A tool to support MRI examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Abstract

In MRI examinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke, it is often difficult for patients to fix and hold their heads due to impaired consciousness or limb weakness. Therefore, this invention provides a tool that is structurally rational, easy to operate, and effectively enhances the head fixation effect. [Solution] A tool to support MRI examination, comprising a base 1, a head rest member 2 with adjustable anterior-posterior position, a lateral limiting member 3 with an elastic buffer layer, and an adjustment mechanism 4. The head rest member slides relative to the base to adapt to the length of the patient's neck. The lateral limiting member is biased inward by a compression coil spring and flexibly holds both sides of the head with an elastic buffer layer, absorbing and suppressing involuntary movements. The adjustment mechanism uses a single reverse-threaded adjustment rod to synchronously and symmetrically move the left and right limiting plates, enabling precise adjustment according to the head circumference. This effectively limits multi-directional micro-movements of the head during imaging and improves image stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly relates to a tool for assisting the MRI examination of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background Art

[0002] Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by cognitive impairment that appears after a stroke and persists for up to six months, and is one of the most common sequelae of stroke. According to epidemiological surveys, the overall incidence rate of PSCI reaches 80.97%. Without appropriate intervention, it can have a profound impact on the patient's quality of daily life and survival period. In the conventional view, the severity of PSCI has been considered to be mainly determined by the volume and location of the lesion. However, many neuroimaging studies have revealed that it is difficult to explain, with this "local determinism", the reasons for the large individual differences in the cognitive outcomes of patients with similar lesion characteristics. Furthermore, the neural mechanism of PSCI is complex and the heterogeneity of the lesion is strong. Conventionally, diagnosis and classification have been carried out relying on evaluation scales such as MMSE and MOCA, but these scales are easily affected by factors such as educational level, age, and mood, and cannot clarify the underlying neural mechanism.

[0003] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful means for studying the brain function changes of PSCI patients, and it advances our understanding of the brain from the "local lesion" stage to the "network interaction" stage. Therefore, for patients with acute ischemic stroke, promptly performing an MRI examination is extremely important in determining the diagnosis, evaluating the lesion range, and deciding on the treatment plan. During the MRI examination process, the patient needs to select the supine position and maintain the state of fixing the head, thereby ensuring the sharpness of the image and the accuracy of the diagnosis. However, in the acute phase, patients often have difficulty autonomously maintaining a fixed position due to reasons such as consciousness disorder, limb weakness, or anxiety, and are likely to cause head movement, which affects the image quality, leads to reimaging, prolongs the examination time, and may increase the medical burden.

[0004] Currently, in clinical practice, patients' heads are often supported using standard head pillows or simple restraint belts. However, such devices generally lack the structure to accommodate the specific positional needs of patients with acute ischemic stroke, making it difficult to effectively limit minute head displacements in multiple directions while ensuring comfort. Especially when long scans are required or when patient cooperation is low, existing restraint methods have certain limitations in terms of stability, which can affect the spatial resolution of MRI images and the reliability of subsequent image analysis. Therefore, to meet the actual needs of MRI examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke, it is necessary to provide an auxiliary tool that is structurally rational, easy to operate, and effectively enhances the head restraint effect. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] This invention provides a tool to support MRI examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It aims to effectively limit minute displacements of the head in multiple directions, even when the patient is unconscious or has limb weakness, while also considering patient comfort and improving the spatial resolution of MRI images and the stability of the acquisition process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, this invention employs the following technical solution: Tools to support MRI examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke are: Base and, Head rest member and Lateral limiting member, It is equipped with an adjustment mechanism.

[0007] The aforementioned base is intended for installation on an MRI examination table.

[0008] The head rest is slidably connected to the base and supports the patient's head, while also allowing adjustment of its front-to-back position along the longitudinal direction of the base.

[0009] The lateral limiting member includes a left limiting plate and a right limiting plate, which are symmetrically installed on both sides of the headrest member. The inner surfaces of the left limiting plate and the right limiting plate are covered with an elastic buffer layer. The lower ends of the left limiting plate and the right limiting plate are each connected to a guide rod. The guide rod passes through a guide hole drilled in the side wall of the base and slides into place with the guide hole. A compression coil spring is fitted into the guide rod, with one end of the compression coil spring in contact with the outer wall of the base and the other end in contact with a locking structure on the guide rod, so that the elastic buffer layers of the left limiting plate and the right limiting plate have a tendency to move inward in their natural state.

[0010] The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment screw rod, a handle, and connecting bases. One end of the adjustment screw rod is rotatably connected to the side wall of the base. The handle is fixedly connected to the other end of the adjustment screw rod. There are two connecting bases, each fixedly connected to the lower end of the left limiting plate and the right limiting plate. Each connecting base is provided with a screw hole, the adjustment screw rod passes through the screw holes of the two connecting bases, and the screw holes of the two connecting bases are reverse-threaded.

