In addition, "connect" and "couple" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0021] refer to Figure 1, a view of an exemplary medical imaging system 10 according to one aspect of the present invention is shown. The present invention can be used in conjunction with any medical imaging system 10 having a patient tunnel for accommodating a patient, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a positron emission tomography (PET) system, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system, a PET / MRI system, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) system, a PET / CT system, a SPECT / CT system, and the like. For illustrative purposes, the present invention will be described in conjunction with a PET / CT imaging system 12 having a CT section 14 and a PET section 16. The CT section 14 includes a recording unit, which includes an X-ray source 18 and an X-ray detector 20. The recording unit rotates around a longitudinal axis 22 during recording of a tomographic image, and the X-ray source 18 emits X-rays 24 during recording. When the image is being recorded, a patient 26 lies on a bed 28. The bed 28 is connected to a base 30 so that it supports the bed 28 carrying the patient 26. The bed 28 is designed to move the patient 26 along the recording direction through an opening or tunnel 32 of a gantry 34 of the system 12. The base 30 includes a control unit 34 connected to a computer 36 for exchanging data. Figure 1 In the example shown in , the medical diagnosis or treatment unit is designed in the form of a system 12 by a determination unit 38 in the form of a stored computer program that can be executed on a computer 36. The computer 36 is connected to an output unit 40 and an input unit 42. The output unit 40 is, for example, one (or more) liquid crystal display (LCD) or (one or more) plasma screens. The output 44 on the output unit 40 includes, for example, a graphical user interface for actuating the various units of the system 12 and the control unit 34. In addition, different views of the recorded data can be displayed on the output unit 40. The input unit 42 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen or a microphone for voice input.

[0022] Figure 2A A schematic cross-sectional side view of tunnel 32 is depicted. Tunnel 32 is defined by a substantially cylindrical tunnel wall 46 having an outer surface 48 and an inner surface 50. CT section 14 includes a CT field of view 52 having a first width 54, and PET section 16 includes a PET field of view 56 having a second width 58. CT section 14 and PET section 16 are sensitive to X-rays and gamma rays via CT field of view 52 and PET field of view 56, respectively. According to one aspect of the invention, an illumination device 60 is located near or on outer surface 48 of wall 46 and between CT field of view 52 and PET field of view 56. Illumination device 60 is also located outside first width 54 and second width 58 of CT field of view 52 and PET field of view 56, respectively, so that X-rays and gamma rays generated by system 12 are not affected by illumination device 60. Figure 3is a perspective view of the wall 46 and the lighting device 60. Figure 2A refer to Figure 3 , the lighting device 60 may extend around the entire circumference of the outer surface 48 of the wall 46 to form a substantially annular configuration having a 360 degree central angle around the wall 46. Alternatively, the lighting device 60 may extend only partially around the circumference of the outer surface 48 to form a semicircular shape (i.e., approximately 180 degrees) or an arc greater or less than approximately 180 degrees.

[0023] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A Magnified view of area 2B. Figure 2A and Figure 2B , the lighting device 60 includes a light source 62 located between a first reflector element 64 and a second reflector element 66, which extend toward and contact the outer surface 48. The first reflector element 64 and the second reflector element 66 include a first mirror 68 and a second mirror 70, respectively, which are positioned to reflect the light emitted by the light source 62. In alternative embodiments, additional or fewer reflector elements and / or mirrors may be used. The wall 46 includes a window or transparent wall portion 72 having a transparent outer surface 74 and a transparent inner surface 76. According to one aspect of the present invention, the transparent inner surface 76 is aligned with the inner surface 50 of the wall 46 to form a continuous smooth inner surface. This reduces the possibility of the patient 26 being stuck or tripped when the patient 26 moves into and out of the tunnel 32, and promotes equipment hygiene. The transparent wall portion 72 is aligned with the lighting device 60 to form a lighting arrangement 78 for illuminating the tunnel 32. In one embodiment, a light diffuser may be used instead of or in addition to the transparent wall portion 72.

