JP2003010150A - Patient support device and magnetic resonance imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize coincidence with a predetermined swing angle by an acoustic sense. SOLUTION: A result is announced to a user by a sound by detecting that a swing angle of a support table 600 coincides with a predetermined angle (0 deg., and ±30 deg.).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a patient support apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a patient support apparatus for supporting a patient so that a magnet system can be carried in and out of an imaging space. The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including the patient support apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI: Magneti)
c Resonance Imaging)
An object to be imaged, that is, a patient is carried into an internal space of a magnet system, that is, an imaging space in which a static magnetic field is formed, and a magnetic field is generated from a spin in the object by applying a gradient magnetic field and a high frequency magnetic field. Generate and reconstruct an image based on the received signal.

The patient support device is constructed so that the patient can be carried in and out of the imaging space. That is,
The patient support device includes a cradle that supports a patient in a lying state, and a table that supports the cradle so that the cradle can move in the axial direction of the patient.
e) and.

When the magnet system has an open photographing space, such as a vertical magnetic field type magnet system, the table has a structure capable of swinging around the magnet system on its installation surface. The angle at which the patient is brought into the imaging space can be changed within the horizontal plane.

The table is provided with a brake, and after the table is swung up to a desired angle, the brake is applied to prohibit the movement of the table.

[0006]

Although it is necessary to apply the brake while the table is correctly aligned with the desired swing position, it is not always necessary to visually judge whether the table is correctly aligned with the desired swing position. Not easy.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a patient supporting apparatus which enables the auditory recognition that a predetermined swing angle is matched, and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus equipped with such a patient supporting apparatus. It is to be realized.

[0008]

(1) An invention in one aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is to provide a support plate for supporting a patient in a laid state, and the support plate in the axial direction of the patient. A support that movably supports, a drive unit that swings the support on its installation surface, a detection unit that detects that the swing angle of the support matches a predetermined angle, and the detection And a sounding means for generating a sound in accordance with the above.

(2) Another aspect of the invention for solving the above problems is a magnet system, and a patient supporting a patient so that the magnet system can be carried in and out of an imaging space. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a support device; a signal acquisition means for acquiring a magnetic resonance signal of the patient using the magnet system; and an image generation means for generating an image based on the magnetic resonance signal. The patient support device includes a support plate for supporting the patient in a lying state, a support base for movably supporting the support plate in a body axis direction of the patient, and the support base on the installation surface thereof. Driving means for swinging around the magnet system, detection means for detecting that the swing angle of the support base matches a predetermined angle, and sound is generated in accordance with the detection. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus characterized by comprising a sound generating means that, the.

In the invention according to each of the aspects (1) and (2), it is detected that the swing angle of the support base matches a predetermined angle, and sound is generated accordingly, so that the user The matching of swing angles can be recognized by hearing.

The detecting means includes a roller that swings together with the support base, and a roller contact plate having a concave portion into which the roller recesses at a position corresponding to the predetermined angle on the path through which the roller passes. It is preferable to include a sensor that senses the vertical movement of the roller due to the depression into the recess, from the viewpoint of simplifying the configuration of the detection unit.

It is preferable that the sensor is a micro switch in order to simplify the structure of the sensor. It is preferable that the sound is acoustic in terms of simplifying the configuration of the sound generating means.

It is preferable that the sound is voice in terms of transmitting a message.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. This device is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of this device shows an example of an embodiment relating to the device of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, this apparatus has a magnet system 100. The magnet system 100 includes a main magnetic field magnet unit 102 and a gradient coil unit 1.
06 and RF (radio frequency) coil section 108. The main magnetic field magnet section 102, the gradient coil section 106, and the RF coil section 108 are each made up of a pair of members facing each other with a space in between. Further, each has a substantially disc shape and is arranged so as to share the central axis. The magnet system 100 is an example of an embodiment of the magnet system according to the present invention.

The target 1 is mounted on the cradle 500 and carried in and out of the internal space (bore) of the magnet system 100. The cradle 500 is an example of an embodiment of the support plate in the present invention. The cradle 500 forms part of the patient support device. The patient support device will be described later. The patient support device is driven by the table drive 120.

