Medical scanner

Abstract

A medical scanner includes a scanning system with a scanner housing having an aperture through which a patient moves during scanning. A command system is used to provide breathing commands to the patient during scanning. The command system includes a colored illumination strip extending from the outside of the aperture, located on the opposite side of the housing, through the aperture. In this way, intuitive commands can be provided in the form of color output, and the patient can see these color outputs as they move through the aperture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to medical scanners, and more particularly to medical scans that require the user to hold their breath. Background Technology

[0002] Several types of examinations should be performed during breath-holding, such as chest and abdominal CT scans, as well as scans for cardiac and pulmonary embolism cases. Breath-holding is used to avoid motion artifacts that could impair image quality.

[0003] Known CT scanners are equipped with three indicators for "inhalation," "breath holding," and "exhalation." The operator or automated voice command instructs the patient to take a deep breath, and the inhalation indicator illuminates. The next instruction is to hold one's breath for the duration of the scan, and the breath holding indicator illuminates. Once the scan is complete, the exhalation indicator illuminates, accompanied by a voice command reminding the patient that the breath-holding period has ended.

[0004] The current indicator is positioned outside the aperture, making it sometimes difficult for patients to see, whether a scan is being performed starting from the feet or the head. The indicator is fixed, so even if it is initially visible, it will become invisible when the patient table begins to move during positioning and clinical scans. For nearsighted patients, the indicator may also be difficult to see because they will not be wearing their glasses during the scan.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved way to give patients breath-holding instructions during scanning. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention is defined by the claims.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a medical scanner is provided, the medical scanner comprising: A scanning system comprising a scanner housing having an aperture through which a patient moves during scanning; and A command system is used to provide breathing instructions to the patient during the scan. The instruction system includes a colored lighting strip that extends along a portion of the front surface of the scanner housing, along the inner surface of the cavity (16), and along a portion of the rear surface of the scanner housing.

[0008] In this way, intuitive instructions can be provided in the form of color output, which the patient can see as they move through the aperture. The color output is visible for both foot-based and head-based scans, and good patient vision is not required. The illumination strip is visible from either side of the scanner housing and from inside the scanner aperture.

[0009] Lighting strips, for example, include LED strips. This is a low-cost lighting solution that can be easily controlled to output different colors and temporal / spatial lighting patterns if needed. Lighting strips, for example, include LED arrays and a diffuser located above the LED array. Lighting strips, for example, are flexible LED strips, allowing them to be applied to scanner housings and adapt to the external shape of the scanner housing. Therefore, lighting strips can be provided as an improved solution.

[0010] The illumination strip extends, for example, along the highest part of the inner surface of the cavity. Therefore, when the patient's head is inside the cavity, the patient can see the illumination strip by looking straight up.

[0011] Medical scanners include, for example, a controller for controlling the lighting strip, wherein the controller is configured to control the lighting strip to perform the following operations: providing a first output type having a first color to provide instructions for anticipating breath-holding, providing a second output type having a second color to provide instructions for breath-holding, and providing a third output type having a third color to provide instructions for breathing after breath-holding.

[0012] Therefore, different colors represent different breathing instructions.

[0013] For example, the first color is yellow, the second color is red, and the third color is green. Therefore, the light strip provides a visual traffic light output (green for breathing, yellow for preparing to hold your breath, and red for holding your breath (i.e., not breathing)).

[0014] The third output type (for normal breathing) is, for example, pulsatile output. In this way, the third output type can also provide breathing rate guidance to encourage relaxed breathing.

[0015] Preferably, the instruction system further includes a speaker, wherein the controller is used to control the speaker and is configured to control the speaker to provide audio output during the first to third outputs. The audio output complements the color output.

[0016] The audio output during the second output type (breath-holding phase) includes, for example, a countdown of the duration required for the breath-holding.

[0017] The audio output during the third output type (normal breathing phase) includes, for example, soundscapes representing the inhalation and exhalation phases. This provides further stimulation to guide the breathing rate, thereby encouraging relaxed breathing.

[0018] The controller is configured, for example, to control the illumination strip to provide the third output type (indicating normal breathing) prior to the output indicating anticipated breath-holding. Thus, the normal breathing instruction is used before and after each breath-hold. For example, multiple breath-holding periods may exist throughout the entire scanning procedure.

[0019] Therefore, it can be assumed that there exists a four-stroke sequence using these three output types: normal breathing (preparing to hold one's breath), anticipating breath-holding, holding one's breath, and (after holding one's breath) breathing normally again.

[0020] A fourth output type (such as black output) can be used to indicate the end of the scan process.

[0021] In some examples, the scanning system is a CT scanning system. In other examples, the scanning system is an MRI scanning system.

