Apparatus and method for positioning a patient to obtain images of the vasculature

An apparatus for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to obtain images of a vasculature of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a housing having (i) a lumbar support for supporting a renal region of the patient, (ii) a tray for supporting a femoral region of the patient, and (iii) a leg support for supporting a lower leg region of the patient;
• and
• (b) a plurality of imaging coils contained within said housing and adjacent to the patient from approximately the renal region thereof to a feet region thereof, said housing placing said imaging coils in proximity to the vasculature, said imaging coils for receiving image signals from the patient and conveying said image signals to the MRI system;
• wherein said lumbar support is adjustably connected to one end of said tray to enable a renal portion of the vasculature to be positioned substantially coplanar with a pelvic portion of the vasculature, with said one end of said tray being inclined to enable a femoral portion of the vasculature to be positioned substantially coplanar with the pelvic portion of the peripheral vasculature, and with said leg support being extendable from a distal end of said tray at an angle relative thereto to enable a lower leg portion of the vasculature to be positioned substantially coplanar with the femoral portion of the peripheral vasculature.

A method of acquiring images of a vasculature of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of imaging coils contained within a housing therefor disposed along the patient from approximately a renal region thereof to a feet region thereof, said housing placing said imaging coils in proximity to the vasculature;
• (b) configuring said housing to align in a substantially coplanar manner a renal portion of the vasculature with a pelvic portion of the vasculature;
• and
• (c) receiving image signals from the patient using said imaging coils and conveying said image signals to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.

A method of acquiring images of a vasculature of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of imaging coils contained within a housing therefor disposed along the patient from approximately a renal region thereof to a feet region thereof, said housing placing said imaging coils in proximity to the vasculature;
• (b) configuring said housing such that at least one of:
• (i) a renal portion of the peripheral vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with a pelvic portion of the vasculature;
• (ii) a femoral portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with the pelvic portion of the vasculature;
• (iii) a lower leg portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with the femoral portion of the peripheral vasculature;
• and
• (iv) a feet portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with the lower leg portion of the vasculature;
• and
• (c) receiving image signals from the patient using said imaging coils and conveying said image signals to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.

An apparatus for enabling a patient to be positioned optimally for a scanning procedure during which images are to be obtained of a vasculature of the patient, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a lumbar support for supporting a renal region of the patient so that a renal portion of the vasculature is positioned predominately in a single plane;
• (b) a tray for supporting a pelvic region and a femoral region of the patient so that a pelvic portion and a femoral portion of the vasculature are positioned substantially coplanar with each other and with the renal portion of the vasculature;
• and
• (c) a leg support for supporting a lower leg region and a feet region of the patient so that a lower leg portion and a feet portion of the vasculature are positioned substantially coplanar with each other and with the pelvic and femoral portions of the vasculature;
• the substantial coplanar alignment of the portions of the vasculature thereby enabling the images thereof to be obtained with a smaller field of view and thus at least one of greater resolution and reduced scanning time.