Method and device for determining a position of a patient with respect to an isocenter of a medical imaging device

Abstract

Method for determining a position of a patient (15) with respect to an isocenter (29) of a medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination, comprising the following steps: - detecting position data of the patient (15) before introducing the patient (15) into a patient receiving area (14) of the medical imaging device, - Evaluating the recorded position data for a patient image (200), - transmitting the patient image (200) to a graphical user interface unit (34) and displaying the patient image (200) by means of the graphical user interface unit (34) and - determining a position of a patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29), wherein for this purpose at least one localization point is determined by means of the graphical interface unit (34) in the patient image (200), - wherein at least one accessory unit (36) for the medical imaging examination is recognized on the basis of the recorded patient data, and a positioning suggestion is automatically generated on the basis of a position of the at least one accessory unit (36) and / or a type of the at least one accessory unit (36) and is displayed within the patient image (200) on the graphical interface unit (34) for positioning the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a patient's position relative to an isocenter of a medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a medical imaging device configured to perform a method for determining a patient's position relative to an isocenter of the medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination.

[0002] Ideal conditions for a medical imaging examination are found at the isocenter of a medical imaging device. For example, the isocenter of a magnetic resonance imaging device is located in an area with a magnetic field that is as homogeneous as possible. For a magnetic resonance examination, the patient, especially the area of ​​the patient to be examined, should be positioned as precisely as possible within this homogeneous area, or isocenter.

[0003] A surgical positioning system is known from DE 698 33 881 T2. In this surgical positioning system, a camera system is used to record the patient's position and orientation. A selected target position of the patient is determined relative to the table and the isocenter.

[0004] In addition, US 2007 0 225 588 A1 discloses automatic patient positioning within a medical imaging system. The patient is initially positioned on a patient table. An RF coil is then placed around the area to be examined. Furthermore, the area to be examined is marked with markers. A control unit detects the markers and their positions, and the patient table is moved so that the area to be examined is positioned within the isocenter.

[0005] The present invention is based, in particular, on the object of enabling a simple and rapid determination of a patient's position relative to an isocenter of a medical imaging device. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0006] The invention is based on a method for determining a position of a patient with respect to an isocenter of a medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination, comprising the following steps: - Capturing patient position data before introducing the patient into a patient receiving area of ​​the medical imaging device, - Evaluating the recorded position data for a patient image, - Transferring the patient image to a graphical user interface unit and displaying the patient image using the graphical user interface unit and - Determining a position of a patient with respect to the isocenter, wherein for this purpose at least one localization point is determined by means of the graphical interface unit in the patient image.

[0007] According to the invention, at least one accessory unit for the medical imaging examination is identified based on the acquired patient data. Furthermore, a positioning suggestion is automatically generated based on a position of the at least one accessory unit and / or a type of the at least one accessory unit and displayed within the patient image on the graphical interface unit for positioning the patient relative to the isocenter.

[0008] In this context, an isocenter is understood to mean, in particular, a point and / or a region located within a patient receiving area and in which, within the medical imaging device, the most ideal conditions for the medical imaging examination can be found during operation of the medical imaging device. The isocenter preferably describes a point within an isocenter region. For example, within a magnetic resonance device, the isocenter comprises a point and / or a region at which the magnetic field of the magnetic resonance device is most homogeneous. The isocenter for a medical imaging device is preferably defined once during installation of the medical imaging device.

[0009] Furthermore, patient position data should be understood to mean, in particular, patient position data relative to a patient support device on which the patient is supported for the upcoming medical imaging examination. The patient image preferably comprises an image of the patient in the position supported on the patient support device, so that a positioning of the patient within the patient receiving area, in particular relative to the isocenter within the patient receiving area, can be determined based on a positioning distance of the patient support device. A positioning distance and / or a position of the patient support device within the patient receiving area of ​​the medical imaging device can thus be adjusted particularly precisely using a motor unit and a control unit.

[0010] Furthermore, a graphical interface unit should be understood in particular as a display unit and / or an output unit for displaying and / or graphically outputting information to an operator, in particular medical personnel. In addition, the graphical interface unit can also be designed for information input by medical personnel. A localization point should further be understood in particular as a point on the patient image that defines a position and / or an area on the patient, wherein the defined position and / or the defined area on the patient coincides at least partially and particularly advantageously completely with the isocenter in an examination position of the patient within the patient recording area.