[0022] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and elucidated by referring to and based on one or more embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To better understand the invention and to more clearly illustrate how to implement it, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings by way of example only, in which: Figure 1 Known medical scanners are shown; and Figure 2 A medical scanner with the instruction system of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] It should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, they are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used in all the drawings to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0026] This invention provides a medical scanner comprising a scanning system having a scanner housing with an aperture through which a patient moves during scanning. A command system is provided to give breathing commands to the patient during scanning. The command system includes a colored illumination strip extending from the outside of the aperture on the opposite side of the housing through the aperture. In this way, intuitive commands can be provided in the form of color output, and the patient can see these color outputs as they move through the aperture.

[0027] Figure 1 A known medical scanner 10 including a scanning system 12 is shown. The scanning system includes a housing through which a cavity 14 extends. The scanning system is, for example, a CT scanner. The housing has a front surface 16 and a rear surface (in... Figure 1 (Not shown in the image).

[0028] The medical scanner also has a contrast agent injection system 20 for injecting contrast agents to perform contrast scans.

[0029] A system is provided for presenting instructions or suggestions to a patient during a scan, such as a color display panel 22 and an associated speaker mounted inside an aperture.

[0030] The scanner has a bed 32 that moves through the aperture 14, and the patient 30 is shown on the bed. A monitoring system 40 for monitoring various vital signs and other patient information is also shown. The monitoring system 40 includes, for example, at least a camera. The monitoring system monitors, for example, one or more of the following: heart rate (using remote PPG implemented by using a camera), blood pressure (using remote PPG implemented by using a camera), muscle tone (using electrodermal response electrodes), and facial expression (using camera image analysis).

[0031] Typical CT examinations involve localization scans, which are low-dose trial exposures used to identify regions of interest for clinical scanning, as well as one or more clinical scans performed with or without contrast agents.

[0032] For breath-holding scans, the patient should inhale and then hold their breath upon receiving a breath-holding instruction (e.g., via display panel 22 or via audio instructions). Breath-holding is crucial for clinical scans, while positioning scans are used to educate patients on practicing breath-holding for subsequent clinical scans that will be used for interpretation purposes.

[0033] The display 22 is used to guide the patient throughout the examination so that breath-holding can be anticipated and instructed to begin and stop (and for the duration) breath-holding.

[0034] This invention relates to an alternative method for providing a breath-holding instruction to a user. This alternative method can be used in place of display 22, but can also be used in conjunction with other indicator systems (such as display 22).

[0035] Figure 2 An enlarged view of the scanner housing and the aperture is shown, along with a command system according to the invention for providing respiratory commands to the patient during scanning. The command system includes a colored illumination strip 50 extending from the outside (at both ends) of the aperture into the aperture. The colored illumination strip 50 extends through the aperture along the direction of movement of the patient bed (i.e., the longitudinal direction).

[0036] The illumination strip extends along a portion of the front surface 16 of the scanner housing and into the inner surface of the aperture. Specifically, the illumination strip begins above the aperture at a first end on the front surface 16, extends downwards, and enters the aperture. It then extends along the inner surface of the aperture, particularly along the highest portion of the top of the aperture. The illumination strip also extends along a portion of the rear surface of the scanner housing, particularly upwards to the opposite second end of the illumination strip above the aperture. Thus, the illumination strip is approximately symmetrical between the front and rear surfaces. The illumination strip extends continuously through the aperture and extends upwards from both ends of the aperture. In this way, the illumination strip is visible in the same manner for patients scanned starting from the head and for patients scanned starting from the feet. The illumination strip is visible from either side of the scanner housing and from inside the scanner aperture.

[0037] The lighting strip includes an LED strip with a diffuser cover positioned above the LED array. The lighting strip is, for example, a flexible LED strip, allowing it to be adapted to existing scanner housings and conform to the external shape of the scanner housing and aperture. The lighting strip may include a solid area of ​​illumination, or it may include a peripheral band of illumination.

[0038] In the example shown, an optional second arcuate illumination strip 52 is additionally present, which extends concentrically around the cavity at the front and rear surfaces (only the front surface is shown). The arcuate strip extends, for example, only around the upper portion of the cavity (where the arcuate strip will be visible to the patient), thus forming a semi-circular arc.

[0039] One or more lighting strips are controlled by a controller (schematically shown as 60) to provide different color outputs, thereby providing different breathing instructions.