[0011] The head rest member includes a headrest portion, a support frame, and a connecting plate. The upper surface of the headrest portion is provided with a central recess for accommodating the back of the patient's head. The headrest portion is connected to the upper end of the connecting plate via the support frame. The lower end of the connecting plate slides into sliding grooves provided on both sides of the base, and the connecting plate has fastening members for fixing itself at any position within the sliding grooves.

[0012] The left and right limiting plates each have a curved folded portion at their upper edges that extends upward and is covered with an elastic buffer layer.

[0013] The adjustment screw rod is provided with scale marks, and the base is provided with an observation window for observing these scale marks.

[0014] The upper surface of the base is provided with a concave region that conforms to the physiological curvature of the cervical spine of the human body, and ventilation holes are provided at the bottom of the concave region. The lower surface of the base is provided with an anti-slip pad. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] This invention allows for flexible adjustment of the anterior-posterior position of the headrest according to the length of the patient's neck, through the sliding connection and interlocking of fastening members between the headrest member and the base. It ensures that the patient's occiput is stably in close contact with the central recess and effectively restricts anterior-posterior displacement of the head in conjunction with the concave area on the surface of the base. This structure is simple and easy to operate, and is particularly suitable for patients whose cervical control is weakened due to acute ischemic stroke. It provides basic anterior-posterior stability in the initial positioning stage, lays the foundation for later lateral fixation, and fundamentally reduces interference of head movement with MRI imaging.

[0016] In this invention, the lateral limiting member allows an elastic cushioning layer covered with low-rebound polyurethane foam to softly and continuously adhere to both sides of the patient's head under the preload of a compression coil spring. If the patient unconsciously shakes their head, the elastic cushioning layer effectively absorbs the initial impact energy, and the flexible restoring force of the compression coil spring limits the displacement, thus avoiding rigid body collisions. The curved folded portion provided on the upper edge of the limiting plate further increases the contact area with the patient's temporal region and auricle, providing inclusive limiting. This ensures patient comfort, reduces the feeling of pressure, and effectively suppresses lateral head movement.

[0017] In the adjustment mechanism of the present invention, by driving two connecting pedestals using an adjustment screw rod with reverse screw threads at both ends with a single rod, synchronous relative or reverse movement of the left and right limiting plates is achieved, ensuring that the limiting acting force is always symmetrically applied to both sides of the patient's head. This avoids discomfort or head displacement that may be caused by pressure inequality on one side. The tight sliding fit between the guide rod and the guide hole ensures that the limiting plate moves smoothly only in the horizontal direction, preventing inclination and twisting when receiving force. The scale marks and observation windows enable the operator to intuitively and precisely control the distance between the two-sided limiting plates, quickly adapt to patients with different head circumferences, and improve the standardization and efficiency of the operation.

[0018] Each component of the present invention acts in cooperation. The headrest member restricts forward and backward movement, and the lateral limiting member and the adjustment mechanism cooperate to restrict left and right movement and minute rotation. The anti-slip pads at the bottom of the base prevent the entire tool from slipping, jointly achieving comprehensive suppression of minute displacements of the head in multiple directions within the imaging plane. Furthermore, the ventilation holes provided in the base enhance air circulation. All materials adopt medical biocompatible materials and do not contain metal parts, improving the stability and spatial resolution of MRI image collection, while also considering the comfort and safety of patients during the inspection process and meeting the special requirements of the magnetic resonance inspection environment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the combination of the lateral limiting member and the adjustment mechanism. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4. The present invention provides a tool for assisting in the MRI examination of patients with acute ischemic stroke. This tool includes a base 1, a headrest member 2, a lateral restraint member 3, and an adjustment mechanism 4. The base 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, and a concave region adapted to the physiological curvature of the human cervical vertebra is provided on its upper surface. A plurality of ventilation holes are opened at the bottom of the concave region, and the ventilation holes penetrate the upper and lower surfaces of the base 1 to strengthen air circulation and prevent local swelling due to long-term use by the patient. Sliding grooves 5 are symmetrically provided on both sides of the base 1. The sliding grooves 5 extend along the longitudinal direction of the base 1, and their cross-sectional shape is a swallowtail shape. This swallowtail structure prevents the connecting parts from coming out in the vertical direction and allows sliding only in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] The headrest member 2 includes a headrest part, a support frame, and a connecting plate. The headrest part is made of a medical silicone material and has excellent biocompatibility and soft elasticity. A central concave part is provided on its upper surface, and the central concave part extends along the longitudinal direction of the headrest part, with a curved cross-sectional shape and a depth of 1 cm. The central concave part accommodates the back of the patient's head and is used to guide it to its natural central position. The lower surface of the headrest part is connected to the upper surface of the support frame. The support frame has a U-shaped structure with the opening facing downward, and both ends thereof are fixedly connected to the upper ends of the connecting plates respectively. The lower ends of the connecting plates are fitted into the sliding grooves 5 of the base 1 and are in sliding fit with the sliding grooves 5. A lock bolt is provided on the outside of the connecting plate. After the lock bolt penetrates the connecting plate, it abuts against the side wall of the sliding groove 5, and the connecting plate can be fixed at any position in the sliding groove 5 by tightening the lock bolt. Further, a positioning pin is provided on the outside of the connecting plate, and a plurality of positioning holes are provided on the side wall of the base 1 along the longitudinal direction of the sliding groove 5. The interval between the positioning holes is 3 cm, and the positioning pin can be inserted into any positioning hole to achieve multi-stage fixing of the connecting plate and facilitate rapid adjustment of the front and back positions of the headrest part according to the neck lengths of different patients.