[0024] Light 80 emitted by light source 62 propagates toward transparent wall portion 72 and is reflected by first mirror 68 and second mirror 70 toward transparent wall portion 72. Light 80 is then transmitted through transparent wall portion 72 in a direction substantially orthogonal to longitudinal axis 22 and into tunnel 32 to illuminate tunnel 32. Alternatively, light 80 may be directed at an angle other than orthogonal relative to longitudinal axis 22. Light source 62 may be a light strip, a fiber optic light rope, or a strip of red, green, and blue (RGB) light emitting diodes (LEDs), or other light sources that emit a broad spectrum of light.

[0025] In one embodiment, the transparent wall portion 72 corresponds to the circumferential shape of the lighting device 60. For example, both the transparent wall portion 72 and the lighting device 60 can be annular so that light is transmitted through the entire circumference (i.e., 360 degrees) and into the tunnel 32 to illuminate the tunnel 32 along the circumference. In one embodiment, the first reflector element 64 and the second reflector element 66 are tilted away from each other to provide a relatively wide-angle beam in the tunnel 32. Alternatively, the first reflector element 64 and the second reflector element 66 can be oriented to provide other beam angles, such as relatively narrow beam angles, as desired.

[0026] The lighting of the tunnel 32 improves the look and feel of the tunnel 32 and gives the patient 26 the appearance of a spacious tunnel 32, thereby alleviating the effects of claustrophobia and calming the patient 26. In addition, the lighting arrangement 78 is located outside both the CT field of view 52 and the PET field of view 56 (i.e., outside the imaging volume) and therefore does not affect the X-rays or gamma rays generated by the system 12 and avoids attenuation and scattering of the signals.

[0027] In addition to illuminating the tunnel 32, the lighting arrangement 78 can also be used to generate light that serves as a parameter indicator for the clinician or operator, allowing the operator to easily observe the status of the system 12 without having to be located at the terminal or output unit 40 of the system 12. According to one aspect of the present invention, the intensity of the lighting in the tunnel 32 can be varied according to the amount of activity measured by the PET portion 16, such as a changing count rate. In addition, the lighting device 60 can provide colored lighting that indicates the system status or mode to indicate that the system is on, idle, running, the bed 28 or patient treatment system is in motion, etc.

[0028] Different colors of lighting can be used to indicate the health of the system. For example, when the system 12 is started, green lighting can be used to indicate normal system operating status (i.e., ready to scan, no system problems detected, etc.), yellow lighting indicates system warnings that need attention, red lighting indicates system failures that need to be resolved, and blue lighting indicates that the system 12 is in energy saving mode. In addition, different colors of lighting can be used to indicate messages or instructions to the patient. For example, a first color can be used to indicate that the patient holds his breath, a second color indicates that the patient should breathe, and other colors can be used to indicate other messages. In addition, the light source 62 can be arranged in a panel configuration to form a separate LED, each LED being used as a pixel on a text screen. This enables the display of messages on the screen that are helpful to the patient 26 with hearing loss or useful for studying the patient's auditory system response. For example, messages indicating patient instructions such as "breathe", "stop breathing", or messages indicating scan time, remaining scan time, etc. can be displayed on the screen. The computer 36 can be used to control the activation and operation of the light source 62.

[0029] refer to Figure 4 , shows a lighting arrangement 82 for illuminating a tunnel 32 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The lighting device 84 includes at least one lighting element 86 inserted into a rope or light strip 88 of substantially transparent fiber optic material. In one embodiment, the lighting element 86 includes at least one RGB LED or other light source that emits light of different colors. The strip 88 is located on the transparent outer surface 74 and can extend around the entire circumference of the transparent outer surface 74 of the transparent wall portion 72 to form an annular configuration with a 360-degree center angle around the wall 46. Alternatively, the strip 88 can extend only partially around the circumference of the transparent outer surface 74 to form a semicircular (i.e., approximately 180 degrees) or an arc greater than or less than approximately 180 degrees. More than one strip 88 can be positioned around the circumference of the transparent outer surface 74 so that the strips 88 are positioned side by side on the transparent outer surface 74 to a desired width. The strip 88 is located outside the first width 54 and the second width 58 of the CT field of view 52 and the PET field of view 56, respectively, so that the X-rays and gamma rays generated by the system 12 are not affected by the strip 88. In one embodiment, the light 80 emitted by the illumination device 84 is transmitted through the transparent wall portion 72 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 22, so that the light is transmitted through the entire circumference (i.e., 360 degrees) and into the tunnel 32 to circumferentially illuminate the tunnel 32. Alternatively, the light 80 can be oriented at an angle other than an orthogonal angle relative to the longitudinal axis 22.

