Patent Publication Number: US-2015065863-A1

Title: Positioning Apparatus, Patient Support Apparatus, and Medical Imaging Apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of DE 10 2013 217 536.1, filed on Sep. 3, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Medical imaging examinations on patients are often quite long, lasting an hour or more. During this time the patient has to remain lying in an examination position on a patient support apparatus, moving as little as possible. 
     SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. 
     The object of the present embodiments is to make a patient more comfortable when lying down while maintaining the reproducibility of the patient&#39;s horizontal position. 
     The embodiments are based on a positioning apparatus designed to provide assistance by supporting and/or positioning a patient on a patient support apparatus, with a bearing unit to hold the patient and a fastening unit designed to fasten the positioning apparatus to the patient support apparatus. 
     It is proposed that the bearing unit has at least two bearing regions, it being possible to set the position of the first bearing region in relation to the position of the at least one second bearing region. This allows the comfort of the patient lying on the patient support apparatus to be improved, in that the positioning apparatus may be used to set the position of the bearing regions. It also allows a setting to be tailored individually to the anatomy of the patient, thereby improving patient comfort. The fact that the bearing regions may be set also provides that the setting is reproducible. The positioning apparatus, in particular the bearing regions of the positioning apparatus, may be designed for the positioning and/or holding of the patient&#39;s legs. A patient with raised legs and/or bent legs feels more relaxed and comfortable over a long period lying down and/or a long examination period than when his/her legs are supported and/or positioned in an extended state. To this end, the positioning apparatus may be designed to be positioned on the patient support apparatus, (e.g., in a region for supporting the patient&#39;s legs, on the table or the support surface of the table), thereby assisting with the support and/or positioning of the patient, (e.g., the legs of the patient), in a comfortable position, (e.g., in a raised position and/or a bent position). 
     It is further proposed that at least one of the bearing regions has at least one bearing element with a maximum thickness of 1 cm. In certain embodiments, the bearing element may have a maximum thickness of 5 mm, a maximum thickness of 2.5 mm, or a maximum thickness of maximum 1 mm. The embodiments allow for an essentially smooth transition to be achieved between the at least one bearing element and, for example, a support surface of a table of the patient support apparatus. The at least one bearing element of the positioning apparatus here is supported on the support surface of the table, thereby allowing a high level of comfort to be achieved for the patient lying thereon. The positioning apparatus here may be embodied in such a manner that the at least two bearing regions of the positioning apparatus each have at least one bearing element or that the at least two bearing regions have a common bearing element. The thin configuration of the positioning apparatus, (e.g., the bearing element), also allows the distance between the patient and a high-frequency receive unit for a magnetic resonance examination integrated within the table to be minimized, so that unwanted signal attenuation as a result of the positioning apparatus is prevented. 
     In a further embodiment, it is proposed that at least one of the bearing regions has at least one bearing element, which includes a flat textile structure. The flat textile structure of the at least one bearing element allows tailoring of the at least one bearing element to a patient, (e.g., to a contour and/or anatomy of a leg region of the patient), to be achieved. This embodiment also allows a thin and light bearing element to be provided to support and/or position the patient. In this context, a flat textile structure refers in particular to a fabric, for example, a material and/or a synthetic fabric, and/or a mesh, and/or a non-woven fabric and/or further flat textile structures that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art. 
     The at least two bearing regions may also have a common bearing element that has at least one cutout in a peripheral region of the bearing element in a center region. The at least one cutout allows a flattened and, in particular, edgeless transition to be achieved between the first bearing region and the second bearing region in a position where the two bearing regions are at an angle smaller than 180°, thereby allowing a high level of comfort for the patient lying thereon. To this end, the at least one cutout is arranged in a transition region between the first bearing region and the second bearing region. To this end, the common bearing element may have two cutouts arranged on opposing peripheral regions. The cutout(s) may be configured as semi-circular. 
