Multi-room medical imaging facility and imaging infrastructure

Abstract

Medical imaging device (1) for determining, in particular three-dimensional, image data of an examination object (2, 3) introduced into an examination area (7), with a frame (6), wherein the frame (6) encompasses the examination area (7), in particular in a ring shape, and carries at least one detector (8) and / or at least one radiation source (9) and / or at least one electromagnet, which serves or serve to acquire the image data, wherein the frame (6) or a base (26) supporting the frame (6) is mounted on a guide means (10) which is attached to or formed by a floor (23) supporting the imaging device (1), such that the frame (6) or the base (26) is displaceable along the guide means (10) with respect to the floor (23), wherein at least one rotatable guide means section (20, 42) of the guide means (10) is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis (32) with respect to the base (23).

Description

The invention relates to a medical imaging device for determining, in particular three-dimensional, image data of an examination object introduced into an examination region, having a frame, wherein the frame surrounds the examination region, in particular annularly, and carries at least one detector and / or at least one radiation source and / or at least one electromagnet which serves or serve for capturing the image data, wherein the frame or a base carrying the frame is mounted on a guide means which is attached to a base carrying the imaging device or is formed by the latter, in such a way that the frame or the base is displaceable with respect to the base along the guide means.Medical imaging devices of this type are known, for example, from DE 38 56 008 T2 and DE 10 2013 209 250 A1.It is known in principle to mount imaging examination modalities displaceably, for example on rails, so that they can be positioned on a fixed table, for example, as required, in order to perform imaging in diagnostic or therapy situations in which the modality is only required for a short time, without the patient having to be moved. This can be relevant, for example, when operating areas are open, instruments with hose or cable connections to fixed devices are used in or on the patient, or the like.Since corresponding examination modalities are generally only required for a short time for the same patient, it is possible in principle to use such an examination modality in a plurality of rooms, for example by being displaced between two or more use positions and thus also rooms or patient couches or tables.This can be done via ceiling rails, as is known, for example, from the publications U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,905 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 2009 / 0 306 495 A1, JP 2007-260 420 A and U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,430 B2. A disadvantage here is that ceilings in therapy rooms are frequently already occupied by other elements, for example by ventilation, lamps, monitors, ceiling-mounted C-arms or the like, so that frequently not sufficient installation space is available for such a system. In addition, mounting large and heavy imaging devices on the ceiling side, for example computed tomography systems or magnetic resonance tomography systems, is technically complicated and therefore also expensive.It is therefore frequently advantageous to use a floor-side guide system, for example floor-side rails, for the movable mounting of the medical imaging device. Approaches for this are known, for example, from the documents U.S. Pat. No. 9,161,731 B2, DE 10 2012 201 529 B4 and DE 19 908 494 A1. With such a system, a medical imaging device can be displaced, for example, relatively easily linearly or also on a curved path between two rooms.However, it may be problematic here that many medical imaging devices can be constructed asymmetrically on account of a configuration of the housing, of operator control elements, the positioning of sources, sensors, magnets, etc., so that it may be fundamentally desired to insert the patient into the examination region from a specific side or to carry out a device operation from a specific side. However, if a medical imaging device is to be moved between two rooms on a rail, for example, and if the rail system is not to extend through the entire room, only access to the medical imaging device from the rear side would typically be possible in one of the rooms, which can significantly reduce the ease of use for patients and / or for medical personnel.In this regard, substantially freely displaceable medical imaging devices provide advantages. Such imaging devices are known, for example, from the documents DE 10 2016 208 123 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,953 B2, WO 2018 / 130 315 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8 753 009 B2, EP 2 548 215 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 2017 / 0 360 387 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8 971 482 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,941 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,607 A and U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,045 B2.However, the high flexibility with respect to positioning also leads to disadvantages. Thus, freely movable imaging devices generally have to be maneuvered completely manually, which requires considerable experience of the operator and large space for maneuvering, in particular in the case of larger imaging devices, for example computer tomography devices or magnetic resonance tomography devices with a relatively bulky gantry. In addition, in many imaging methods, for example due to relatively fast movements of components of a computed tomography system, high requirements regarding the quality of the ground condition must be fulfilled in order to be able to achieve a high-quality image acquisition at all with free positioning of the imaging device. If this high quality is to be achieved for all rooms and potential