Method and Localization Systems for Localizing a Portable Component of an Imaging System During an Examination Procedure, and Imaging Systems

An electronic localization system for localizing a portable component of an imaging system during an examination procedure on a patient using an imaging modality of the imaging system, the portable component being arranged on the patient for the examination procedure, the electronic localization system comprising:

• at least one optical transmitter configured to be arranged on the imaging modality and emit at least one optical localization signal in an imaging area of the imaging modality, within which the patient is situated during the examination procedure;
• at least one optical receiver configured to be arranged on the portable component and receive the at least one emitted optical localization signal;
• and
• an electronic evaluation unit configured to:
• be arranged outside an examination room in which the imaging modality is arranged, wherein the electronic evaluation unit is connected to the at least one optical receiver by an optical transmission path to transmit the at least one received optical localization signal to the electronic evaluation unit, and
• localize the portable component based on the at least one received optical localization signal.

A method for localizing a portable component of an imaging system during an examination procedure on a patient using an imaging modality of the imaging system, the portable component being arranged on the patient for the examination procedure, the method comprising:

• emitting at least one first optical localization signal in a surrounding area of the imaging modality by a first optical transmission facility, which is arranged spaced apart from the imaging modality in the surrounding area;
• emitting at least one second optical localization signal in the surrounding area of the imaging modality by a second optical transmission facility, which is arranged spaced apart from the first optical transmission facility and which is arranged spaced apart from the imaging modality in the surrounding area;
• receive the emitted first and second optical localization signal by at least one optical receiving element, which is arranged on the portable component;
• transmitting the received first and second optical localization signal by an optical transmission path to an electronic evaluation unit situated outside an examination room in which the imaging modality is arranged;
• and
• localizing the portable component by the electronic evaluation unit based on the first and second optical localization signal.

An electronic localization system for localizing a portable component of an imaging system during an examination procedure on a patient using an imaging modality of the imaging system, the portable component being arranged on the patient for the examination procedure, the electronic localization system comprising:

• a first optical transmitter configured to be spaced apart from the imaging modality and emit at least one first optical localization signal in a surrounding area of the imaging modality;
• a second optical transmitter arranged spaced apart from the first optical transmitter and configured to be arranged spaced apart from the imaging modality and emit at least one second optical localization signal in the surrounding area of the imaging modality;
• at least one optical receiver configured to be arranged on the portable component and configured to receive the emitted first optical localization signal and the emitted second optical localization signal;
• and
• an electronic evaluation unit configured to:
• be arranged outside an examination room in which the imaging modality is arrangeable, wherein the electronic evaluation unit is connected to the at least one optical receiver by an optical transmission path to transmit the received first and second optical localization signals to the electronic evaluation unit, and
• localize the portable component based on the received first and second optical localization signals.