MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE WITH A PATIENT DISPLAY UNIT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising a scanner unit, a patient receiving area at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit, and a patient imaging unit arranged within the patient receiving area.

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging examinations on patients require a relatively long examination time. During this examination time, the patient, and in particular the area of ​​the patient to be examined, is located within the patient reception area of ​​the magnetic resonance scanner. Therefore, it is often necessary to provide the patient with information and / or instructions during the magnetic resonance examination. Due to the sometimes very loud operating noise of a magnetic resonance scanner, hearing protection is provided to the patient during the magnetic resonance examination. To still enable audio communication between the patient and the medical staff during the magnetic resonance examination, the patient is also known to wear headphones that take up a lot of space.

[0003] However, audio communication is additionally difficult or even impossible for patients with impaired hearing. It is therefore desirable to have an additional optical and / or visual communication channel for patients. However, installing a standard LED display or an LCD (liquid crystal display) in the area visible to the patient during the examination, particularly within the patient acquisition area, is difficult because these displays are rigid and cannot be adjusted to the curvature of the enclosure surrounding the patient acquisition area. Furthermore, such displays generate electromagnetic interference, which can potentially lead to image artifacts in the acquired image data. In addition, such displays have a high power consumption.

[0004] To provide visual information to the patient in the patient reception area, it is previously known to project information onto a wall and then into the patient reception area via a mirror system for presentation to the patient. However, such arrangements with a mirror system take up a considerable amount of space within the patient reception area and thus restrict the space and / or room available for the patient. Such a mirror system is disclosed in US 10241385 B2.

[0005] WO 2018 / 049196 A1 discloses a method for displaying image data of a patient on a portable or handheld display device.

[0006] WO 2016 / 068420 A1 describes a medical imaging device comprising a table on which a subject lies and which supports the subject, a gantry comprising an interior space. The medical imaging device further comprises an image projector that projects an image onto the screen unit for a patient.

[0007] EP 3 581 109 A1 discloses a medical device comprising a camera system for imaging a portion of a subject resting on a subject support, a display system for rendering a position feedback display, wherein the display system is configured such that the position feedback display is visible to the subject when the subject rests on the subject support.

[0008] EP 3 660 530 A1 describes a method for medical imaging, in which fMRI data of a region of interest of a subject in an active state and during a brain activity analysis mode are received, a transverse T2* map is generated from the fMRI data using a predefined model of fMRI data variations, the generated T2* map is compared with a reference T2* map, and a blood oxygen level-dependent response of the region of interest during the current active time window is estimated using the results of the comparison.

[0009] Furthermore, Kim Do Yoon et al., "Stretchable and reflective displays: materials, technologies and strategies," NANO CONVERGENCE, [Online], Vol. 6, No. 1, June 20, 2019 (2019-06-20), DOI: 10.1186 / s40580-019-0190-5, demonstrates that reflective displays are stretchable. Reflective displays are divided into different types depending on their response to stretching.

[0010] US 2006 079 763 A1 discloses a device for stimulating a patient, the device comprising a structure which is mounted on a patient couch and on which a screen is arranged.

[0011] JP 6 656881 B2 describes a magnetic resonance apparatus having a patient receiving area at least partially surrounded by a scanner unit and a patient display unit arranged within said area for optically outputting information to a patient, said display unit comprising a reflective display on which still or moving images can be shown to the patient during the examination.

[0012] The present invention is based, in particular, on the object of providing a simple and space-saving integration of a visual communication unit for the patient during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0013] The invention is based on a magnetic resonance device with a scanner unit, a patient receiving area at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit and a patient display unit arranged within the patient receiving area, wherein the patient display unit comprises a reflective display.

