Lying device of magnetic resonance imaging equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model relates to a lying device of magnetic resonance imaging equipment. A lying device of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a lying bed (1) defining a lying plane and a coil holder (2). A flexible local coil (3) of the magnetic resonance apparatus can be placed on the coil holder (2). The coil carrier (2) can be detachably connected to the lying bed (1). When the coil support (2) is detachably connected with the lying bed (1), the coil support is fixed on the lying bed (1). The lying bed (1) and the coil carrier (2) have mutually interacting positioning elements (5, 6) such that when the coil carrier (2) is connected to the lying bed (1), the coil carrier is fixed in one of a plurality of predetermined positions as viewed in the lying plane.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention starts with a flat-lying device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

[0002] -The supine device includes a supine bed that defines a supine plane and a coil support.

[0003] -The flexible local coil of the magnetic resonance imaging device can be placed on the coil support. Background Technology

[0004] Magnetic resonance imaging equipment and its components (here, a supine device having a supine bed and coil support, on which the patient can lie or sit) are generally known.

[0005] After the patient is laid flat on the bed, the operator places the local coil on the patient. Finally, an MRI scan is performed.

[0006] Depending on the area of ​​the body where the local coil is placed, it may cause some discomfort to the patient. This discomfort is often particularly pronounced when the local coil is placed on the patient's face. To avoid this placement of the local coil on the patient's face, the aforementioned coil holder is used. The coil holder is placed on a supine bed. Then, the appropriate local coil is placed on the coil holder.

[0007] In existing technologies, the coil support is simply placed on a supine bed. Therefore, the arrangement of the coil support, and the arrangement of the local coils placed on it, is often only adequately reproduced. This is particularly important in the field of radiotherapy preparation. Utility Model Content

[0008] The objective of this invention is to achieve the following possibilities: to realize a reproducible arrangement of local coils in their application.

[0009] This is believed to be solved by the lying-flat device according to the present invention. An advantageous configuration of the lying-flat device is the subject of the preferred embodiment.

[0010] According to this utility model, the type of lying device described at the beginning is designed in the following way:

[0011] - The coil holder is detachably connected to the supine bed, and is secured to the supine bed when detachably connected.

[0012] - The supine bed and the coil support have mutually cooperating positioning elements, such that when the coil support is connected to the supine bed, when viewed in the supine plane, the coil support is fixed at one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

[0013] Therefore, the coil holder is not only placed on the supine bed so that it can be removed without other means, but it is also secured to the bed through its connection with the supine bed. Unlike the prior art, where the coil holder is simply placed on the supine bed, the application of force to the coil holder for removal from the bed does not cause it to be removed. Furthermore, the positioning elements of the supine bed and the coil holder ensure that the coil holder is fixed in a predetermined position—not "anywhere," but specifically at one of several predetermined positions. This ensures the reproducibility of the positioning.

[0014] The number of predetermined positions can be one. In this case, the coil support can only be connected to and fixed to the supine bed at this one (i.e., the only) predetermined position. However, the number of predetermined positions can also be greater than one. In this case, there is a distance between the predetermined positions. At positions outside these predetermined positions, the coil support may not be connected to the supine bed at all, or at least not fixed to the supine bed.

[0015] Maintaining the predetermined position, and if necessary, the corresponding predetermined position, can be achieved, for example, by having the positioning elements work together in a locking manner. Alternatively, the supine bed and coil support can have elastically supported balls or rollers that insert into corresponding grooves. Other configurations are also possible. Position determination can be achieved in one degree of freedom (especially in the translational direction) or through a stop device.

[0016] Preferably, the coil support has a section extending upward from the supine bed orthogonal to the supine plane, and this section has a cantilever extending parallel to the supine plane. Thus, the coil support is designed to save space, requiring only a small space on the supine bed, and therefore, with the appropriate size of the cantilever, a larger effective range for holding the local coil can be achieved.

[0017] Preferably, the cantilever is arranged to be height-adjustable relative to the supine plane in the upwardly extending section, and particularly to be continuously adjustable in height. This allows the local coil to be placed as close as possible to the corresponding area of ​​the patient's body (typically the face), rather than being placed on the surface of the patient's body.