[0030] Figure 5 and Figure 6 They are used to illuminate the tunnel 32 ( Figure 2A ) are perspective and cross-sectional views of additional alternative embodiments of a lighting arrangement 100. The lighting arrangement 100 includes an annular rim portion 102, a light transmissive portion 104, and a mounting decorative portion 106 having a first aperture 103, a second aperture 105, and a third aperture 107 that define a first inner surface 108, a second inner surface 110, and a third inner surface 115, respectively. The inner surface 108 of the rim portion 102, the inner surface 110 of the light transmissive portion 104, and the inner surface 115 of the mounting decorative portion 106 are substantially aligned with the inner surface 50 of the tunnel wall 46 (see FIG. Figure 2A ). The longitudinal axis 22 extends through the first central aperture 103, the second central aperture 105, and the third central aperture 107. The light transmissive portion 104 is located between the frame portion 102 and the mounting decorative portion 106 and is sufficiently sized in the longitudinal direction to provide circumferential illumination of the tunnel 32, thereby helping to reduce the patient's feeling of claustrophobia when in the tunnel 32.

[0031] The outer surface 112 of the frame portion 102 includes a circumferential upright flange portion 114, which includes at least one lighting device 116 (see also Figure 8 and Fig. 9 ). Illuminating devices 116 are circumferentially arranged on flange portion 114 and extend toward light transmissive portion 104. In one aspect of the invention, illuminating devices 116 may include at least one LED light strip mounted circumferentially around bezel portion 102. Additionally, protective barriers may be positioned between the LED lights to prevent light "hot spots" at the LED mounting locations. Additionally, outer surface 112 may include microphone 154 and speaker 156 to enable communication between the patient and a system operator.

[0032] The lighting arrangement 100 further includes a reflector portion 118 having a first end 120 removably attached to the flange portion 114 and a second end 122 removably attached to the mounting trim portion 106. In one aspect of the invention, the size of the reflector portion 118 in the longitudinal direction substantially corresponds to the size of the transmissive portion 104 in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the reflector portion 118 and the transmissive portion 104 may differ in size relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. Relative to the longitudinal axis 22, the reflective portion 118 is radially outward of the light transmissive portion 104 to form a cavity 124. In one aspect of the invention, the reflector portion 118 tapers toward the longitudinal axis 22 between the first end 120 and the second end 122 to form a substantially tapered shape. The lighting device 116 is located in the cavity 124 between the reflector portion 118 and the light transmissive portion 104. Light emitted by the lighting device 116 is reflected by the reflector inner surface 126 toward the outer surface 128 of the light transmissive portion 104. The light-transmitting portion 104 receives light and transmits the light into the tunnel 32 to illuminate the tunnel 32 circumferentially in the longitudinal direction. The illumination of the tunnel 32 provides comfort for patients located within the tunnel 32 and helps to alleviate the feeling of claustrophobia when in the tunnel 32. In one aspect of the present invention, the light-transmitting portion 104 is made of a light-diffusing material. For example, the light-diffusing material can be made of a light-diffusing plastic or equivalent material that diffuses, scatters, or filters the light emitted by the lighting device 116, so that the light is attenuated as the light propagates away from the lighting device 116, and the light-transmitting portion 104 emits light. Alternatively, by varying the design of the reflector portion 118 and the longitudinal length of the reflector portion 118, substantially uniform illumination can be achieved.

