DE202013105211U1 - Thermoregulatory MRI device for imaging a newborn - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-heat regulating examination device (ATR-AD) comprising at least one housing for at least partially harboring the body of a patient to be examined, said ATR-AD further comprising at least one temperature-regulating aeration means (TRV) for heating / cooling air and flowing it towards said housing by at least one air inlet and thereby heat-regulating said patient when being examined within said ATR-AD.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a ventilated and heat-regulated patient environment within an examination device, and more particularly to a housing connection with a thermoregulating device. More specifically, the invention relates to thermally-regulated MRI devices, MRI-safe housings and passively thermo-regulated and MRI-safe housings.

Background and field of the invention

It has been stated in the art that the most common way to regulate the air that is circulated through an incubator is to control the power provided to the heater. The U.S. Patent RE38453 , which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a toddler incubator constructed in accordance with the present invention which includes a hood having an access door in a wall thereof and a base on which the hood is mounted and which has a deck with which the hood defines a housing. The deck has openings through which air enters and leaves the enclosure. Also integrated in this incubator is a heater within the base for heating the air and a fan for supplying air to the heater and for passing the heated air from the heater into the housing through at least one of the openings and returning air from the housing to the heater through at least one of the openings. A toddler incubator constructed in accordance with the present invention further includes sensing means responsive to movement of the access door to detect when the access door is opened and control means responsive to the sensing means for when the access door is open will increase the heat generated by the heater, and increase the speed of the fan. A similar technique is in the U.S. Patents 6,036,634 and 6,641,521 which are incorporated herein by reference. The U.S. Patent 6,511,414 , which is also incorporated herein by reference, discloses a neonatal incubator wherein heat-regulated air flows upwardly from air inlet guides in the base of the NTI.

It is therefore a long felt need to provide an effective and safe device for neonatal thermoregulation during MRI imaging.

Summary of the invention

It is within the scope of the invention to provide a self heat-regulating assay device (ATR-AD). The device comprises at least one housing for at least partially harboring the body of a patient to be examined and further comprises at least one temperature-regulating aeration means (TRV) for heating / cooling air and flowing the heat-regulated air towards the housing through at least one air inlet, so that The patient is thermoregulated by being examined within the ATR-AD.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined above, wherein the assay device is selected from a group consisting of MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, and any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein one or more air inlets are positioned in air communication with the housing of the apparatus and disposed at a predetermined location selected from a group consisting of the top wall of the apparatus Housing, lower wall, at least one side wall and any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein one or more TRVs are positioned at a location selected from a group consisting of at least one upper wall of the housing, lower wall, at least one sidewall , the support of the ATR-AD and the car of the ATR-AD and any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the TRV is portable.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the TRV is solvable.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the TRV additionally comprises at least one of the following: humidifier, filter, deionizer and airflow regulator.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the housing has a cross section selected from a group consisting of a polygonal shape, a curved shape, and any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the housing has at least one aperture / aperture for insertion and removal of at least a portion of a patient.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the enclosure of the enclosure comprises materials having one or more characteristics, the characteristics being selected from a group consisting of: noise-free, heat-insulated , Transparency, semitransparency and any combination thereof.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein at least a portion of (a) the enclosure, (b) the enclosure, or (c) both the enclosure and the enclosure are perforated. At least some of these perforations may be provided for unidirectional airflow or bidirectional airflow.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the housing comprises at least a first outer housing and at least a second inner housing. In one embodiment of the invention, at least a first TRV heat-regulated air flows toward at least a first outer housing. In another embodiment of the invention, at least a second TRV of heat-regulated air flows toward at least a first inner housing. In another embodiment of the invention, at least a first TRV of thermally regulated air flows toward at least a first outer housing and flows at least a second TRV of thermally regulated air toward at least a second inner housing.

