Patient Couch Positioning in MRI Using Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
During magnetic resonance examinations, the area to be examined and/or the moving area of the patient is frequently concealed by additional units, limiting the view and acquisition of movement data by sensor units, such as cameras, which hinders precise positioning and motion correction within the field of view and isocenter of the magnetic resonance device.
Innovation Solution
A method for positioning a patient couch in a magnetic resonance device that involves acquiring monitoring data using sensor units, evaluating this data to determine the optimal position for the patient couch within the patient receiving area, and automatically adjusting its position to ensure the area of interest is within the acquisition area of the sensor units, thereby maintaining a clear view and enabling motion correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient couch is manually positioned to bring the area of interest into the sensor unit's acquisition area, then the area to be examined can be captured for motion correction, but the process is time-consuming and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the position of the area of interest using sensor data and monitoring cameras, then autonomously controls the patient couch to move into the optimal position within the sensor unit's acquisition area, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and significantly reducing positioning time
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical positioning operation is replaced by an automated control system that uses sensor data processing and computer-controlled couch movement, substituting human manual manipulation with an automated electromechanical system
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional units are placed in the patient receiving area to support the examination, then the examination functionality is improved, but these units may conceal the area to be examined and limit the sensor unit's view
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the position of the area of interest and the couch position during the examination, providing real-time feedback to automatically adjust the couch position and maintain the area of interest within the sensor unit's acquisition area, ensuring continuous visibility despite the presence of additional examination units
Solution Approach 2:
The patient couch is made dynamically adjustable during the examination, allowing automatic repositioning based on real-time sensor data to maintain optimal viewing conditions for the area of interest even when additional units are present in the patient receiving area
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for positioning a patient couch in a patient receiving area of a magnetic resonance device for a magnetic resonance examination, which includes starting an introduction of the patient couch into the patient receiving area, acquiring monitoring data within an acquisition area of at least one sensor unit by means of the at least one sensor unit during the introduction of the patient couch into the patient receiving area, evaluating the monitoring data with respect to a selected area of an examination object and/or a selected area of the patient couch, and positioning the patient couch within the patient receiving area in dependence on an acquisition of the selected area of the examination object and/or the selected area of the patient couch in the monitoring data.