JPH1119062A - Magnetic resonance inspecting instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate work of applying an electrode on a subject by projecting an electrocardiographic wave detected with the body of an electrocardiograph in an operation chamber onto a structure or a fixed matter. SOLUTION: A console 6, the body 7 of an electrocardiograph and an overhead projector(OHP) 8 as projection means of an electrocardiographic wave are installed in an operation chamber O electromagnetically isolated by a partition wall 9 from an inspection chamber E. In a state where a top board 4 is pulled out of a tunnel 2 of a gantry 1, an operator applies an electrode 5 for a detecting electrocardiogram on a breast part of a subject M. A detection signal detected by the electrocardiogram detection electrode 5 is transmitted to the body 7 of electrocardiograph placed in an operation chamber O by wire or a telemeter system to perform a signal processing and an electrocardiogram as electrocardiographic wave is displayed on a monitor 7'. Moreover, the electrocardiographic wave the same as that displayed on the monitor 7' is projected onto a flat part of a front upper part of the gantry I of the inspection chamber E through an observation window 10 by the OHP 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance examination apparatus for imaging a resonance signal from a subject using a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon (NMR phenomenon) and obtaining a spectroscopy, and more particularly, to an electrocardiogram synchronized apparatus. The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance inspection apparatus provided with an electrocardiographic measurement unit for performing imaging and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic resonance examination apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an MR apparatus) applies a frequency component of a resonance frequency corresponding to the magnetic field strength of a static magnetic field to a subject placed in a static magnetic field generated by a main magnet. The excitation pulse and the gradient magnetic field pulse are applied in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence together with the imaging pulse having the imaging section and the gradient magnetic field pulse that encodes the position information in the section. Thus, after receiving / detecting a resonance signal emitted from the subject and performing appropriate signal processing, an image / spectroscopy is obtained using Fourier transform.

In order to remove an artifact due to a heart beat, a series of pulse sequences including an excitation pulse and a gradient magnetic field pulse are synchronized in accordance with a time phase of an electrocardiogram of a subject to obtain a resonance signal. Imaging method,
When the imaging method is performed, an electrode for detecting an electrocardiogram is attached to the body surface of the subject prior to the imaging, and an electrocardiogram signal is obtained from the electrode. Therefore, the operator attaches an electrode for detecting an electrocardiogram to the subject, and performs imaging after confirming that an appropriate electrocardiogram signal is detected from the electrode on a monitor screen of the electrocardiograph main body.

[0004]

The electrocardiogram is usually shown in FIG.
Although the waveform is observed as shown in FIG. 2A, the potential changes due to the movement of blood in a large blood vessel in the subject in a static magnetic field, so that the T-wave portion changes as shown in FIG. If the electrocardiographic waveform is raised, and if the electrode is not properly applied or the method of application is inappropriate, the electrocardiographic waveform shown in FIG. , And accurate ECG-gated imaging cannot be performed. In the ECG-gated imaging method, an R-wave is detected and a synchronization signal is created. Therefore, in order to attach an electrocardiogram detection electrode (hereinafter simply referred to as an electrode) before imaging to the body surface of the subject and obtain an appropriate electrocardiogram, the electrode is attached in accordance with each body axis of the subject, and a magnetic field is applied. Must be attached so that the change of the T-wave emphasized by the influence of is small.

Therefore, in order to attach the electrode to a position where an appropriate electrocardiogram can be obtained, the subject is repeatedly moved into and out of the static magnetic field by the main magnet, and the electrocardiographic waveform displayed on the monitor of the electrocardiograph main body is observed. It is necessary to find the appropriate position by fumbling while trying and error. For the operation of attaching the detection electrode to the subject by the operator, a gantry accommodating a main magnet for generating a static magnetic field, and a bed having a subject mounted thereon and having a top plate capable of moving forward and backward were arranged in the gantry. Performed in the laboratory. On the other hand, the electrocardiograph body that processes the detection signal from the electrode and displays the electrocardiogram is an electronic device,
Due to its configuration, a ferromagnetic component or the like is used, so that it cannot be arranged in an inspection room where a gantry or the like is installed, and is usually arranged in an operation room adjacent to the inspection room.

Therefore, the operation of attaching the detection electrode to the subject before imaging is performed by monitoring the monitor of the electrocardiograph main body arranged in the operation room through an observation window formed in a wall separating the inspection room and the operation room. I am doing it while watching. As described above, since the electrodes are attached while watching the monitor of the electrocardiograph main body which is arranged at a distant place, the attaching operation is very difficult and takes a long time. It is also possible for the operator to give an instruction to the assistant in the examination room and perform the attaching work while watching the electrocardiogram waveform displayed on the monitor of the electrocardiograph main body in the operation room.
In this case, an assistant is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention is designed to optically project an electrocardiographic waveform onto a structure or a fixed object in an examination room near an operator performing an electrode attaching operation, so that the operator can attach the electrode to an object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic resonance inspection apparatus capable of easily performing an electrode attaching operation.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the magnetic resonance examination apparatus of the present invention, an electrocardiographic waveform detected by an electrocardiograph main body in an operation room is converted into a structure or a structure in the examination room.
It is characterized in that it is projected on a fixed object.