It is within the scope of the invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the ATR-AD is an MRI apparatus and the housing is the open bore of the MRI.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least a first TRV is connected to the ATR-AD either within the device or with its external part. If the ATR-AD is NMR, then the TRV may be located within or outside the bore. Additionally, at least a second TRV is connected to another device that is not the ATR-AD, such as a cart supporting the outer housing, or any other device in close proximity to the ATR-AD.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one first TRV and the at least one second TRV may operate separately or cooperatively. For example, the second TRV may heat-regulate an outer case while it is outside the ATR-AD and the first TRV while it is within the ATR-AD.

Brief description of the figures

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be embodied. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims with some or all of these specific details. For the sake of clarity, technical material known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail, so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured. In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be put into practice, some preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 schematically in a non-limiting and not to scale a self-heat regulating MRI device (ATR-MD) 100 illustrated;

2 schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 200 comprising a perforated outer casing 210 that is reversibly and temporarily housed within the ATR MD illustrated;

3 schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 300 comprising a perforated outer casing 311 illustrated with an additional temperature regulating vent (TRV) illustrated;

4a schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 illustrated with a first TRV embedded in the ATR-MD bore and a second TRV embedded within the carrier of the outer case;

4b schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 with a first TRV embedded within the ATR-MD bore and a second TRV embedded within the carrier of the outer case;

4c schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 illustrated with a TRV embedded within the MRI bore;

4d schematically a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 with a TRV inside the Carrier of the outer casing is embedded, illustrated;

5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an ATR MD having an outer housing adapted to be mounted on a cart 500 to be housed; and

6 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the outer housing with an associated TRV mounted on a carriage 600 is housed.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be embodied. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims with some or all of these specific details. For the sake of clarity, technical material known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail, so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

The gist of the present invention is to provide a self-heat regulating examination device (ATR-AD) such as a self heat-regulating MRI device (ATR-MD). The thermal regulation is accomplished by a temperature regulating aeration means (TRV) provided in air communication with a housing adapted to contain a patient. The TRV supplies the housing with heat-regulated air in a smooth and gentle flow.

The term "thermally regulated environment" hereinafter refers to an environment whose air temperature is at a constant predetermined temperature with an error of ± 2 ° C.

As used herein, the term "inner housing" refers to a housing having an assay device, such as an MRI or CT bore. More specifically, the term refers to any cavity within an assay device that can be thermally regulated.

Hereinafter, the term "outer housing" refers to an independent housing adapted to be inserted and removed from the assay device. The outer housing may be thermally regulated either by a TRV connected thereto, by a TRV connected to another device such as a car that carries it, or by the ATR-AD itself.

Hereinafter, the term "self heat-regulating examination device (ATR-AD)" refers to a device such as an MRI, CT, X-ray machine which has the ability to provide thermal regulation of a patient or part of a patient while being examined in the device. The heat regulating aeration means, which is responsible for the thermal regulation of the patient, may be connected to the device from the inside or outside or connected to another device that is outside the ATR-AD.

The term "self heat-regulating MRI device (ATR-MD)" hereinafter refers to an ATR-AD which is an MRI.

The TRV 101 includes, inter alia, one or more fluid ventilation modules (eg, air), e.g. As a fan, a nozzle, a blower, a compressor, a pump, etc. or any combination selbiger 101A -C. Optionally, one or more heating / cooling modules are integrated into the ventilation modules, connected to or coordinated with the ventilation modules, and, in a non-limiting manner, selected from one of a group including an air conditioning system, an infrared heater, a water / oil heated one A radiator, a helical heater, an open coil air heater, a round coil air heater, a convection heater, straight or formed tubular heaters, a quartz tube air heater, a condenser type heater, a pelletizer module or any combination thereof, either directly, indirectly or remotely from the Ventilation modules are connected. In one example, the medical device is a permanent magnet type MRI device. According to a second example, a plurality of heat-regulating systems are provided in connection with the MRI, e.g. By magnetically safe conduits carrying a plurality of clean (eg, filtered, cleaned, or otherwise treated) heat-regulated airflows to the inner bore 110 MRI, which thermally regulates and aerates the inner bore of the MRI.