     In one development, at least one of the bearing regions has at least two strip elements arranged at the side, the at least two strip elements being arranged on different sides of the bearing region and a bearing element being arranged between the at least two strip elements, thereby allowing stability of the positioning apparatus, (e.g., the bearing element of the positioning apparatus), to be achieved. The strip elements here may be formed by profile strip elements and/or a further embodiment that appears expedient to the person skilled in the art. 
     The bearing unit may have at least one bracing element that is arranged between the two strip elements, thereby allowing stabilizing of a position of and/or a distance between the two strip elements in relation to one another to be achieved, in particular, when the bearing unit is loaded. The at least one bracing element may include a form of cross member, which is arranged between the two strip elements. The bracing element here may be arranged in a center region of the bearing regions in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the positioning apparatus. 
     It is further proposed that the bracing element has a soft sheathing, thereby allowing a high level of comfort to be achieved for the patient when being positioned and/or supported on the positioning apparatus. To this end, the bracing element may be arranged on at least one of the bearing regions on a side facing away from the bearing surface, so that the supporting and/or positioning of the patient is not obstructed. In this context, a soft sheathing refers, in particular, to a sheathing of the bracing element that may have elastic deformability, so that when the patient is supported, the force of the weight of the patient may be absorbed in the form of an elastic deformation and when the patient leaves the positioning apparatus, the bracing element returns to its original form. For example, the soft sheathing may include a foam material and/or further materials that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art. 
     It is further proposed that each of the bearing regions has at least one strip element, the strip elements of the different bearing regions being arranged one behind the other on the same side of the bearing unit in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the strip elements. This allows the individual bearing regions of the positioning apparatus to be moved and/or set in relation to one another, thereby allowing the positioning apparatus to be tailored to the anatomy and/or leg position of the patient. 
     The bearing unit may have at least one rotary bearing unit, with at least two of the strip elements arranged one behind the other being connected by the rotary bearing unit. The rotary bearing unit may include a pivot joint, so that the individual bearing regions of the positioning apparatus may also be moved and/or set in relation to one another, thereby allowing the positioning apparatus to be tailored to the anatomy and/or leg position of the patient. The connection by the rotary bearing unit also provides that the positions of the at least two bearing regions may be set simultaneously, so that when a position of the at least one first bearing region is set, the position of the at least one second bearing region is also fixed at the same time, thereby resulting in a short positioning time when the patient is being prepared in particular for a medical imaging examination. 
     In a further embodiment, at least two of the strip elements each have an end region at an end facing away from the other strip element in each instance, it being possible to set the distance between the two end regions of the strip elements in order to set a position of the first bearing region in relation to a position of the second bearing region. It is thus possible to set a bearing position of the at least two bearing regions in a structurally simple manner, in that, for example, the two bearing regions together with a support surface of the patient support apparatus enclose a triangular area. The shorter the distance between the end regions of the different strip elements here, the more acute the angle between the bearing regions and a support surface of a table of the patient support apparatus and/or the smaller the angle between the two bearing regions. 
     If, when the end regions of the different strip elements are at a maximum distance from one another, the different strip elements are at an angle smaller than 180°, it is possible to set a position of the bearing regions in relation to one another economically in a structurally simple manner, (e.g., by a control cable). It is also thus possible to prevent the obstruction, for example, by bracing elements that are arranged on a side of the bearing regions facing away from the bearing surface of the bearing element, of the support and/or positioning of the patient. Because the angle is smaller than 180°, space is available between the bearing regions and a support surface of a patient support apparatus and the bracing elements on the bearing regions may be arranged in this space. 