[0018] For example, the cantilever can be guided into a guide slot in the upwardly extending section. The height position of each cantilever can be determined, for example, by friction locking or clamping connection.

[0019] Preferably, the coil support has two placement elements arranged on the left and right sides of the cantilever in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the cantilever in the lying plane, and extending fully or at least partially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cantilever when viewed in the lying plane, such that when a force directed toward the lying bed is applied to the end of the cantilever spaced apart from the upwardly extending section, the coil support is supported at the lying bed by the placement elements.

[0020] This design allows the shear and bending forces acting on the coil support to be effectively transferred to the supine bed.

[0021] In the lateral direction, the distance between the placed elements is preferably 20 cm or more, especially at least 25 cm. However, it is preferable not to exceed 40 cm, and even more preferably 30 cm.

[0022] Typically, the coil support is positioned at the head of the supine bed, with the longitudinal direction of the support parallel to the longitudinal direction of the supine bed.

[0023] The orientation of a supine bed in the longitudinal direction within the supine plane is determined entirely independently by the dimensions of the supine bed, namely its length and width.

[0024] Typically, when using a coil support, the flexible local coil is placed on a cantilever. However, it is also possible to suspend the flexible local coil on the cantilever using tabs. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The above-described features, characteristics, and advantages of this utility model, as well as the ways in which these features, characteristics, and advantages are realized, will become more apparent and clear in conjunction with the following description of the embodiments, which will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0026] Figure 1 Lie-flat suit,

[0027] Figure 2 Figure 1 An enlarged view of a portion of the supine device.

[0028] Figure 3 Figure 1 A further enlarged view of a portion of the supine device.

[0029] Figure 4 Viewed longitudinally from a supine position on a bed Figure 1 A flat-lying device. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figures 1 to 3 This illustrates a supine configuration of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, or a portion thereof. Therefore, the following will discuss... Figures 1 to 3 as well as Figure 4 A joint explanation should be provided.

[0031] according to Figure 1 The supine device includes a supine bed 1. The supine bed 1 defines a longitudinal direction A and a lateral direction B by its placement surface and thus defines a supine plane. The supine plane is generally oriented horizontally or at least substantially horizontally. The lateral direction B extends orthogonally to the longitudinal direction A.

[0032] The supine device also has a coil support 2. The flexible local coil 3 of the magnetic resonance imaging device can be placed on the coil support 2, only when... Figure 4 As shown in the figure. Instead of being placed on the coil support 2, the partial coil 3 may also have a tab 4 or the like, so that the partial coil 3 is not placed on the coil support 2, but is suspended at the coil support 2.

[0033] The coil holder 2 can be connected to the supine bed 1. For example, as... Figure 2 As can be seen, the underside of the supine bed may have a protrusion 5 and the coil support 2 may have a claw 6. In this case, the claw 6 of the coil support 2 can be pushed laterally onto the protrusion 5. For example, this pushing can be performed until the boundary surface of the coil support 2 abuts against the corresponding stop of the supine bed 1. Other fixing methods are also possible. However, regardless of the fixing method, when the coil support 2 is connected to the supine bed 1, the coil support is fixed to the supine bed 1.

[0034] The connection between the coil support 2 and the supine bed 1 is detachable. However, through the design and coordination between the coil support 2 and the supine bed 1, it is ensured that when the coil support 2 is connected to the supine bed 1, the coil support is fixed at one of a plurality of predetermined positions when viewed in the supine plane. In particular, the supine bed 1 and the coil support 2 have mutually cooperating positioning elements for this purpose. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the example shown, the positioning element is implemented, for example, by protrusion 5 and claw 6.

[0035] The coil support 2 typically has a section 7 that extends upward from the supine bed 1 orthogonally to the supine plane. This section 7 also has a cantilever 8 extending parallel to the supine plane. The cantilever 8 is an element of the coil support 2, and a portion of the coil 3 is placed on or suspended from this cantilever 8. Figures 1 to 3 The cantilever 8 extends in the longitudinal direction A. This design is common. Specifically, in Figures 1 to 3 In the diagram, the coil support 2 is positioned at the head end of the supine bed 1. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the cantilever 8 is parallel to the longitudinal body axis of the patient lying on the supine bed 1, which in turn corresponds to the longitudinal direction A of the supine bed 1. However, in some cases, the cantilever 8 may extend in another direction within the supine plane.

