Protective device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging device (1), comprising a connecting section (30) which is designed and intended to be coupled in an intended operating state with a patient table (12) and / or a guide rail (10) for the patient table (12) of the magnetic resonance imaging device (1), at least one planar extending screen section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed screen surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its extension surface, and at least one joint section (50, 76) which is arranged between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or a further section (74) and which is designed and intended to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section (40) or the further section (74), preferably about two joint axes perpendicular to each other.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a protective device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

[0002] MRI scans are used for imaging – mostly clinical – particularly of tissue structures that cannot be visualized using X-ray technology, or only with increased effort and, in particular, radiation exposure. In an MRI scan, magnetic fields are used to utilize nuclear magnetic resonance to visualize tissue, etc.

[0003] Typically, the coils required to generate the magnetic fields are arranged around a tube—also called a tunnel—in which the patient is positioned during the examination. A disadvantage of these magnetic fields—which can be quite strong (up to three Tesla or higher in some MRI scanners)—is that they also have an effect outside the tunnel. Metallic objects, especially those made of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, but also those with other magnetic properties, can be attracted by the magnetic fields. This can lead to an undesirable and even dangerous projectile effect, as the attracted objects move towards the tunnel.

[0004] This is usually addressed through appropriate safety precautions and training, ensuring, for example, that only suitably qualified personnel are present in the MRI area. More recently, however, MRIs have also been used for interventional surgeries, where the MRI is employed for imaging during the procedure (e.g., for navigating catheters, endoscopic instruments, or the like). This often results in personnel working directly with the patient, and thus within the magnetic fields, who may lack extensive experience or routine. Furthermore, emergency situations can also lead to safety regulations being overlooked. For instance, a surgeon might forget scissors, a stethoscope, or other metallic objects in a pocket due to the circumstances.In addition, cleaning staff sometimes change, so it is not always possible to have a complete overview of adequate training and compliance with safety regulations.

[0005] To prevent such circumstances, for example US 2018 / 0267117 A1 describes an MRI scanner whose tunnel can be closed by means of a gate-like device.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of further improving patient protection during imaging using an MRI.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a protective device having the features of claim 1, which is intended for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. Furthermore, this problem is solved according to the invention by a protective device having the features of claim 2. In addition, this problem is solved according to the invention by using the protective device with the MRI device having the features of claim 13. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] The protective device according to the invention is designed and intended for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. For this purpose, the protective device has a connecting section (or coupling section) which is designed and intended to be coupled to a patient table and / or a guide rail for the patient table of the MRI scanner in its intended operating state. Furthermore, the protective device has at least one planar shield section (hereinafter also referred to as "the first shield section") which forms a substantially closed shield surface at least in one viewing direction perpendicular to its planar extent.Furthermore, the protective device has at least one joint section (hereinafter also referred to as "the first joint section") which is arranged between the screen section and the connecting section or a further section and which is designed and intended to allow a rotational adjustment of the screen section or the further section, preferably about two joint axes perpendicular to each other.

[0009] The term "essentially closed screen surface" is understood here and in the following to mean, in particular, that this screen surface forms a closed surface at least when viewed along the line of sight. Along other directions, especially those oblique to the line of sight, the screen surface may, at least optionally, have interruptions.

[0010] Preferably, the shield section is made of a material that has a sufficiently high tensile strength, so that (especially smaller) objects that are attracted from an area in front of the protective device under the influence of a magnetic field of the MRI when a protective device is arranged on the patient table or the guide rail can be stopped by the shield section, in particular without it tearing, breaking or the like.

[0011] The shield section thus advantageously serves to stop objects attracted by the magnetic field of the MRI scanner and prevent them from entering the MRI tunnel. Due to the articulated mounting of the shield surface, it can be adjusted as needed. Its placement on the patient table or its guide rail makes it particularly possible to create a barrier between staff (e.g., a surgeon, specialist, or similar) and the patient, even during interactions between staff and the patient.

[0012] The term "intended state of use" here and in the following refers in particular to the state in which the protective device is mounted on the patient bed or its guide rail (i.e., coupled to it).

