Apparatus and method for acquiring a position of a region to be examined

A method, comprising:

• acquiring, via first acquisition circuitry comprising a first sensor, a position of a region of an object to be examined for a medical imaging examination via a medical imager;
• positioning the object on a couch configured to be moved into a recording region of the medical imager;
• acquiring, via second acquisition circuitry comprising a second sensor separate from the first sensor, position data of a medical operator during positioning of the object for the medical imaging examination;
• moving, via a linear axis positioner based upon an item of position information of the medical operator ascertained using the acquired position data, a projector in a longitudinal direction of the couch,
• wherein the linear axis positioner is configured to use the item of position information of the medical operator to move the projector and independently of the couch based on a position of the medical operator such that the projector follows the medical operator during the positioning of the object for the medical imaging examination;
• repeating the steps of positioning the object, acquiring the position data of the medical operator, and moving the projector until the region of the object to be examined is defined via a positioning of a marker element;
• acquiring, via the first acquisition circuitry, a position of the marker element;
• and
• projecting and/or displaying, via a projector, a feedback marking at the acquired position of the region of the object to be examined.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a medical imager to:

• acquire, via first acquisition circuitry comprising a first sensor, a position of a region of an object to be examined for a medical imaging examination via a medical imager;
• position the object on a couch configured to be moved into a recording region of the medical imager;
• acquire, via second acquisition circuitry comprising a second sensor separate from the first sensor, position data of a medical operator during positioning of the object for the medical imaging examination;
• move, via a linear axis positioner based upon an item of position information of the medical operator ascertained using the acquired position data, a projector in a longitudinal direction of the couch,
• wherein the linear axis positioner is configured to use the item of position information of the medical operator to move the projector independently of the couch based on a position of the medical operator such that the projector follows the medical operator during the positioning of the object for the medical imaging examination;
• repeat the steps of positioning the object, acquiring the position data of the medical operator, and moving the projector until the region of the object to be examined is defined via a positioning of a marker element;
• acquire, via the first acquisition circuitry, a position of the marker element;
• and
• project and/or display, via a projector, a feedback marking at the acquired position of the region of the object to be examined.