Abstract:
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet in combination with a mobile patient-positioning device, including a patient support and a method of using same for positioning patients for MRI scanning. The patient support is rotatable through a range of orientations from a horizontal to a vertical position, including being lockable at any oblique angle with respect to the horizontal. The patient disposed on the patient-positioning device in a predetermined orientation can then be moved horizontally into and out of a patient-receiving space in the MRI magnet at the predetermined angle or orientation. A preferred embodiment includes a plurality of patient-positioning devices in which a series of patients can be placed in a ready state while one patient is within the patient-receiving space. As an alternative embodiment, the patient may be moved vertically into position for MRI scanning by way of an elevator which is actuatable from the floor below the patient receiving space. This elevator also may be used in combination with the patient-positioning device. Preferred embodiments facilitate MRI guided surgery and other procedures performed while the patient is being imaged.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/031,610, filed Nov. 27, 1996 and 60/032,589, filed Nov. 29, 1996, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. The present application is a continuation of and also incorporates herein by reference the disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/789,460 filed Feb. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,490, which application is a continuation of and also incorporates herein by reference the disclosure of co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/978,084 filed Nov. 25, 1997 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/993,072, filed Dec. 18, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,165, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/975,913, filed Nov. 21, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,394. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging or “MRI” and particularly to an apparatus and methods for entering and positioning a patient into an MRI system. 
     The magnetic resonance or “MR” scanners commonly used today require a patient who is to be scanned to be oriented with the long axis of the body in a horizontal position. This aspect of MR scanners or MRI is the result, in part, of the magnet design, the patient-positioning system used to position the patient within the magnet, and the methods designed to accommodate these features of the MRI device. 
     Thus, of necessity, MRI normally is restricted to the situation where gravitational force is exerted on the human body when it is horizontally oriented. However, a human body has other natural positions. These are upright or vertical positions, or sitting positions, where the forces on the body are effectively rotated 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal orientation. MR scanning of the body, oriented in a vertical or sitting position, is not presently achievable with commercially available systems. 
     Attempts have been made heretofore to provide MR scanning of a patient in a vertical position. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,546, a superconductive air-core MRI magnet is shown which can be rotated by an operator so that a patient can walk into a patient receiving space within the magnet and be imaged. However, when in the patient receiving space of this reference, the patient does not have any support for sustaining and maintaining the patient&#39;s relative orientation and position. Also, once the magnet has been rotated to accommodate a patient in a vertical orientation, there would be no room for a physician or attending personnel to access the patient during a scan. Also, if it is desirable to have a second patient scanned in a horizontal orientation, the MRI magnet would have to be rotated back to the original position by the operator. This would cause a delay before the next patient can be scanned. 
     Thus, it is desirable to have an apparatus and methods which would permit MR scanning to be performed with the human body oriented in a vertical or near vertical position or in a sitting position where the MRI magnet does not necessarily have to change its orientation. It also is desirable to have a patient support or rest to accommodate various orientations of the patient. Further, it is desirable to have an apparatus and methods which provide for a series of patients to be scanned in a time saving manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses these needs. The preferred apparatus and methods of this invention allow such vertical or near vertical orientation during scanning, and, most preferably, also allow other orientations of the patient. The present invention also may provide enhanced efficiency and convenience in scanning multiple patients. In addition to providing a vertical or near vertical orientation during scanning, a preferred embodiment allows a physician and associated medical personnel to have access to the patient during a scanning session so as to, by way of example, perform MRI-assisted surgery. 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of: positioning a first patient to be scanned in a patient-receiving space of a magnetic resonance imaging magnet and conducting a magnetic resonance scan of the first patient; during the magnetic resonance scan of the first patient, positioning a second patient in a desired orientation on a mobile patient-positioning device disposed remote from the patient-receiving space; moving the first patient out of the patient-receiving space and moving the second patient into the patient-receiving space by moving the mobile patient-positioning device while maintaining the second patient in the desired orientation; and conducting a magnetic resonance scan of the second patient while the second patient is disposed in the patient-receiving space on the mobile patient-positioning device. 