     It is further proposed that the bearing unit has a setting unit for setting a position of the first bearing region in relation to a position of the at least one second bearing region, the setting unit including a pneumatic setting unit and/or an electric setting unit and/or a mechanical setting unit and/or a hydraulic setting unit. It is thus possible to set a support position of, in particular, a leg region of the patient, assisting a medical operator, (e.g., a physician, etc.), during an operation to support and/or position a patient on a patient support apparatus, (e.g., on a table of a patient support apparatus). It is also possible to achieve reproducibility of the set support position of, in particular, a leg region of the patient using the setting unit together with the positioning apparatus. The pneumatic setting unit may include, for example, a pneumatic cylinder and/or an at least partially pneumatically driven setting element. The hydraulic setting unit may also include a hydraulic cylinder. The mechanical setting unit may include a control cable and/or further mechanical setting elements that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art. The electric setting unit may include, for example, an electric setting element. 
     A structurally simple and space-saving setting unit within the positioning apparatus may be provided, if the setting unit includes at least one control cable unit. This provides that the positioning apparatus may be used for a medical imaging examination, which includes a magnetic resonance examination using a magnetic resonance apparatus, as it is possible to prevent unwanted impairment of an applied magnetic field using the mechanical setting unit, (e.g., the control cable unit). The mechanical setting unit here, (e.g., the control cable unit), may be configured as magnetic resonance-compatible. 
     In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the setting unit has at least one locking element to lock a position of the first bearing region in relation to a position of the second bearing region. A set position of the first bearing region and/or the second setting region may be secured so that an identical examination position is available for the patient (e.g., for different medical imaging examinations). The locking element here may interact with at least one strip element of the positioning apparatus and/or with further units or elements of the positioning apparatus that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art to lock a latching connection and/or a clamping connection. 
     The locking element may be arranged within the setting unit in such a manner that it may be moved in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the locking element and in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the locking element, thereby allowing simple securing and/or locking of the locking element to be achieved. Provisions may also be made for the locking element to be configured at least partially as a single piece with a setting element and/or a sliding bearing element of the positioning apparatus. 
     In one development, it is proposed that the fastening unit has at least one sliding bearing element, allowing simple and direct fastening of the positioning apparatus to a patient support apparatus, (e.g., a table of the patient support apparatus), to be achieved. In certain embodiments, the fastening unit may have at least two sliding bearing elements, so that the positioning apparatus may be fastened to the patient support apparatus, (e.g., a table of the patient support apparatus), on both sides and therefore securely. The sliding bearing element may be configured in the same way as a sliding bearing element of the patient support apparatus, (e.g., a table of the patient support apparatus). If, for example, the table has a sliding bearing element that includes a slide rail with an L-shaped cross section, the at least one sliding bearing element of the positioning apparatus is also configured as L-shaped. Also, an L-shaped configuration of the at least one sliding bearing element of the positioning apparatus allows simple securing of the positioning apparatus to the patient support apparatus to be achieved, to prevent the positioning apparatus falling out and/or falling off. 
     The at least one sliding bearing element is also arranged on one of the end regions of the strip elements, allowing a compact positioning apparatus to be provided. The fastening apparatus may include four sliding bearing elements, one of the sliding bearing elements being arranged in each instance on an end region of one of the strip elements. The sliding bearing elements here are arranged on the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202 , which face away from the second bearing region  203 , and on the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203 , which face away from the first bearing region  202 . 
     The embodiments are also based on a patient support apparatus designed to support a patient for a medical imaging examination within a medical imaging apparatus. The apparatus includes a table having a support surface to support the patient, and a positioning apparatus designed, in particular, to provide assistance by supporting and/or positioning a patient on the patient support apparatus, with a bearing unit to hold the patient and a fastening unit that is designed to fasten the positioning apparatus to the patient support apparatus. The bearing unit includes at least two bearing regions, where it is possible to set a position of the first bearing region in relation to a position of the at least one second bearing region. This positioning improves the comfort of a patient lying on the patient support apparatus, in that a position of the bearing regions may be set using the positioning apparatus. Also, the positioning/setting may thus be tailored individually to the anatomy of the patient, thereby improving patient comfort. The fact that the bearing regions may be set also provides that the setting is reproducible. 