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the protective device according to the invention has a frame section instead of the connecting section, which supports the at least one (previously described) screen section. The frame section supports the screen section in such a way that, in a standard installation state (of the protective device), the screen section at least partially obscures the patient table of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and / or the space occupied by a person lying on the patient table during a standard operating state of the MRI scanner, from a horizontal viewing direction. Thus, in this embodiment as well, the screen section preferably obscures the patient table or the space above it, in which the patient is located during normal use, at least partially, and therefore advantageously also forms the barrier described above.The protective device therefore also includes at least one flatly extending (above-described) screen section and at least one hinge section, which is arranged between the screen section and the frame section or the further section and which is designed and provided to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section or the further section, preferably about the two mutually perpendicular hinge axes.

[0014] Optionally, the frame section can be designed with a height that allows for the arrangement of the screen section described above, for example, the same height as standard patient beds. Alternatively, the frame section can also have a height-adjustable feature, such as a telescopic mechanism, to allow the height of the screen section relative to the patient bed to be adjusted.

[0015] Preferably, in its intended operating state, the joint axis of the joint section is aligned parallel to or perpendicular to a tunnel axis of the MRI tunnel. This allows the screen section to be tilted towards the patient, particularly over the patient, or, in the case of perpendicular alignment, especially when the patient table is moved into the tunnel, pivoted in front of the tunnel so that the tunnel is obscured at least parallel to the tunnel axis (and at least partially, depending on the size of the screen section).

[0016] In the event that the canopy section is adjustable about two joint axes perpendicular to each other, it is advantageous to be able to make both of the above-described adjustments of the canopy section.

[0017] In a suitable embodiment, the connecting section has, for example, a type of T-nut as a connecting element to the guide rail, which can be inserted into a T-slot-shaped guide groove of the guide rail. Preferably, this T-nut is also spring-loaded or coupled with a clamping device, so that the position of the protective device along the guide rail is not only selectable but also fixed – particularly due to spring-force-induced or mechanically induced clamping. For mounting on the patient table, the connecting section has, for example, a clamping device that is adapted to an edge contour of the patient table. This clamping device is, for example, comparable to a clamping device (e.g., a toggle clamp) or a roof rack for a motor vehicle. The clamping device, in particular, has the advantage that a reversible coupling of the protective device to the MRI scanner is possible.Preferably, the connecting section is designed for reversible coupling with the patient table or guide rail. However, the connecting section can optionally also be designed for permanent attachment to the patient table or guide rail and therefore features a type of connecting foot that provides the broadest possible and thus stable contact surface and serves for irreversible connection, e.g., by means of screws, or optionally by welding, gluing, or similar methods.

[0018] In a practical embodiment, the joint section has a ball joint. This ball joint is preferably located between the screen section and the connecting section or the frame section. A ball joint advantageously has almost free rotational mobility, allowing the screen section to be pivoted in several directions. To lock the screen section in its position (alignment), the ball joint optionally has a clamping screw or similar device. This allows for easy and effective prevention of unintentional adjustment of the screen section.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the articulated section has two support rods, each connected to the connecting section or the frame section and the canopy section by means of a ball joint. Due to these two connection points, the protective device advantageously provides a comparatively stable mounting for the canopy section. This prevents unintentional adjustment, such as folding over, or at least reduces the risk of such an occurrence. Furthermore, the two support rods, particularly if both are attached to a lower edge of the canopy section, allow for height adjustment of the canopy section (in its intended operating state), especially at least along the length of the support rods.Preferably, the two support rods are aligned parallel to each other in a basic position of the screen section, in which it is aligned vertically and parallel to the tunnel axis.

[0020] According to a suitable embodiment, the screen section comprises a membrane-like body with a closed surface. Here and in the following, "membrane-like body" is understood to mean, in particular, a body with a planar extent and a thickness that is small compared to its length and / or width (especially by a factor of several, e.g., at least ten times smaller). Furthermore, the surface of the membrane-like body can also be curved, bent, or the like, and thus need not be purely two-dimensional. Preferably, the membrane-like body is made of a plastic, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic, or a plastic textile (woven, knitted, and the like). Using plastic allows for the simple and cost-effective implementation of a lightweight and / or three-dimensionally shaped structure.