The main magnetic field magnet section 102 forms a static magnetic field in the internal space of the magnet system 100. The direction of the static magnetic field is substantially orthogonal to the body axis direction of the target 1. That is, a so-called vertical magnetic field is formed. The main magnetic field magnet unit 102 is configured by using, for example, a permanent magnet or the like. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the permanent magnet and may be configured using a superconducting electromagnet, a normal conducting electromagnet, or the like.

The gradient coil section 106 produces three gradient magnetic fields for imparting gradients to the static magnetic field strength in the directions of three mutually perpendicular axes, ie, the slice axis, the phase axis and the frequency axis.

The RF coil unit 108 is a target 1 in the static magnetic field space.
RF pulse (radii) for exciting spins in the human body
o frequency pulse). R
The F coil unit 108 also receives a magnetic resonance signal generated by the excited spins. The RF coil unit 108 may perform transmission and reception with the same coil or different coils.

The gradient coil unit 106 includes a gradient drive unit 130.
Are connected. The gradient driving unit 130 is the gradient coil unit 1.
A drive signal is given to 06 to generate a gradient magnetic field. The gradient drive unit 130 has three-system drive circuits (not shown) corresponding to the three-system gradient coils in the gradient coil unit 106.

The RF coil unit 108 includes an RF drive unit 140.
Are connected. The RF driving unit 140 is the RF coil unit 1.
A drive signal is given to 08 to transmit an RF pulse to excite spins in the body of the subject 1.

The RF coil unit 108 includes a data collection unit 15
0 is connected. The data collection unit 150 samples the reception signal received by the RF coil unit 108 (sam).
pling) and collect it as digital data.

Table drive unit 120 and gradient drive unit 13
0, the RF driver 140 and the data collector 150 are connected to the controller 160. The controller 160 controls the gradient driver 130 and the data collector 150 to perform imaging. Gradient driver 130, RF driver 14
The part consisting of 0 and the data collection unit 150 is an example of an embodiment of the signal acquisition means in the present invention.

The control unit 160 is, for example, a computer (c
computer) and the like. Control unit 160
Has a memory (not shown). The memory stores programs for the control unit 160 and various data. The function of the control unit 160 is realized by the computer executing the program stored in the memory.

The output side of the data collecting section 150 is connected to the data processing section 170. The data collected by the data collection unit 150 is input to the data processing unit 170. The data processing unit 170 is configured using, for example, a computer or the like. The data processing unit 170 has a memory (not shown). The memory stores programs for the data processing unit 170 and various data.

The data processing section 170 is connected to the control section 160. The data processing unit 170 is above the control unit 160 and controls it. The function of this apparatus is realized by the data processing unit 170 executing a program stored in the memory.

The data processing section 170 includes a data collection section 15
0 stores the collected data in memory. A data space is formed in the memory. This data space constitutes a two-dimensional Fourier space. Hereinafter, the Fourier space is also referred to as k-space. The data processing unit 170 performs a two-dimensional inverse flow on the k-space data.
The image of the target 1 is reconstructed by Rie conversion. The data processing section 170 is an example of the embodiment of the image generating means in the present invention.

A display unit 180 and an operation unit 190 are connected to the data processing unit 170. The display unit 180 includes a graphic display.
ay) and the like. The operation unit 190 includes a keyboard having a pointing device and the like.

The display section 180 displays the reconstructed image and various information output from the data processing section 170. The operation unit 190 is operated by the user and inputs various commands and information to the data processing unit 170. A user interactively operates the apparatus through the display unit 180 and the operation unit 190.

The patient support device will be described. 2 and 3 schematically show the appearance of the magnet system 100 and the patient support device. 2 is a front view and FIG. 3 is a side view. As shown in both figures, the magnet system 100
Has an upper structure 112, a lower structure 114 and two columns 116.

The upper structure 112 and the lower structure 114 have a generally short cylindrical outer shape. The upper structure 112 is supported by columns 116 so as to face the lower structure 114 with a shooting space in between. Such a magnet system 100 has a floor with four legs 118.
Standing over 900.

