GB2149510A
Expired / Lapsed
GB
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patient alignment system for nmr studies
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1984-09-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-09-17
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Edward Riehl
- 👤 Robert James Dobberstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
GB
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/283; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; A61B5/70; A61B5/704; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0487; A61B6/08; A61B6/48; A61B6/482; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/842; Y10S505/843; Y10S505/844
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A patient alignment system useful with an NIVIR system for acquiring NMR data in the course of a scan of a predetermined patient volume, the NIVIR system including a magnet producing a polarizing magnetic field within a magnet bore sized for i eceiving the patient volume, and a patient transport system in general longitudinal alignment with the magnet bore capable of retrievably positioning therein the patient volume in the active region of the magneticfield centered approximately atthe isocenter, the patient alignment system comprising: a first assembly including at least one energy source means for projecting a first visible pattern on the surface of the patient; first means for detecting the position of the patient 100 transport system when the first pattern is aligned with a patient anatomical reference point in the staged position prior to performing the NMR scan; a second assembly including at least one energy source means for projecting a second visible-pattern on the surface of the patient, said second assembly including means for varying within a predetermined range the position of the second pattern relative to a fixed reference point; second means for detecting the position of said second pattern on the patient surface; and control means in signal communication with said first and second detecting means, said control means being responsive to the position of at least one of the first and second patterns for controlling at least one parameter used for altering at least one of NMR data acquisition, image reconstruction and display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A patient alignment system useful with an NIVIR system for acquiring NMR data in the course of a scan of a predetermined patient volume, the NIVIR system including a magnet producing a polarizing magnetic field within a magnet bore sized for i eceiving the patient volume, and a patient transport system in general longitudinal alignment with the magnet bore capable of retrievably positioning therein the patient volume in the active region of the magneticfield centered approximately atthe isocenter, the patient alignment system comprising: a first assembly including at least one energy source means for projecting a first visible pattern on the surface of the patient; first means for detecting the position of the patient 100 transport system when the first pattern is aligned with a patient anatomical reference point in the staged position prior to performing the NMR scan; a second assembly including at least one energy source means for projecting a second visible-pattern on the surface of the patient, said second assembly including means for varying within a predetermined range the position of the second pattern relative to a fixed reference point; second means for detecting the position of said second pattern on the patient surface; and control means in signal communication with said first and second detecting means, said control means being responsive to the position of at least one of the first and second patterns for controlling at least one parameter used for altering at least one of NMR data acquisition, image reconstruction and display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The patient alignment system of claim 1 wherein said control means is responsive to said first means for determining the distance between the isocenter and the center of the patient volume of interest so as to position the patient volume substantially in the active magnetic field region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The patient alignment system of claim 1 wherein said control means is responsive to said second means for determining the vertical distance between a predetermined reference point and the position of said second pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The patient alignment system of claim 1 wherein NMR data acquisition comprises acquisition of NMR image data from the predetermined patient volume, and wherein said control system is responsive to the position of at least one of said first and second patterns to provide a reference which is offset relative to the isocenter of the NIVIR system, which reference is useful for formatting NIVIR images using said NMR image data, which images are offset relative to the isocenter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The patient alignment system of Claim 1 wherein each of said energy source means for projecting said first and second patterns comprise a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The patient alignment system of claim 1 wherein said first assembly comprises a plurality of energy sources each having optical means for projecting a portion of said first pattern, said plurality of energy sources including a first source positioned generally vertically above the patient for projecting a longitudinal center line, and at least one source positioned at an angle relative to said first source for projecting a line transverse to said longitudinal center line, said lines defining said first pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The patient alignment system of claim 1 wherein said second assembly comprises at least one energy source including an optical assembly for projecting said second pattern, said optical assembly being coupled to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder to enable said optical assembly for vertical movement thereby to vary the vertical position of said second pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The patient alignment system of claim 7 wherein said second means for detecting position comprises encoder means coupled to sense the position of said piston rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The patient alignment system of Claim 7 wherein said second assembly comprises another energy source including on optical assembly for projecting said second pattern, said last-mentioned optical assembly being coupled to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinderto enable said lastmentioned optical assembly being coupled to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinderto enable said last-mentioned optical assembly for vertical movement thereby to vary the vertical position of said second pattern, said one and last-mentioned energy sources being disposed on either side of the patient transport system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The patient alignment system of claim 6 wherein said first source comprises an optical assembly coupled to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder to enable said optical assembly for movement to vary the position of said longitudinal center line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patient alignment system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Printed in the U K for HMSO, D8818935,4i85,7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies maybe obtained.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patient alignment system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Printed in the U K for HMSO, D8818935,4i85,7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies maybe obtained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0077899A2
Cited
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