placement positions and orientations of such an imaging device, this entails considerable effort and thus considerable costs.The object of the invention is thus to specify a medical imaging device which at least substantially avoids the disadvantages mentioned above, wherein in particular robust imaging with little technical outlay, as is achieved in rail-based systems mentioned above, is intended to be achieved without the disadvantages thereof with respect to the use of asymmetric imaging devices.The object is achieved according to the invention by a medical imaging device of the type mentioned at the beginning, wherein at least one rotatable guide means section of the guide means is mounted rotatably in each case about a vertical axis with respect to the floor.By using the rotatable guide means section according to the invention, it can be achieved with little technical complexity that the orientation of the frame and thus of all inspection-relevant components which are attached to the latter can be changed with respect to the floor or the guide means. By a suitable rotation of the frame, for example, in different rooms, in particular at opposite ends of a linear or curved displacement path, access from the front side of the medical imaging device can be made possible for patients or medical personnel, respectively, without the imaging device having to enter the room too far. This can achieve, for example, that a patient has to be arranged less deeply in the examination region than would be required in the case of access from the rear side and / or improved access to operator control elements for medical personnel can be achieved. For the said purpose it is sufficient to selectively provide a rotatable support of the frame on the base or the guide means section with respect to the floor. In principle, however, both approaches could also be combined.A rotatable mounting of the frame with respect to the base makes it possible in principle to carry out such a rotation at any point of a displacement path or at any position on the guide means. However, it is possible to restrict, for example by a corresponding configuration of a control device which controls the rotation, in which regions of the guide means such a rotation can take place, for example in order to ensure that sufficient free space is present for such a rotation or that a rotation takes place only in regions in which no persons or at least only trained personnel are or are located in the rotation region.A rotatable mounting of the frame with respect to the base can be implemented, for example, by providing a rotary disk on the top side of the base, on which the stand, which can be, for example, a conventional medical imaging device, for example, a conventional CT, is placed. On such a rotary disk, for example, electrical connections or other connections, for example coolant connections, can also be present. Electrical connections are particularly preferably guided over the rotary disk and the base, for example via slip rings, cable bridges or the like. Fluidic connections, for example for cooling, can also be separately connected at the respective position at which imaging is to take place. This can be a compromise between a rapid operational readiness of the medical imaging device or a short connection time and a technical outlay for guiding connections through a rotating connection.The guide means section can be rotatable in particular in the manner of a rotary disk. Such turntables are known, for example, from the field of rail vehicles. If a rotation of the frame about the vertical axis takes place exclusively with the aid of the at least one rotatable guide means section, this does indeed lead to some restrictions with regard to the rotation. For example, when using fixed guide means sections in those areas in which imaging is to take place, only specific rotation angles can be reached by a rotating disk lying on the travel path, for example only a rotation by 180°. In addition, the rotation can take place only at specific points of the displacement path. At the same time, however, it is advantageously achieved that an additional base can be dispensed with and the size and the weight of the part of the medical imaging device moved along the guide means can thus be reduced, as a result of which a lower technical outlay and thus also lower costs result.In addition, a rotatable guide means section or a rotating disk can also serve as a type of switch, so that, for example, use of the medical imaging devices in three or more rooms is also possible without further modifications of the guide means, for example, implementation of separate switches, being required. Additionally or alternatively, a rotatable guide means section can also be used to achieve tight curves or a bending of the movement path, which are hardly possible in the case of a normal rail guidance.The guide means can be in particular a linear guide, for example a pair of rails or the like. The guide means defines a straight or also curved displacement path. By using switches or at least one rotatable guide means section, a plurality of different displacement paths can also be possible.The radiation source can be, in particular, an X-ray source, for example when the imaging device is a computed tomography apparatus. However, it can also be a radiation source which emits a lower-frequency electromagnetic radiation, for example excitation pulses of a magnetic resonance tomography system. The detector can be, for example, an X-ray detector, a PET detector, a receiving antenna of a magnetic resonance tomography system or the like. The main magnet of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus can be used as the electromagnet, for example. Additionally or alternatively, electromagnets for generating gradient fields in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus can be arranged on the frame.The vertical axis is substantially perpendicular to the ground and can be at an angle of at least 70° or at least 80° to the ground, for