[0014] The magnetic resonance device comprises a medical and / or diagnostic magnetic resonance device that is designed and / or configured to acquire medical and / or diagnostic image data, in particular medical and / or diagnostic magnetic resonance image data, of a patient. For this purpose, the magnetic resonance device comprises the scanner unit. The scanner unit of the magnetic resonance device comprises a detector unit, in particular a magnet unit, for acquiring the medical and / or diagnostic image data. Advantageously, the scanner unit, in particular the magnet unit, comprises a base magnet, a gradient coil unit, and a radio-frequency antenna unit. The radio-frequency antenna unit is fixedly arranged within the scanner unit and is designed and / or configured to emit an excitation pulse.To capture the magnetic resonance signals, the magnetic resonance device has local radiofrequency coils that are arranged around the area of ​​the patient to be examined.

[0015] The base magnet of the scanner unit is designed to generate a homogeneous base magnetic field with a defined and / or specific magnetic field strength, such as a defined and / or specific magnetic field strength of 3 T or 1.5 T, etc. In particular, the base magnet is designed to generate a strong, constant, and homogeneous base magnetic field. The homogeneous base magnetic field is preferably arranged and / or located within the patient receiving area of ​​the magnetic resonance device. The gradient coil unit is designed to generate magnetic field gradients that are used for spatial encoding during imaging.

[0016] The patient receiving area is designed and / or configured to accommodate the area of ​​the patient to be examined for a medical magnetic resonance examination. For example, for this purpose, the patient receiving area is cylindrical and / or surrounded by the scanner unit in a cylindrical manner. For this purpose, the scanner unit has a housing of the housing unit that at least partially surrounds the patient receiving area. The housing surrounding the patient receiving area can also be designed as a single piece and / or as a single piece with the side of the radio-frequency antenna unit of the scanner unit facing the patient receiving area, or can also be designed separately from the radio-frequency antenna unit of the scanner unit.

[0017] A field of view (FOV) and / or an isocenter of the magnetic resonance device is preferably arranged within the patient acquisition area. The FOV preferably comprises a detection region of the magnetic resonance device within which the conditions for acquiring medical image data, in particular magnetic resonance image data, are present, such as a homogeneous basic magnetic field. The isocenter of the magnetic resonance device preferably comprises the region and / or point within the magnetic resonance device that has the optimal and / or ideal conditions for acquiring medical image data, in particular magnetic resonance image data. In particular, the isocenter comprises the most homogeneous magnetic field region within the magnetic resonance device.

[0018] The patient support device is designed for positioning and / or supporting the patient for a magnetic resonance examination. The patient support device can comprise a patient table that is designed to be retractable into the patient receiving area. For a magnetic resonance examination, the patient is positioned on the patient table such that, after positioning the patient table within the patient receiving area, the area to be examined is arranged and / or positioned within the isocenter of the patient receiving area.

[0019] For communication and / or information exchange between the patient and the medical personnel during a magnetic resonance examination, the magnetic resonance device comprises a communication unit. The communication unit preferably comprises a communication element on the user side, such as a communication console for inputting and / or outputting communication data, such as information. Furthermore, the communication unit also comprises at least one communication element on the patient side. In particular, the communication unit comprises a visual communication element designed as a patient display unit.

[0020] The patient presentation unit has a presentation surface, in particular a patient display, which is arranged within the patient reception area. The patient presentation unit, in particular the patient display, is designed for the visual and / or optical output of information and / or instructions to the patient during the magnetic resonance examination. The patient presentation unit, in particular the patient display, has a reflective display. The reflective display preferably comprises a passive display and / or a non-luminous display of content and / or information on the display and / or a presentation surface. The reflective display preferably comprises an e-paper display. Reflective displays and / or e-paper displays reflect light like normal paper.Reflective displays and / or e-paper displays are often constructed in such a way that the distance between imaging elements and the surface, in particular an output surface and / or a display surface, is smaller than with conventional displays, such as an LC display.