[0021] Advantageously, the membrane-like body has an edge bent away from the MRI tunnel at at least one edge facing the tunnel in its intended operating state. In the case of the ball joint, this edge can therefore be at least the edge pointing towards the tunnel (especially vertically oriented) in the home position. Alternatively or optionally, it can be the edge pointing upwards in the home position (especially in the case of an approximately rectangular screen section, the edge aligned parallel to the patient table or its guide rail in the home position). Optionally, the (respective) edge is bent by at least 90 degrees, preferably by 100 degrees or up to 180 degrees, with a bending radius of, for example, 1 to 4 cm. This results in an approximately J-shaped contour or "pocket" in cross-section, in which at least small objects, e.g.,Paper clips or similar items can be caught.

[0022] According to a further, more appropriate design, the membrane-like body, particularly on its underside (i.e., in the area of ​​the downward-facing edge), has a peripheral recess or an internal opening that serves to guide a tube or other conduit into the tunnel during intended use. A peripheral recess is understood to be, in particular, a lateral incision, e.g., in a U-shape, in the membrane-like body, which is thus open to the surrounding environment at its edges. An internal opening, on the other hand, is understood to be a ring-shaped opening through the membrane-like body that is enclosed within it. Through this recess or internal opening, conduits (e.g., a breathing tube, a tube for intravenous medication, anesthesia, or the like) can be guided into the tunnel, while the tunnel is more or less concealed by the shield section on the outside.

[0023] As an alternative to the membrane-like body, the screen section is formed by a mesh-like structure. Apart from the mesh-related openings, which are expediently chosen to be so small that even small objects cannot pass through them, or only with negligible probability, this structure preferably has comparable properties to the membrane-like body described above. The (mesh) openings have a diameter or edge length of 2–10 mm, preferably only 2–5 mm.

[0024] According to another alternative embodiment to the membrane-like body, the screen section has a ring-shaped frame to which a multitude of ropes (or cords) are stretched to form a quasi-closed surface. "Quasi-closed" here and in the following refers specifically to the fact that the screen surface—as described above—is closed along the aforementioned viewing direction perpendicular to the surface area of ​​the screen, but has interruptions obliquely to this (especially when viewed rotated around one of the ropes), namely the areas between the individual ropes.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned ropes are arranged parallel to each other and in the thickness direction (at least) in two layers, offset transversely to their longitudinal extent. Advantageously, the ropes are thus stretched in two layers one above the other in the thickness direction, with the two layers offset transversely to each other, depending on the rope width, by, for example, slightly less than one rope width. This results in a closed surface when viewed along the normal direction. This surface is suitable for preventing larger objects, such as pens, scissors, or stethoscopes, or at least significantly slowing them down – the probability that an elongated object will strike the ropes at an ideal angle and be able to slide through them smoothly is comparatively low. Furthermore, the ropes also allow a person to reach through them and / or for cables to be routed through them.

[0026] According to a suitable embodiment, the protective device has an additional section. This is designed as a further shield section and is movably coupled to the (first, i.e., the other) shield section by means of the (above-described, first) hinge section or a further hinge section.

[0027] According to an exemplary training procedure, the first canopy section is coupled to the connecting section or the frame section by means of the first joint section, which in particular has a hinge with a hinge axis (or joint axis) aligned parallel to the tunnel axis in the intended operating state. The first canopy section is also coupled to the further (or "second") canopy section by means of the further ("second") joint section, which has a joint with at least one pivot axis (joint axis) that lies in a plane perpendicular to the tunnel axis in the intended operating state. In this case, in the intended operating state, the first canopy section can be tilted towards (or away from) the patient, and the second canopy section can be pivoted relative to the first canopy section. This allows the second canopy section, for example, to...can be used to conceal the tunnel entrance from a view direction along the tunnel axis.

[0028] In the embodiments described above, the first screen section – in its intended operating state and at least in certain settings of the first joint section – forms a partition between personnel (e.g., surgeon) and patient, particularly when the surgeon is intervening on the patient.

[0029] According to a suitable embodiment, the protective device has a telescopic section that is connected between the (first) shield section and the connecting section (or the frame section). This telescopic section has a telescoping function that, in its intended operating state, is oriented parallel to the tunnel axis. The telescopic section is thus designed and intended to hold the first shield section slidably relative to the connecting section (or the frame section). This allows the first shield section, particularly if an object attracted to the MRI's magnetic field is attached to it, to be moved away from the MRI, preferably to such an extent that the magnetic field is weakened that the object is no longer attracted and can therefore be removed. Optionally, the telescopic section can also be combined with the hinge section, for example, by having the support rods described above designed as telescopic rods.

