Patient table for combination with a magnetic resonance imaging machine

IS 2 260 874 T3

DESCRIPTION

Machine for diagnostic and / or therapeutic treatment, particularly a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine.

The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine, according to the preamble of claim 1.

At present, patient tables, especially those that support the patient during diagnosis and therapeutic treatment, using machines for diagnosis and therapy, are considered to be separate from the structure of these machines. In order to allow the extremities or anatomical regions of the patient's body to be inserted into the operating area of ​​the machine, such as an operating surface, a chamber or a cavity, essentially two solutions are applied.

When the machines allow this to be done, the table, which has a substantially conventional shape, is totally or partially inserted in the structure thereof. This solution involves a huge size of the machines, which have a high acquisition and installation cost. Large machines are generally bulky and heavy and cannot be located in premises that are of normal construction in terms of volume and strength of floors. This means cost increases, which add to the higher cost of the machine.

In nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machines, the weight problem is important, and the dimensional problem also affects installation costs when, for example, the machines must be enclosed by protective structures that, due to their enormous volume, they do not normally have a lightweight construction.

An alternative solution, generally used with small and medium size and low and medium cost machines, particularly in nuclear magnetic resonance, is simply to place the tables close to the operating surfaces, chambers or cavities of the machines. This can also be done by providing coupling constraints between the two structures to obtain certain relative positions, although the machines and the table are always separate and distinct units, in terms of both construction and structural synergy. The overall dimensions of the machine with the addition of the table increase considerably and substantially to a degree corresponding to the dimensions of the table. When, for example in nuclear magnetic resonance machines, a limb or anatomical region of the patient is to be placed within a cavity or on an operating surface, the patient has to move, or convertible chairs, having inclined parts, have to be provided. or similar, or the dimensions of the support surfaces of the tables must be limited to a part of the patient's body, that is, to the part that is intended to remain outside the cavities, chambers, or operating surfaces.

DE 43 32 398 describes a device and a method for moving a patient comprising a patient table and a C-shaped magnet of an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) apparatus. The table is provided with a patient support plate that mounts on a table support frame. The table plate is held higher than the surface of the lower pole of the C-shaped magnet of the MRI machine. In addition, the table support frame has a recess under the table plate into which the bottom of the magnet and the MRI apparatus can be engaged while the table is moved into the patient cavity delimited by the magnet C, while the patient support plate overlaps the lower pole of the C-shaped magnet and the lower part of the magnet and the MRI apparatus associated with the lower pole enters the recess in the support frame below the patient support plate. patient.

Document 0 793 941 describes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising an examination bed having a magnetic pole on it and an upper flat surface, an upper part having the other magnetic pole on it, and an oriented lower surface to the upper surface of the examination bed, a bed arranged adjacent to the examination bed and a pair of struts provided on both sides of the examination bed to connect the examination bed and the upper part to each other by themselves. A space is opened between the lower surface of the upper part and the upper surface of the examination bed at least between the right and left struts of one side of the bed. The lower body of the MRI imaging apparatus has a circular shape and that bed surface connecting with the bed-facing part is straight so that it precisely connects with the circular lower body to the bed and also to decrease the load on the patient during transfer of the patient to the lower body.

In any case, the above solutions do not imply a synergistic relationship between the table and the machine, or the chambers, cavities or operating or working surfaces or intervention thereof.

Additional problems also arise when the patient is to be arranged in different orientations within a predetermined range. Herein, conventional tables, particularly when combined with low- or mid-cost machines, imply a considerably larger potential overall size of the table-machine combination.

The invention has the object of providing a table for the patient which, using comparatively simple and inexpensive means, can be more comfortable and easy to use, particularly with diagnostic and / or treatment machines.

The invention achieves the above ends by providing a machine in combination with the table according to the preamble of claim 1 and further comprising the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

According to an additional feature, each recess is associated with a removable insert to complement the support surface. These parts can be attached in different ways and using different means.

One embodiment provides that said recesses have a size much smaller than the overall support surface of the table and that they form open spaces in said support plane, such that they can be covered by the patient's body without affecting the support thereof.

IS 2 260 874 T3

In a preferred embodiment, a table has, for example, a plurality of these recesses, which can be provided in the area of ​​the upper extremities and shoulder, in the area of ​​the neck and head, and in the area of ​​the lower extremities, such as the knee, the foot or the like, that is, in the terminal areas of the table.

Depending on the size of the recesses, more of them can also be provided, for example in the trunk area.

The means for engaging the complementary inserts are preferably of the sliding type and are provided partially on said inserts, and partially on the delimiting edges of the recesses.