[0033] The present invention may be used with any medical imaging system 10 ( Figure 1) is used in combination with any medical imaging system 10, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a positron emission tomography (PET) system, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) system. The present invention can also be used in imaging systems with more than one type of imaging modality, such as an imaging system in which the first imaging part is a PET part with a PET field of view and the second imaging part is a CT part with a CT field of view (PET / CT imaging system), an imaging system in which the first imaging part is a SPECT part with a SPECT field of view and the second imaging part is a CT part with a CT field of view (SPECT / CT imaging system), an imaging system in which the first imaging part is a PET imaging part with a PET field of view and the second imaging part is an MR imaging part with an MR field of view (PET / MRI imaging system), or an imaging system in which the first imaging part is an MR imaging part with an MR field of view and the second imaging part is a CT part with a CT field of view.

[0034] Figure 7 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a dual-modality imaging system 130 having a first imaging portion 132 providing a first imaging modality and a second imaging portion 134 providing a second imaging modality different from the first imaging modality. The first imaging portion 132 includes a first field of view 136 having a first width 138, and the second imaging portion 134 includes a second field of view 140 having a second width 142. According to one aspect of the present invention, the lighting arrangement 100 can be located between the first field of view 136 and the second field of view 140 to limit artifacts and / or attenuation in the first field of view 136 or the second field of view 140. In one aspect of the present invention, the lighting arrangement 100 is oriented such that the bezel portion 102 is located proximate the first field of view 136, and the mounting trim portion 106 is located proximate the second field of view 140. In this orientation, light emitted by the lighting device 116 is emitted toward the second imaging portion 134, and is then reflected by the reflector inner surface 126 toward the outer surface 128 of the light-transmitting portion 104, as previously described with respect to FIG. Figure 6 As described. Alternatively, the lighting arrangement 100 can be oriented in an opposite direction so that the lighting device 116 emits light toward the first imaging portion 132. For example, the dual-modality imaging system 130 can be a PET / CT imaging system including a PET imaging portion (first imaging portion 132) and a CT imaging portion (second imaging portion 134). The PET portion includes a PET field of view (first field of view 136) having a first width (first width 138), and the CT portion includes a CT field of view (second field of view 140) having a second width (second width 142). The lighting arrangement 100 is located between the PET field of view and the CT field of view to limit artifacts and / or attenuation in the PET field of view or the CT field of view.

[0035] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the lighting arrangement. Fig. 9 1 is an enlarged view of the balloon portion 9 and depicts portions of the reflector portion 118 and the flange portion 114. The flange portion 114 includes a circumferential mounting member 144 extending from the flange portion 114. The first end 120 of the reflector portion 118 includes an attachment member 146 having an orientation corresponding to the mounting member 144. The attachment member 146, and therefore the reflector portion 188, is removably attached to the mounting member 144 by a removable fastener 148 or other attachment device or attachment method. A first portion 152 of the reflector portion 118 after the attachment member 146 tapers toward the longitudinal axis 22. Fig.10 is an enlarged view of the balloon portion 10. The mounting trim portion 106 includes a circumferential channel 150 that receives the second end 122 of the reflector portion 118 to removably attach the reflector portion 118 when the attachment member 146 is removably attached to the mounting member 144 of the flange portion 114.

[0036] The lighting arrangement 100 facilitates in-field upgrades of operating imaging systems by enabling the addition of at least one lighting device, such as an LED strip, to the imaging system 130, rather than replacing a substantial portion of the tunnel 32 of the imaging system 130. This enables the operator to purchase the imaging system 130 with the option to add lighting to the tunnel 32 in the future in a cost-effective manner. Additionally, the reflector portion 118 is removably attached so that the lighting device 116 can be added or replaced in the field to further reduce costs.