[0023] The lateral restricting member 3 includes a left restricting plate, a right restricting plate, and an elastic buffer layer. The left and right restricting plates are symmetrically positioned on both sides of the head rest member 2, and their structures are identical. The inner surfaces of the left and right restricting plates are covered with an elastic buffer layer. The elastic buffer layer is made of low-rebound polyurethane foam material, has a thickness of 2 cm, and has the property of slowly deforming after being compressed and gradually returning to its original shape, effectively absorbing the initial impact caused by the patient's involuntary head movements. The upper edges of the left and right restricting plates are provided with upwardly extending curved folds. The height of these folds is 5 cm, and their radius of curvature matches the lateral contour of an adult's head. The inside of these folds is also covered with an elastic buffer layer, reinforcing the inclusive restriction on the patient's temporal region and the area above the auricle.

[0024] The lower ends of the left and right limiting plates are each connected to guide rods 6. The guide rods 6 pass through guide holes drilled in the side wall of the base 1. The axis of the guide hole is perpendicular to the extension direction of the sliding groove 5. The guide rods 6 and the guide hole are slidably fitted together, and a straight bush is provided inside the guide hole. The outer ring of the straight bush is press-fitted into the guide hole, and the inner ring is gap-fitted with the guide rod 6, ensuring that the guide rod 6 slides smoothly and linearly, preventing sticking or displacement. A compression coil spring 7 is fitted onto the guide rod 6. One end of the compression coil spring 7 abuts against the outer wall of the base 1, and the other end abuts against a locking projection on the guide rod 6. The locking projection is integrally molded with the guide rod 6, and its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole, thereby preventing the guide rod 6 from completely coming out of the guide hole. The free length of the compression coil spring 7 is 10 cm, and the operating compression range is 2 to 6 cm. In its natural state, the compression coil spring 7 is pre-compressed, so that the elastic buffer layers of the left and right limiting plates make light contact with both sides of the patient's head, providing a limiting effect while preventing a feeling of pressure.

[0025] The adjustment mechanism 4 includes an adjustment screw rod, a handle, and a connecting base. One end of the adjustment screw rod is rotatably connected to the side wall of the base 1, ensuring stable rotation of the adjustment screw rod. The handle is fixedly connected to the other end of the adjustment screw rod, and the handle portion is provided with an easy-to-grip finger rest recess, taking into consideration the ease with which the operator can apply force. There are two connecting bases, each fixedly connected to the lower ends of the left and right restriction plates. Each connecting base has a screw hole, and the adjustment screw rod passes through the screw holes of the two connecting bases, and the screw holes of the two connecting bases are reversed threads. That is, one is a left-hand thread and the other is a right-hand thread. When the adjustment screw rod is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the two connecting bases move relative to or opposite to each other along the adjustment screw rod, thereby synchronously bringing the left and right restriction plates closer together or further apart, ensuring that the restriction action is always applied symmetrically to both sides of the patient's head, avoiding discomfort and image artifacts caused by compression on one side. A scale mark is provided in the middle of the adjustment screw rod, and the scale mark is distributed symmetrically on both sides with the midpoint of the adjustment screw rod as the zero point, with each scale mark representing a 0.5 cm movement distance of the limiting plate. An observation window is provided on the lower surface of the base 1, and the position of the observation window corresponds to the scale mark. The operator can directly read the current relative position of the limiting plate through the observation window, which makes it possible to precisely adjust the limiting interval based on the patient's head circumference.

[0026] A non-slip pad 8 is provided on the lower surface of the base 1. The non-slip pad 8 is made of natural rubber and has a grid-like pattern of protrusions on its lower surface, which increases the coefficient of friction with the surface of the MRI examination table. The non-slip pad 8 is fixedly connected to the base 1 by an adhesive method to prevent the entire tool from sliding during the imaging process.