It will be up now 1 Referring to Fig. 1, which schematically shows, in a manner not to scale, an embodiment of the invention in which the ATR-AD is a neonatal ATR-MD 100 is. The ATR-MD includes three fans 104A -C. The fans here represent the opening of the Lines where a heat regulated airflow is controllably provided. The fans flow the air from the outside ambient atmosphere surrounding the ATR-MD via a heater, humidifier and filter (not shown) within the inner bore 102 where the current is the open hole 110 of the MRI over the opening 120 of the MRI leaves 103 , A patient, e.g. B. a toddler 1 , a premature baby or laboratory animal imaged by MRI, and a surrounding environment thereof are continuously thermoregulated and ventilated by this type of independently thermoregulating MRI in a safe and quiet manner.

It will be up now 2 Reference is made schematically to a perspective view of an ATR MD 200 comprising a perforated outer casing 210 , reversibly and temporarily housed within the ART-MD, illustrated. The perforation or perforation of the housing allows access of heat-regulated air flowing from the TRV embedded in the ART-MD. The ATR-MD has all the means to pass all applicable regulations, in particular the following standards and their sections: ANSI / AAMI / IEC 60601-2-20: 2009 "Medical Electrical Equipment" - Part 2-20: "Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of infant transport incubators" and, more specifically, in section 201.3.201, "AIR CONTROLLED TRANSPORT INCU- BATOR", in which the air temperature is automatically adjusted by controlling an air temperature sensor set by the "OPERATOR"; 201.3.202 "AVERAGE TEMPERATURE" - average over temperature readings obtained during regular intervals at any given point in the COMPARTMENT during a STEADY TEMPERATURE CONDITION; 201.3.203 "AVERAGE TRANSPORT INCUBATOR TEMPERATURE" - average of "INFANT TRANSPORT INCUBATOR TEMPERATURE" readings taken at regular intervals achieved during a "STEADY TEMPERATURE CONDITION"; 201.3.204 "BABY CONTROLLED TRANSPORT INCUBATOR AIR CONTROLLED TRANSPORT INCUBATOR" which has the additional ability to automatically control the "INCUBATOR" air temperature to the temperature measured by a "SKIN TEMPERATURE SENSOR" according to the "CONTROL TEMPERATURE "Maintained by the" OPERATOR NOTE ". An "INFANT TRANSPORT INCUBATOR" operating as "BABY CONTROLLED INCUBATOR" is a "PHYSIOLOGIC CLOSED-LOOP CONTROLLER" as in IEC 60601-1-10 Are defined; 201.3.205 "COMPARTMENT" - environmentally controlled enclosure that is designed to contain an "INFANT" and with one or more transparent areas that allow viewing of the "INFANT"; 201.3.206 "CONTROL TEMPERATURE" - temperature selected at the temperature control; 201.3.207 "INFANT PATIENT" - up to the age of three months and weighing less than 10 kg; 201.3.208 "INFANT TRANSPORT INCUBATOR", "TRANSPORTABLE ME EQUIPMENT", equipped with a "COMPARTMENT" and with a "TRANSPORTABLE" electrical voltage source with the possibility to connect the environment of the "INFANT" primarily by heated air inside the "COMPARTMENT" to control; 201.3.209 "SKIN TEMPERATURE" - the temperature of the skin of the "INFANT" at a point where the "SKIN TEMPERATURE SENSOR" is placed; 201.3.210 "SKIN TEMPERATURE SENSOR" - Sensing device intended to measure the "INFANT'S SKIN TEMPERATURE", all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

It will be up now 3 Reference is made schematically to a perspective view of an ATR MD 300 illustrating a perforated external housing 311 which is attached to an additional TRV. The housing may be thermoregulated by either the TRV connected to the ATR-MD or by the TRV connected to the housing. In one embodiment, the outer housing is heat-regulated by the TRV connected to it when it is outside the ATR-MD. Once the outer housing is inserted into the open bore of the ATR-MD, it begins to be heat-regulated by the TRV connected to the MRT. In another embodiment, the TRV connected to the housing may be detached from it before being inserted into the open bore of the ATR-MD. The ATR-MD of 3 has all the means to pass all applicable rules, in particular the aforementioned standards and their sections.