     In a further embodiment of the patient support apparatus, it is proposed that the table has at least one sliding bearing element that is configured in the same way as a sliding bearing element of the positioning apparatus. This allows the positioning apparatus to be fastened in a simple and direct manner to the patient support apparatus, (e.g., the table of the patient support apparatus). 
     The positioning apparatus may be introduced and/or fastened to the table, if the at least one sliding bearing element of the table includes a slide rail. A slide rail may be arranged on a peripheral region on the table in each instance, the slide rail here being arranged on the table in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the table. The slide rail here may be a groove-type slide rail with an L-shaped cross section. 
     The embodiments further include a medical imaging apparatus with a patient support apparatus that designed to support a patient for a medical imaging examination within a medical imaging apparatus. The apparatus includes a table having a support surface to support the patient, and a positioning apparatus that is designed to provide assistance by supporting and/or positioning a patient on the patient support apparatus, with a bearing unit to hold the patient and a fastening unit that is designed to fasten the positioning apparatus to the patient support apparatus. The bearing unit includes at least two bearing regions, where it is possible to set a position of the first bearing region in relation to a position of the at least one second bearing region. This positioning improves the comfort of a patient lying on the patient support apparatus, in that a position of the bearing regions may be set and/or tailored individually to the anatomy of the patient using the positioning apparatus. The fact that the bearing regions may be set also provides that the setting is reproducible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a medical imaging apparatus with a patient support apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a patient support apparatus with a positioning apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the patient support apparatus with the positioning apparatus in a further support position. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of an embodiment of the patient support apparatus with the positioning apparatus in the further support position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a medical imaging apparatus, which in the present exemplary embodiment is formed by a magnetic resonance apparatus  10 . Alternatively, the medical imaging apparatus may also include a computed tomography apparatus, a PET apparatus, a C-arm apparatus, and/or further configurations of a medical imaging apparatus that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art. 
     The magnetic resonance apparatus  10  includes a magnet unit  11  with a main magnet  12  for generating a powerful and in particular constant main magnetic field  13 . The magnetic resonance apparatus  10  also has a patient receiving region  14  for receiving a patient  15 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the patient receiving region  14  is configured as cylindrical and is enclosed in a cylindrical manner in a circumferential direction by the magnet unit  11 . In certain embodiments, a different configuration of the patient receiving region  14  may be conceivable. The patient  15  may be moved by a patient support apparatus  100  of the magnetic resonance apparatus into the patient receiving region  14 . 
     The magnet unit  11  also has a gradient coil unit  16  for generating magnetic field gradients that are used for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit  16  is controlled by a gradient control unit  17  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  10 . The magnet unit  11  further includes a high-frequency antenna unit  18  and a high-frequency antenna control unit  19  for exciting a polarization that is established in the main magnetic field  13  generated by the main magnet  12 . The high-frequency antenna unit  18  is controlled by the high-frequency antenna control unit  19  and radiates high-frequency magnetic resonance sequences into an examination space that is essentially formed by the patient receiving region  14 . 
     To control the main magnet  12  of the gradient control unit  17  and to control the high-frequency antenna control unit  19 , the magnetic resonance apparatus  10  has a control unit  20  formed by a computation unit. The control unit  20  controls the magnetic resonance apparatus  10  centrally, for example, performing a predetermined imaging gradient echo sequence. The control unit  20  also includes an evaluation unit for evaluating image data. Control information, such as imaging parameters, for example, and reconstructed magnetic resonance images may be displayed to an operator on a display unit  21 , (e.g., on at least one monitor), of the magnetic resonance apparatus  10 . The magnetic resonance apparatus  10  also has an input unit  22 , by which information and/or parameters may be input by an operator during a measuring operation. 