     A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising the steps of: positioning a series of patients on a plurality of mobile patient-positioning devices so that each patient is disposed on one associated mobile patient-positioning device which is brought to a desired orientation for that patient while the patient and the associated mobile patient-positioning device are disposed remote from a patient-receiving space of a magnetic resonance imaging magnet; moving the patients into and out of the patient-receiving space in sequence by moving the mobile patient-positioning devices so that each patient is moved into the patient-receiving space while such patient is maintained iii the desired orientation; and conducting magnetic resonance scans of the patients, the aforesaid steps being coordinated so that at least some of the patients are brought to the desired orientation while other patients are disposed in the patient-receiving space. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a mobile patient-positioning device comprising: a frame; a patient support mounted to the frame for movement through a range of orientations relative to the frame; means for allowing movement of the frame relative to a magnetic resonance imaging magnet so that a patient on the patient support can be positioned in a patient-receiving space of such magnet with the support in any orientation. Preferably, the means for allowing movement includes wheels supporting the frame. The foregoing arrangements facilitate rapid scanning of patients in sequence. The MRI system need not remain idle while a new patient is adjusted to the proper position. 
     Desirably, the mobile patient-positioning device further comprises means for lifting the patient support upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame. 
     Alternatively or additionally, an embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile patient-positioning device in combination with an elevator mounted in a fixed location relative to the magnet, the elevator being adapted to move the frame upwardly and downwardly relative to the magnet when the frame is disposed adjacent the magnet. The arrangements allow scanning of various parts of the patient&#39;s body. 
     A further aspect of the present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging magnet comprising: a magnet frame; a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween; supports holding the frame on or above a floor of a structure so that a patient may enter the patient-receiving space by moving across the floor of the structure; and magnetic flux generating means for providing magnetic flux in the patient-receiving space. 
     Preferably the magnet may further comprise an elevator for raising or lowering a patient relative to the frame. More preferably, the elevator has a platform and the elevator is arranged to move the platform into a boarding position wherein the platform is close to the floor so that a patient standing on the floor of the structure can step onto the platform or can be wheeled onto the platform on a wheeled carriage. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an MRI magnet comprising a magnet frame; a pair of pole faces spaced apart from one another along a horizontal pole axis and defining a patient-receiving space therebetween; supports for holding the frame on or above the floor of a structure so that a patient may enter the patient-receiving space by moving across the floor of the structure; and magnetic flux generating means for providing magnetic flux in the patient-receiving space; in combination with a mobile patient-positioning device. The mobile patient-positioning device includes a frame; a patient support mounted to the frame for movement through a range of orientations relative to the frame; and means for allowing movement of the frame relative to the magnet so that a patient on the patient support can be positioned in a patient-receiving space of the magnet with the patient support in any desired orientation. 
     Preferably, the frame is a ferromagnetic frame providing a flux return path between the poles. Desirably, the frame is generally C-shaped. 
     More preferably, the flux generating means is arranged to provide a magnetic field strength of at least about 3 kilogauss in the patient-receiving space. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a magnetic resonance imaging magnet for use with the apparatus and methods in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the magnet of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the magnet and a patient-positioning device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the system of FIG. 3 showing the patient support of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 3 in a vertical position; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 3 showing the patient support of the patient-positioning device in a horizontal position; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 3 showing the patient support of the patient-positioning device at a position between horizontal and vertical; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8A is a top plan view of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 3 with the patient rest in the vertical position; 
     FIG. 8B is a side elevation view of the patient-positioning device of FIG. 8A; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the magnet of FIG. 1 and a patient-positioning device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the magnet and patient-positioning device of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of the magnet and patient-positioning device of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the magnet of FIG. 1 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention where the flux return frame or yoke is below a false floor; 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the magnet of FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the magnet of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, includes a magnetic resonance imaging magnet  9  which may include a ferromagnetic flux return frame or yoke  10  defining a pair of opposed poles  12  projecting towards one another along a horizontally-oriented pole axis  14  (FIG. 2) and defining a patient receiving space  16 . Flux generating means such as permanent magnets associated with frame  10 , superconducting coils encircling portions of the flux return frame  10  or, most preferably, resistive electrical coils  18  encircling portions of the frame  10  are provided. As illustrated, the resistive coils  18  encircle the frame  10  adjacent poles  12 . The structure of the C-shaped magnet may be as illustrated and described in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/993,072 filed Dec. 18, 1992, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The magnet defines an open direction of patient entry as indicated by arrow  20  in FIG. 1, allowing movement of a patient into patient receiving space  16 . The magnet is supported on a floor  22  of a building, vehicle or other structure by a set of columns  24 , so that the pole axis  14  and the patient-receiving space  16  are disposed above the floor  22 . 