example, wherein the acute angle is in each case considered.A detector arranged on the frame can serve to directly capture image data. In many application cases, however, first acquisition data are acquired, on which the image data are based. The processing of the acquisition data can be carried out by a processing device which is likewise arranged on the frame. Typically, however, a separate processing device is used, in particular at a distance from the frame, which processing device can communicate, for example, via a network with the frame-side detector or a communication device there and under certain circumstances can even be implemented in a decentralized manner as a cloud solution.An advantage of the rotation of a rotatable guide means section provided according to the invention is that the same frame with the same components attached thereto can also be used when a rotation is not required, for example by mounting the frame directly on the guide means instead of on the base or by using a simple base which does not implement a rotation possibility or simply by dispensing with a rotatable guide means section. As a result, largely the same components can be used, regardless of whether a favorable imaging device is to be provided for use in a single room or, due to the pivotability of the guide means section additionally provided according to the invention, a use in a plurality of rooms with front access to the medical imaging device is to be achieved in all rooms. As a result, fewer different components have to be kept ready by the manufacturer and gains in efficiency during production and thus also advances in costs can be achieved by means of larger batch numbers.The guide means can be formed by rails and / or by a plurality of rollers arranged successively along a displacement path. For example, rollers can be arranged on the base or on the frame on the base side, which rollers cooperate with rails fastened to the base or formed by the latter, or vice versa.The medical imaging device can in particular comprise an actuator for rotating the frame or the rotatable guide means section about the vertical axis. For example, an electric motor can be used. Additionally or alternatively, the medical imaging device can have an actuator for displacing the frame or the base along the guide means. This actuator can likewise be an electric motor, for example. It can be arranged, for example, on the base or the frame and drive a gearwheel which engages a toothed rack fastened to the ground, as a result of which rotation of the gearwheel leads to a displacement of the motor with respect to the toothed rack and thus of the frame or the base with respect to the ground. In particular in cases in which no rotatable guide means section is used, a motor arranged in particular on the bottom side can also drive a toothed spindle in which a projection of the base engages. A rotation of the tooth spindle is in this case immediately converted into a movement of the base.In particular, the medical imaging device can comprise a displacement actuator which drives a displacement of the frame along the displacement path or a displacement path predetermined by the guide means, at least one rotary actuator which drives the rotation of the respective rotatably mounted guide means section with respect to the ground about the vertical axis, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured, when a changeover condition is fulfilled while the frame is located in a first position and orientation on the displacement path, to actuate the displacement actuator in such a way that the frame is displaced via the rotatable guide means section or at least one of the rotatable guide means sections into a second position on the displacement path, and additionally, while the frame is located within the respective rotatable guide means section, to actuate the rotary actuator assigned to this rotatable guide means section in order to rotate the frame about a vertical axis, so that it has a second orientation associated with the second position upon reaching the second position.The rotatable guide means section can be arranged in particular along the guide means between the first and second positions. In principle, however, it would also be possible for the rotatable guide means section to lie beyond the first or second position. For example, in this case, starting from the first position, it would be possible to move beyond the second position in order to reach the rotatable guide means section, the rotation could be carried out there and a return displacement to the second position could subsequently take place.The rotation of the guide means section is technically particularly simple to implement if a relatively short rotatable guide means section is used. In this case, it may be advantageous to stop the displacement of the frame along the guide means on the rotatable guide means portion while the rotatable guide means portion is being rotated. In principle, however, it would also be possible to continue this displacement, at least at a low speed, while the rotation takes place.If the frame is already in the second position when the changing condition is fulfilled, the control device can activate the displacement actuator in particular in such a way that the frame is displaced via the rotatable guide means section or at least one of the rotatable guide means sections into the first position on the displacement path and additionally, if the frame is located within the respective rotatable guide means section, activate the rotation actuator assigned to this rotatable guide means section in order to rotate the set about a vertical axis so that it has the first orientation assigned to the first position when the first position is reached. In this case, it is achieved that the medical imaging device can be used at two separate positions, for example in two rooms or at two patient tables, with a suitable orientation in each case.In a further development, it would also be possible, when a further changing condition