[0030] The frame section is, for example, a substructure such as a frame or similar with flared feet to ensure maximum stability against tipping. Preferably, the frame section, specifically the feet, is fitted with (preferably lockable) casters so that the entire protective device can be easily moved.

[0031] According to the invention, the protective device described above is used with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. For this purpose, the protective device is attached to the patient table and / or the guide rail for the patient table by means of the connecting section.

[0032] The conjunction "and / or" is to be understood here and in the following, in particular, as meaning that the features linked by this conjunction can be configured both jointly and as alternatives to one another. Thus, the use according to the invention has the same features and resulting advantages as the protective device described above.

[0033] An embodiment(s) of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A schematic representation of the MRI in a frontal view into a tunnel of an MRI scanner. Fig. 2 in a side view of the MRI Fig. 3 schematically shows part of a protective device for the MRI scanner in a top view, Fig. 4 in a detailed view Fig. 2 schematically an alternative embodiment of the protective device, Fig. 5 in view according to Fig. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of the protective device, Fig. 6 in view according to Fig. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of the protective device, Fig. 7 in a view according to Fig. 3. Excerpt showing a detail of the protective device according to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 in view according to Fig. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of the protective device, Fig. 9 in view according to Fig. 1 schematically the according to Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 in view according to Fig. 1 schematically an alternative embodiment of the protective device.

[0034] Corresponding parts in all figures are always marked with the same reference symbols.

[0035] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically depicts a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, abbreviated as "MRI 1". The MRI 1 comprises a housing 2, which, in the illustrated embodiment, surrounds a frame and a number of magnetic coils and protects them from unauthorized access. The magnetic coils are arranged and the housing 2 is designed such that an examination tunnel, abbreviated as tunnel 4, is formed, extending along a tunnel axis 6. For imaging an object, in particular a patient, the patient is moved into the tunnel 4 and thus into the magnetic field generated by the magnetic coils. For this purpose, the MRI 1 has guide rails 10 and a patient table 12 that is slidably mounted on them (and can also be moved automatically by means of a drive mechanism not shown).

[0036] During operation of MRI 1, the magnetic field lines extend not only within tunnel 4 but also outside of it. Depending on the field strength used, this can cause magnetic or magnetizable objects outside MRI 1 to be attracted by the magnetic field and potentially pulled into tunnel 4. This poses a risk to bystanders and / or the person being examined. To reduce this potential hazard, a protective device 20, described in more detail below, is used.

[0037] The protective device 20 is designed and intended to be reversibly attached to the patient bed 12. For this purpose, the protective device 20 has a connecting section 30. This connecting section 30 is designed for a clamping connection with the patient bed 12, similar to a roof rack on a motor vehicle. The connecting section 30 has a support foot 32 which (not shown in detail) grips a side edge of the patient bed 12 in a clamp-like manner or with two clamping jaws when coupled to it. One of the clamping jaws can be adjusted towards or away from the other by means of a clamping screw, so that the clamping force on the patient bed 12 can be increased or decreased. Alternatively, one of the clamping jaws can also engage in a groove of the patient bed. As a further alternative, the support foot 32 can also be screwed onto the patient bed 12.

[0038] The protective device 20 also has a shield section 40. According to the exemplary embodiments of the Fig. Figures 1 to 5, 8 and 9 describe a planar, membrane-like body 42, which is at least predominantly rectangular. In these embodiments, the body 42 is formed on a fiber-reinforced plastic sheet.

[0039] Furthermore, the protective device 20 has a hinged section 50. This forms a connecting element between the connecting section 30 and the shield section 40. In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The joint section 50 has (only) a ball joint 52. Due to the ball joint 52, the screen section 40, specifically the body 42, is relatively free relative to the connecting section 30 and thus in its intended operating state on the MRI 1 (i.e., attached to the patient table 12; cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) adjustable relative to the patient bed 12. In particular, the body 42 can be inclined towards the patient bed 12 (or conversely, raised or inclined away from it) about an axis that runs parallel to the tunnel axis 6.

[0040] This allows staff who need to interact with the patient before or during the examination to stand next to the patient bed 12 and in front of the screen section 40, as if in front of a screen. The body 42 protects the patient from objects attracted to the magnetic field, such as those carried by staff.