     To support and/or position the patient  15  the patient support apparatus  100  has a table  101  with a support surface  102 . The table  101  is supported in a movable manner, so that a patient  15  may be introduced into the patient receiving region  14  of the magnetic resonance apparatus  10  by the table  101 . The patient support apparatus  100  also has a base unit  103 , the table  101  being supported in such a manner that it may be moved in relation to the base unit  103 . To this end, the patient support apparatus  100  has a sliding bearing unit for movable support of the table  101  in relation to the base unit  103 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the base unit  103  is integrated within a housing of the magnet unit  11  enclosing the patient receiving region  14 . 
     The patient support apparatus  100  also includes a high-frequency antenna receive unit  106 , which is integrated within the table  101  and is designed to detect magnetic resonance signals during a magnetic resonance examination on a patient  15 . 
     The patient support apparatus  100  further includes a positioning apparatus  200 , which is designed to provide assistance by supporting and/or positioning the patient  15  on the patient support apparatus  100 . To this end, the positioning apparatus  200  is arranged on the table  101 , in particular, on the support surface  102  of the table  101 .  FIGS. 2 to 4  depict the table  101  of the patient support apparatus  100  in more detail together with the positioning apparatus  200 . 
     The positioning apparatus  200  includes a bearing unit  201 , which is designed to hold the patient  15 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the bearing unit  201  includes two bearing regions  202 ,  203  that are designed, in particular, to hold the legs of the patient  15 . To this end, the positioning apparatus  200  is arranged in a leg region of the support surface  102  of the table  101  ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). In principle, the bearing unit  201  of the positioning apparatus  200  may also include more than two bearing regions  202 ,  203 . 
     The two bearing regions  202 ,  203  include a common bearing element  204 , which includes a flat textile structure in the present instance. The flat textile structure may include a fabric and/or mesh and/or a knitted fabric, etc. In the present exemplary embodiment, the common bearing element includes a fabric formed by a material or a cloth. The common bearing element  204  also may have a maximum thickness of 1 cm, 5 mm, 2.5 mm, or 1 mm, so that there is the smoothest possible transition between the table  101 , (e.g., the support surface  102  of the table  101 ), and the bearing element  204  ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). The thin configuration of the bearing element  204  also provides that the distance between the patient  15  and the high-frequency antenna receive unit  106  for a magnetic resonance examination integrated within the table  101  may be minimized so that unwanted signal attenuation as a result of the positioning apparatus  200  is prevented. 
     The bearing unit  201  of the positioning apparatus  200 , in particular, the two bearing regions  202 ,  203 , each have two strip elements  205 ,  206  that are arranged on peripheral regions  207  on opposing sides of the bearing regions  202 ,  206 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the strip elements  205 ,  206  are formed by profile strips. The bearing element  204  is arranged between the two strip elements  205 ,  206  of a respective bearing region  202 ,  203 , the bearing element  204  being fastened to the strip elements  205 ,  206  ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). 
     The bearing unit  201  also includes two bracing elements  208 , each bearing region  202 ,  203  here including a bracing element  208  ( FIG. 4 ). The bracing element  208  is arranged between the two strip elements  205 ,  206  of one of the bearing regions  202 ,  203  in each instance, so that the distance between the two strip elements  205 ,  206  remains the same even when the bearing regions  202 ,  203  are in different positions in relation to one another and/or with different loads, for example because of a patient  15 . The bracing elements  208  are arranged in each instance on a side of the bearing element  204  facing away from a support surface  209  of the bearing element  204  between the two strip elements  205 ,  206  of the bearing regions  202 ,  203 . 
     The individual bracing elements  208  also have a soft sheathing. The soft sheathing may be a sheathing including a foam material for example and/or further materials that appear expedient to the person skilled in the art. The sheathing of the bracing element  208  may be configured as magnetic resonance-compatible. 