[0036] The cantilever 8 is arranged to be height-adjustable relative to the supine surface at its upwardly extending section 7. This adjustability can be, in particular, continuous. For example, a clamping screw 9 may be present, which can be tightened manually without tools or loosened again. In the tightened state, the cantilever 8 is fixed relative to section 7 and therefore also relative to the supine bed 1; in the loosened state, the cantilever 8 is height-adjustable relative to section 7 and therefore also relative to the supine bed 1.

[0037] from Figure 2 As can be seen particularly clearly, the coil support 2 has two placement elements 10. Viewed in the lateral direction B, these two placement elements 10 are arranged on the left and right sides of the cantilever 8. This is generally applicable when extending laterally to the longitudinal direction of the cantilever 8.

[0038] Viewed from the supine plane, placement element 10 extends fully or at least partially in the longitudinal direction A. This generally applies with respect to the longitudinal extension of cantilever 8. When a force F directed toward supine bed 1 is applied to the end of cantilever 8 spaced apart from the upwardly extending segment 7 (see... Figure 3 When the coil support 2 is in use, the element 10 is supported on the supine bed 1.

[0039] In summary, this utility model relates to the following situations:

[0040] The pantograph of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device includes a pantograph bed 1 defining a pantograph plane and a coil support 2. A flexible local coil 3 of the MRI device can be placed on the coil support 2. The coil support 2 is detachably connected to the pantograph bed 1. When the coil support 2 is detachably connected to the pantograph bed 1, it is fixed to the pantograph bed 1. The pantograph bed 1 and the coil support 2 have mutually interacting positioning elements 5 and 6, such that when the coil support 2 is connected to the pantograph bed 1, when viewed in the pantograph plane, the coil support 2 is fixed at one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

[0041] This invention offers several advantages. The reproducibility of local coil 3 positioning is improved when the local coil 3 is applied. The stability of the coil support 2 and the local coil 3 is also enhanced, while patient comfort is maintained. Furthermore, it simplifies the clinical workflow. These advantages are particularly important in the planning of radiotherapy using the acquired magnetic resonance images.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail through preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and other variations can be deduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lying-down device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, characterized in that, -The supine device described herein has a supine bed (1) defining a supine plane and a coil support (2), -The flexible local coil (3) of the magnetic resonance imaging device can be placed on the coil support (2). - wherein the coil support (2) is detachably connected to the supine bed (1), and when the coil support is detachably connected to the supine bed (1), the coil support is fixed to the supine bed (1), and -The supine bed (1) and the coil support (2) have mutually cooperating positioning elements (5, 6) such that when the coil support (2) is connected to the supine bed (1), the coil support (2) is fixed at one of a plurality of predetermined positions when viewed in the supine plane.

2. The lying-flat device according to claim 1, Its features are, The coil support (2) has a section (7) extending upward from the supine bed (1) orthogonally to the supine plane, the section having a cantilever (8) extending parallel to the supine plane.

3. The lying-flat device according to claim 2, Its features are, The cantilever (8) is arranged to be height-adjustable relative to the flat surface on the upwardly extending section (7).

4. The lying-flat device according to claim 3, Its features are, The cantilever (8) is arranged to be continuously adjustable in height.

5. The lying-flat device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, Its features are, The coil support (2) has two placement elements (10) arranged in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the cantilever (8) in the supine plane, on the left and right sides of the cantilever (8) and extending completely or at least partially in the longitudinal extension direction of the cantilever (8) in the supine plane, such that when a force (F) directed toward the supine bed (1) is applied toward the end of the cantilever (8) spaced apart from the upwardly extending section (7), the coil support (2) is supported on the supine bed (1) by the placement elements (10).

6. The lying-flat device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, Its features are, The coil support (2) is arranged at the head end of the supine bed (1) such that the longitudinal direction of the cantilever (8) is parallel to the longitudinal direction (A) of the supine bed (1).

7. The lying-flat device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, Its features are, The flexible local coil (3) is placed on the cantilever (8) or suspended on the cantilever (8) by means of the connector (4).

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