[0041] Additionally, the body 42 can also be pivoted about a vertical axis 54, which is perpendicular to the tunnel axis 6. This allows the body 42 to at least partially obscure the opening of the tunnel 4 (depending on the "length" of the body 42 along the tunnel axis 6, at least when the body 42 is in a basic position – parallel to a vertical and parallel axis 6). The latter can be used, for example, when the protective device 20 is located in the area of ​​the foot end 56 (in Fig. 2 the right end) of the patient bed 12 is mounted and / or the patient is fully inserted into the tunnel 4, effectively closing the tunnel 4. Objects that are drawn at least roughly along the tunnel axis 6 can thus be prevented from entering the tunnel 4. Optionally, for the latter purpose, a protective device 20 is arranged on each side of the patient bed 12, the bodies 42 of which can then be closed in front of the tunnel 4, similar to a double-leaf door.

[0042] To prevent an object attracted by the magnetic field and striking the body 42 from sliding along it towards the MRI 1 and slipping off the end of the body 42, yet still striking the MRI 1 or even entering the tunnel 4, the body 42 has an edge which, in its intended operating state (e.g. Fig. 2) facing the MRI 1, a bent edge 58 on (see. Fig. 3) In the present embodiment, the rim 58 is bent over by 180 degrees, with a bending radius of 3 cm. This forms a kind of pocket in which at least smaller objects can be collected.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the body 42. Here, not only is the edge 58 bent over, as in Fig. 3 is shown, but also the edge 60 opposite the joint section 50. Optionally, this is bent over in the same way as the edge 58, but can also be bent over less, e.g. by only 90 degrees.

[0044] Fig. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the protective device 20. Here, the joint section 50 has two rods 62 (support rods) which are articulated to the connecting section 30 by means of a ball joint 64 and to the screen section 40 by means of a further ball joint 66. These rods 62 enable, among other things, a certain degree of height adjustment of the screen section 40 relative to the patient bed 12.

[0045] Fig. Figure 5 shows, by way of example, an optional edge-side recess 68 in the body 42. This serves to guide cables, hoses or the like "through" the protective device 20 into the tunnel 4, especially when the tunnel 4 is covered by means of the body 42.

[0046] In Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the protective device 20. Here, instead of the membrane-like body 42, it has a rectangular frame 70 in which ropes 72 are stretched in two planes or layers superimposed in the thickness direction (see Figure 7). Fig. 7) The ropes 72 of the two levels are offset perpendicular to their longitudinal extent, i.e., they are spaced apart. This results in a closed surface when viewed along the thickness direction. For example, the two levels are equidistant from each other, but especially those with a smaller distance than the ropes 72 of the same level. That is, two adjacent ropes 72 of different levels are closer together than two adjacent ropes 72 of the same level. The ropes 72 allow personnel to reach between them, but also prevent elongated objects, or at least those with a diameter greater than the distance between two ropes 72, from reaching the patient and / or entering tunnel 4.

[0047] In Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the protective device 20. In this case, it comprises a further shield section 74 and a hinge section 76. The further shield section 74 has a body which—optionally with the exception of a bent edge—corresponds to the design of the body 42 or to the variant with the cables 72 between the shield section 40. The ("first") hinge section 50 in this case has only one hinge axis, which in the intended operating state is aligned parallel to the tunnel axis 6. The further hinge section 76 is arranged between the shield section 40 and the further shield section 74 and has only one hinge axis, which in the intended operating state lies in a radial plane to the tunnel axis 4. Thus, the further shield section 74 is hinged to the first shield section 40 like a door leaf and can, for example,This is used to cover tunnel 4 from the "front" view, at least halfway. By using two protective devices 20, one on each side of the patient bed 12, tunnel 4 can thus be almost completely closed.

[0048] In Fig. Figure 10 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of the protective device 20. In this case, the protective device 20 is designed as a separate device from the MRI scanner 1, specifically the patient table 12. For this purpose, the protective device 20 has a frame section 80 instead of the connecting section 30. The frame section 80 has a substructure 82, e.g., made of tubes, preferably fiber-reinforced plastic tubes or the like, which is designed to be movable in space by means of laterally flared feet 84 and rollers 86 arranged thereon. The screen section 40 is articulated and attached to the frame section 80 by means of the joint section 50, analogous to the description above. Otherwise, the embodiments described above, in particular those of the screen section 20 (and optionally also of the screen section 74) and the joint section 50 (and optionally also of the screen section 74), are identical.of the joint section 76) is equally applicable to this embodiment. This enables particularly high mobility of the protective device 20. The frame section 80 also has a height that corresponds to the height of the patient bed or that leads to an arrangement of the screen section 40 that allows at least partial coverage (obstruction) of the space occupied by the patient for the personnel (cf. . Fig. 10).