According to this configuration, the electrocardiographic waveform displayed on the electrocardiograph main body in the operation room is used for the structure in the examination room, for example,
The image is projected on a flat portion at the upper front of the gantry located at the front of the couch. Accordingly, the operator can determine whether or not the electrode is to be applied and the position to which the electrode is to be applied while observing the electrocardiographic waveform projected and displayed near the work area for applying the electrode to the subject. Can be performed. In addition, the electrocardiographic waveform may be projected on a wall of an examination room, a screen disposed in the examination room, etc., other than the upper portion of the front of the gantry. . Further, the projection means may be arranged in the operation room where the electrocardiograph main body is arranged, or may be arranged in the examination room where the gantry is installed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall schematic configuration. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main magnet for generating a static magnetic field, a gradient coil for generating a gradient magnetic field in three axes of X, Y and Z, an RF coil for exciting the subject M, and N from the subject M.
A gantry 3 that accommodates a receiving coil for receiving MR signals and the like and has a subject accommodation space (tunnel) 2, places the subject M, and moves forward and backward along the longitudinal direction into the tunnel 2 of the gantry 1. A bed provided with a movable top plate 4, and the gantry 1 and the bed 3 are installed in an examination room E.
5 is the body surface (chest) of the subject M at the time of ECG-gated imaging.
Is an electrocardiographic detection electrode attached to the device.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a console provided with a system controller for controlling a gradient magnetic field coil, a transmission / reception coil, and the like housed in the gantry 1, reference numeral 7 denotes an electrocardiograph main body, and reference numeral 8 denotes an overload.
The console 6, the electrocardiograph main body 7, and the OHP as a means for projecting an electrocardiographic waveform are used in a head projector (OHP).
8 is installed in an operation room O which is electromagnetically isolated from the inspection room E by a partition wall 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes an observation window formed on the partition wall 9. The electrocardiographic waveform displayed on the monitor 7 'of the electrocardiograph main body 7 is projected by the OHP 8 through the observation window 10 onto the upper flat portion of the front surface of the gantry 1. .

Next, the operation of the MR apparatus configured as described above will be described by taking as an example a case where an electrocardiogram synchronized imaging method is executed. An operator (not shown) affixes an electrode 5 for detecting an electrocardiogram to the chest of the subject M in a state where the top plate 4 is pulled out from the tunnel 2 of the gantry 1 as illustrated. The detection signal detected by the electrocardiogram detection electrode 5 is transmitted to the electrocardiograph main body 7 placed in the operation room O in a wired or telemeter system, processed for signal processing, and the electrocardiogram is displayed on the monitor 7 'as an electrocardiogram waveform. You. The same electrocardiographic waveform as the electrocardiographic waveform displayed on the monitor 7 'is projected by the OHP 8 through the observation window 10 onto the upper flat surface of the gantry 1 installed in the examination room E as shown in the figure. Note that reference numeral 11 denotes a projected electrocardiographic waveform.

The operator judges the appropriateness of the position where the electrodes are attached by looking at the projected electrocardiographic waveform 11, and if the applied position is inappropriate, replaces the electrode with a position where an appropriate electrocardiographic waveform can be obtained.
After that, the top plate 4 is sent into the static magnetic field in the tunnel 2,
It is determined whether the R wave can be detected from the projected electrocardiogram waveform 11 without being affected by the magnetic field. When inappropriate, the top plate is pulled out of the tunnel, the position of the electrode is changed, the top plate is sent into the tunnel and pulled out, and the adjustment of the electrode position is repeated, and the T-wave is suppressed from the projected electrocardiographic waveform 11. Attach electrodes to appropriate positions where R waves can be detected accurately.

As described above, according to the apparatus of the embodiment, the electrocardiogram detection for the electrocardiogram can be performed without observing the electrocardiogram waveform displayed on the monitor of the electrocardiograph main body disposed in the remote operation room as in the related art. Since the attaching work can be performed while watching the projected electrocardiographic waveform projected in the vicinity of the attaching work area of the electrode to the subject,
Judgment of the adhering position of the ECG detection electrode, and
The sticking operation can be performed simply, easily, and in a short time. After the operation of attaching the electrodes to appropriate positions is completed, an imaging pulse sequence is executed by operating the console to perform ECG-gated imaging.

[0015]

Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, an OHP is used as a means for projecting an electrocardiographic waveform, and the operation room is projected through an observation window to an examination room. However, the projection means is arranged in the examination room. You may make it project. Alternatively, the electrocardiogram may be digitized by the electrocardiograph main body and projected by a digital projector. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the electrocardiographic waveform is projected on the flat portion on the upper part of the front surface of the gantry. However, a screen may be arranged on the wall surface in the examination room or in the examination room and projected on them.

[0016]

According to the magnetic resonance inspection apparatus of the present invention, an electrocardiogram waveform can be displayed near the work area for attaching an electrocardiogram detection electrode, thereby making it possible to accurately judge whether or not the electrode attachment position is appropriate. The sticking operation can be performed easily, easily and in a short time, and the sticking operation of the electrocardiogram detecting electrode can be performed with high efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an electrocardiogram (electrocardiographic waveform).

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Gantry 2: Tunnel
3: Sleeper 4: Top plate 5: Electrode
6: Console 7: ECG body 7 ': Monitor
8: OHP 9: Partition wall 10: Observation window
11: Projected electrocardiographic waveform M: Subject E: Laboratory
O: Operation room

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gantry for generating a static magnetic field in an examination room, a bed on which a subject is placed, and a bed having a movable top and bottom movable plate are arranged in the gantry, and an electrocardiograph main body is arranged in an operation room. A magnetic resonance inspection apparatus, comprising: a projection unit configured to project an electrocardiographic waveform detected by the electrocardiograph main body onto a structure or a fixed object in the inspection room.