[0021] The invention has the advantage that the displayed image content appears the same from all viewing angles due to the small distance between the imaging elements and the display surface and / or presentation surface. Furthermore, reflective displays and / or e-paper displays allow for particularly energy-efficient static displays over extended periods, as these displays only require a current flow to change the image content, for example, to change a page. Furthermore, the static display can be operated flicker-free. A further advantage is that the display on the reflective display and / or e-paper display is easily legible and / or recognizable for a patient in both dark and bright environments.In addition, reflective displays and / or e-paper displays can be made very thin and light, so that a space-saving arrangement can be achieved within the patient reception area and the space and / or area available to the patient within the patient reception area is essentially hardly restricted.

[0022] In an advantageous development of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention, it can be provided that the patient receiving area has a housing surrounding the patient receiving area with an inner wall, and the reflective display is arranged on the inner wall surrounding the patient receiving area at the top. Preferably, the reflective display and / or the e-paper display is arranged on an inner wall of the housing surrounding the patient receiving area, opposite a support area that is designed and / or configured to support a patient's head. This makes it possible to achieve advantageous visibility of the reflective display and / or the e-paper display for a patient during a magnetic resonance examination and / or while staying within the patient receiving area.

[0023] In an advantageous development of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention, it can be provided that the reflective display has a shape and the shape of the reflective display is adapted to a surface shape of the inner wall of the housing surrounding the patient receiving area. Preferably, the reflective display and / or the e-paper display is designed to be bendable and can thus be adapted particularly easily to the surface shape of the inner wall of the housing surrounding the patient receiving area. In this way, a particularly space-saving arrangement of the patient display unit, in particular of the reflective display and / or the e-paper display, within the patient receiving area can be achieved. In particular, a precisely fitting arrangement of the reflective display and / or the e-paper display to the surface shape of the inner wall can be achieved in this way.

[0024] In an advantageous development of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention, the magnetic resonance device can be provided with a data transmission unit configured to transmit data to the reflective display. The data transmission unit can comprise wired data transmission and / or data transmission via optical fibers and / or data transmission via a standard radio protocol, such as Bluetooth, and / or data transmission via optical data transmission technologies, such as infrared data transmission. Furthermore, other transmission technologies deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art are possible at any time.

[0025] According to the invention, the magnetic resonance device has a display control unit, wherein by means of the display control unit, a data transmission to the reflective display and / or a signal processing by the reflective display is deactivated during an acquisition of magnetic resonance data.

[0026] The display control unit comprises at least one computing module and / or a processor, wherein the display control unit is configured to control the patient display unit, in particular the reflective display and / or the e-paper display. Thus, in particular, the display control unit is configured to execute computer-readable instructions for controlling the patient display unit, in particular the reflective display and / or the e-paper display. In particular, the display control unit comprises a memory unit, wherein computer-readable information is stored on the memory unit, wherein the display control unit is configured to load the computer-readable information from the memory unit and to execute the computer-readable information. The components of the display control unit can predominantly be implemented in the form of software components.In principle, these components can also be partially implemented, particularly when particularly fast calculations are required, in the form of software-supported hardware components, such as FPGAs or the like. Likewise, the required interfaces, for example, when only transferring data from other software components is required, can be implemented as software interfaces. However, they can also be implemented as hardware interfaces controlled by suitable software. Of course, it is also conceivable for several of the aforementioned components to be implemented together in the form of a single software component or software-supported hardware component.

[0027] The acquisition of magnetic resonance data preferably takes place within magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows. During these magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows, data transmission to the reflective display and / or signal processing by the reflective display is prevented and / or deactivated. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that unwanted interference with magnetic resonance data acquisition is advantageously prevented, thus also preventing image artifacts in the acquired magnetic resonance image data.

[0028] In an advantageous development of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention, it can be provided that a static representation of image information and / or instructions is displayed on the reflective display during the acquisition of magnetic resonance data. Due to the static and / or continuous display of image information and / or instructions during the acquisition of magnetic resonance data, in particular during the magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows, the patient can continue to receive information. This static and / or continuous display during the magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows can help calm the patient and thus also contribute to the high quality of the acquired image data.