     One or, more preferably, several mobile patient-positioning devices  30  are provided. One such device is shown in FIGS. 3-8. Each patient-positioning device is movable relative to the magnet  9  independently of the other patient-positioning devices. Thus, the preferred patient-positioning device  30  illustrated includes a frame  32  mounted on wheels  34  so that the device  30 , with a patient thereon can be moved into and out of the patient-receiving space  16  of the magnet  9  by an operator manipulating the device  30  with a handle  36 . The device  30  further includes a patient support  38  movably mounted to frame  32  as by a swingable pivot and lock arrangement  40  and linear movement device  42 . Patient support  38  can be swung or adjusted between the horizontal position depicted in FIG. 3 and a vertical position depicted in FIG. 4, and also can be moved to tilted positions (see FIG. 6) at which the patient support  38  makes oblique angles with the horizontal. As an example of such an oblique angle, a patient may be placed in a Trendelenburg position and or a counter-Trendelenburg position. Generally, a Trendelenburg position is one where the patient support  38  is tilted from horizontal such that the patient&#39;s head is below his or her feet in relation to the horizontal. This position is useful during cardiac surgery and scanning in the heart region. A counter-Trendelenburg position is one where the patient&#39;s head is above their feet. Linear movement device  42  is arranged to move the patient support relative to pivot and lock arrangement  40  and frame  32 . When the patient support  38  is in the vertical position (FIG.  4 ), the linear movement device  42  can move the patient support  38  upwardly and downwardly. Also, when the patient support  38  is in a vertical position, the support can be rotated about a vertical axis. When the patient support is in the oblique position, linear movement device  42  can move the patient support in the oblique plane. For example, linear movement device  42  may include a fluid-operable piston and cylinder arrangement. In place of wheels  34 , frame  32  can be equipped with slidable skids or air cushion supports for raising the frame slightly off the floor to permit movement. The frame  32  of the mobile patient-positioning device  30  also may be supported for movement towards and away from the magnet on an overhead monorail or other elevated rail arrangement. Finally, device  30  may be automatically moved into and out of the patient receiving space by means of an automatic control device (not shown). 
     The patient support  38  is further equipped with a retractable or swingable foot stand  44 ; a retractable seat  46  and retractable hand grips or arm rests  48 . A patient may be positioned on patient support  38  and brought to essentially any desired orientation relative to frame  32  and relative to the floor  22  or a horizontal position. For example, a patient may be positioned on support  38  in a standing position, with support  38  in a vertical or near vertical orientation and with the patient standing on foot rest  44 . Preferably, the patient leans on support  38  while standing. The patient also may be positioned on seat  46 . Alternatively, the patient may lie on the surface of patient support  38 . 
     The components of the mobile patient-positioning device  30  are formed from non-metallic materials such as, for example and, preferably, polymers or other dielectric materials. Device  30  does not substantially interact with the magnetic fields produced by magnet  10  and thus does not impair the magnetic resonance imaging process. 
     A patient may be positioned on one mobile patient-positioning device  30  and brought to the desired position and orientation while that device  30  is remote from the magnet  9  and while the magnet  9  is being used to image another patient, preferably held on another, similar mobile patient-positioning device. Thus, the time consumed in positioning and orienting the patient does not detract from the productivity of the scanner, including magnet  9 . The magnet  9  is only occupied by a given patient during the time required to conduct the actual scan of the patient and during very brief intervals required to wheel the mobile patient-positioning device  30 , with the patient prepositioned thereon, into the patient receiving space  16 . To assure accurate positioning of the mobile patient-positioning device relative to the magnet  9  and hence assure accurate positioning of the patient, the floor  22  or the magnet frame  10  itself may be equipped with rails or guides or tracks which mate with corresponding features on the mobile patient-positioning device  30 . For example, wheels  34  may be grooved or flanged, and may run on rails or grooves in floor  22 . A first set of rails, guides or tracks may run substantially in the direction of the patient entry  20 . A second set of rails and the like may run substantially perpendicular to the first set. A second patient may be disposed on a patient-positioning device which is itself positioned to run on the second set of rails. In this manner, the second patient is positioned in a ready state, waiting to be moved into position for MRI scanning. Preferably, the first and second set of rails are positioned adjacent each other on the floor so that they intersect and allow for movement from one set to the other. 
