Operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus taking into account persons fitted with implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10101415-B2
Application number	US-201715488478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2017
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A method for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus by a safety unit, taking into account persons fitted with an implant, a safety unit, a safety system, a magnetic resonance apparatus, and a computer program product are provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a first part and a second part. The first part is operated separately from the second part and includes the safety unit. During an examination of a person fitted with an implant, the safety unit checks that the magnetic resonance apparatus, in a restricted operating mode, is complying with implant-conformant limit values.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus using a safety unit, taking into account persons fitted with implants, wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is operated separately from the second part and comprises the safety unit, the method comprising:
controlling, by the safety unit during an examination of a person fitted with an implant, the magnetic resonance apparatus in a restricted operating mode to comply with implant-conformant limit values,
wherein the first part comprises a switching unit,
wherein the safety unit is provided with switching information from a number of possible items of switching information by the switching unit, and
wherein an operating mode is set by the safety unit from a number of possible operating modes, depending on the switching information provided.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first part fulfills higher safety requirements than the second part.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first part is operated with a program in accordance with a first safety category,
wherein the second part is operated with a program in accordance with a second safety category, and
wherein the first safety category has higher safety requirements than the second safety category.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching unit comprises a switch, a pushbutton, or the switch and the pushbutton.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a patient registration unit,
wherein the safety unit is provided with patient registration information by the patient registration unit, and
wherein a change of operating mode is initiated at least partly by the patient registration information provided.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the number of possible operating modes comprises an unrestricted operating mode and the restricted operating mode,
wherein the number of possible items of switching information comprises active switching information and passive switching information, and
wherein the unrestricted operating mode is set when, at the time the patient registration information is provided, the switching information provided is the passive switching information.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the restricted operating mode is set when, at the time the patient registration information is provided, the switching information provided is the active switching information.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the restricted operating mode is set when the switching information provided is the active switching information.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a display unit that displays the operating mode.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety unit is provided with safety measurement data during the examination, based on which a check for compliance with the implant-conformant limit values is made.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the safety measurement data provided is at least partly verified.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety unit is provided with at least one configuration parameter dataset, based on which a check for compliance with the implant-conformant limit values is made.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter dataset is stored at least partly in the first part.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter dataset comprises a number of configuration parameter datasets, and
wherein one configuration parameter dataset is selected from the number of configuration parameter datasets depending on parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter dataset is transmitted at least in part from the second part into the first part.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter dataset provided is verified based on a checksum.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the checksum comprises a required checksum configured to identify uniquely a type of magnetic resonance apparatus, relevant components of a magnetic resonance apparatus, or a combination thereof, and
wherein the required checksum is created based on a required device ID and the at least one configuration parameter dataset.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the checksum comprises an actual checksum that is configured to identify uniquely the magnetic resonance apparatus, relevant components of the magnetic resonance apparatus, or a combination thereof,
wherein the actual checksum is created based on an actual device ID and the at least one configuration parameter dataset, and
wherein the actual checksum is compared with the required checksum.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety unit checks whether an operating error is present.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the operating error comprises a software error, a hardware error, an energy supply error, or any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein a function test is carried out by the safety unit in a safe operating mode, and
wherein the safe operating mode has lower limit values than the restricted operating mode, the unrestricted operating mode, or the restricted operating mode and the unrestricted operating mode.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the operating mode changes from the safe operating mode into the restricted operating mode when the function test is successfully concluded.

23. A safety unit configured to operate a magnetic resonance apparatus taking into account persons fitted with implants, wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is operated separately from the second part and comprises the safety unit, the safety unit comprising:
a processor configured to control, during an examination of a person fitted with an implant, the magnetic resonance apparatus in a restricted operating mode to comply with implant-conformant limit values,
wherein the first part comprises a switching unit,
wherein the safety unit is provided with switching information from a number of possible items of switching information by the switching unit, and
wherein the safety unit is configured to set an operating mode from a number of possible operating modes, depending on the switching information provided.

24. A safety system comprising:
a safety unit configured to operate a magnetic resonance apparatus taking into account persons fitted with implants, wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is operated separately from the second part and comprises the safety unit, the safety unit comprising a processor configured to control, during an examination of a person fitted with an implant, the magnetic resonance apparatus in a restricted operating mode to comply with implant-conformant limit values;
a switching unit; and
a display unit,
wherein the switching unit is configured to transfer switching information to the safety unit,
wherein the safety unit is configured to set an operating mode based on the switching information, and
wherein the display unit is configured to display the operating mode set.

25. A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
a first part and a second part,
wherein the first part comprises a safety system comprising a safety unit,
wherein the s

Assignees

• Bielmeier Wolfgang
• Brinker Gerhard
• Demharter Nikolaus
• Erbe Bernd
• Gebhardt Matthias
• Nistler Juergen
• Paul Dominik
• Prinz Carsten
• Ruyters Gudrun
• Stoecker Stephan
• Vester Markus
• Campagna Swen
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Bielmeier Wolfgang
• Brinker Gerhard
• Demharter Nikolaus
• Erbe Bernd
• Gebhardt Matthias
• Nistler Jürgen
• Paul Dominik
• Prinz Carsten
• Ruyters Gudrun
• Stöcker Stephan
• Vester Markus
• Campagna Swen

Classifications

• A61B5/055 Primary

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• G01R33/543

  Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription (G01R33/546 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R33/288 Primary

  Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room · CPC title

• G01R33/285

  Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR · CPC title

• G01R33/32

  Excitation or detection systems, e.g. using radio frequency signals · CPC title