[0029] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiment described below and from the drawings.

[0030] They show: Fig. 1 shows a magnetic resonance apparatus according to the invention with a patient imaging unit in a schematic representation and Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the patient receiving area with the patient imaging unit.

[0031] In Fig. 1 1 schematically shows a magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a scanner unit 11 formed by a magnet unit. In addition, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a patient receiving area 12 for receiving a patient 13. The patient receiving area 12 in the present exemplary embodiment is cylindrical and is surrounded in a circumferential direction by the scanner unit 11, in particular by the magnet unit. In principle, however, a different design of the patient receiving area 12 is conceivable at any time. The patient 13 can be pushed and / or moved into the patient receiving area 12 by means of a patient support device 14 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. For this purpose, the patient support device 14 has a patient table 15 designed to be movable within the patient receiving area 12.In particular, the patient table 15 is mounted so as to be movable in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the patient receiving area 12 and / or in the z-direction.

[0032] The scanner unit 11, in particular the magnet unit, comprises a superconducting base magnet 16 for generating a strong and in particular constant base magnetic field 17. Furthermore, the scanner unit 11, in particular the magnet unit, has 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 scanner unit 11, in particular the magnet unit, further comprises a radio-frequency antenna unit 20 for exciting a polarization that arises in the base magnetic field 17 generated by the base magnet 16.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 the patient receiving area 12 of the magnetic resonance device 10.

[0033] The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 has a system control unit 22 for controlling the base magnet 16, the gradient control unit 19, and the radio-frequency antenna control unit 21. The system control unit 22 centrally controls the magnetic resonance apparatus, such as performing a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence. The system control unit 22 also includes an evaluation unit (not shown in detail) for evaluating medical image data acquired during the magnetic resonance examination.

[0034] Furthermore, the magnetic resonance device 10 comprises a user interface 23 connected to the system control unit 22. Control information such as imaging parameters and reconstructed magnetic resonance images can be displayed on a display unit 24, for example, on at least one monitor, of the user interface 23 for medical personnel. Furthermore, the user interface 23 has an input unit 25, by means of which information and / or parameters can be entered by the medical personnel during a measurement process.

[0035] The scanner unit 11 of the magnetic resonance device 10 is arranged together with the patient support device 14 within an examination room 26. The system control unit 22, in contrast, is arranged together with the user interface 23 within a control room 27. The control room 27 is separate from the examination room 26. In particular, the examination room 26 is shielded from the control room 27 with respect to high-frequency radiation. During a magnetic resonance examination, the patient 13 is located within the examination room 26, whereas the medical personnel are usually located within the control room 27.

[0036] For communication and / or information exchange between the patient 13 and the medical staff during a magnetic resonance examination, the magnetic resonance device 10 has a communication unit 28 ( Fig. 1 ). The communication unit 28 has a communication element on the operator side, designed as an operator console 29. The communication element, in particular the operator console 28, is preferably arranged within the control room 27. The operator console 29 has an input element 30 and an output element 31. The input element 30 and / or the output element 31 can be designed as an acoustic and / or visual input element 30 and / or output element 31.

[0037] Furthermore, the communication unit 28 has a first communication element on the patient side, which is designed as an input element 32. Using the input element 32, the patient 13 can inform the operator, in particular the medical personnel, about a condition, such as, for example, discomfort, during the magnetic resonance examination. In the present exemplary embodiment, the input element 32 is designed as a patient call ball. In principle, however, further input elements 32 that appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art, such as a microphone, etc., are possible in a further embodiment of the communication unit 28. The communication unit 28 further has a second communication element on the patient side, which is designed as an output element 33. The output element 33 is designed as a patient display unit 34. The patient display unit 34 comprises a reflective display 35, which is designed as an e-paper display.

