Multiple patient breast scanning on a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

A method of conducting a magnetic resonance imaging procedure on the breast regions of patients using a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with at least two apertures providing access to an imaging volume and with at least two patient handling systems, comprising:

• (a) loading a first patient onto a breast cushion positioning device located on the movable bed structure of one of said patient handling systems and loading a second patient onto a breast positioning device located on the movable bed structure of a second of said patient handling systems;
• (b) moving said first patient and second patient into a first and a second of said apertures, respectively;
• (c) positioning simultaneously said first patient and said second patient in said imaging volume such that radio frequency antennas are properly positioned relative to respective breast regions of said first patient and said second patient;
• (d) performing a magnetic resonance scan protocol on the breast regions of said first patient and said second patient simultaneously.

A method of conducting magnetic resonance imaging procedure on the breast regions of patients using a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with at least two apertures providing access to an imaging volume and with at least two patient handling systems, comprising:

• (a) loading a first patient onto a breast positioning device located on a movable bed structure of one of said patient handling systems, and a second patient onto a breast positioning device located on a movable bed structure of a second of said patient handling systems;
• (b) moving said first patient and said second patient into a first and a second of said apertures, respectively;
• (c) positioning simultaneously said first patient and said second patient in said imaging volume such that radio frequency antennas are properly positioned relative to respective breast regions of said first patient and said second patient;
• (d) performing a magnetic resonance scan protocol on said first patient and said second patient simultaneously;
• (e) demarcating and separating data obtained during said magnetic resonance scan protocol into separate images corresponding to the respective breast regions of said first patient and said second patient.

A medical magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

• (a) a magnet having an imaging volume and at least two apertures thereto, each of said apertures providing patient access to said imaging volume;
• (b) at least two patient handling systems, each of said patient handling systems comprising a motorized and remotely-controlled bed structure which accesses a respective one of said apertures of said magnet, each of said bed structures having means for positioning the breast region of a respective patient for a magnetic resonance imaging procedure in said imaging volume of said magnet;
• (c) a radio frequency antenna system for transmitting radio frequency energy into each of said respective patients when in said imaging volume, and detecting magnetic resonance imaging data from said breast region of each said patient;
• and
• (d) automatic patient sequence control means for automatically sequencing the transfer of said respective patients into and out of said imaging volume.

A medical magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

• (a) a magnet having an imaging volume and at least two apertures thereto, each of said apertures providing patient access to said imaging volume;
• (b) at least two patient handling systems, each of said patient handling systems comprising a motorized and remotely-controlled bed structure which accesses a respective one of said apertures of said magnet, selected ones of said bed structures each having means for simultaneously positioning the breast region of a respective patient for a magnetic resonance imaging procedure in said imaging volume of said magnet;
• (c) a radio frequency antenna system for transmitting radio frequency energy into each of said respective patients when in said imaging volume, and detecting magnetic resonance imaging data from said breast region of each said patient;
• and
• (d) automatic patient sequence control means for automatically sequencing the transfer of said respective patients into and out of said imaging volume.