Method for lateral motion magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeFonar Corporation
InventorsRaymond V. Damadian, Rajendra Shenoy, Jevan Damadian
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Abstract
The method includes positioning a patient within a receiving space of a stand-up MRI apparatus and imaging the region of interest of the patient while the patient moves the region of interest. Further in accordance with the method the patient may be positioned such that the patient faces a pole face of a magnet of the MRI apparatus. The apparatus comprises a patient support which allows imaging of a patient's spine with a gravitational load on the spinal system.
Claims21
A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a static horizontal magnetic field between a pair of opposed pole faces along a horizontal field axis of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the opposed pole faces being spaced apart along the horizontal field axis to define a patient receiving gap;
- positioning a patient with the spine in a weight bearing position on a patient support apparatus within the patient receiving gap of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that a frontal plane of the patient is perpendicular to the horizontal field axis with the patient positioned to face one of the pole faces;
- scanning a first portion of the spine as the patient's torso moves laterally between a plurality of imaging positions;
- adjusting the position of the patient support such that a second portion of the spine can be scanned;
- and
- scanning the second portion of the spine as the patient's torso moves laterally between a plurality of imaging positions.
A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging of the spine in a weight-bearing condition, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a static horizontal magnetic field between a pair of opposed pole faces along a horizontal field axis of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the opposed pole faces being spaced apart along the horizontal field axis to define a patient receiving gap;
- positioning a patient with the spine in a weight-bearing position on a patient support apparatus capable of elevating and rotating the patient within the patient receiving gap of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that a longitudinal axis of the patient coincident with the spine is positioned in the imaging volume of the magnet gap;
- scanning a first portion of the spine at a first position;
- moving the patient laterally among a plurality of imaging positions by pivoting the lateral motion around a longitudinal position aligned within the spine;
- and
- scanning the first portion of the spine of the patient in at least one other lateral position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.