[0011] The inventive design advantageously enables a simple and rapid determination of a patient's position relative to an isocenter of a medical imaging device. In particular, an additional marking unit, such as a laser unit that marks a localization point on the patient using laser light, can be advantageously dispensed with, thus providing a particularly compact medical imaging device. Furthermore, the complex marking of a localization point using the marking unit, which requires the patient to be moved into and out of the patient receiving area, can also be eliminated.A further advantage of the invention is that the process of determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter can be performed using the graphical user interface unit, allowing the patient to remain outside the patient admission area during this process, thus minimizing the patient's time spent within the patient admission area. This can also contribute to patient relaxation.

[0012] The graphical interface unit preferably comprises a graphical output unit and / or a graphical display unit, such as a touchscreen. This makes it particularly easy for medical personnel to display information and input parameters and / or positioning information. In particular, the touchscreen can be arranged directly on the medical imaging device and / or on the patient support device, so that medical personnel do not have to leave an examination room, in which, in particular, a detector unit of the medical imaging device is arranged.

[0013] A touch display is to be understood in particular as a touch-sensitive screen on which parameters can be entered, for example to control a program sequence, by touching partial areas of the screen, in particular partial areas of an image displayed on the screen.

[0014] Furthermore, it is proposed that the localization point within the patient image be determined by means of a manual gesture by an operator on the graphical interface unit. In this way, the patient's position relative to the isocenter can be determined particularly quickly by a gesture by the operator. In particular, this eliminates the need for complex determination by inputting data using an additional input device, such as a keyboard or arrow keys. The manual gesture preferably comprises a swipe and / or a swipe and / or a drag of at least one finger of the operator across the graphical interface unit.In this context, a manual gesture should be understood in particular as a gesture that the medical operator performs directly on and / or on the graphical interface, in particular the touch display, and that can be clearly assigned to an input command. For example, the manual gesture for determining the localization point within the patient image can comprise moving a graphical positioning element that indicates the isocenter and is displayed on the graphical interface unit by positioning a finger of the medical operator on an area of ​​the graphical interface unit that displays the graphical positioning element and then moving the finger in a desired direction on the graphical interface unit. The localization point is preferably formed by an end point of the graphical positioning element after the manual gesture has been completed.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the patient's position data be acquired by means of a position data acquisition unit. The position data acquisition unit comprises, for example, a camera for acquiring two-dimensional or three-dimensional position data. In this way, current patient position data can be particularly advantageously available for determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter of the medical imaging device, so that a current patient position can always be taken into account for determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter of the medical imaging device. Preferably, the position data acquisition unit is designed independently or separately from a detector unit of the medical imaging device.For example, the position data acquisition unit comprises a camera and the detector unit comprises a magnet unit for acquiring magnetic resonance data.

[0016] Particularly advantageously, the patient's position data completely depicts the patient, which allows for particularly simple acquisition of the patient's position data, since the patient only needs to be brought into a detection area of ​​the position data acquisition unit. A complete image of the patient should be understood in particular to mean that the position data completely and / or completely depict and / or represent the patient, in particular a surface and / or a contour of the patient, in the direction of its longitudinal extent. The image of the patient is preferably taken from a top view of the patient.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that, while the patient image is being displayed by means of the graphical user interface unit, a graphical positioning element is superimposed on the patient image, wherein the graphical positioning element represents and / or depicts the isocenter of the medical imaging device. Using the graphical positioning element, a position of the patient relative to the isocenter of the medical imaging device can advantageously be determined particularly easily on and / or at the graphical user interface unit, thus simplifying and reducing the workflow for medical personnel.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, the graphic positioning element comprises a line superimposed on the displayed patient image and / or an intersection point superimposed on the patient image. This allows the at least one localization point on the patient image, and thus the isocenter to a region of the patient to be examined, to be positioned particularly precisely and easily using the graphic interface unit. The line and / or intersection point can, for example, comprise crosshairs superimposed on the patient image.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one accessory unit for the medical imaging examination is recognized based on the acquired patient data. This particularly advantageously allows the accessory unit to be positioned particularly precisely relative to the isocenter of the medical imaging device and / or a position of the patient relative to the isocenter to be determined based on a position of the accessory unit. Advantageously, the accessory unit is arranged around a region of the patient to be examined, so that when a position of the accessory unit relative to the isocenter is determined, a position of the patient relative to the isocenter is also determined. For reliable recognition of the at least one accessory unit in the acquired position data, the at least one accessory unit can also be provided with marking elements.In addition, the marking elements can also be dependent on a type of the at least one accessory unit, so that a distinction between several accessory units and / or a classification of the at least one accessory unit can also be made on the basis of the recorded position data and / or on the basis of recorded marking data.