     To improve the comfort of the patient  15  during a medical imaging examination the two bearing regions  202 ,  203  are configured so that they may be set in relation to one another. To this end, it is possible to set a position of the first bearing region  202  in relation to a position of the second bearing region  203 . A strip element  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202  and a strip element  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203  are arranged on the same side of the bearing unit  201 , the two strip elements  205 ,  206  here being arranged one behind the other in the direction of a longitudinal extension  210  of the strip elements  205 ,  206 . The two strip elements  205 ,  206  arranged one behind the other are connected by a rotary bearing unit  211  of the bearing unit  201 , the bearing unit  201  including two rotary bearing units  211  for this purpose. The rotary bearing units  211  are arranged in each instance between a strip element  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202  and a strip element  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203  and include a pivot joint. One rotary bearing unit  211  in each instance is arranged in an end region of the strip element  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202  that faces the second bearing region  203 , and in an end region of the strip element  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203  that faces the first bearing region  202  ( FIGS. 2 to 4 ). 
     The bearing element  204  has two cutouts  213  in a center region in the direction of a longitudinal extension  212  of the bearing unit  201 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the two cutouts  213  are configured as semicircular and are arranged in a peripheral region  207  of the bearing element  204 . The cutouts  213  here are arranged in a region of the bearing unit  201 , in which the rotary bearing units  211  are arranged. 
     The positioning apparatus  200  also has a fastening unit  214  that is designed to fasten the positioning apparatus  200  to the patient support apparatus  100 . The fastening unit  214  has at least one sliding bearing element  215  to support the positioning apparatus  200  in an at least partially movable manner on the table  101 , (e.g., on the support surface  102  of the table  102 ). In the present exemplary embodiment, the fastening unit  214  has four sliding bearing elements  215  that are arranged on one of the strip elements  205 ,  206  in each instance. The sliding bearing elements  215  here are arranged on an end region of the strip elements  205 ,  206  in each instance, the end region of the strip elements  205 ,  206  being arranged on the strip elements  205 ,  206  in each instance facing away from the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  including the rotary bearing unit  211  in the direction of the longitudinal extension  210  of the strip elements  205 ,  206 . 
     The positioning apparatus  200  is introduced into sliding bearing elements  104  of the table  101  by the sliding bearing elements  215 , the sliding bearing elements  215  of the positioning apparatus  200  being configured in the same way as the sliding bearing elements  104  of the table  101 . In the present instance, the sliding bearing elements  104  of the table  101  are formed by two slide rails, which are configured in the manner of grooves with an L-shaped cross section. The slide rails extend in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the table  101  and are also arranged in a peripheral region  105  of the support surface  102  of the table  101  in each instance. The sliding bearing elements  215  of the positioning apparatus  200  also include L-shaped webs, allowing advantageous sliding and also securing by the fastening unit  214  to prevent the positioning apparatus  200  falling out ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The sliding bearing elements  215  on the same end region of the bearing unit  201  are connected by an axle. The individual sliding bearing elements  215  are also supported by a rotary bearing unit in each instance on the strip elements  205 ,  206 , so that it is possible to set the inclination of the individual bearing regions  202 ,  203  when the positioning apparatus  200  is supported on the table  101 . The fastening unit  214  also has a fixing element that may be arranged on one of the sliding bearing elements  215  and is used to fix a position of the positioning apparatus  200  in relation to the patient support apparatus  100 , (e.g., in relation to the table  101  of the patient support apparatus  100 ). 
     The rotary bearing units  211  and the sliding bearing elements  215  may be used to set a position of the first bearing region  202  in relation to a position of the second bearing region  203  and the positions of the first and second bearing regions  202 ,  203  in relation to the table  101  of the patient support apparatus  100 . To this end, the rotary bearing units  211  and the sliding bearing elements  215  are used to set an angle between the two bearing regions  202 ,  203 . The smaller the angle formed by the two bearing regions  202 ,  203 , the smaller the distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  supported on the table  101  by the sliding bearing elements  215 . Also, a function of the distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  supported on the table  101  by the sliding bearing elements  215  is an angle formed by the support surface  102  of the table  101  and the support surface  209  of the bearing regions  202 ,  203 . The smaller the distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  supported on the table  101  by the sliding bearing elements  215 , the smaller also the angle between the support surface  102  of the table  101  and the support surface  209  of the bearing regions  202 ,  203 . 