It will be up now 4a 5c schematically illustrate, in a non-limiting and not to scale, means for imaging a neonate in an ATR-MD comprising at least a TRV and a wearer of the housing while including an extra TRV outside the ATR-MD , Life support lines and means such as infusion line, oxygen line, respiratory / anesthesia mask and monitors are not shown.

It will be up now 4a Reference is made schematically to a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 with a first TRV that bore in the MRI 415 embedded, and a second TRV 441 that inside the carrier of the perforated outer casing 440 embedded, illustrated. In this embodiment, the housing is heat-regulated by the TRV associated with the carrier of the container during the enclosed container outside the ATR MD is. In this way, the newborn can be carried to the MRI room in a thermoregulated environment and await examination. Once the housing is transferred to the open hole of the ATR-MD, it is heat-regulated by the TRV (s) embedded in the ATR-MD. The wearer is adapted to move through an opening 442 To connect with the open hole of the ATR-MD, and through them to transfer the housing that contains the newborn. In 4a is the closed environment that contains the newborn, within the open bore of the ATR-MD, through an airflow 416 from the TRV, which is in the ATR MD 415 are embedded, heat-regulated.

It will be up now 4b Reference is made schematically to a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 with a first TRV embedded within the ATR-MD bore and a second TRV embedded within the outer housing carrier. In this embodiment, the housing is within the carrier and is powered by air currents 442 one or more TRVs 134a -C, associated with it, heat-regulated. The housing becomes the ATR-MD through an opening in the container 419 transferred.

It will be up now 4c Reference is made schematically to a perspective view of an ATR-MD 400 with a TRV embedded within the outer housing carrier. In this embodiment, the one or more TRVs 441 only within the carrier 440 embedded. The wearer's TRV (s) heat-regulate the housing as it travels within the carrier and within the open bore of the ATR-MD. Therefore, in this embodiment, the support remains in close proximity to the ATR-MD throughout the time the support is within the ATR-MD. 4c shows the housing inside the ATR-MD, which is due to air currents 416 of the TRV (s) of the carrier 441 is thermo-regulated. The heat regulation is from the opening to the opening.

It will be up now 5 Reference is made schematically illustrating a perspective view of an ATR-MD having an outer housing adapted to be mounted on a cart 520 to be accommodated. The heat regulation of the housing is thereby provided exclusively by the thermoregulated ATR-MD. The enclosed environment is carried to and from the carriage through the opening of the ATR-MD's open hole 510 transferred.

It will be up now 6 Reference is made schematically illustrating a perspective view of the outer housing with an associated TRV on a carriage 600 is housed, the enclosed environment by means of a car 600 is portable. The heat regulation of the housing is provided solely by the associated TRV.

The housing can accommodate a whole person or a baby or a newborn or an animal. It can also house a part of the body of a human or an animal such as a limb, a hand or the abdomen.

It is possible to have an inlet positioned somewhere on the housing, or some inlets at one or more locations of the housing. It is possible to control the airflow by opening and closing the inlets to varying degrees. The inlets may be either in the open or closed position, or may be opened in a stepped manner. It is also a way to let air at different temperatures flow through different inlets. In this way it is possible to obtain different temperatures in different areas of the housing or to generate a temperature gradient.