     The ability to position each patient in essentially any orientation allows scanning while the patient is in essentially any posture. This improves the realism of the scanned image and allows detection of posture-dependent problems. For example, a patient having difficulties with a knee joint can be imaged while the joint is bearing weight, with the patient in an essentially standing position. Also, internal organs can be brought to the positions which they occupy while the patient is standing or seated. For example, it is advantageous to perform intestinal surgery on a patient when that person is in a vertical position. The ability to move the patient-positioning device upwardly and downwardly allows scanning of essentially any part of the patient. Typically, the pole axis  14  (FIG. 2) is about 5-6 feet (about 1.5-2.0 meters) above floor  22  so that the head of a standing adult patient can be positioned at or near the pole axis. The ability of the mobile patient-positioning device  30  to elevate the patient, by action of linear movement device  42  allows other parts of the patient to be brought into alignment with the plural axis and hence to be imaged. The magnetic flux return frame or yoke  10  and the coils may be hidden from the patient by a false or cosmetic wall surrounding the same. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 9,  10  and  11 , a similar C-shaped magnet  61  may include a built-in patient elevator  62 . The C-shaped magnet  61  may be positioned above a false floor  64  so that the patient may walk onto the elevator platform  66  while the platform  66  is aligned with the false floor  64  and the elevator platform  66  may then be raised or lowered to position the patient at the appropriate height relative to the magnet  61  and relative to the plural axis  14 . 
     The two approaches described heretofore may be combined. Thus, a mobile patient-positioning device  30  as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 may be used with a fixed patient elevator  60 , so that the patient is positioned at the appropriate orientation on the mobile patient-positioning device. The device  30  is rolled onto the elevator platform  66 . The elevator platform  66  is then raised and lowered as necessary. 
     In a further alternative, a fixed elevator need not incorporate a platform, but instead may be arranged to engage the frame  32  of the mobile patient-positioning device  30 , as by a fork or rods on the elevator  62  engaging in holes on the frame of the mobile patient-positioning device  30 . 
     A preferred method of MR Scanning of a patient with the long axis of the body in a vertical orientation would proceed as follows: 
     With the patient support  38  in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 4, the patient steps onto the retractable foot stand  44 . During this stage of the method, the patient support  38  is maintained at a convenient height for the patient to step onto the foot stand  44  from the floor  22 . Although foot stand  44  is depicted as slightly above the level of the floor in FIG. 4, the patient support  38  optionally may be lowered to position the foot stand level with the floor, thereby further facilitating access by infirm patients. 
     The patient is then positioned and made comfortable. This step may include the patient grasping the retractable hand grasps or arm rests  48 . The patient also may lean on support  38  while standing. In addition, additional cushioning, such as pillows and inflatable supports, may be provided to increase the patient&#39;s comfort. The patient-positioning device  30  is then moved into the patient receiving space  16  where the additional positioning of the patient up or down is achieved by means of the linear movement device  38 . This aspect of patient-positioning will locate the anatomical region of interest for MR scanning at the proper position in the patient receiving space  16 . At this point, the MR scanning data acquisition will proceed. 
     Following completion of MRI data acquisition, the patient-positioning device  30  is removed from the patient receiving space  16 . In this relocation step, the patient support  30  may be lowered or raised to a convenient height for the patient to step off of the foot stand  44  onto the floor  22 . This may be accomplished before or after removing the patient-positioning device  30  from the patient receiving space  16 . The patient may then dismount the patient-positioning device  30 . 