[0020] The at least one accessory unit can, in particular, comprise a local radio-frequency antenna unit. For example, the accessory unit can comprise a local knee radio-frequency antenna unit for a knee examination or a local head radio-frequency antenna unit for a head examination.

[0021] Furthermore, it is proposed that a positioning suggestion be generated based on a position of the at least one accessory unit and / or a type of the at least one accessory unit and displayed within the patient image on the graphical interface unit for positioning the patient relative to the isocenter. In this way, a suggestion for positioning the patient relative to the isocenter can be presented to the medical personnel using the graphical interface unit, particularly advantageously based on the position and / or a type of accessory unit, for example, a local radio-frequency antenna unit that is used only for examinations of a specific body part.The positioning suggestions can be determined based on specified positioning data, such as when the accessory unit is designed as a head radio-frequency antenna unit that always occupies the same position on the patient support device. Furthermore, for accessory units, in particular local radio-frequency antenna units that can be freely positioned by medical personnel on the patient support device and / or the patient, a suggestion for positioning the patient with respect to the isocenter can be determined, in particular by determining a type and / or class of the local radio-frequency antenna unit based on the acquired positioning data. For example, when identifying a local knee radio-frequency antenna unit, the position suggestion can include positioning the patient's knee and / or the local knee radio-frequency antenna unit within the isocenter.Preferably, the positioning suggestion is created automatically and / or independently by an evaluation unit of the medical imaging device.

[0022] A particularly simple and rapid determination of the patient's position relative to the isocenter of the medical imaging device can be achieved by determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter for the medical imaging examination by accepting a positioning suggestion. Accepting the positioning suggestion is preferably performed manually by a medical operator. Furthermore, this allows the positioning suggestion to be reviewed particularly advantageously.

[0023] Furthermore, by changing the positioning suggestion, the patient's position relative to the isocenter can be determined for the medical imaging examination, wherein changing the suggestion includes changing the position of the localization point relative to the patient image. Preferably, the positioning suggestion is changed manually by the medical operator using the graphical interface unit. This allows for an advantageous review and subsequent correction of the positioning suggestion. In particular, a particularly flexible and simple adjustment of the suggested patient position relative to the isocenter can be performed by the medical operator.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, when using multiple accessory units, at least one of the multiple accessory units is manually selected on the graphical user interface unit, wherein the selection comprises touching a partial area of ​​a surface of the graphical user interface unit that displays at least one of the multiple accessory units. In this way, medical personnel can particularly easily determine an examination sequence at least partially by selecting the corresponding accessory unit.

[0025] It is further proposed that, after determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter, the patient is brought into a patient receiving area of ​​the medical imaging device, wherein the patient's position within the patient receiving area is determined using the at least one localization point. In this way, the patient can be brought particularly easily and quickly into a position within the patient receiving area required for the medical imaging examination. In particular, this allows the patient to be outside the patient receiving area of ​​the medical imaging device while determining and / or establishing the desired position, in particular the at least one localization point, so that the patient is within the patient receiving area for the shortest possible time.

[0026] Furthermore, the invention is based on a medical imaging device with a patient receiving area, wherein the patient receiving area has an isocenter for a medical imaging examination, a detector unit at least partially surrounding the patient receiving area, an evaluation unit, a position data acquisition unit designed to detect a position of a patient supported on a patient support device, and a graphical user interface unit, wherein the evaluation unit, together with the position data acquisition unit and the graphical user interface unit, is designed to carry out a method for determining a position of the patient with respect to the isocenter according to one of the preceding claims.

[0027] The inventive design advantageously enables a simple and rapid determination of a patient's position relative to an isocenter of the medical imaging device. In particular, an additional marking unit, for example a laser unit that marks a localization point on the patient using laser light, can be advantageously dispensed with, thus providing a particularly compact medical imaging device. Furthermore, the complex marking of a localization point using the marking unit, which requires the patient to be moved into and out of the patient receiving area, can also be eliminated.A further advantage of the invention is that the process of determining the patient's position relative to the isocenter can be performed using the graphical user interface unit, allowing the patient to remain outside the patient admission area during this process, thus minimizing the patient's time spent within the patient admission area. This can also contribute to patient relaxation.

[0028] The medical imaging device can be any medical imaging device deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art. However, the medical imaging device particularly advantageously comprises a magnetic resonance imaging device and / or a computed tomography device and / or a PET (positron emission tomography) device.

[0029] The advantages of the medical imaging device according to the invention essentially correspond to the advantages of the inventive method for determining a patient's position relative to an isocenter of the medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination, which methods have been described in detail above. Features, advantages, or alternative embodiments mentioned herein can also be applied to the other claimed subject matter, and vice versa.