Such means can also be provided on the general operating surface of a machine for diagnostic tests and for therapeutic applications.

According to an additional feature, in order to provide adaptability for several different sizes of the working or working surfaces, the inserts can be modular and the modules can also have different shapes, so that they allow to adjust to the different possible shapes of the surfaces. of operation.

A further feature of the invention advantageously provides a table that is transversely divided into two parts, preferably but not necessarily substantially in the middle, parts that complement each other in an articulated coupling.

A preferred construction provides that a part of the table is provided, at its periphery, with a preferably circular guide, which completely surrounds it, and which extends from one end to the other of the terminal side of said part of the table, being opposite said terminal side to the end connected to the other part of the table.

A particularly advantageous configuration of this table provides that a part of the table has a recess whose middle axis is oriented coaxially to the central longitudinal axis of the table, which recess has its open side on the terminal side of the part of the table in which is provided, which is opposite to the side connected to the other part of the table.

In the present document, the part of the table with the recess on its terminal side consists substantially of a U-shaped frame, while the guide for attaching it to the other part of the table is attached all around said frame in the shape of a U. OR.

The U-shaped frame may also have a circular outer perimeter, coaxial with the arcuate joint guide.

Particularly, in order that a certain relative orientation can be maintained between the two parts of the table, removable means are provided for locking the two parts of the table in different positions of mutual angular orientation.

The two parts of the table can have two legs each, arranged so that the table can be self-supporting, while each part cannot be self-supporting in the working position, without the other.

Alternatively, each part may have such a number of legs to allow self-supporting thereof, when separated from the other part. All legs can have wheels.

The legs can be arranged in such a way and in number that the table can be used as a conventional transport table.

Thanks to the above characteristics, the table according to the invention can be integrated into or complemented by any working or operating surface or any side or wall to delimit operating chambers or diagnostic cavities or therapy machines.

The mutual penetration of the work or operating surface and the table allows a considerable reduction in overall size. Modular solutions of removable add-on inserts allow a table to fit a number of different work or operating surfaces. The latter are not only work surfaces or machine operating areas, but can also be surfaces equipped to carry out manual interventions. Thus, a table can be adjusted to several different operating conditions, so that the patient does not need to transfer frequently for different interventions.

The embodiment that provides a table divided into two separate parts, which can be oriented in any angular position on the horizontal plane, allows simply orienting the patient with respect to the working or working surface, to the working chamber or cavity, which complements the recess. of one of the two parts of the table.

The application concerns a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine, combined with a table. This machine has at least one surface or side that delimits a chamber or a cavity or a station, in which at least a part of the patient's body is to be located, or specific limbs or anatomical regions, the table being integrated into the structure of the the machine so that the at least one side of the chamber or cavity to house the patient or the extremities or anatomical regions of his body is at least part of the supporting surface of the table. Therefore, the table is integrated into the structure of the machine in such a way that the at least one side of the chamber or cavity to house the patient or the extremities or anatomical regions of his body complements the support surface of the part of the table associated with it, in the area of ​​the entree.

The recessed portion of the table advantageously has sliding means for engaging the side of the machine which is designed to complement the recess (s), for example by means of sliding guides, preferably along a rectilinear sliding path, directed towards the side. entree open.

Shock absorbing or end of travel means are also provided.

The table advantageously consists of a part that has the shape of a frame whose internal edge has a U-shaped profile, which opens on the terminal side towards the side of the machine that delimits or defines the chamber or the cavity or the surface. to support the patient, or parts of his body inside the machine, while a second part of the table is coupled to the first part, so as to allow free orientation on the horizontal plane.

This arrangement is particularly advantageous with machines that have access holes for the patient's body on at least three sides of their perimeter.

In particular, the table provides considerable advantages, when used in combination with

ES 2 260 874 T3 nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machines. In such machines, this configuration is the same as that of machines having a C-shaped magnet, that is, the cavity of which can be accessed from three sides of its perimeter. Herein, the lower horizontal side of the cavity is the side or surface that is to complement the U-shaped recess of the table.

With such a construction of the magnet, the two parts of the table can have an angular range for mutual orientation of approximately 180 °.

However, if the magnet is made up of two horizontal plates, separated by two or three columns, the angular positions for mutual orientation can be extended over 360 °, except for positions where the outer part is in line with the columns or posts. . Advantageously, in order to allow the table to simply engage with the magnet, that is to say with the side that delimits the cavity, the arched guide for the second part of the table has an angular extension of less than 360 °, since it is interrupted at the end hole of the recess. The angular width of orientation between the two parts of the table can be determined in this case by coupling the table on the diametrically opposite part of the magnet structure.

