MRI involving a local RF coil being movable relative to a pediatric patient carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9386940-B2
Application number	US-201214009350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2012
Priority date	Apr 18, 2011
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A pediatric patient handling assembly includes a carrier on which a pediatric patient is positioned and prepared for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The carrier carrying the pediatric patient is set on a support table of an MRI scanner. The support table includes a local RF coil assembly mounted on the support table. The carrier is slid along the support table and into engagement with the local RF coil assembly. Interacting guide surfaces on the carrier and the local RF coil assembly align and engage the carrier along a longitudinal axis of the support table. The local RF coil assembly includes a pivotally mounted anterior coil which is lowered towards a base of the support table into an imaging or operating position. The support table, with the engaged local RF coil assembly, carrier and pediatric patient, is translated into a magnetic imaging region of the MRI scanner.

First claim

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

1. A pediatric patient handling assembly comprising:
a local radio frequency coil assembly, the radio frequency coil comprising a pediatric patient receiving region and configured to be mounted to a patient support table of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner; and
a pediatric patient carrier configured to receive the pediatric patient, the pediatric carrier being configured to releasably engage with the local radio frequency coil assembly;
wherein the pediatric patient carrier is configured to slidingly translate longitudinally on the patient support table into releasable engagement with the local radio frequency coil assembly.

2. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pediatric patient carrier comprises:
a base arranged to support a pediatric patient and configured to slidingly translate on the patient support table longitudinally to the releasable engagement with the local radio frequency coil assembly;
carrier shoulders adjacent to a first end of the base and configured to engage a portion of the local radio frequency coil assembly; and
a head region adjacent to the carrier shoulders at the first end and configured to support a head of the received pediatric patient.

3. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the pediatric patient carrier further includes:
a grip surface extending from a second end opposite the first end, the grip surface configured to allow for a controlled movement of the pediatric carrier by an operator releasing the engagement of the pediatric carrier from the local radio frequency coil assembly.

4. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 2 , including:
a shield connected to the head region of the pediatric patient carrier, the shield being configured to move into a position which is configured to move into a position to protect the head of the received pediatric patient from contacting structures adjacent the pediatric patient receiving region.

5. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the local radio frequency coil assembly further comprises a head coil, a posterior coil, and an anterior body coil.

6. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the posterior coil defines a guide surface and the pediatric patient carrier defines interacting guide surfaces which slidably engage the guide surface of the posterior coil to align the local radio frequency coil assembly and the pediatric patient carrier.

7. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pediatric carrier comprises carrier shoulders configured to abut a mating structure of the local radio frequency coil assembly when the pediatric patient carrier is received in the pediatric patient receiving region.

8. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pediatric patient carrier and the local radio frequency coil assembly comprise an interlocking structure which releasably holds an anterior body coil in an operating position as the pediatric patient carrier is at least partially received in the pediatric patient receiving region.

9. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the interlocking structures comprise a detent and recess configuration that is configured to provide a tactile feedback when the pediatric patient carrier is releasably engaged with the local radio frequency coil assembly without locking the carrier in the pediatric patient receiving region.

10. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a ratchet member configured to engage the pediatric patient carrier to hold an anterior body coil in an operating position and configured to release the anterior body coil from the operating position in response to the pediatric patient carrier being withdrawn from the pediatric patient receiving region.

11. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the anterior body coil is pivotably mounted to the local radio frequency coil assembly to pivot between a resting position and an operating position.

12. The pediatric patient handling assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the anterior body coil includes a counter-weight which biases the anterior body coil to pivot to a resting position.

13. A method of handling a pediatric patient within a magnetic resonance imaging scanner configured to accept and evaluate an adult patient, the method comprising acts of:
mounting a local radio frequency coil assembly to a patient support table of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner;
arranging the pediatric patient within a patient carrier;
positioning the patient carrier on the patient support table of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner;
moving the patient carrier into engagement with the local radio frequency coil assembly;
moving the patient support table of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner with the engaged carrier and the local radio frequency coil assembly into an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner; and
scanning the pediatric patient within the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pediatric patient is between 0 and 18 months of age.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
lowering an anterior body coil of the local radio frequency coil assembly to an operating position, in response to moving the patient carrier into the engagement with the local radiofrequency coil assembly.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
pulling the patient carrier away from the local radio frequency coil assembly, wherein the pulling releases the anterior body coil to move from the operating position to an open position.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pediatric patient is arranged within the patient carrier outside of a magnetic resonance imaging shield room.

18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising an act of coupling at least one of a tube, a wire, or a conduit member to the patient, the one of the tube, the wire, or the conduit member extending from an associated medical instrumentation, and wherein the act of coupling is performed prior to the act of moving the patient carrier into the engagement with the local radiofrequency coil assembly.

Assignees

• Friman Olli Tapio
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Friman Olli Tapio

Classifications

• A61B5/702

  Posture restraints · CPC title

• A61B5/055

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

• A61B5/704 Primary

  Tables · CPC title

• A61B2503/04

  Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection · CPC title

• G01R33/34007

  Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system · CPC title