[0049] Optionally, it is also conceivable that the screen section 20 can be connected to the frame section 80 by means of the connecting section 30 (comparable to the patient bed 12).

[0050] The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the foregoing description. In particular, the individual features of the invention and their various configurations described with reference to the different embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways. Reference symbol list 1 MRI 2 cases 4 tunnels 6 Tunnel axis 10 guide rail 12 patient beds 20 Protective device 30 Connecting section 32 support foot 40 screen section 42 bodies 50 Joint section 52 Ball joint 54 Vertical axis 56 foot end 58 Rand 60 Rand 62 Staff 64 Ball joint 66 Ball joint 68 recess 70 frames 72 rope 74 Umbrella section 76 Joint section 80 frame section 82 Substructure 84 Foot section 86 roll QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2018 / 0267117 A1

[0005]

Claims

Protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging device (1), comprising: - a connecting section (30) which is designed and intended to be coupled in an intended operating state with a patient table (12) and / or a guide rail (10) for the patient table (12) of the magnetic resonance imaging device (1); - at least one planar extending screen section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed screen surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its extension surface; and - at least one joint section (50, 76) which is arranged between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or a further section (74) and which is designed and intended to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section (40) or the further section (74), preferably about two joint axes perpendicular to each other. Protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device (1), comprising: - at least one planar extending screen section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed screen surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its extension surface; - a frame section (80) which supports the at least one screen section (40, 74) such that the screen section (40, 74) in an intended setup state at least partially obscures a patient table (12) of the MRI device (1) and / or a space occupied by a person lying on the patient table (12) in an intended use state of the MRI device (1) with respect to a horizontal viewing direction; and - at least one hinge section (50, 76) which is arranged between the screen section (40) and the frame section (80) or a further section (74) and which is designed and provided for this purpose.to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section (40) or the further section (74), preferably about two joint axes perpendicular to each other. Protective device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the joint section (50) has a ball joint (52). Protective device (20) according to claim 3, wherein the joint section (50) has two support rods (62) which are each connected to the connecting section (30) and the screen section (40) by means of a ball joint (64, 66). Protective device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shield section (40) has a membrane-like body (42) with a closed surface, in particular made of a plastic, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic. Protective device (20) according to claim 5, wherein the membrane-like body (42) has an edge (58) on at least one edge facing a tunnel (4) of the magnetic resonance imaging device (1) in the intended operating state, optionally bent away from the tunnel by at least 90 degrees. Protective device (20) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the membrane-like body (42) has a marginal recess (68) or an internal opening which serves to guide a hose or other conduit into the tunnel (4) during intended use. Protective device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the screen section (40) has an annular frame (70) on which a plurality of ropes (72) are stretched to form a quasi-closed surface. Protective device (20) according to claim 8, wherein the ropes (72) are arranged parallel to each other and in the thickness direction in two layers and offset transversely to their longitudinal extent. Protective device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the further section which is designed as a further screen section (74) and which is movably coupled to the screen section (40) by means of the joint section (50) or a further joint section (76). Protective device (20) according to claim 10, wherein the screen section (40) is coupled to the connecting section (30) or the frame section (80) by means of the joint section (50), which in particular has a hinge with a hinge axis aligned parallel to the tunnel axis (6) in the intended operating state, and wherein the screen section (40) is coupled to the further screen section (40) by means of the further joint section (76), which has a joint with at least one pivot axis which lies in a plane perpendicular to the tunnel axis (6) in the intended operating state. Protective device (20) according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a telescopic section which is connected between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or the frame section (80) and which has a telescopic function directed parallel to the tunnel axis (6) in the intended operating state. Use of a protective device (20) according to one of claims 1 or according to claim 1 and one of claims 2 to 12 with a magnetic resonance imaging device (1), wherein the protective device (20) is attached to the patient table (12) and / or the guide rail (10) for the patient table (12) by means of the connecting section (30).

Images