According to a further embodiment, a receiving coil is provided in combination with the front magnet, and with the front table, which coil can be fixed in one or more predetermined positions within the magnet cavity, and can be rotated about an axis parallel to the angular displacement angle covered by the outside of the table. Thus, the receiving coil can be rotated according to the angular position of the table with respect to the machine and consequently to the different positions of the patient.

Herein, advantages are gained from providing removable means for locking the take-up coil in any angular position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the C-shaped magnet is mounted on a carriage and is designed to complement a recess of a table with the lower horizontal side of the magnet cavity.

This variant is a low cost solution for very small systems.

The application deals with additional improvements, which form the subject of the dependent claims.

The characteristics of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom will appear more clearly from the following description of certain exemplary embodiments, illustrated without limitation by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, in which the machine comprises a C-shaped magnet with horizontal poles and a table consisting of two parts, which are joined or can be oriented on the horizontal plane , the table being uncoupled from the magnet.

Figure 2 is a perspective view like that of Figure 1, in which the table is coupled to the magnet and the part of the table outside the magnet is angularly displaced, its longitudinal axis being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the part of the table attached to the magnet and with a rigid guard in the raised position.

Figure 3 is a view like that of Figure 2, in which the protection element is lowered to the position in which it closes the open front side.

Figures 4 and 5 are two perspective views of two different receiver coils having a clamping base that can be rotated.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views, with respect to a radial plane, of the rotatable clamping base of the receiving coils, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, operating the locking means of the position and being inactive, respectively.

Figures 8 to 10 are top plan views of the means for locking the receiver coil holding bases as shown in Figures 4 to 7, in angular position.

Figures 11 and 12 are front and rear side perspective views, respectively, of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figures 13 to 19 are plan views of the machine as shown in Figures 11 and 12 in several different operating conditions.

The embodiments shown herein relate to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine in combination with a corresponding table.

Since in nuclear magnetic resonance machines, the problems of reducing costs and dimensions are very important, and they are still directly connected to each other, the combination illustrated and described in this document consists of a table and an imaging machine by nuclear magnetic resonance, and particularly includes a machine of low or medium cost and of small or medium size.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine comprises a magnet part 1. The magnet shown in these figures is C-shaped and defines a cavity with three open sides of its perimeter, while it is bounded by an upper side 101, a lower side 201 and a vertical side 301. These three sides are the cover of the magnetic structure and other operating elements, which is composed of a suitable material, for example plastic or the like, and has a recess 401, in a predetermined area, to house a base for holding the a receiver coil (see Figures 15 and 16).

The free end edges of the upper and lower sides 101 and 201 are rounded, preferably with a semi-circular profile.

A table 2 is associated with the magnet 1. The table consists of two parts 102, 202. The part 102 has a supporting surface that has a gap 302 that has a complementary shape and a size corresponding to the lower side 201 of the magnet 1, although it may have any external shape, preferably a circular segment shape with an angular extension of more than 180 °, such as to completely surround the central U-shaped gap, preferably with a circular rounded portion. Table portion 102 is designed to fit around side 201 of magnet 1, which complements the supporting surface. The table part 102 is supported by at least one pair of legs 3 with wheels 4, which are provided at least on the terminal side for connection to the other table part 202, also supported by a pair of legs 3 with wheels 4, being provided on the terminal side opposite that which connects to part 202. The supporting surface of the two parts of the table

ES 2 260 874 T3 is at the same level as the side 201 of the magnet 1. The part 202 of the table, called the external part in the description and claims, rests, at the end that connects with the part 102, on a guide 5 which is supported so as to project downwards, towards the connecting end of the table portion 202, by vertical pins 6 and by radial pins 7, arranged radially inside the guide 5. The guide 5 advantageously consists of a cylindrical section that is arcuate according to the external cylindrical profile of the table part 102. The table portion 102 has a cover housing 402, to cover the support legs and other elements, which, in the condition of engagement with the magnet, overlaps the magnet housing 501, giving the machine a continuous appearance. particularly nice.

Thanks to this construction, the table 2 can be coupled to the magnet 1, thus forming a complete support surface for the patient, having a size such as to be able to comfortably support the patient's body, while reducing the overall dimensions, i.e. , the part of the table that protrudes from the magnet. Furthermore, the so-called external part 202 of the table can be rotated around the part 102, which is coupled to and complemented by the lower side 201 of the magnet 1, in such a way that it can have any orientation on the horizontal plane with respect to the part 102. Herein, the C-shaped structure of the magnet provides an angular orientation range of approximately 180 °, thus allowing the patient to be arranged along an axis parallel to the vertical side 301, along an axis perpendicular thereto. , or along axes with intermediate directions on both sides of the axis perpendicular to the vertical side 301.