     There are variations of this preferred embodiment which should be evident in light of the foregoing description. First, the patient, when standing on the retractable foot stand, may be oriented in any direction as may be defined by rotation along the long axis of the patient&#39;s body. To this end, the pivot and lock arrangement  40  may be provided with additional pivots, gimbals or other mechanisms which allow patient support  38  to pivot relative to frame  32  about its long axis L or another axis parallel thereto, and/or to pivot about a vertical axis V relative to the frame (FIG.  6 ). Alternatively or additionally, the wheels  34  or other mobile support device supporting the frame  32  may include pivotable casters or other devices which allow the frame to be turned around a vertical axis relative to the floor  22 . Also, slight deviations or tilts of the patient&#39;s body, and of the long axis L from the true vertical orientation may be used. Finally, if the objective of the MRI procedure is to scan an anatomical region of interest in the upper portion of the patient&#39;s body in a vertical orientation, the patient may be seated on retractable seat  46 . In the preferred embodiment, after stepping onto the patient-positioning platform, the patient would sit on the retractable seat  46  prior to proceeding with the MRI scan. 
     In yet another variant, the patient-positioning device  30  may remain fixed within the patient-receiving space  16 , and the patient can walk into the patient-receiving space and stand on or against the patient support  38 . For example, the patient may step onto the foot stand  44 . Alternatively, the patient can sit on seat  46 . If the equipment is to be used only in this manner, frame  32  can be fixed relative to the MRI magnet and/or integral therewith. The configuration of the magnet allows convenient walk-in patient entry. 
     MRI is a useful modality for monitoring the progress of surgical procedures. A further aspect of the present invention extends this utility in surgical applications, as can be seen in FIG. 1. A surgeon and associated medical personnel as necessary to perform a surgical procedure can occupy a medical personnel area  50 , between the legs of the C-shaped frame and/or in the area  52  immediately outside of patient-receiving space  16 . With the patient support  38  in a horizontal position, the patient is positioned in the magnet gap area, followed by the desired height adjustment as described above. The surgeon is then able to perform a surgical procedure, with the guidance of MR imaging. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous for surgery performed on either end of the body including areas such as the head, neck or the foot ankle and knee in the case where the patient is positioned in the magnet feet-first. As an alternative embodiment, the medical personnel area may be located outside the magnet and proximate the magnet gap area, providing comparable access to the patient for surgery. 
     The ability to position a patient in a vertical orientation, as by positioning patient support  38  in vertical orientation with the patient either standing or sitting and perform MR imaging during a surgical procedure, enables novel surgical methods to be employed. For example, it would be advantageous to have the ability to perform intestinal or other abdominal surgery on a vertically oriented patient. Additional supports may be used to stabilize the patient when in a vertically orientated position. These supports preferably are pillows or inflatable cushions. Also, with the patient in a sitting position, a surgeon may perform knee surgery on the knee in a flexed position if desired. In these embodiments, the surgeon and associated medical personnel may operate from either medical personnel area as described above. 
     Apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 12-14, includes a magnetic resonance imaging magnet  109  which may include a ferromagnetic flux return or yoke  100 . In this embodiment, the yoke  100  is submerged under a false floor  164 . The magnet  109  is substantially the same as the magnet  9  shown in FIGS. 1-8, wherein the yoke  100  defines a pair of opposing poles  112  projecting towards one another along a horizontally-oriented pole axis  114  (FIG.  13 ). A patient receiving space  116  is defined between the poles  112 . Flux generating means  118  encircling portions of the frame  100  are provided. 
     In this particular embodiment, since the flux return yoke  100  is below the floor  164 , there are two possible open directions of patient entry as indicated by arrows  200 . This dual entry configuration facilitates sequential scanning of patients either in a one way direction or a two way direction. In the one way direction setup, a patient may be moved into the patient receiving space  16  while at least a second patient is prepared just outside the magnet  109  on the same side where the first patient entered the magnet. After the first patient is scanned, he or she is moved forward and out of the patient receiving space  16  to the opposite side of the magnet. Next, the second patient is moved in allowing for a continuous stream of patients with minimum downtime for the MRI scanner. In the alternative two way setup, one patient may be moved into the patient positioning space  16  from left to right, for example (FIG.  14 ). The second patient may be positioned outside of the magnet  109  to the right. When the first patient&#39;s scan is complete, he or she may be moved out to the left while the second patient is moved from the right to left into the patient receiving space  16 . This configuration also facilitates MRI-assisted surgery and other procedures requiring medical personnel to be within the magnet&#39;s poles  120 . As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by limitation of the invention set forth in the claims.