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US 5,810,006 AGranted
Multipositional MRI for kinematic studies of movable joints
AssigneeFonar Corporation
InventorsJan Votruba, Rajendra Shenoy, Raymond V. Damadian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for kinematic studies of the movable joints of the body using magnetic resonance imaging. The apparatus controls the position of movable joints at a multiplicity of predetermined positions, enabling the controlled movement of the joints to each of the predetermined positions. It also includes a device which automatically sequences the movement of a movable joint to each position among the multiplicity of predetermined positions, and the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data at each of these positions. These features enhance the clinical utility of kinematic studies of movable joint functionality by magnetic resonance imaging.
Claims59
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of a movable joint of a patient at a plurality of positions comprising:
- a primary field magnet assembly with an imaging volume;
- a bed for supporting the patient such that at least a first portion of the patient including the movable joint is within the imaging volume;
- a radio frequency transmitter and receiver system positioned with respect to the imaging volume to transmit radio frequency signals to at least the movable joint and to receive magnetic resonance imaging data from at least the movable joint;
- a base disposed on the bed;
- a first plate rotatably coupled to the base;
- a second, stationary plate coupled to the base proximate and above the first plate, the second plate having a cut away portion exposing a portion of the first plate;
- first means for securing a second portion of the patient to the exposed portion of the first plate for movement with the first plate, wherein movement of the second portion causes movement of the movable joint;
- means for rotating the first plate to a plurality of stationary angular positions whereby the movable joint is moved to a plurality of stationary positions such that magnetic resonance imaging data can be acquired at each of the plurality of positions.
5 more elements
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of a movable joint of a subject comprising:
- a primary field magnet assembly with an imaging volume;
- a bed for supporting at least a first portion of a subject including the movable joint within the imaging volume;
- a radio frequency transmitter and receiver system positioned with respect to the imaging volume to transmit radio frequency signals to at least the movable joint and to acquire magnetic resonance imaging data from at least the movable joint;
- a fixture disposed at least in part within the imaging volume during acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data, the fixture comprising:
- a base;
- a first plate rotatably coupled to the base;
- a second, stationary plate mounted to the base, proximate and above the first plate, the second plate having an arcuate cut away portion exposing an arcuate portion of the first plate;
- first means for securing a second portion of the subject's anatomy to the exposed portion of the first plate, wherein rotation of the second portion causes movement of the movable joint;
- means for rotating the first plate through a plurality of stationary angular positions such that the movable joint is moved through a plurality of positions;
- and
- means for controlling the means for rotating;
- and
- the apparatus further comprising means for automatically sequencing the rotation of the first plate through the plurality of stationary angular positions with the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data of the movable joint at each of the plurality of positions.
10 more elements
A method of conducting magnetic resonance imaging of a movable joint of a subject comprising:
- (a) supporting a first portion of the subject on a stationary plate;
- (b) securing a second portion of the subject to an exposed portion of a rotatable surface, the second portion of the subject being on an opposite side of the joint as the first portion, wherein the stationary plate is proximate and above the rotatable surface and movement of the second portion causes movement of the movable joint;
- (c) rotating the second portion of the subject to a stationary angular position within the imaging volume, causing movement of the joint to a desired angle;
- (d) conducting a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the movable joint;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the joint has been scanned over a desired angular range.
3 more elements
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of a movable joint of a patient at a plurality of positions comprising:
- a primary field magnet assembly with an imaging volume;
- a bed for supporting the patient such that at least a first portion of the patient including the movable joint is within the imaging volume;
- a radio frequency transmitter and receiver system positioned with respect to the imaging volume to transmit radio frequency signals to at least the movable joint and to receive magnetic resonance imaging data from at least the movable joint;
- a base disposed proximate the bed during acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data;
- a first plate rotatably coupled to the base;
- a second, stationary plate coupled to the base, proximate and above the first plate, the second plate having a cut away portion exposing a portion of the first plate;
- first means for securing a second portion of the patient for rotation with the exposed portion of the first plate, wherein rotation of the second portion causes movement of the movable joint within the imaging volume;
- and
- means for rotating the first plate to a plurality of stationary angular positions whereby the movable joint is moved to a plurality of stationary positions such that magnetic resonance imaging data can be acquired at each of the plurality of positions.
6 more elements
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of at least one hip joint of a patient at a plurality of positions comprising:
- a primary field magnet assembly with an imaging volume;
- a bed for supporting the patient such that at least a portion of the patient including the at least one hip joint is within the imaging volume;
- a radio frequency transmitter and receiver system positioned with respect to the imaging volume to transmit radio frequency signals to the at least one hip joint and to receive magnetic resonance imaging data from that hip joint;
- a base disposed on the bed;
- a rotatable plate coupled to the base;
- a stationary plate coupled to the base proximate and above the first plate, the stationary plate having a cutaway portion exposing a portion of the rotatable plate;
- a first member for being selectively coupled to the exposed portion of the rotatable plate, for movement with the rotatable plate;
- means for securing a portion of the leg of the patient corresponding to the one hip joint to the first member for movement with the first member, wherein movement of the one leg causes movement of the corresponding hip joint;
- and
- means for selectively rotating the rotatable plate to a plurality of stationary positions such that the corresponding hip joint is moved to a plurality of stationary positions and magnetic resonance imaging data can be acquired from the corresponding hip joint at each of the plurality of positions.
7 more elements
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of the hip joints of a patient at a plurality of positions comprising:
- a primary field magnet assembly with an imaging volume;
- a bed for supporting the patient such that at least a portion of the patient including the hip joints is within the imaging volume;
- a radio frequency transmitter and receiver system for being positioned with respect to the imaging volume to transmit radio frequency signals to the hip joints and to receive magnetic resonance imaging data from the hip joints;
- a base disposed on the bed;
- a first member rotatably coupled to the base;
- a second member rotatably coupled to the base, adjacent the first member;
- means for securing a portion of one leg of the patient to the first member for movement with the first member and means for securing a portion of the other leg of the patient to the second member for movement with the second member, wherein movement of each leg causes movement of the corresponding hip joint;
- and
- means coupled to the first and second members for simultaneously rotating the first and second members in opposite directions to a plurality of stationary angular positions such that the corresponding hip joint is moved to a plurality of stationary positions and magnetic resonance imaging data can be acquired at each of the plurality of positions.
6 more elements
An apparatus for conducting magnetic resonance imaging of a movable joint of a subject comprising:
- rotating surface means;
- a stationary surface means proximate and above the rotating surface means, for supporting a portion of a subject, the stationary surface means comprising means for exposing a portion of the rotating surface means;
- means for securing a first portion of the subject to the exposed portion of the rotating surface means for rotation with the rotating surface means, wherein rotation of the rotating surface means causes movement of the movable joint;
- scanning means for conducting a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the movable joint;
- and
- means for repeating operation of the rotating means and the scanning means until the joint has been scanned over a desired angular range.
3 more elements
A method of conducting magnetic resonance imaging of the hip joints of a patient comprising:
- (a) securing one leg to a first member rotatably coupled to a base;
- (b) securing the other leg to a second member rotatably coupled to the base, adjacent the first member, wherein movement of each leg causes movement of the corresponding hip joint;
- (c) simultaneously rotating the first and second legs in opposite directions to a stationary position;
- (d) conducting a magnetic resonance imaging scan;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the hip joints have been scanned over a desired angular range.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.