[0038] The patient display unit 34, in particular the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display, is arranged within the patient receiving area 12. The patient receiving area 12 comprises a housing 36 surrounding the patient receiving area 12 and having an inner wall 37. In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing 36 surrounding the patient receiving area 12 is formed integrally with the radio-frequency antenna unit 20, in particular with a side of the radio-frequency antenna unit 20 facing the patient receiving area 12. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing 36 surrounding the patient receiving area 12 can also form a separate unit from the radio-frequency antenna unit 20.

[0039] The reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display is arranged on the inner wall 37 of the housing 36 surrounding the patient receiving area 12, said inner wall 37 surrounding the patient receiving area 12 upwards. Thus, the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display is arranged on a side of the patient receiving area 12, which is arranged opposite a support surface 38 for supporting the patient 13, in particular the head of the patient 13.

[0040] The reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display is designed to be particularly thin and flexible. The reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display has a shape that is adapted to a surface shape of the inner wall 37 of the enclosure 36 surrounding the patient receiving area 12. In particular, the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display is arranged to fit precisely to the surface shape of the inner wall 37, as shown in Fig. 2 , a cross-section through the patient reception area 12.

[0041] The magnetic resonance device 10, in particular the communication unit 28, further comprises a data transmission unit 39, wherein the data transmission unit 39 is designed for data transmission of communication data, in particular visual communication data, to the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display ( Fig. 1 ). The data transmission unit 39 can comprise a wired data transmission and / or a data transmission via optical fiber and / or a data transmission via a standard radio protocol, such as Bluetooth, and / or optical data transmission technologies, such as infrared data transmission. Furthermore, other transmission technologies deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art are possible at any time.

[0042] The magnetic resonance apparatus 10, in particular the communication unit 28, further comprises a display control unit 40. In the present exemplary embodiment, the display control unit 40 is integrated within the system control unit 22. In an alternative embodiment of the display control unit 40, it can also be designed separately from the system control unit 22.

[0043] The display control unit 40 controls communication via the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display. The display control unit 40 is configured to deactivate data transmission to the reflective display 35 and / or signal processing by the reflective display 35 during magnetic resonance data acquisition. Magnetic resonance data is preferably acquired within magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows. During these magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows, the data transmission to the reflective display 35 and / or signal processing by the reflective display 35 is prevented and / or deactivated by the display control unit 40.In addition, during the acquisition of magnetic resonance data, in particular in these magnetic resonance data acquisition time windows, static and / or permanent image information for the patient 13 will be displayed by means of the reflective display 35 and / or the e-paper display.

[0044] The illustrated magnetic resonance apparatus 10 may, of course, include additional components that magnetic resonance apparatuses 10 typically include. The general functioning of a magnetic resonance apparatus 10 is also known to those skilled in the art, so a detailed description of the additional components is omitted.

Claims

1. Magnetic resonance apparatus with a scanner unit (11), a patient receiving area (12) at least partly surrounded by the scanner unit (11) and a patient display unit (34) arranged within the patient receiving area (12), wherein the patient display unit (34) is embodied for a visual and / or optical output of information and / or instructions to a patient (13) during the magnetic resonance examination and comprises a reflective display (35), wherein the reflective display (35) reflects light like normal paper, characterised by a display control unit (40), wherein the display control unit (40) is designed to deactivate a data transmission to the reflective display (35) and a signal processing by the reflective display (35) during an acquisition of magnetic resonance data.

2. Magnetic resonance apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the reflective display (35) comprises an E-paper display.

3. Magnetic resonance apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the patient receiving area (12) has a housing (36) surrounding the patient receiving area (12) with an inner wall (37) and the reflective display (35) is arranged on a side of the patient receiving area (12), which is arranged opposite a support surface (38) for supporting the patient (13), in particular the head of the patient (13).

4. Magnetic resonance apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a data transmission unit (39), wherein the data transmission unit (39) is embodied for a data transmission to the reflective display (35).

5. Magnetic resonance apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a static display of image information by the reflective display (35) is shown during the acquisition of magnetic resonance data.