US 10,765,341 B2Granted

Feet positioning system for magnetic resonance imaging studies

AssigneeCentro de Ingenieria Genetica y Biotecnologia

InventorsCarlos Alberto Cabal Mirabal, Evelio Rafael González Dalmau, Luis Manuel Flores Díaz, Jorge Amador Berlanga Acosta, Luis Saturnino Herrera Martinez

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Abstract

The present invention is related to a system and method to ensure the reproducibility of the position of the feet and lower parts of the legs during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies, and to obtain robust quantitative information through the time. The system includes a device that is inserted into the radiofrequency coils of any MRI equipment. The device includes a foot support section, a leg support section and a base adapted to allow that the abovementioned sections be fixed in it. With this device and method, and through external and internal markers, quantitative studies of the evolution of pathophysiological phenomena that affect the anatomy and physiology of the feet and lower parts of the legs are performed.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to control the orientation of a foot of an individual during a MRI scanning process, the system comprising a foot positioning device, wherein said foot positioning device comprises:

(a) a foot support section that includes:
1. a foot support surface to situate said foot of said individual in a fixed position relative to the foot positioning device;
wherein said foot support surface comprises at least two image marker elements that are visible when MRI images are recorded;
2. an arch for a heel adapted to be positioned behind the heel of the individual and sliding regarding said foot support surface;
3. means to fix the foot of the individual on said foot support surface during the scanning process;
(b) a leg support section including:
1. a leg support to situate a leg of said individual in a fixed position regarding the foot positioning device;
2. means to fix said leg of the individual to said leg support during the scanning process;
(c) a foot positioning device base adapted to allow that the foot support surface and the leg support section be fixed in said base and positioned on a scanning bed;
wherein said foot positioning device is adapted to be inserted into a radiofrequency (RF) coil of the MRI system for scanning in a reproducible position regarding an axis of a static magnetic field of said MRI system.

7 more elements

A method to control the orientation of a foot of an individual regarding a magnetic resonance imaging system during a magnetic resonance imaging scanning process, the method comprising:

(a) situating a foot positioning device in a fixed and reproducible position in a radiofrequency coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system;
(b) locating the foot of the individual in the foot positioning device while the foot positioning device is in said fixed and reproducible position with regard to image marker elements;
(c) recording first images of magnetic resonance imaging to check correct foot positioning;
(d) optionally correcting the foot positioning regarding the image marker elements and the foot positioning device in the magnetic resonance imaging system;
and
optionally
(e) recording second magnetic resonance images;
wherein said foot positioning device is a device comprising:
a foot support section that includes a foot support surface to situate said foot of said individual in a fixed position relative to the foot positioning device;
wherein said foot support surface comprises said image marker elements, wherein said image marker elements are visible when magnetic resonance imaging images are recorded;
an arch for a heel adapted to be positioned behind the heel of the individual and sliding regarding said foot support surface;
means to fix the foot of the individual on said foot support surface during the scanning process;
a leg support section including a leg support to situate a leg of said individual in a fixed position regarding the foot positioning device;
means to fix said leg of the individual to said leg support during the scanning process;
a foot positioning device base adapted to allow that the foot support surface and the leg support section be fixed in said base and positioned on a scanning bed;
wherein said foot positioning device is adapted to be inserted into a radiofrequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging system for scanning in a reproducible position regarding an axis of a static magnetic field of said magnetic resonance imaging system.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/900,244Filed 23 Jun 2014
Priority: CU 2013-008624 Jun 2013
Published: US 2016/0157750 A19 Jun 2016
Granted: 8 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A61B 90/39
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…
A61B 5/055
Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves:…
A61B 5/6829
Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part: foot or ankle
A61B 5/702
Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means: posture restraints

Family

US 2016/0157750 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jun 2016
US 10,765,341 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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