is fulfilled, to move the frame with a third orientation to a third position, etc.A respective guide means section of the guide means, which supports the frame in the first and / or second position of the displacement path, can be rigidly connected to the floor or formed by the floor. In particular, the first and the second position can be those positions at which imaging is to take place. A rigid connection of the guide means to the floor or a formation of the guide means by the floor in this region achieves a particularly robust support of the medical imaging device, as a result of which, for example, negative effects of vibrations on imaging can be suppressed.The fulfillment of the changeover condition can depend, for example, on an operator input of a user. For example, a change of position and orientation can take place each time the imaging device has been released at the current position, i.e. is no longer required, and is requested at the new position or the like. Additionally or alternatively, treatment plans, for example, can be evaluated or the like by the changeover condition.With regard to the displacement and rotation, different degrees of automation can be used. For example, it may be possible to continuously monitor the rotation and displacement by a user or such monitoring may be effected at least in part by suitable sensor systems and sensor data evaluation. Typically, at least a minimum amount of automated monitoring is desired, so that, for example, minimum distances to persons or other objects can be maintained automatically or the displacement and rotation can be stopped automatically upon detection of a collision risk.Warning messages can preferably be output to persons in the environment by the medical imaging device or an imaging infrastructure comprising the latter, for example by loudspeakers, lamps or the like arranged in rooms in which the imaging device is used, during the displacement or rotation or when a collision risk is detected. A further integration of the medical imaging device with the surrounding infrastructure is also possible. For example, doors lying on the displacement path can be automatically opened when the frame or the base is to be moved through it. This opening can be controlled by the control device of the medical imaging device or also by sensors which operate independently of the latter and which can detect, for example, an approach of the base or of the frame and can open the doors in this case.In particular, the guide means can support the frame or the base in such a way that, for the rotatable guide means section or at least one of the rotatable guide means sections, in a first rotational position of the respective rotatable guide means section, a displacement of the frame or the base from this rotatable guide means section into a respective first further guide means section is enabled and is blocked into a respective second further guide means section, and in a second rotational position of the respective rotatable guide means section, a displacement of the frame or the base from this rotatable guide means section into the second further guide means section is enabled and is blocked into the first further guide means section.In other words, the guide means can be equipped in such a way that, at least in the first and second rotational positions, no direct displacement of the frame or of the base between the first and the second further guide means section is possible. A displacement from the first to the second guide means section can then take place, for example, by the frame or the base being firstly displaced in the first rotational position from the first further guide means section to the rotatable guide means section, the rotatable guide means section then being moved into the second rotational position and only then the frame or the base being displaced from there into the second further guide means section.This allows, on the one hand, the displacement path to be bent at an acute angle between the first and second further guide means sections. On the other hand, this can serve to release a displacement to different further guide means sections in different rotational positions, so that, for example, by suitably selecting the rotational position, it is possible to choose between three or more further guide means sections for which a displacement is to be possible. In this case, in each of the rotational positions only one displacement into one of the further guide means sections can be enabled, but it is also possible, for example, for a displacement into a third further guide section to be enabled additionally in the first or second rotational position. In both cases, the described procedure enables the medical imaging device to be used in more than two further guide means sections which do not lie on a continuous displacement path, which can be advantageous, for example, if the frame or the components arranged thereon are to be used in three or more rooms.A respective bearing for rotatably mounting the respective rotatable guide means section and / or the or a control device which serves for controlling this respective rotation can be configured such that possible rotational positions of the respective rotatable guide means section with respect to the floor are limited to an angular range of at most 270° or at most 180°. In other words, a maximum angle of rotation can be limited mechanically or by a suitable control. In this case, it is possible, for example, for a change in the orientation of, for example, 180° to take place in the case of a displacement between a first and second position, wherein this angle is covered in the case of a movement from the first to the second position in the clockwise direction and in the case of a reverse movement in the counterclockwise direction, or vice versa.Compared to larger rotational angles or a further rotation instead of a reverse rotation, it is thereby possible, for example, to facilitate contacting of the frame or of the components arranged there. For