Magnetic resonance imaging fixture mounting
AssigneeFonar Corporation
InventorsCharles A. Green, William H. Wahl, Arto Cinoglu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixture such as a local receiver coil is secured to the patient support of a magnetic resonance imaging system so that the fixture remains in position relative to the support even when the support is in a vertical orientation. The positioning apparatus is arranged to allow adjustment of the fixture position, but to limit such adjustment so that the fixture cannot interfere with the poles or other elements defining the patient-receiving gap of the magnet during movement of the patient support.
Claims25
A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
- (a) magnetic resonance apparatus having a structure including opposed elements defining a patient-receiving gap and a patient support movable relative to said structure through a range of support positions;
- (b) a fixture-positioning apparatus;
- and
- (c) a first fixture usable in conjunction with said magnetic resonance apparatus,
- said fixture-positioning apparatus being operative to secure the fixture to the patient support and to permit adjustment of the position of the fixture relative to the patient support over a range of fixture positions, said range of fixture positions being limited so that for any position of said fixture within said range of fixture positions, said fixture will remain clear of said opposed elements during movement of said patient table through said range of support positions.
Apparatus for positioning fixtures in magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mounting unit;
- (b) one or more mount attachments adapted to connect the mount to a patient support of the magnetic resonance apparatus;
- (c) a fixture-receiving unit, said fixture-receiving unit being adapted to hold a fixture, said fixture-receiving unit and said mounting unit being engagable with one another so that said fixture-receiving unit can be adjusted over a range of positions relative to said mounting unit, whereby a fixture held in said fixture-receiving unit can be adjusted in position relative to the patient support of the magnetic resonance apparatus.
A method of operating a magnetic resonance system comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a first fixture on a patient support of a magnetic resonance apparatus using a fixture positioning apparatus;
- and
- (b) moving the patient support within a range of support positions between a pair of magnet elements defining a gap,
- the fixture positioning apparatus limiting the position of the fixture after said positioning step so that the fixture does not interfere with the pair of magnet elements during said moving step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.