[0040] For example, a first output type with a first color is used to alert the user that breath-holding is imminent, allowing the user to anticipate it. This could be yellow (or amber) to represent an amber traffic light (ready to stop breathing). A second output type with a second color is used to provide the instruction to hold breath. This could be red to represent a red traffic light (stop breathing). A third output type with a third color provides the instruction to breathe after breath-holding. This could be green to represent a green traffic light (breathing). The third output type is also used before the anticipated breath-holding. Thus, the patient is guided to breathe normally in a relaxed manner before and after breath-holding. Therefore, four strokes can be considered: normal breathing, anticipation, breath-holding, and normal breathing.

[0041] The green third output type can pulsate to provide breathing frequency guidance, thereby encouraging relaxed breathing.

[0042] The instruction system also includes a speaker, and the controller drives the speaker to provide audio output during the use of the first to third output types. For example, during the breath-holding phase, a countdown timer for the required duration of breath-holding can be provided. During the normal breathing phase, the audio output can provide a soundscape to indicate the inhalation and exhalation phases. This provides further stimulation to guide the breathing rate, thereby encouraging relaxed breathing.

[0043] There may be multiple breath-holding periods during the entire scanning process. The patient can be notified of the end of the scanning process via a fourth output (e.g., black). The LED strip is turned off when the system is idle.

[0044] The procedure sequence will now be explained based on the example above. Once the patient is moved into the cavity, LED strip 50 illuminates, simulating breathing with a pulsating green output. An audible soundscape of inhalation and exhalation is provided synchronously with the pulsating green to guide the patient into calm breathing. This continues until the operator selects the examination protocol, begins the examination, and presses "Start" to initialize the gantry.

[0045] When the operator presses "X-ray release", the LED strip turns yellow, indicating the need for breath-holding, and also gives the patient a voice instruction (in the selected language) to "inhale and hold your breath".

[0046] After a 4-second delay in X-ray release and after the voice command is completed, the LED strip turns solid red to indicate breath-holding.

[0047] The scanner then begins radiation exposure, and the patient bed moves automatically to collect the slides. During this movement, the LED light strip remains visible, allowing the patient to clearly understand the scan status. An audible countdown helps the patient know the estimated remaining scan time.

[0048] Once the active scan is complete, the LED light strip returns to a pulsating green, accompanied by inhalation and exhalation audible signals. Voice commands can also be used to instruct the patient to breathe again. The operator then plans the next scan.

[0049] Once the final scan is complete, the illumination strip provides a pulsating green output for a period of time (e.g., 4 seconds), and a voice command prompts the patient to breathe again. The illumination strip then turns black, indicating the end of the examination, and the patient bed automatically moves out and lowers.

[0050] The invention has been described with reference to CT scans. However, the invention can also be applied to other imaging types involving patient movement through the scanner aperture, such as MRI scans, digital X-ray radiation measurements, and radiotherapy and image-guided therapy.

[0051] Those skilled in the art, through studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments in the course of practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the quantifiers "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality.

[0052] The mere fact that certain measures are described in different dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

[0053] If the term "suitable" is used in the claims or description, it should be noted that the term "suitable" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured as". If the term "arrangement" is used in the claims or description, it should be noted that the term "arrangement" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0054] No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A medical scanner, comprising: A scanning system comprising a scanner housing having an aperture (16) through which a patient moves during scanning; as well as The instruction system (50, 52) is used to provide breathing instructions to the patient during the scan. The instruction system includes a colored lighting strip (50) that extends along a portion of the front surface (14) of the scanner housing, along the inner surface of the cavity (16), and along a portion of the rear surface of the scanner housing.

2. The medical scanner according to claim 1, wherein, The lighting strip includes LED light strips.

3. The medical scanner according to claim 2, wherein, The lighting strip includes an LED array and a diffuser located above the LED array.

4. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The lighting strip extends along the highest portion of the inner surface of the cavity.

5. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a controller (60) for controlling the illumination strip, wherein, The controller is configured to control the lighting strip to perform the following operations: provide a first output type with a first color to provide instructions for preparing to hold one's breath, provide a second output type with a second color to provide instructions for holding one's breath, and provide a third output type with a third color to provide instructions for breathing after holding one's breath.

6. The medical scanner according to claim 5, wherein, The first color is yellow, the second color is red, and the third color is green.

7. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The third output type is pulsed output.

8. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, The instruction system also includes a speaker, wherein the controller is configured to control the speaker to provide audio output during output using the first output type to the third output type.

9. The medical scanner according to claim 8, wherein, The audio output during the second output type includes a countdown of the duration required for the breath-holding.

10. The medical scanner according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The audio output during the third output type includes soundscapes representing the inhalation and exhalation phases.

11. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein, The controller is configured to control the lighting strip to provide the third output type to represent normal breathing before preparing to hold one's breath.

12. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The scanning system is a CT scanning system.

13. The medical scanner according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The scanning system is an MRI scanning system.

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