[0030] In a further embodiment of the medical imaging device, the position data acquisition unit comprises a 2D camera or a 3D camera. This allows for a particularly simple and cost-effective position data acquisition unit to be provided.

[0031] It is further proposed that the position data acquisition unit have a detection area, wherein the position data acquisition unit is arranged such that the detection area completely detects the patient and / or a patient support device. This embodiment of the invention enables simple and rapid detection of the patient's position data. Preferably, the position data acquisition unit is arranged on a housing of the medical imaging device and / or in the region of the medical imaging device such that the detection area covers an area that is arranged in front of the patient receiving area in the direction of insertion of the patient into the patient receiving area.In this area in front of the patient admission area, the patient is preferably located, lying on the patient support device, before the medical imaging examination, whereby all preparations for the medical imaging examination on the patient have already been completed, such as applying local radiofrequency antenna units and / or attaching injection units to the patient, etc. For the medical imaging examination, the patient only needs to be brought to the patient admission area and the medical imaging examination can be started.

[0032] The graphical user interface unit preferably comprises a graphical output unit and / or a graphical output unit, such as a touch display. This allows information to be displayed and parameters and / or positioning information to be entered particularly easily. In particular, the touch display can be arranged directly on the medical imaging device, so that medical personnel do not have to leave an examination room in which the medical imaging device is located. The graphical user interface unit is preferably arranged on a housing unit surrounding the detector unit.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention is based on a computer program product which comprises a program and is directly loadable into a memory unit of a programmable system control unit of a medical imaging device, with program means for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 11 when the program is executed in the system control unit of the medical imaging device. The computer program may require program means, e.g. libraries and auxiliary functions, in order to implement the corresponding embodiments of the method. The computer program can comprise software with a source code which still needs to be compiled and linked or which only needs to be interpreted, or an executable software code which only needs to be loaded into the corresponding computing unit for execution.

[0034] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiment described below and from the drawings.

[0035] They show: Fig. 1 a medical imaging device in a schematic representation, Fig. 2 shows a method according to the invention for determining a position of a patient with respect to an isocenter of a medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination and Fig. 3 an exemplary representation of a graphical interface unit.

[0036] In Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a medical imaging device. In the present exemplary embodiment, the medical imaging device is formed by a magnetic resonance device 10. However, the design of the medical imaging device is not limited to a magnetic resonance device 10. Rather, the medical imaging device can be formed by any medical imaging device that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art, such as a computed tomography device, a positron emission tomography device, etc.

[0037] The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a detector unit formed by a magnet unit 11. The magnet unit 11 comprises a superconducting main magnet 12 for generating a strong and, in particular, constant main magnetic field 13. In addition, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a patient receiving area 14 for receiving a patient 15. The patient receiving area 14 in the present exemplary embodiment is cylindrical and is surrounded in a circumferential direction by the magnet unit 11. In principle, however, a different design of the patient receiving area 14 is conceivable at any time. The patient 15 can be pushed into the patient receiving area 14 by means of a patient support device 16 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. For this purpose, the patient support device 16 has a patient support table 17 designed to be movable within the patient receiving area 14.Furthermore, the magnetic resonance device 10 comprises a housing unit 26 which surrounds the magnet unit 11.

[0038] The magnet unit 11 further comprises a gradient coil unit 18 for generating magnetic field gradients used for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 18 is controlled by a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance device 10. The magnet unit 11 further comprises a radio-frequency antenna unit 20 for exciting a polarization that is established in the main magnetic field 13 generated by the main magnet 12. The radio-frequency antenna unit 20 is controlled by a radio-frequency antenna control unit 21 of the magnetic resonance device 10 and radiates radio-frequency magnetic resonance sequences into an examination room, which is essentially formed by a patient receiving area 14 of the magnetic resonance device 10.

[0039] An isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device, in particular of the magnetic resonance device 10, is arranged within the patient receiving area 14. The isocenter 29 comprises a point and / or a region within the medical imaging device, in particular within the patient receiving area 14 of the magnet unit 11, in which the most ideal conditions for the medical imaging examination are found. In the present exemplary embodiment, the isocenter 29 within the patient receiving area 14 comprises a point and / or a region at which the main magnetic field 13 of the magnetic resonance device 10 is most homogeneous. The magnetic resonance device 10 has a system control unit 22 for controlling the main magnet 12, the gradient control unit 19, and the radio-frequency antenna control unit 21.The system control unit 22 centrally controls the magnetic resonance device 19, such as performing a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence. The system control unit 22 also includes an evaluation unit 27 for evaluating medical image data acquired during the magnetic resonance examination.