The TRV includes or is in communication with at least one ventilation module (eg, a fan, a nozzle, a blower, a compressor, a fluid pump, a Peltier module, etc.) It is further within the scope of the invention, wherein the TRV includes or is associated with at least one heating / cooling module (eg an air conditioning system, an infrared heater, a water / oil heated radiator, an electric coil heater, an air heater with an open coil, a round air heater with an open coil, a convection heater, straight or molded tubular heaters, a quartz tube air heater, a condenser type heater, a pelletizing module, or any combination thereof). It is further within the scope of the invention, wherein the TRV includes or is in communication with at least one humidifier module. It is further within the scope of the invention, wherein the TRV includes or is in communication with at least one air cleaner module. It is further within the scope of the invention, wherein the TRV includes or is in communication with at least one air deionization module. It is further within the scope of the invention, wherein the TRV includes or is associated with at least one air swirl module for slowing or adjusting or mitigating airflow characteristics. The air swirling means are selected in a non-limiting manner from active elements such as fans, multiple fan assemblies or cascades thereof, air pumps, Dyson-type wingless air multipliers, aeration devices, etc. and / or passive elements such as textured sieves, curved ducts in a continuous partition, etc.

The TRV can also recycle air from inside the enclosure to shorten the heat regulation time as the air coming out of the enclosure is already at the right temperature. The TRV can also introduce partially recycled air into the housing.

In other embodiments, the housing includes additional openings. The openings may be used to insert a device into the housing, communicate with patients within the housing, and introduce life support equipment (such as intravenous lines, oxygen, etc.).

It is another object of the present invention to disclose the ATR-AD as defined in any of the above, wherein the enclosure of at least one housing comprises materials having characteristics selected from a group consisting of: noise-free, heat-insulating, transparency, semi-transparency, and each Combination of it.

The enclosure of the housing can be made of different materials. It may be made of MRI-safe materials or materials that are compatible with X-rays or CT or any other ATR-AD. The wrapper may be rigid or soft. It can be made of a material that can change its shape. It can be made of smart materials that have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled manner by external stimuli, such as: Stress, temperature, humidity, pH, electrical or magnetic fields (e.g., piezoelectric, shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, magnetostrictive materials, pH sensitive polymers, halochromic materials, chromogenic systems, photochromic materials, ferrofluids, photomechanical materials, self-healing materials, dielectric elastomers, magnetocaloric materials, thermoelectric materials). It is within the scope of the invention, wherein the enclosure is made of or includes disposable materials, degradable materials, and a combination thereof.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 38453 [0002]
• US 6036634 [0002]
• US 6641521 [0002]
• US 6511414 [0002]

Cited non-patent literature

• ANSI / AAMI / IEC 60601-2-20: 2009 [0039]
• IEC 60601-1-10 [0039]

Claims (12)

A self-heat regulating examination device (ATR-AD) comprising at least one housing for at least partially harboring the body of a patient to be examined, said ATR-AD further comprising at least one temperature-regulating aeration means (TRV) for heating / cooling air and flowing it towards said housing by at least one air inlet and thereby heat-regulating said patient when being examined within said ATR-AD. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said air inlet is positioned in connection with said housing in a location selected from a group consisting of said at least one upper wall of the housing, lower wall, at least one sidewall, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said TRV is positioned at a location selected from a group consisting of said at least one upper wall of the housing, lower wall, at least one sidewall, the prop and the ATR-AD trolley, and any combination thereof , The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said TRV has characteristics selected from a group consisting of portable, reversibly-detachable, disposable, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said TRV additionally comprises at least one article selected from the group consisting of humidifier, filter, fluidizer, deionizer, airflow regulator, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said housing has a shape selected from a group consisting of polygonal, ellipsoid, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein the enclosure of said at least one housing comprises materials having characteristics selected from a group consisting of: noise freedom, thermal insulation, transparency, semitransparency, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said enclosure has perforations, said perforations being permeable in a manner selected from a group consisting of unidirectional, bidirectional, and any combination thereof. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an outer housing and an inner housing, said outer housing adapted to mate with said inner housing. The ATR-AD of claim 1, wherein said ATR-AD is an MRI and said inner housing is the open bore of said MRI. The ATR-AD of claim 1, further comprising at least a first TRV connected to said ATR-AV and at least a second TRV connected to a device outside of said ATR-AD. The ATR-AD of claim 1, further comprising at least one conduit usable for air communication of said TRV with said at least one housing.

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