In combination with machines having magnets with different conformations, the rotation of part 202 with respect to part 102 can either be reduced, for example by using magnets with two open sides perpendicular to each other, or extended, for example by using magnets in the that the cavity is only defined by two sides, for example, the upper horizontal side and the lower horizontal side, while the poles associated with said two sides are separated by posts or columns, the number and size of which can vary from at least 1 to 2, 3 or more.

In order to use this table, for example to transport the patient, the part 102 can have a pair of legs with wheels also at the ends of the branches of the U-shape. Also, a removable element can be provided to close the gap. , thus completing the supporting surface, for example by sliding hooking means.

According to a further example, which does not form part of the claimed invention, which is particularly clear in Figures 4 to 10, a receiving coil 30 can be applied to the magnet 1, on the lower side 201. This coil can be either annular or C-shaped, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. Since the patient can have different orientations with respect to the magnet, by rotating the table portion 202 with respect to the 102 associated with the magnet, the receiving coil 30 must be oriented accordingly. Herein, coil 30 has a clamping base 31 which can be rotatably mounted and locked in a temporary position in recess 401 on the 201 side of the magnet. The base 31 of the receiving coil 30 has a circular lower recess 131, which is designed to be inserted into a guide disk. The guide disk 32 is mounted in the recess 410 on the lower side 201 of the magnet 1 and forms a box to house a mechanism with radial wedges to lock the base of the receiving coil 30.

The locking mechanism comprises three wedges which are housed in such a way that they can slide along radial guides 34 formed in guide disk 32, and open in the peripheral walls of said guide disk 32. A control disk 35 is mounted such that it can be rotated about its own axis within guide disk 32. The control disk has three axial projections 135, which coincide with the wedges 33 and each engages in an inclined slot 133 of the corresponding wedge. A control lever 36, pivoted coaxially to the control disc 35 and engaged so that it can be rotated by an axial tooth 37 of the disc, engaged in a corresponding hole in the lever at a radial position intermediate the peripheral edge and the center of the control disk 35 protrudes out of the guide disk 32. By angularly displacing the control lever 36, the control disk 35 is caused to rotate and, thanks to the axial projections 135 engaged in the inclined grooves 133 of the wedges 33, the latter move radially away from the peripheral edge of the disk. 32 guide or radially rearward.

In the peripheral wall of the circular recess 131 of the base 31 of the receiving coil, there is provided, at the same level as the radial wedges 33, an annular inlet whose width substantially corresponds to an intermediate thickness of the radial wedges 33. When said wedges move radially outward, they penetrate the peripheral annular inlet 231 of the peripheral wall of the recess 131 of the base 31, whereby the base 31, with the receiving coil, is locked in place, being held in place. so that the guide disk 32 cannot be rotated in the recess 401 of the lower side 201 of the magnet 1.

Advantageously, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the base 31 of the receiving coil 30 extends to the lower side of the recess 401 to house the guide disk 32, while the radial wedges 33 have, at their radial outer end , a perfectly upper horizontal side, while the lower side, that is, the one facing the bottom of the recess 401, is inclined. In this way, the radial wedges 33 also cause the base 31 of the receiving coil 30 to be fixed to the lower side of the housing recess 401 on the lower side 201 of the magnet 1. In order to provide a certain elasticity of the clamping movement. , between the upper side of the guide disk 32 and the oriented lower side of the circular recess 131 in the base 31, elastic means 38 are provided. These elastic means advantageously consist of an annular closure, having a preferably round section, that is to say an O-ring, composed of an elastic material, such as rubber or the like, and being supported in an annular coaxial inlet formed on the upper side of the disk. 32 guide. If required, several such annular closures can be provided, arranged concentrically.

In any case, the angularly movable receiver coil is of particular relevance in combination with the MRI apparatus and in combination with

ES 2 260 874 T3 the particular kind of table according to the invention. In fact, the rotatable receiver coil takes on a particular functional relevance when one part of the table could rotate around the other part of the table secured to the MRI apparatus.

Figures 11 to 19 show an example that is not part of the claimed invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the magnet 1 has a comparatively small size in terms of the surfaces of the sides 201 and 101, and especially the depth of the lower side 201 of the magnet 1 is less than the overall width of a table 2 of a roughly conventional size.