[0040] The system control unit 22 is arranged outside an examination room 30 in which the magnet unit 11 is located. The system control unit 22 is arranged within a control room 31, which is separate from the examination room 30. Furthermore, the system control unit 22 can also have a user interface with an input unit and an output unit, which is arranged within the control room 31.

[0041] The medical imaging device 10 further comprises a position data acquisition unit 28, which is designed to acquire a position of the patient 15 relative to the patient support device 16, in particular relative to the patient support table 17. The position data acquisition unit 28 acquires the position of the patient 15 relative to the patient support table 17 in temporal terms directly before the medical imaging examination, so that the patient 15 can be correctly positioned within the patient receiving area 14 based on the information obtained and / or acquired by the position data acquisition unit 28. The position data acquisition unit 28 comprises a camera for acquiring position data of the patient 15. The camera is formed by a 2D camera or a 3D camera for acquiring two-dimensional or three-dimensional position data.The position data acquisition unit 28 is also designed separately from the magnet unit 11. The patient support device 16, together with the patient 15 located on the patient support table 17, is arranged directly in front of the magnet unit 11, in particular directly in front of the patient receiving area 14, immediately before the magnetic resonance examination. The position data acquisition unit 28 is arranged with respect to the detector unit and / or the patient support device 16 such that a detection area 32 of the position data acquisition unit 28 completely detects the patient 15 on the patient support table 17, together with the patient support table 17. In the present exemplary embodiment, the position data acquisition unit 28 is arranged on a ceiling and / or wall of the examination room 30 in which the magnet unit 11 is arranged.Alternatively or additionally, the position data acquisition unit 28 can also be arranged on a front side 33 of the housing unit 26 of the magnetic resonance device 10.

[0042] The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 further comprises a graphical user interface unit 34. The graphical user interface unit 34 is arranged within the examination chamber 30. In the present exemplary embodiment, the graphical user interface unit 34 is integrated directly into the housing unit 26 of the magnet unit 11. The graphical user interface unit 34 is arranged directly on the front side 33 of the housing unit 26. The arrangement of the graphical user interface unit 34 on the housing unit 26, in particular on the front side 33 of the housing unit 26, can comprise an integration of the graphical user interface unit 34 into the housing unit 26. The front side of the housing unit 26, in particular a front housing shell of the housing unit 26, can have a recess for integrating the graphical user interface unit 34.Alternatively, the graphical interface unit 34 can also be arranged on the housing unit 26, in particular a front housing shell of the housing unit 26.

[0043] The graphical interface unit 34 comprises a touch display 35, so that information and / or data can be input and output directly via the graphical interface unit 34.

[0044] The evaluation unit 27 together with the position data acquisition unit 28 and the graphical interface unit 34, in particular the touch display 35, are designed to execute a method for determining a position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device, in particular the magnetic resonance device 10. A schematic sequence of the method for determining a position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device is shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose, the evaluation unit 27 is connected to the position data acquisition unit 28 and the touch display 35 via a data transmission unit (not shown in detail). Data transmission can be wired or wireless and / or cable-based between the individual units.

[0045] For this purpose, the evaluation unit 27 has corresponding software and / or computer programs, which can be loaded directly into a memory unit (not shown in detail) of the programmable system control unit 22. The software and / or computer programs have program means for executing the method for determining the position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device, in particular the magnet unit 11 of the magnetic resonance device 10.

[0046] At the beginning of the method for determining the position of the patient 15 relative to the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device, in particular the magnet unit 11 of the magnetic resonance device 10, the patient 15 is already positioned on the patient support device 16, in particular the patient support table 17 of the patient support device 16. Furthermore, all preparatory work for the upcoming medical imaging examination, in particular the magnetic resonance examination, on the patient 15 has already been completed. In this case, all accessory units 36 required for the upcoming medical imaging examination, in particular the magnetic resonance examination, such as local radiofrequency antenna units, are already positioned on the patient 15.Furthermore, the patient support device 16, in particular the patient support table 17 of the patient support device 16, is already in a position relative to the patient receiving area 14 at the beginning of the method, which already allows the patient 15 to be moved into the patient receiving area 14.

