Movable Patient Table Positioning for MRI Artifact Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic resonance image artifacts caused by imaging materials positioned within the patient receiving area can lead to misinterpretation of data and misdiagnoses, as these materials can create disruptive effects in the diagnostic imaging data.

Innovation Solution

A method for positioning a patient within a magnetic resonance examination area using a movable patient table, allowing movement in horizontal and vertical directions to position the patient outside the critical field extent of the magnetic resonance system, thereby reducing or eliminating image artifacts by ensuring the region of interest is within the isocenter for optimal image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If imaging materials are positioned within the patient receiving area for comprehensive coverage, then the diagnostic coverage is improved, but image artifacts increase leading to misinterpretation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic coverageVSAvoidimage artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces vertical positioning capability to the patient table, adding a third dimension (vertical axis) to the traditional horizontal positioning. This allows the table to be moved not only in the horizontal direction (first horizontal direction) but also in the vertical direction and second horizontal direction, enabling three-dimensional positioning of the patient within the patient receiving area. This dimensional expansion allows optimal placement of the region of interest within the field of view while excluding imaging materials that cause artifacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the positioning requirements for different regions. The region of interest is positioned within the field of view for optimal image quality, while imaging materials are positioned outside the critical field extent. This localized optimization ensures that only the necessary area is included in the diagnostic coverage, excluding artifact-causing materials from the critical imaging zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If the patient table is moved to position the region of interest within the field of view, then image quality is improved, but positioning precision is challenged by the need to exclude imaging materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary positioning actions by moving the patient table in the first horizontal direction to bring the region of interest into the field of view before the magnetic resonance examination begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the correct anatomical region is captured in the initial imaging, allowing subsequent fine-tuning without including artifact-causing imaging materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic positioning capabilities where the patient table can be adjusted in multiple directions (first horizontal direction, second horizontal direction, and vertical direction) during the examination setup. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adaptively position the patient and exclude imaging materials from the critical field extent while maintaining the region of interest within the field of view, achieving both high image quality and artifact reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If imaging materials are included in the field of view for complete anatomical coverage, then diagnostic completeness is improved, but diagnostic accuracy decreases due to artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic completenessVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts imaging materials from the critical field extent by positioning them outside the region that causes artifacts. This extraction allows the diagnostic imaging to focus solely on the region of interest without the interference of imaging materials, thereby maintaining diagnostic completeness for the target area while eliminating sources of diagnostic error.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11452461B2Method for positioning a patient within a patient receiving area for a magnetic resonance examination and a corresponding magnetic resonance system

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed for positioning a patient within a patient receiving area for a magnetic resonance examination. The techniques may include positioning the patient on a mobile patient table of a patient support facility and moving the patient table in a first horizontal direction until a region of the patient to be examined is arranged in a field of view of a patient receiving area of a magnetic resonance system. Moreover, the patient positioning techniques may include moving the patient table in a second horizontal direction and/or in a vertical direction within the patient receiving area, and acquiring medical magnetic resonance data of the region of the patient to be examined.