The cradle 500 is a table (table)
e) Supported by 600. Table 600
[Fig. 3] is an example of an embodiment of a support base in the present invention.
The cradle 500 and table 600 form the main part of the patient support device.

The table 600 has a built-in cradle feeding mechanism (not shown) so that the cradle 500 can be fed into the photographing space as shown by the one-dot chain line and can be pulled back onto the table 600 as shown by the solid line. It has become. The cradle feeding mechanism forms a part of the table driving unit 120.

The table 600 also has a built-in cradle up / down mechanism (not shown) so that the cradle 500 can be lowered to a height indicated by a chain double-dashed line. The loading / unloading of the patient to / from the cradle 500 is performed with the table 600 lowered to this point. The cradle up-and-down mechanism forms part of the table drive unit 120.

The table 600 has four casters 602 on the bottom surface thereof, so that the floor 90
It is in contact with 0. As the caster 602, for example, a caster capable of rotating in all directions such as a ball caster is used. Having casters 602 allows table 600 to swing on floor 900 as described below.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the swing state of the table 600. This figure corresponds to the AA sectional view of FIG. As shown in the figure, the table 600 can swing along the side surface of the lower structure 114.

The center C of the swing is the magnet system 1
The center of 00 (Magnet center: magnet cen
ter) on a vertical line. The table 600 swings, for example, 30 ° to the left and right with reference to the front direction (angle 0 °) of the magnet system 100. Less than,
When facing the front, the left direction is + and the right direction is-. A swing mechanism that causes the table 600 to perform such a swing is built in the bottom portion of the lower structure 114. The swing mechanism forms part of the table drive unit 120.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the structure of the swing mechanism. This figure corresponds to the BB sectional view of FIG. As shown in the figure, the swing mechanism has an arm 612 rotatably attached to a shaft 610, and a drive device 614 that drives this arm. Arm 6
The swing mechanism having 12 and the drive device 614 is an example of the embodiment of the drive means in the present invention.

The shaft 610 is provided on the bottom plate 210 of the lower structure 114. The center of the shaft 610 coincides with the vertical line passing through the magnet center. The driving device 614 is also provided on the bottom plate 210. As the drive device 614, for example, a hydraulic drive device or the like is used.

The table 600 is attached to one end of the arm 612, and the working end of the drive unit 614 is connected to the other end. Advancement and retraction of the working end of the drive device 614 causes the arm 612 and the table 600 attached thereto to swing about the shaft 610.

The arm 612 has a sensor 710 on the side facing the bottom plate 210. The sensor 710 has a movable piece 712 as shown in FIG. 6, and the roller 7 is attached to the tip of this movable piece.
Have 14. The roller 714 is in contact with the surface of the bottom plate 210.

The roller 714 is an example of the embodiment of the roller in the present invention. The bottom plate 210 is an example of an embodiment of the roller contact plate in the present invention. Sensor 71
0 is an example of the embodiment of the sensor in the present invention.

As the table 600 swings, the roller 714 moves on the bottom plate 210 in the arrow direction. As a result, the roller 714 draws an arcuate locus 800 as shown in FIG. On the locus 800, the swing angle is 0 °
And the concave portions 802 are provided at positions corresponding to ± 30 °. The recess 802 has a size such that the roller 714 can be recessed.

Therefore, when the roller 714, which moves on the locus 800 in accordance with the swing of the table 600, comes to a position corresponding to one of the swing angles of 0 ° and ± 30 °, the recess 802 is formed as shown in FIG. Plunge into.

The sensor 710 senses the vertical movement of the roller 714 that accompanies the depression 802. Sensor 71
0 is, for example, a micro switch (micro sw).
It is used to detect whether or not the roller 714 is recessed in the concave portion 802 as ON / OFF of the switch. The portion including the bottom plate 210 having the concave portion 802, the roller 714, and the sensor 710 is an example of the embodiment of the detecting means in the present invention.

The table 600 has a built-in notification device which operates according to the detection signal of the detector 710. In Figure 9,
The block diagram shows the electrical configuration of an example of the notification device. As shown in the figure, the alarm device is a micro switch 7
10 and a sound generator 720 are connected in series. The sound generator 720 is an example of an embodiment of the sounding means in the present invention. As the sound generator 720, for example, a buzzer or the like is used.

