Medical imaging apparatus and sensor arrangement therefor for acquiring at least one item of patient movement information during a medical imaging examination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11478197-B2
Application number	US-201816142695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A medical imaging apparatus, and a sensor arrangement for acquiring at least one item of patient movement information during a medical imaging examination, have at least one sensor element and a support apparatus, with the at least one sensor element arranged on the support apparatus. The support apparatus has a positioning element for positioning the support apparatus and at least one strut-like support element on which the at least one sensor element is removably arranged.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor arrangement for acquiring an item of patient movement information during a medical imaging examination conducted with a medical image data acquisition scanner, said sensor arrangement comprising:
a sensor supported on a movable support that is configured to position said sensor within a patient receiving zone of the medical image data scanner so that said sensor detects movement of a patient situated in the patient receiving zone of the medical imaging data scanner, wherein the medical imaging data scanner includes a positioning element disposed on a housing wall within the patient receiving zone; and
said movable support comprising:
a positioning structure that is configured to position the support within the medical image data scanner,
a strut-like support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being connected to the positioning structure, and
an arcuate frame connected to the second end of the strut-like support, the sensor being removably mountable to the arcuate frame, wherein:
the positioning element is configured to: establish an end position within the patient receiving zone of the strut-like support and position the arcuate frame and the sensor mounted thereon within the patient receiving zone;
a fastener is configured to selectively fasten the arcuate frame within the patient receiving zone at the end position; and
the arcuate frame and the sensor mounted thereon are configured to remain within the patient receiving zone, and the positioning structure and the strut-like support are configured to be removable from the patient receiving zone, when the arcuate frame is fastened at the end position.

2. A sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one further sensor mounted to said support that is also configured to detect said movement of said patient.

3. A sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strut-like support has an adjustable length.

4. A sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said positioning structure is a part of said strut-like support.

5. A sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support comprises one or more wheels that are configured to make said support mobile.

6. A sensor arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support comprises an arcuate frame to which said sensor is mounted.

7. A medical imaging apparatus comprising:
a medical image data acquisition scanner comprising a housing wall that surrounds a patient receiving zone;
a positioning element disposed on the housing wall within the patient receiving zone;
a fastener; and
a sensor arrangement configured for removable placement in said patient receiving zone, the sensor arrangement comprising: a sensor supported on a movable support that is configured to position said sensor within the patient receiving zone of the medical image data scanner so that said sensor detects movement of a patient situated in the patient receiving zone of the medical imaging data scanner, wherein;
the movable support includes: a positioning structure that is configured to position the support within the medical image data scanner, a strut-like support having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being connected to the positioning structure, and an arcuate frame connected to the second end of the strut-like support, the sensor being removably mountable to the arcuate frame;
the positioning element is configured to: establish an end position within the patient receiving zone of the strut-like support and position the arcuate frame and the sensor mounted thereon within the patient receiving zone;
the fastener is configured to selectively fasten the arcuate frame within the patient receiving zone at the end position; and
the arcuate frame and the sensor mounted thereon are configured to remain within the patient receiving zone, and the positioning structure and the strut-like support are configured to be removable from the patient receiving zone, when the arcuate frame is fastened at the end position.

8. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said medical imaging data scanner is a magnetic resonance scanner.

9. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support is movable into and out of said patient receiving zone.

10. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arcuate frame has a shape adapted to said housing wall, so that said arcuate frame is configured to be situated adjacent to said housing wall in said patient receiving zone.

11. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said positioning structure of said sensor arrangement is situated at said housing wall.

12. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said positioning structure has an L-shape.

13. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of said arcuate frame and said sensor is interlocked to said housing wall.

14. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said medical image data scanner comprises a patient bed having a support surface adapted to receive a patient thereon, and wherein said positioning structure is situated on the housing wall opposite to said support surface.

15. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising at least one further sensor mounted to said support that is also configured to detect said movement of said patient.

16. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said strut-like support has an adjustable length.

17. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said positioning structure is a part of said strut-like support.

18. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support comprises one or more wheels that are configured to make said support mobile.

19. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the positioning structure includes an elongated member.

20. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the shape of the arcuate frame corresponds to an interior surface of the housing wall so that the arcuate frame is insertable within the patient receiving zone.

21. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the positioning structure is directly connected to the strut-like support.

22. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first end of the strut-like support is directly connected to the positioning structure and the second end of the strut-like support is directly connected to the arcuate frame.

23. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein an internal angle of the positioning element corresponds to an external angle of the sensor.

24. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein an internal angle of the positioning element corresponds to an external angle of the arcuate frame.

25. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the arcuate frame comprises the fastener.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Beck Thomas
• Splitthoff Daniel Nico
• Schroeter Steffen

Classifications

• A61B5/704

  Tables · CPC title

• A61B5/055

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

• A61B5/0077

  Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens · CPC title

• A61B6/04

  Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like · CPC title

• A61B5/702

  Posture restraints · CPC title