Patent ID: 7508204
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for checking that all auxiliary MRI accessories (such as alarm balls, patient pillows, RF coils, etc.) are implemented (i.e. actively attached) and positioned correctly before initiating an MRI scan using a magnetic resonance device comprising: initially positioning and actively implementing (i.e. actively attaching), all of the desired auxiliary MRI accessories about a patient that is to undergo the MRI scan, wherein all of the desired auxiliary MRI accessories have a separate identifiable marker, which is detectable by the MR device; and using the magnetic resonance device in order to test and check that all of the desired auxiliary MRI accessories are positioned and implemented correctly by generating an MRI test image having at least a partial view of the patient and which records on the generated test image the presence, position, and orientation of any detected auxiliary MRI accessory markers; comparing, by means of pattern recognition, the generated test image showing the contour/shape of the patient and the position and orientation of each of the recorded markers for each of the detected auxiliary MRI accessories, which are active and implementation ready with a stored standard image showing all of the recorded auxiliary MRI accessory markers, when they are positioned/oriented correctly and are implementation ready (i.e. active, attached) in preparation for performing the MRI scan; determining, via matched pattern comparison, that all of the auxiliary MRI accessories for performing the MRI scan are present, actively ready, and positioned/oriented correctly before initiating the MRI scan based on a result of the image comparison between the generated test image and the stored standard image; and displaying the result of the image comparison on a monitor, while issuing an alarm message when one or more of the auxiliary MRI accessories is not present, is absent, missing or is improperly positioned or is improperly oriented; and indicating readiness for the MRI scan, when all auxiliary MRI accessories are present and positioned/oriented properly based on the image comparison.