example, slip rings, because of a limited angle of rotation range, also have to extend only over a limited angle segment, or cables can be used which, because of the limited angle range, are not wound up by a multiple rotation of the frame or of the guide means section.At least one guide means section of the guide means can be displaceably mounted perpendicular to the displacement path predetermined by the guide means. This guide means section can be in particular that guide means section in which the first or second position is arranged or in which imaging is to take place. The lateral displacement can be limited to a relatively small distance of, for example, a maximum of 15 cm and can serve to correct an eccentric patient position or a lateral displacement of a table top of a patient table, so that the examination region of interest lies in the scan isocentre. While it will be easier to realize in many application cases to laterally displace the table top of the patient table itself, a displacement of the guide means section in certain application cases can be a convenient alternative.The rotation of the rotatable guide means section can take place in a displacement position of the frame with respect to the rotatable guide means section selected in such a way that the vertical axis about which the rotation takes place runs through the isocentre of the examination region. This typically allows a minimum amount of space for the rotation to be achieved. Alternatively, an eccentric rotation would also be conceivable, which, however, requires a greater space requirement and, under certain circumstances, could require a more complex design of the rotary mechanism or of the rotary actuator.The medical imaging device can preferably be a computed tomography system or a magnetic resonance tomography system or comprise a computed tomography system and / or a magnetic resonance tomography system. If the medical imaging device comprises a computed tomography apparatus, the frame can in particular carry an X-ray source as radiation source and a digital X-ray detector as detector. If the medical imaging device is a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus or comprises such a apparatus, the frame can in particular carry the main magnet as an electromagnet and preferably also the magnets for the gradient fields. Preferably, the frame also carries at least one transmitting and / or receiving coil. Alternatively, however, it would also be possible to use only local coils which are not carried by the frame but are arranged directly on the patient. Alternatively or additionally, the frame can also carry a PET detector, for example.In addition to the medical imaging device according to the invention, the invention comprises a medical imaging infrastructure having a plurality of rooms, wherein the imaging infrastructure comprises a medical imaging device according to the invention which is set up in such a way that the frame can be brought into a respective position and orientation assigned to the room for image acquisition in a respective room. The movement into the respective position and orientation for the respective space can take place in particular exclusively by the above-explained displacement of the frame or the base along the guide means and the rotation of the rotatable guide means section with respect to the floor.Further advantages and details are evident from the following examples and the associated drawings. The following are shown schematically: FIGS. 1 and 2 show two examples of a medical imaging device, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show two examples of a medical imaging infrastructure.FIG. 1 shows a medical imaging device 1, which serves for determining three-dimensional image data of examination objects 2, 3, in the example of patients. In the example, a computed tomography system is used for imaging. Its components essential to imaging, i.e. in particular its detector 8 and radiation source 9, and a not shown movement mechanism for these components, are mounted on a frame 6.Since such imaging is only required for short periods of time for a multiplicity of diagnostic or therapeutic applications, but frequently a relocation of the patient from the respective table 4, 5 is to be avoided, the frame 6 is displaceable via a guide means 10, which is formed by rails 39 in the example. This serves on the one hand to improve access to the patient when imaging is not just required. Secondly, this achieves the effect that the medical imaging device 1 can be used successively for imaging on examination objects 2, 3 on different tables 4, 5 or in different rooms 24, 25 of a medical imaging infrastructure, for example a hospital.In principle, it would be possible to use rails 39 as guide means 10, all of which are rigidly attached to the base 23 or are formed by the base 23 itself. In this case, the frame 6 could already be moved from the position 11 into the position 14 in order to enable imaging on different tables 4, 5. Since the frame 6 annularly surrounds the examination region 7, into which the examination object 2, 3 is introduced, the frame 6 can be moved without problems over the respective table 4, 5 and thus over the respective examination object 2, 3, without the examination object 2, 3 being required to be repositioned.However, a disadvantage of this known procedure is that the frame 6 or the arrangement of the various components attached thereto can be asymmetrical. In FIG. 1, it is shown as a simple example that control elements 13 are mounted only on one side of the frame 6. A pure displacement of the frame 6 would thus result in the operating elements 13 being arranged on the rear side when used in the space 25 or on the table 5, whereby operating comfort is significantly reduced.This disadvantage could be relatively easily avoided, provided that the asymmetry is exclusively limited to the operating elements 13, by providing corresponding elements multiple times. In typical medical imaging devices, in particular for three-dimensional