Patent ID: 7676256
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus, comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having an imaging volume and at least one transmitting coil for exciting at least a part of a stationary body under examination within the imaging volume; at least one receiving coil within the imaging volume for receiving signals transmitted by the part of the stationary body under examination, said at least one receiving coil being housed within an enclosure; an electronic circuit for processing said received signals to create a diagnostic image; a device for supporting at least one diagnostic or therapeutic tool, said supporting device being attached to a peripheral portion of said enclosure so that the supporting device is disposed within the imaging volume; wherein said enclosure, and thereby said at least one receiving coil housed therewithin and said supporting device attached thereto, are portable so as to permit selective placement within the imaging volume relative to the part of the stationary body under examination; wherein the supporting device includes a first carriage which is slidable along a first guide having a first direction relative to a peripheral edge of the receiving coil enclosure, the first guide being carried on a second carriage which is slidable along a second guide having a second direction relative to the peripheral edge of the receiving coil enclosure; the second direction being different from the first direction; and wherein the supporting device has a through-hole which is oriented in a non parallel direction relative to the first and the second directions and which through-hole is designed to accommodate the at least one diagnostic or therapeutic tool with its axis parallel to the axis of the through-hole, the through-hole being provided in a tiltable swinging suspension formed by a spherical element housed in a spherical seat provided in the supporting device; the at least one diagnostic or therapeutic tool being axially slidable inside the through hole.