[0027] During use, the tool is first placed on the MRI examination table, and the anti-slip pad 8 makes contact with the table surface to prevent the entire device from moving. Next, the connecting plate of the headrest member 2 is slid along the sliding groove 5 according to the patient's physique to adjust the front-to-back position of the headrest. This ensures that when the patient is in a supine position, the posterior head naturally fits within the central recess and the cervical spine conforms to the concave area on the upper surface of the base 1. At this time, the position of the connecting plate can be further fixed by inserting the positioning pin into the corresponding positioning hole or by using the locking bolt. Next, the operator rotates the handle to rotate the adjustment screw rod. Because the screws on the two connecting bases are reverse-threaded, the left and right limiting plates move inward synchronously until the elastic cushioning layer lightly adheres to both sides of the patient's head. By reading the scale marks through the observation window, it is possible to confirm whether the limiting interval conforms to the patient's head circumference. During the MRI scan process, if the patient experiences slight head tremors due to impaired consciousness, the elastic buffer layer absorbs the initial kinetic energy, and the compression coil spring 7 provides a flexible restoring force to limit the displacement. The fitting of the guide rod 6 with the guide hole ensures that the limiting plate moves only horizontally, without tilting or twisting, thereby maintaining spatial stability of the head in the left-right, front-back, and slight rotational directions. The overall structure of this invention does not contain any metal parts, complies with the magnetic compatibility requirements for MRI examinations, and all materials are medically certified, ensuring patient safety and comfort.

[0028] This invention, through the coordinated interlocking of the above-mentioned components, achieves multi-directional micro-motion suppression of the head of acute ischemic stroke patients without relying on external restraint belts or coercive restraints, thereby ensuring clarity and continuity of MRI image acquisition. This provides a good preliminary foundation for further research (for example, using MRI images as a basis to explore the relationship between the degree of damage to cognitive impairment circuits in PSCI and cognitive function using lesion network mapping (LNM) and dynamic functional coupling (dFC) techniques, and to clarify the effect of time-scale state changes in cognitive impairment circuits on post-stroke cognitive decline related to the degree of circuit damage). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1 base 2 Head-mounting member 3. Lateral restricting member 4 Adjustment mechanism 5. Sliding groove 6 Guide rod 7. Compression coil spring 8 Anti-slip pads

Claims

1. A tool to support MRI examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke, A base for installation on the MRI examination table, A head rest member is slidably connected to the base and supports the patient's head, and allows adjustment of its front-to-back position along the longitudinal direction of the base. A lateral restricting member comprising a left restricting plate and a right restricting plate symmetrically installed on both sides of the head rest member, wherein the inner surfaces of the left restricting plate and the right restricting plate are covered with an elastic buffer layer, the lower ends of the left restricting plate and the right restricting plate are each connected to a guide rod, the guide rods penetrate a guide hole drilled in the side wall of the base and slide-fit with the guide hole, a compression coil spring is fitted into the guide rod, one end of the compression coil spring abuts against the outer wall of the base and the other end abuts against a locking structure on the guide rod, and the elastic buffer layer of the left restricting plate and the right restricting plate has a tendency to move inward in its natural state, A tool for assisting MRI examinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke, comprising an adjustment mechanism including an adjustment screw rod, a handle, and connecting bases, wherein one end of the adjustment screw rod is rotatably connected to the side wall of the base, the handle is fixedly connected to the other end of the adjustment screw rod, there are two connecting bases, each fixedly connected to the lower end of the left limiting plate and the right limiting plate, each connecting base is provided with a screw hole, the adjustment screw rod passes through the screw holes of the two connecting bases, and the screw holes of the two connecting bases are reverse-threaded.

2. The tool for assisting MRI examination of a patient with acute ischemic stroke according to claim 1, wherein the head rest member includes a headrest portion, a support frame, and a connecting plate, the upper surface of the headrest portion is provided with a central recess for accommodating the back of the patient's head, the headrest portion is connected to the upper end of the connecting plate via the support frame, the lower end of the connecting plate slides into sliding grooves provided on both sides of the base, and the connecting plate has fastening members for fixing itself at any position within the sliding grooves.

3. The tool for assisting MRI examinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke according to claim 1, characterized in that the left restriction plate and the right restriction plate each have a curved folded portion extending upward and covered with an elastic buffer layer at their respective upper edges.

4. The tool for assisting MRI examinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment screw rod is provided with scale marks, and the base is provided with an observation window for observing the scale marks.

5. The tool for assisting MRI examinations of patients with acute ischemic stroke according to claim 1, characterized in that a concave region conforming to the physiological curvature of the cervical spine of the human body is provided on the upper surface of the base, ventilation holes are provided at the bottom of the concave region, and an anti-slip pad is provided on the lower surface of the base.

Images