imaging, however, further asymmetry, for example with respect to the housing, the arrangement of the detector and the radiation source or, in the case of magnetic resonance tomography systems, of the electromagnet and of further components, is used in order, for example, to achieve that a patient does not have to be introduced too far into the tube forming the examination region 7, for example in order to achieve better access to the patient. If corresponding asymmetry is to be used in a targeted manner to achieve certain advantages, it would be disadvantageous if, in the case of a pure displacement of the frame 6, the patient had to be introduced into the examination region 7 quasi from the rear side.In order to avoid this disadvantage, in the medical imaging device 1, the frame 6 should not only be displaced from the first position 11 into the second position 14, but at the same time the orientation of the frame 6 should be changed from the first orientation 12, in which the front side of the frame points toward the underside of the figure, to the orientation 15, in which the front side of the frame 6 points toward the upper side of the figure.In the example shown, this is achieved in that a rotatable guide means section 20 of the guide means 10 is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis with respect to the base 23, as is schematically represented by the arrow 22. This makes it possible for the frame 6 to be displaced first from the guide means section 19 into the guide means section 20, to be rotated there together with the guide means section 20 and then to be displaced, with a changed orientation 15, into the guide means section 18, whereby the arrangement shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 is achieved, in which the front side and thus, in the example, the operating elements 13 are in the desired position. For the rearward displacement of the frame 6 to the table 4, these steps can be carried out in the reverse sequence.In the example shown, the guide means sections 18, 19 which support the frame 6 in the first and second positions 11, 14 of the displacement path are rigidly connected to the base 23. This makes it possible to minimize disturbances, for example due to slight movements of the frame during imaging, which could deteriorate the imaging quality, with little technical outlay.In principle, it would be possible to carry out the displacement of the frame 6 and the rotation of the guide means section 20 purely manually. Since frames which carry components for medical imaging are, however, in many cases quite large and heavy, an at least partially automated change of the position 11, 14 and orientation 12, 15 is advantageous. In the example shown, this is achieved in that the imaging device 1 comprises, on the one hand, a displacement actuator 17 for displacing the frame 6 along the displacement path defined by the guide means 10. This can drive, for example, a rack-side gearwheel which engages in a rack mounted on the bottom side.The rails 39 of the rotatable guide means portion 20 can be rotated by a rotary actuator 21 which drives, for example, a rotary disc carrying the rails 39. In this case, it can be advantageous to restrict the rotation to an angle of, for example, 180°, so that a rotation of the rotatable guide means section 20 for changing the orientation 12, 15 takes place in each case alternately in the clockwise direction and in the counter-clockwise direction. As a result, slip rings or cable connections can be used, for example, if the electrical contacting of detector 8 and radiation source 9 is to take place via the guide means 10.If an alternating condition is fulfilled, i.e. a displacement of the frame 6 in the space 24 is enabled and requested in the space 25 or the like, the control device 16 can first control the displacement actuator 17 in such a way that the frame 6 is displaced into the rotatable guide means section 20, the frame 6 preferably stops there by corresponding control of the displacement actuator 17, the guide means section 20 rotates 180° by control of the rotary actuator 21 and subsequently again control the displacement actuator 17 in order to displace the frame 6 into the position 14. There, an automatic stop can take place, in particular by detecting the reaching of the respective end position 11 or 14 by sensor means, for example by a switch or a light barrier.The entire process is preferably monitored by sensors, so that, for example, at least an automatic stopping of the displacement or of the rotation can take place when persons in the displacement or rotation range are detected.In the example shown, it may be possible for the tables 4, 5 to be slightly offset laterally with respect to one another or for the examination objects 2, 3 not to be mounted exactly in the same position in the transverse direction in FIG. 1. Frequently, corresponding differences are compensated for by the fact that the tables 4, 5 are mounted so as to be displaceable in the transverse direction to a certain extent. In some cases, however, it may also be advantageous to use fixed tables 4, 5. In order to position the examination objects 2, 3 nevertheless in the isocenter of the imaging device, the guide means sections 18 and / or 19, as is schematically represented in FIG. 1 by the arrow 50, can be displaceably mounted perpendicular to the displacement path predefined by the guide means 10. This can make it possible to shift the frame 6, when it is located in the corresponding guide means section 18, 19, manually or actuatorically in the transverse direction and thus to compensate for an incorrect positioning of the examination object 2, 3 in this direction.FIG. 2 shows a further imaging device 49, by means of which a displacement between different positions 11, 14 for imaging and a corresponding adaptation of the orientation 12, 15 can likewise be realized, wherein, in contrast to the example shown in FIG. 1, no rotatable guide means section 20 is required. Since the same functionality is realized