The dimension towards closed or substantially closed vertical wall 301 is also a submultiple of the length and / or width of table 2. In this example, side 201 has an arcuate or semicircular or U shape. The table 2 has, in the area substantially corresponding to the shoulder and upper extremities and in the area corresponding to the leg and lower extremities, a recess 302, which can normally be closed by means of a removable complementary element 502. This complementary, removable element 502 can, for example, be inserted into and removed from its position using simple sliding guides (not shown in detail), which can consist of a peripheral inlet formed in the wall of the recess 302 or of the element 502 of termination and in a rib formed in the peripheral wall of the other part.

As shown in the figures, the recesses 302 are of such a size that they do not affect the comfortable support of the patient on the table 2, since they can be saved by the patient's body without any effort and guaranteeing the support thereof.

Where the width of the table allows doing so, a recess 302 may also be provided on the terminal side of table 2, for head and neck tests. However, the configuration as shown in the figures also allows head and neck testing by properly positioning the patient on the table without affecting their support and comfort.

The magnet is small and can be mounted on a carriage frame 40. The table, shown in the figures as stationary, can also be provided with supports in the shape of a cart.

Figures 13 to 19 show several different operating modes of the machine-table combination according to this variant.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the magnet 1 can be provided with an element 41 for the protection of electromagnetic noise, which is designed in the form of a rigid oscillating cover.

In the illustrated example, the guard member 41 has an extension such that it only substantially closes the open side opposite the vertical closed side 301 of the magnet cavity 1. Obviously, guard members with different extensions may also be provided.

A U-shaped frame 141 whose shape is complementary to the outer perimeter of the upper side of the magnet 1 is hinged so that it can oscillate about a horizontal axis, parallel to the closed vertical side 301. The axis is substantially at the same level as or at a slightly higher level than the upper side 101 of the magnet 1 and extends through a closing guard 241 in the area of ​​the open side that is parallel or substantially opposite to said closed side 301. This shield or extension 241 may be integrally formed with or removably attached to the U-shaped frame 141. The shield member 41 is composed of an electrically conductive material, or is covered by a layer composed of an electrically conductive material. On the peripheral edges and possibly also on the faces of the U-shaped frame 141 which overlaps the peripheral edges of the upper part of the magnet 1, to which the frame is hinged, electrical connection means are provided that interact with the complementary means arranged in a coincident position on the surface of the table portion 102 and / or on the side 201 of the magnet. Along the free peripheral edges leaving two opposing conduits open, similar clamping and electrical connection means may be provided to clamp and electrically connect other complementary parts of the shield, either rigid or flexible to close the hole completely, or for flexible closure elements having means for electrical connection to and fixation against the patient's skin and / or table, as described in a previous patent application, published by the same owner as the present one and already mentioned in the present document. Obviously, this protection can be adapted to the shape of the different magnet configurations and can also be provided in a slightly modified form even with respect to the embodiment of Figures 11 to 19.

It should be noted that similarly to the case of the receiving coil, the protection device has particular relevance in combination with the MRI apparatus and the table according to the invention.

According to another characteristic of the invention, which results from figure 11, in combination with at least one of the recesses 302 of the table, a set of inserts 502 'could be provided that progressively reduce the dimension of the recess 302 in order to adapt this dimension to different sizes or different shapes of the work surfaces 201 of various MRI machines or other machines.

These inserts 502 'can be coupled to each other and to the table recess as modular elements, and the modules could have different shapes, so as to allow them to conform to the different possible shapes of the operating surfaces 201. The coupling elements could be mechanical, such as pins and corresponding insert holes in the oriented surface of adjacent insert modules 502 '. Alternatively or in combination, the coupling means could be for example strips of the so-called VELCRO ™ class. Additional known coupling means may alternatively be used which may seem obvious to the person skilled in the art or in combination with those cited above. This feature is only shown in combination with the table of figure 11 but could also be applied to the table according to the previous embodiment of the invention according to figures 1 to 3.

According to a further example, a surface is provided for scanning a part of the body under the influence of force. This surface indicated at 60 in Figures 16 and 19 is attached to the table. The means for attaching said surface to the table can be of any known kind, for example one or more va6

ES 2 260 874 T3 clamping rails protruding from the lower edge of the surface and which can be hooked into corresponding holes in the table. The clamping rods may be toothed and may cooperate with removable tooth gear means located in the holes to adjust the height. The tie rods can also be telescopic, having radial means such as screws to lock them in the desired position of elongation. Obviously, other fastening means could be provided such as for example fastening clamps which are detachably attached to the table frame.

Obviously, the invention is not intended to be limited to the foregoing description and illustrations, but can be varied widely, especially in construction, without departing from the invention as claimed below.