Containment tubes and imaging systems employing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301724-B2
Application number	US-3883208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2008
Priority date	Sep 27, 2005
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

An isolation system with imaging or radiation therapy capability is disclosed. At least one containment barrier ( 14, 15, 16, 17 ) defines an isolation region ( 10 ). An imaging or therapy system ( 20 ) is disposed outside of the isolation region. The containment barrier includes a substantially hollow tubular extension ( 24, 42, 44, 124, 224, 324 ) protruding away from the isolation region ( 10 ). The substantially hollow tubular extension surrounds an interior volume ( 26 ) that is in fluid communication with the isolation region and is in fluid isolation from the imaging or therapy system. The substantially hollow tubular extension is made at least partially of a material providing operative communication between the imaging or therapy system and the interior volume of the substantially hollow tubular extension.

First claim

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be:

1. A system for imaging or treating a subject disposed in an isolation region, the system comprising:
an imaging or therapy system disposed outside of and isolated from the isolation region and defining an examination region; and
a hollow tubular member overlapping the examination region, the hollow tubular member having a sealed end distal from the isolation region and an open end in fluid communication with the isolation region, the hollow tubular member and the open end being sized to admit the subject into the examination region, the hollow tubular member being supported outside of the isolation region, the hollow tubular member having a lower support region that is supporting the admitted subject in the examination region.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular member has a “D”-shaped cross-section with said lower support region comprising a substantially flat region and the system further comprises:
a table or pallet disposed inside the hollow tubular member, wherein the substantially flat region of the hollow tubular member having the “D”-shaped cross-section is supporting the admitted subject disposed on the table or pallet in the examination region.

3. The subject loading system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the “D” shaped cross-section of the hollow tubular member further includes an elliptical or circular cross-section portion.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the imaging or therapy system includes a magnetic resonance scanner, the examination region includes a bore of the magnetic resonance scanner, and the hollow tubular member is arranged substantially coaxially inside the bore of the magnetic resonance scanner.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the hollow tubular member has a “D”-shaped cross-section with said lower support region comprising a substantially flat region defining a magnet beam supporting the admitted subject in the bore of the magnetic resonance scanner.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the imaging or therapy system defines a confined bore surrounding the examination region, and the hollow tubular member is arranged substantially coaxially inside the bore.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising:
one or more braces disposed in the bore of the imaging or therapy system and at least contributing to supporting the hollow tubular member outside of the isolation region.

8. A system for imaging or treating a subject disposed in an isolation region, the system comprising:
an imaging or therapy system disposed outside of and isolated from the isolation region and defining an examination region;
a hollow tubular member overlapping the examination region, the hollow tubular member having a sealed end distal from the isolation region and an open end in fluid communication with the isolation region, the hollow tubular member and the open end sized to admit the subject into the examination region, the hollow tubular member being supported outside of the isolation region so as to support the admitted subject in the examination region; and
a table or pallet on which the subject is disposed, the table or pallet being movable into the hollow tubular member and having a surface or plurality of surfaces engaging the hollow tubular member and configured to comport with a configuration of the hollow tubular member so as to support the subject in the hollow tubular member.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular member comprises:
wound fiberglass filament defining the tubular member.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the hollow tubular member has a longitudinally tapering cross-section.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
an annular flange surrounding and secured with the open end of the hollow tubular member, the annular flange having an inner annular edge connecting with the open end of the hollow tubular member and a larger outer annular edge; and
an annular sealing member separate from the annular flange and providing an airtight seal between the annular flange and a containment barrier of the isolation region, the containment barrier including an opening communicating with the open end of the tubular member.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the imaging or therapy system detects ionizing radiation, and at least a portion of the hollow tubular member overlapping the examination region is substantially transmissive for the detected ionizing radiation.

13. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular member is rotatably connected to a containment barrier of the isolation region to enable partial or full rotation of the hollow tubular member respective to the containment barrier.

14. A system for imaging or treating a subject disposed in an isolation region, the system comprising:
a wall bounding the isolation region, the wall having a wall opening sized to receive a human subject;
an imaging or therapy system disposed on a side of the wall opposite the isolation region and isolated from the isolation region, the imaging or therapy system having a bore surrounding an examination region;
a hollow tubular member having an open end proximate to the wall, the hollow tubular member extending into the bore of the imaging or therapy system and overlapping the examination region, the hollow tubular member having a sealed end distal from the wall, the open end of the hollow tubular member being aligned with the wall opening of the wall bounding the isolation region, the hollow tubular member being sized to admit a human subject from the isolation region into the hollow tubular member through the wall opening and through the open end of the hollow tubular member;
an annular flange surrounding the open end of the hollow tubular member, the annular flange being integral with the hollow tubular member or secured with the hollow tubular member by welding or bonding; and
an annular sealing member compressed between the annular flange and the wall bounding the isolation region to provide an airtight seal between the tubular member and the wall bounding the isolation region so as to maintain fluid isolation of the imaging or therapy system from the isolation region including an interior of the hollow tubular member.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the annular sealing member comprises an annular gasket.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the annular gasket includes a vibration-dampening bubble portion.

17. The system as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the annular sealing member comprises a silicone rubber annular gasket.

18. The system as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the hollow tubular member comprises epoxy coated wound fiberglass.

19. The system as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising:
one or more braces supporting the hollow tubular member; and
a table or pallet movable into the hollow tubular member with a human subject supported on the table or pallet, the table or pallet configured to rest upon the hollow tubular member wherein the hollow tubular member is braced to support the table or pallet when moved into the hollow tubular member with a human subject disposed on the table or pallet.

20. The system as set forth in claim 14 , wherein:
the imaging or therapy system disposed on the side of the wall opposite the isolation region is isolated from the isolation region in accordance with Biol

Assignees

• Mcknight Douglas B
• Ambrosia Michael G
• Everett Dennis K
• Henderson Robert G
• Francken Gustavo
• Edwards Mark
• Love Alan
• Huber Marc
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Mcknight Douglas B
• Ambrosia Michael G
• Everett Dennis K
• Henderson Robert G
• Francken Gustavo
• Edwards Mark
• Love Alan
• Huber Marc

Classifications

• A61G10/00

  Treatment rooms {or enclosures} for medical purposes (baby incubators, couveuses A61G11/00; devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen or the like A61H33/14 {; for isolating individuals from external stimuli A61M21/0094} ; containers or portable cabins for affording breathing protection in general A62B31/00) · CPC title

• A61B6/04

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

• A61B5/702

  Posture restraints · CPC title

• A61B6/00

  Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment (instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161) · CPC title

• A61B5/0555

  Human Necessities · mapped topic