as a result, the differences from the preceding example are discussed substantially exclusively below. In this case, the example according to FIG. 2 differs in several points from the example according to FIG. 1, wherein different combinations of these different configurations are also possible.The main difference from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 is that in the medical imaging device 49 shown in FIG. 2, the rotation of the frame 6 about the vertical axis 32 is realized in that the frame is not directly supported by the guide means 10, but rather that the latter initially supports a base 26 which in turn rotatably supports the frame 6 about the vertical axis 32. In the example, the base 26 has a rotary disk 28 which is supported on a base body 29 via a bearing 30, for example a plain bearing, and the rotation of which can be driven by the rotary actuator 31. Electrical connections 37 of the frame 6 or of the components arranged there can be led to the rotary disk 28 and from there, for example, via a slip ring or a cable connection to the base body 29. A fluid connection 38 for supplying and discharging cooling fluid is formed separately in the example, so that a connection in this respect takes place only at the respective measurement position. By way of example, the control device 33 is also integrated into the base 26 or the base body 29 and controls the displacement actuator 34, which is likewise arranged there and drives a gearwheel 35 mounted on the base side, which gearwheel interacts with a toothed rack 36 mounted on the base side.By rotatably mounting the frame 6 on the base 26, the rotation of the frame 6 about the vertical axis 32 can take place, in contrast to the preceding example, in principle at any desired displacement position. Preferably, however, the control device 33 is configured such that a rotation takes place in a specific section of the displacement path in which sufficient space is available for such a rotation and in which it can preferably be ruled out that persons are in the rotation range.In an alternative embodiment, it would also be possible to arrange the displacement actuator 34 on the bottom side. For example, the translation actuator 34 could drive a toothed spindle engaged by a protrusion of the base 26.A further difference from the example shown in FIG. 1 is that the guide means 10 in the medical imaging device 49 is formed by rollers 27 arranged in succession along the displacement path, i.e. in particular perpendicular to the image plane in FIG. 2, which rollers are rotatably mounted on the base 23. This is technically somewhat more complicated than the use of rails 39, but can reduce friction losses.FIG. 3 shows a medical imaging infrastructure with a plurality of rooms 24, 25, 40, which comprises a somewhat extended configuration of the imaging device 1 already discussed with reference to FIG. 1. For reasons of clarity, the imaging device 1 is here shown in simplified form compared to the illustration selected in FIG. 1, such that substantially exclusively guide means sections 18, 19, 20, 41, 42, 43 of the guide means 10 and the various positions 11, 14, 44 and orientations 12, 15, 45 used for imaging are shown. If only one imaging is to take place in the rooms 24, 25 first, the imaging device 1 already discussed with reference to FIG. 1 can be used unchanged. In this case, it is possible for a door 48 to be provided between the spaces 24, 25, which door can be opened automatically, for example, when the frame 6 is intended to pass the door 48.In order to enable imaging in the space 40 as well, two additional fixed guide means sections 41, 43 and one additional rotatable guide means section 42 are used. If, for example, a displacement between the position 11 and the position 44 is now to take place, the frame 6 can first be displaced by the guide means section 19 into the guide means section 20, there a rotation by 90° counterclockwise can take place. The frame 6 can then be displaced via the guide means section 41 into the rotatable guide means section 42, which can subsequently be rotated through 90° in the clockwise direction, after which the frame 6 can be displaced into the position 44, resulting in the orientation 45.The rotatable guide means section 20 in FIG. 3 thus serves not only for rotating the frame 6, but also as a type of switch. In the rotational position shown, a displacement of the frame, when it is arranged in the guide means section 20, is possible only into the guide means sections 18 and 19, while a displacement into the guide means section 41 and the adjoining guide means sections 42, 43 is blocked. In a second rotational position, on the other hand, the rotatable guide means section 20 is rotated through 90°, so that a displacement into the guide means section 41 would be released, while a displacement into the guide means sections 18, 19 is blocked.Similar to between the spaces 24, 25, a further door 47 can be arranged between the spaces 24 and 40, which door is preferably likewise automatically opened when the frame 6 approaches the door 47, for example by light barriers or the like being provided in the region of the door 47.In a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the guide means section 18 could also be dispensed with, for example, if no image data acquisition is desired in the space 25 or the space 25 is not present.FIG. 4 shows a somewhat different medical imaging infrastructure, in which, however, imaging in three different rooms 24, 25, 40 is likewise made possible. The spaces 24, 25, 40 are arranged in a star shape in this case, as a result of which the guide means 10 is also star-shaped overall and in particular the three fixed guide means sections 18, 19, 43 lead away in a star shape from a central rotary disc formed by the rotatable guide means section 20. The rotatable guide means section 20 is arranged in a separate space 46 so that, for example, it can be achieved that no personnel are located in the region of the rotating frame 6 during operation.