[0047] At the beginning of the method, in a first method step 100, position data of the patient 15 is acquired by means of the position data acquisition unit 28. Depending on the configuration of the position data acquisition unit 28 as a 2D camera or as a 3D camera, two-dimensional position data or three-dimensional position data of the patient 15 and their position relative to the patient support device 16, in particular the patient support table 17 of the patient support device 16, are thus acquired. If accessory units 36 are adjacent and / or arranged on the patient 15, such as, for example, local radio-frequency antenna units, position data of the local radio-frequency antenna units adjacent and / or arranged on the patient 15 are also acquired by acquiring the position data of the patient 15.The patient data acquired by the position data acquisition unit 28 completely captures the patient 15 and also the accessory units 36 resting on and / or arranged on the patient 15, such as local radio-frequency antenna units. The patient 15, together with the patient support table 17 and optionally further accessory units 36, is captured in a top view. Furthermore, only partial capture of the patient 15, in particular of sub-regions of the patient 15, and / or of the accessory units 36 is also conceivable, although in this case, a sub-region relevant to the upcoming medical imaging examination is captured and / or imaged using the position data.

[0048] Subsequently, in a further method step 101, the acquired position data is evaluated. The evaluation is carried out by means of the evaluation unit 27, wherein for this purpose the position data are first transmitted from the position data acquisition unit 28 to the evaluation unit 27 by means of the data transmission unit. The evaluation unit 27 determines a patient image on which the patient 15 is shown in his position on the patient support table 17. If accessory units 36 are applied and / or arranged on the patient 15, such as local radio-frequency antenna units, the position data of the local radio-frequency antenna units applied and / or arranged on the patient 15 are also evaluated in method step 101 of evaluating the acquired position data of the patient 15 and displayed on the reconstructed and / or determined patient image.

[0049] If the patient 15 was completely recorded by the position data recording unit 28 in the first method step 100, the determined patient image also completely depicts the patient 15 and / or accessory units 36 arranged on and / or adjacent to the patient 15, so that the patient 15 is shown in a fully recognizable manner on the determined patient image together with the accessory units 36 arranged on and / or adjacent to the patient 15.

[0050] In a subsequent method step 102, the evaluated and / or determined patient image is transmitted by means of the data transmission unit to the graphical interface unit 34, in particular to the touch display 35 of the graphical interface unit 34. In Fig.3 shows an exemplary view of a representation of a patient image 200 on the touch display 35 with an accessory unit 36 ​​designed as a head radio-frequency antenna unit. The acquired and / or evaluated patient image is graphically displayed in a further method step 103 using the touch display 35. In this further method step 103, a graphic positioning element 201 is also displayed, likewise using the graphic interface unit 34, in particular the touch display 35. The graphic positioning element 201 is displayed superimposed on the patient image 200. The graphic positioning element 201 indicates the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device. In the present exemplary embodiment, the graphic positioning element 201 is formed by a cross, in particular a crosshair.In principle, however, a different design of the graphic positioning element 201 is also conceivable, such as a line and / or a simple intersection point and / or an arrow, etc.

[0051] This is followed by a first query 108 as to whether one or more accessory units 36 were detected and / or determined in the acquired position data. If, in method step 101, no accessory unit 36 ​​was detected and / or determined by the evaluation unit 27 in the acquired position data, the result of query 108 is "no," and a further method step 104 determines the position of a patient 15 relative to the isocenter 29 so that, for a subsequent medical imaging examination, an examination area of ​​the patient 15 coincides as closely as possible with the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device. For this purpose, at least one localization point is determined in the patient image 200 using the graphical interface unit 34, in particular the touch display 35. The localization point indicates a position of the isocenter 29 relative to the patient 15.In an examination position of the patient 15 within the patient admission area 14, the determined localization point should coincide with the isocenter 29.

[0052] The localization point within the patient image 200 is determined at least partially manually by the medical operating personnel by moving the graphic positioning element 201 on the patient image 200 displayed on the touch display 35. The graphic positioning element 201 is moved by means of a manual gesture, in particular a sliding gesture and / or a swiping gesture, using a finger 37 of the medical operating personnel on the touch display 35. In this case, a starting point of the manual gesture is preferably formed by a starting position of the graphic positioning element 201 and an end point of the manual gesture is formed by a desired end position of the graphic positioning element 201. Once the desired end position of the graphic positioning element 201 has been reached, this can be determined, for example, by a confirmation gesture, such as, in particular, touching a confirmation area of ​​the touch display 35.Here, at least one localization point is set on the patient image 200 using the touch display 35 for the desired final position of the graphic positioning element 201. The localization point marks the point and / or area of ​​the patient 15 on the patient image 200 that is to be located in the isocenter 29 for the medical imaging examination.

[0053] After the method step 104 of determining the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29, in a further method step 105 the patient 15 is introduced within the patient receiving area 14 of the medical imaging device by means of the movably mounted patient support table 17.