[0037] In another aspect of the invention, lighting devices 116, such as LEDs, may be circumferentially located at the first and second ends of the tunnel 32 such that they emit light toward each other. In still another aspect of the invention, the lighting devices 116 may be circumferentially located relative to the outer diameter of a tunnel portion made of a light diffusing plastic. The lighting devices 116 may be located approximately 3-4 inches from the light diffusing plastic to reduce LED hot spots. Alternatively, a matrix of LED lights may be located circumferentially around the outer diameter of the tunnel portion.

[0038] Although specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure be covered in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An illumination arrangement for a medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned, wherein the medical imaging system comprises a first imaging portion and a second imaging portion having a first field of view and a second field of view, respectively, the illumination arrangement comprising: a light-transmissive portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light-transmissive portion forms a portion of a tunnel; a reflector portion radially outward of the light-transmitting portion; At least one lighting device is located between the reflector portion and the light-transmitting portion, wherein the lighting device emits light that is reflected by the reflector portion onto the light-transmitting portion, and wherein the light is then transmitted through the light-transmitting portion and into the tunnel to circumferentially illuminate the tunnel. 2 . The lighting arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the light transmissive portion is located between the first field of view and the second field of view. The lighting arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the reflector portion is tapered.

4. The lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one LED light strip.

5. The lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein illumination of the tunnel by the lighting device improves a patient's feeling of claustrophobia while in the tunnel.

6. The lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive portion is made of a light diffusing material.

7. The lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the reflector portion is removably attached to the lighting arrangement.

8. The illumination arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging portion is a PET portion having a PET field of view and the second imaging portion is a CT portion having a CT field of view, the first imaging portion is a SPECT portion having a SPECT field of view and the second imaging portion is a CT portion having a CT field of view, the first imaging portion is an MR imaging portion having an MR field of view and the second imaging portion is a PET portion having a PET field of view, or the first imaging portion is an MR portion having an MR field of view and the second imaging portion is a CT portion having a CT field of view.

9. An illumination arrangement for a medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned, wherein the medical imaging system comprises a first imaging portion and a second imaging portion having a first field of view and a second field of view, respectively, the illumination arrangement comprising: an annular light-transmissive portion located adjacent to the frame portion, wherein the light-transmissive portion and the frame portion are aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system and form a portion of a tunnel, and wherein the frame portion includes a flange element; a reflector portion radially outward of the light-transmitting portion to form a cavity; and At least one lighting device is arranged on the flange element and between the reflector portion and the light-transmitting portion, wherein the lighting device emits light into the cavity, the light is reflected by the reflector portion onto the light-transmitting portion, and wherein the light is then transmitted through the light-transmitting portion and into the tunnel to circumferentially illuminate the tunnel.

10. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the light transmissive portion is located between the first field of view and the second field of view.

11. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the reflector portion is tapered.

12. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one LED light strip.

13. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein illumination of the tunnel by the lighting device improves a patient's feeling of claustrophobia while in the tunnel.

14. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the light transmissive portion is made of a light diffusing material.

15. The lighting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the reflector portion is removably attached to the lighting arrangement.

16. A method of illuminating a tunnel of a medical imaging system having a cylindrical wall forming a tunnel for accommodating a patient to be scanned, wherein the medical imaging system comprises a first imaging portion and a second imaging portion having a first field of view and a second field of view, respectively, the method comprising: providing a light-transmissive portion aligned on a longitudinal axis of the imaging system, wherein the light-transmissive portion forms a portion of a tunnel; providing a reflector portion radially outward of the light transmitting portion; and Light reflected by the reflector portion onto the light transmitting portion is provided, wherein the light is then transmitted through the light transmitting portion and into the tunnel to circumferentially illuminate the tunnel. The method of claim 16 , wherein the light-transmissive portion is located between the first field of view and the second field of view.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the reflector portion is tapered.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the light is provided by a lighting device comprising at least one LED light strip.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the lighting of the tunnel improves the patient's feeling of claustrophobia while in the tunnel.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the light-transmitting portion is made of a light-diffusing material.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the reflector portion is removably attached to the light transmissive portion.

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