The power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to one end of the series circuit and the other end is connected to the ground. When the roller 714 is recessed in the concave portion 802 and the micro switch 710 is closed, the buzzer 720 is energized to generate sound. As a result, the user is notified that the predetermined swing angle has been reached. Such an alerting device is preferable because of its simple structure.

With this notification, it is possible to clearly recognize that the use has reached the correct swing angle, and the braking for fixing the table 600 is possible.
g) can be done in the correct position. After braking, the alarm device is reset (reset
t) and stop the sound of the sound generator 720.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of another example of the notification device. As shown in the figure, the on / off of the micro switch 710 is detected by the on / off detection circuit 73.
2. The notification signal generation circuit 7 is detected based on the detection signal.
A notification signal is generated at 34, and this notification signal is sent to the speaker (s
(peaker) 736. On / off detection circuit 732, notification signal generation circuit 734, and speaker 736
The part consisting of is an example of an embodiment of the sounding means in the present invention.

An appropriate voice message is used as the notification signal. The voice message is preferable in that the notification content is clear. Needless to say, an appropriate sound may be used instead of the voice message.

[0051]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to audibly recognize that the swing angle has been matched with a predetermined swing angle, and such a patient support apparatus. It is possible to realize a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus provided with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the external appearance of a magnet system and a patient support device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the external appearance of a magnet system and a patient support device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a swing state of a table.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a swing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a sensor.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a track of a roller.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the sensor.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the notification device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the notification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 target 100 magnet system 102 Main magnetic field magnet section 106 gradient coil section 108 RF coil section 120 table drive 130 Gradient drive 140 RF driver 150 Data Collection Department 160 control unit 170 Data processing unit 180 Display 190 Operation part 500 cradle 600 tables 610 axis 612 arm 614 Drive device 710 sensor 712 movable piece 714 Laura 800 trajectories 802 recess 720 Sound Generator 732 ON / OFF detection circuit 734 Notification signal generation circuit 736 speaker

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor M. Ravi Chandran             Wipro GE Medical System             Muz Eltidi, # 4 Kadego             Di Industrial Area Sadara             Mangala Bangalore 560067 India F-term (reference) 4C096 AB37 AD08 AD18 CA16 CA58                       DD19 EB04 EB06 EB08 EB10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A support plate for supporting a patient in a lying state, a support base for supporting the support plate so as to be movable in a body axis direction of the patient, and a drive for swinging the support base on its installation surface. A patient support apparatus comprising: a unit, a detection unit that detects that the swing angle of the support base matches a predetermined angle, and a sounding unit that generates a sound in accordance with the detection. 2. The roller contact having a roller swinging together with the support base and a concave portion into which the roller is recessed at a position corresponding to the predetermined angle on a path through which the roller passes. The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plate; and a sensor that senses vertical movement of the roller due to the depression of the roller. 3. The sensor is a microswitch,
The patient support device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The patient support device of claim 1, wherein the sound is a sound. 5. The patient support device according to claim 1, wherein the sound is a voice. 6. A magnet system, a patient support device for supporting a patient so that the magnet system can be carried in and out of an imaging space, and a magnetic resonance signal of the patient using the magnet system. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a signal acquisition unit configured to acquire a signal; and an image generation unit configured to generate an image based on the magnetic resonance signal, wherein the patient support device supports a patient in a lying state. A support base that supports the support plate so that the support plate is movable in the body axis direction of the patient, a drive unit that swings the support base around the magnet system on its installation surface, and a swing angle of the support base. Is provided with a detecting means for detecting that the angle matches a predetermined angle, and a sounding means for generating a sound in accordance with the detection. Resonance imaging device. 7. The roller contact having a roller swinging together with the support base and a concave portion into which the roller is recessed at a position corresponding to the predetermined angle on a path through which the roller passes. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a plate; and a sensor that senses an up-and-down movement of the roller due to the depression of the roller. 8. The sensor is a microswitch,
The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sound is a sound. 10. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sound is a voice.