[0054] Here, the position of the patient 15 within the patient receiving area 14 is determined and / or fixed based on the at least one localization point, wherein the at least one localization point of the patient 15 should coincide with the isocenter 29 of the medical imaging device. The patient 15 is introduced using the patient support table 17, controlled by the evaluation unit 27, wherein a position of the patient support table 17 is determined based on a positioning path of the patient support table 17.

[0055] If, in method step 101, an accessory unit 36 ​​was detected and / or determined in the acquired position data by the evaluation unit 27, the result of the query 108 is “yes” and, as an alternative to the at least partially manual determination of the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 by means of the touch display 35, an at least partially automatic and / or self-acting determination of the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 by means of the evaluation unit 27 follows. If, for example, accessory units 36, such as local radio-frequency antenna units, are applied and / or arranged on the patient 15, these accessory units 36 can be recognized as accessory units 36 by the evaluation unit 27 directly on the basis of the acquired position data in the further method step 101 of evaluating the position data of the patient 15.

[0056] For error-free detection, the accessory units 36 can also be provided with marking elements so that a clear assignment and / or identification and / or position detection of the accessory units 36 can be carried out by the evaluation unit 27. For example, different markings can be used for different local high-frequency antenna units.

[0057] If the result of query 108 is "yes", a further query 109 is made as to whether multiple accessory units 36 were detected and / or determined in the acquired position data. If only one accessory unit 36 ​​was detected and / or determined in the acquired position data, the result of query 109 is "no" and a positioning suggestion is determined by the evaluation unit 27 in a further method step 106. If, for example, only a single local radio-frequency antenna unit is used for the medical magnetic resonance examination, this is normally arranged on the partial area to be examined and / or around the partial area of ​​the patient 15 to be examined for the upcoming magnetic resonance examination. Therefore, the evaluation unit 27 automatically and / or independently generates a positioning suggestion in the further method step 106 based on a position and / or a type of local radio-frequency antenna unit.The positioning suggestion comprises a suggestion for positioning the patient 15 relative to the isocenter 29. The positioning suggestion can be determined by the evaluation unit 27, for example, based on the type of local radio-frequency antenna unit used. When using local radio-frequency antenna units with a specifically defined position on the patient support table 17, the positioning suggestion for the position of the patient 15 relative to the isocenter 29 is thus also determined based on this specifically defined position of the local radio-frequency antenna unit. When using freely positionable local radio-frequency antenna units, for example, a size of the local radio-frequency antenna unit can be determined based on determining a type, and the positioning suggestion can include a center of the local radio-frequency antenna unit.This positioning suggestion is then displayed to the medical personnel together with the patient image 200 by means of the touch display 35.

[0058] After method step 106, in method step 104 of determining the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29, the medical operating personnel can determine the localization point within the patient image 200 and thus also the position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 by manually accepting the positioning suggestion provided by the evaluation unit 27. Furthermore, in method step 104 of determining the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29, it is also possible for the medical operating personnel to manually change and / or adapt the positioning suggestion generated by the evaluation unit 27. Changing and / or adapting the suggestion includes changing the localization point within the patient image 200 and thus also changing the position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 27.

[0059] If multiple accessory units 36 are detected and / or determined in the recorded position data, the result of query 109 is "yes" and, in a further method step 107, a single accessory unit 36 ​​is selected from the multiple accessory units 36 using the touch display 35. The selection of a single accessory unit 36 ​​from the multiple accessory units 36 is performed manually in the further method step 107 by the medical operating personnel making a selection by touching one of several partial areas of the surface of the touch display 35, each of which displays one of the multiple accessory units 36. This touching of the selected area of ​​the surface of the touch display 35 is interpreted by the graphical interface unit 34 together with the evaluation unit 27 as a confirmation command for selecting the selected accessory unit 36.The plurality of accessory units 36 may, for example, each be formed by a local radio frequency antenna unit, such as a head radio frequency antenna unit and / or a chest radio frequency antenna unit, etc.

[0060] As an alternative to the manual selection of one of the multiple accessory units 36, it can also be provided that the selection of the one accessory unit 36 ​​takes place at least partially automatically by means of the evaluation unit 27 in the further method step 107. For example, the evaluation unit 27 can submit a selection suggestion to the medical operating personnel via the touch display 35.