Claims

Medical imaging device (1) for determining, in particular three-dimensional, image data of an examination object (2, 3) introduced into an examination region (7), having a frame (6), wherein the frame (6) surrounds the examination region (7), in particular annularly, and carries at least one detector (8) and / or at least one radiation source (9) and / or at least one electromagnet which serves or serve for capturing the image data, wherein the frame (6) or a base (26) carrying the frame (6) is mounted on a guide means (10) which is attached to a base (23) carrying the imaging device (1) or is formed by the latter, in such a way that the frame (6) or the base (26) is displaceable along the guide means (10) with respect to the base (23), wherein at least one rotatable guide means section (20, 20, 42) of the guide means (10) is mounted rotatably with respect to the base (23) in each case about a vertical axis (32).Medical imaging device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the guide means (10) is formed by rails (39) and / or by a plurality of rollers (27) arranged successively along a displacement path.Medical imaging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the medical imaging device (1) comprises a displacement actuator (17) which drives a displacement of the frame (6) along the or a displacement path predetermined by the guide means (10), at least one rotation actuator (21) which drives the rotation of the respective rotatably mounted guide means section (20, 42) with respect to the floor (23) about the vertical axis (32), and a control device (16), wherein the control device (16) is configured to actuate the displacement actuator (17) in such a way that the frame (6) via the rotatable guide means section (20, 42) or at least one of the rotatable guide means sections (20, 42) into a second position (11, 14, 14, 14) when a changeover condition is fulfilled while the frame (6) is in a first position (11, 14, 44) and orientation (12, 15, 45) on the displacement path, 44) on the displacement path and additionally, while the frame (6) is located within the respective rotatable guide means section (20, 42), to control the rotary actuator (21) assigned to this rotatable guide means section (20, 42) in order to rotate the frame (6) about a vertical axis (32), so that it has a second orientation (12, 15, 45) assigned to the second position (11, 14, 44) when the second position (11, 14, 44) is reached.Medical imaging device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a respective guide means section (18, 19, 43) of the guide means (10), which supports the frame (6) in the first and / or second position (11, 14, 44) of the displacement path, is rigidly connected to the floor (23) or formed by the floor.Medical imaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide means (10) supports the frame (6) or the base (26) in such a way that for the rotatable guide means section (20, 42) or at least one of the rotatable guide means sections (20, 42), in a first rotational position of the respective rotatable guide means section (20, 42), a displacement of the frame (6) or the base (26) is released from this rotatable guide means section (20, 42) into a respective first further guide means section (18, 19, 41, 43) and is blocked into a respective second further guide means section (18, 19, 41, 43) and in a second rotational position of the respective rotatable guide means section (20, 42), a displacement of the frame (6) or the base (26) is released from this rotatable guide means section (20, 42) into the second further guide means section (18, 19, 41, 43) and into the first further guide means section (18, 19, 41, 43), 43).Medical imaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective bearing (30) for rotatably mounting the respective rotatable guide means section (20, 42) and / or the or a control device (16, 33) which serves for controlling this respective rotation are configured such that possible rotational positions of the respective rotatable guide means section (20, 42) with respect to the base (23) are limited to an angle range of a maximum of 270° or a maximum of 180°.Medical imaging device (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one guide means section (18, 19) of the guide means (10), which supports the frame (6) in the first and / or second position (11, 14, 44) of the displacement path, is supported laterally displaceably perpendicular to the displacement path predetermined by the guide means (10).Medical imaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a computed tomography unit or a magnetic resonance tomography unit or comprises a computed tomography unit and / or a magnetic resonance tomography unit.Medical imaging infrastructure having a plurality of rooms, characterized in that the imaging infrastructure comprises a medical imaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is set up in such a way that the frame (6) can be brought into a respective position (11, 14, 44) and orientation (12, 15, 45) assigned to the room (24, 25, 40) for image acquisition in a respective room (24, 25, 40).

Images