[0061] Following method step 107 of selecting one accessory unit 36, method step 106 of automatically and / or independently creating a positioning suggestion using the evaluation unit 27 follows. A positioning suggestion is generated in the further method step 106 based on a position and / or a type of the selected local radio-frequency antenna unit. The positioning suggestion includes a suggestion for positioning the patient 15 relative to the isocenter 29. This positioning suggestion is then displayed to the medical personnel using the touch display 35.

[0062] After method step 106, in method step 104 of determining the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29, the medical operating personnel can determine the localization point within the patient image 200 and thus also the position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29 by manually accepting the positioning suggestion provided by the evaluation unit 27. Furthermore, in method step 104 of determining the position of a patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 29, it is also possible for the medical operating personnel to manually change and / or adapt the positioning suggestion generated by the evaluation unit 27. Changing and / or adapting the suggestion includes changing the localization point within the patient image 200 and thus also changing the position of the patient 15 with respect to the isocenter 27.

[0063] Method step 104 is followed by method step 105, as already described above.

[0064] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

[1] A method for determining a position of a patient (15) with respect to an isocenter (29) of a medical imaging device for a medical imaging examination, comprising the following steps: - detecting position data of the patient (15) before introducing the patient (15) into a patient receiving area (14) of the medical imaging device, - Evaluating the recorded position data for a patient image (200), - transmitting the patient image (200) to a graphical user interface unit (34) and displaying the patient image (200) by means of the graphical user interface unit (34) and - determining a position of a patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29), wherein for this purpose at least one localization point is determined by means of the graphical interface unit (34) in the patient image (200), - wherein at least one accessory unit (36) for the medical imaging examination is recognized on the basis of the recorded patient data, and a positioning suggestion is automatically generated on the basis of a position of the at least one accessory unit (36) and / or a type of the at least one accessory unit (36) and is displayed within the patient image (200) on the graphical interface unit (34) for positioning the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the graphical interface unit (34) comprises a touch display (35). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the localization point within the patient image (200) is determined by means of a manual gesture of an operator on the graphical interface unit (34). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the position data of the patient (15) is recorded by means of a position data recording unit (28). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the position data of the patient (15) completely depict the patient (15). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that during the display of the patient image (200) by means of the graphical interface unit (34), a graphical positioning element (201) is displayed superimposed on the patient image (200), wherein the graphical positioning element (201) represents the isocenter (29) of the medical imaging device. [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by that the graphic positioning element (201) comprises a line superimposed on the displayed patient image (200) and / or an intersection point superimposed on the displayed patient image (200). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one accessory unit (36) comprises a local radio frequency antenna unit. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that by accepting the positioning proposal, the position of the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29) is determined for the medical imaging examination. [10] Method according to claim 9, characterized by that by changing the positioning proposal, the position of the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29) for the medical imaging examination is determined, wherein the changing of the proposal comprises a change in the position of the localization point with respect to the patient image (200). [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat when using a plurality of accessory units (36), a manual selection of at least one of the plurality of accessory units (36) is carried out on the graphical interface unit (34), wherein the selection comprises touching a partial area of ​​a surface of the graphical interface unit (34) displaying the at least one of the plurality of accessory units (36). [12] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that after determining the position of the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29), the patient (15) is introduced within a patient receiving area (14) of the medical imaging device, wherein the position of the patient (15) within the patient receiving area (14) is determined based on the at least one localization point. [13] A medical imaging device comprising a patient receiving area (14), wherein the patient receiving area (14) has an isocenter (29) for a medical imaging examination, a detector unit at least partially surrounding the patient receiving area (14), an evaluation unit (27), a position data acquisition unit (28) designed to detect a position of a patient (15) supported on a patient support device (14), and a graphical user interface unit (34), wherein the evaluation unit (27) together with the position data acquisition unit (28) and the graphical user interface unit (34) is designed to carry out a method for determining a position of the patient (15) with respect to the isocenter (29) according to one of the preceding claims. [14] Medical imaging device according to claim 13, characterized bythat the position data acquisition unit (28) comprises a 2D camera or a 3D camera. [15] Medical imaging device according to one of claims 13 to 14, characterized by that the position data acquisition unit (28) has a detection area (32), wherein the position data acquisition unit (28) is arranged such that the detection area (32) completely detects the patient (15) and / or a patient support device (14). [16] Medical imaging device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized by that the graphical interface unit (34) comprises a touch display (35). [17] Medical imaging device according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized by a housing unit (26) surrounding the detector unit, wherein the graphical interface unit (34) is arranged on the housing unit (26). [18] A computer program product comprising a program and being directly loadable into a memory unit of a programmable system control unit (22) of a medical imaging device, comprising program means for executing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when the program is executed in the system control unit (22) of the medical imaging device.

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