     When the positioning apparatus  200  is positioned in such a manner that it helps the legs of the patient  15  to be bent and/or raised, the two bearing regions  202 ,  203  form an angle which may be smaller than 170°. In this position, the cutouts in the bearing element  204  provide that the transition between the first bearing region  202  and the second bearing region  203  is flattened and edgeless, so the patient may be supported and/or positioned in an agreeable and/or comfortable manner. 
     To set the position of the first bearing region  202  in relation to a position of the second bearing region  203 , the bearing unit  201  also has a setting unit  216 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the setting unit  216  includes a mechanical setting unit  216  with a control cable unit  217  ( FIG. 2 ). To this end, a cylindrical setting element  218  is arranged in each instance on the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202  facing away from the second bearing region  203  and on the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203  facing away from the first bearing region  202 , the setting element  218  extending away on a side of the strip elements  205 ,  206  facing away from the bearing element  204 . One of the cylindrical setting elements  218  on each side of the positioning apparatus  200  is also supported in such a manner that it may be rotated on the strip elements  205 ,  206 . The two cylindrical setting elements  218  are connected by a cable. In certain embodiments, it is possible for the cable to be rolled up at least partially onto the setting element  218  by rotating the rotatably supported cylindrical setting element  218 , thereby allowing a distance to be set between the two cylindrical setting elements  218 , and thus also between the two end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     In an alternative embodiment, the setting unit  216  may include a pneumatic setting unit  216  and/or an electric setting unit  216  and/or a hydraulic setting unit  216  and/or an alternative embodiment of a mechanical setting unit  216 . The pneumatic setting unit  216  may have for example a pneumatic cylinder and/or a pneumatically operated setting element, (e.g., a setting arm). The hydraulic setting unit  216  may include for example a hydraulic cylinder. The electric setting unit  216  may include, for example, an electrically operated setting element. It is also conceivable in an alternative embodiment of the mechanical setting unit  216  for the setting unit to have two control cable units  217  that are arranged only on different sides of the positioning apparatus  200 . A pneumatic setting unit and/or an electric setting unit and/or a hydraulic setting unit may be arranged in a region of the rotary bearing unit  211  and/or on the strip elements  205 ,  206 . 
     To set a position of the first bearing region  202  in relation to a position of the second bearing region  203  on the table  101 , the control cable units  217  are used to set a distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the first bearing region  202  facing away from the second bearing region  203  and the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  of the second bearing region  203  facing away from the first bearing region  202 . In a position where there is a maximum distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206 , the first bearing region  202  is at an angle smaller than 180° to the second bearing region  203 , the two bearing regions  202 ,  203  potentially being at an angle of approx. 170°, so that the bracing elements  208  do not obstruct the support and/or positioning of the patient  15 . 
     When the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  are in a position in which the end regions are at a maximum distance from one another, the distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  may be shortened by rotating one of the cylindrical setting elements  218  of the setting unit  216 . 
     When the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  are in a position where the distance between the end regions does not correspond to the maximum distance, the distance between the end regions of the strip elements  205 ,  206  may be both shortened and increased by rotating one of the cylindrical setting elements  218  of the setting unit  216 , depending on the rotation direction. 
     To secure and/or lock a set position of the first bearing region  202  in relation to a position of the second bearing region  203 , the setting unit  216  has a locking element  219 . The locking element  219  is arranged on the rotatably supported, cylindrical setting element  218  and is configured at least partially as a single piece with this. The locking element  219  is thus supported in such a manner that it may be rotated in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the locking element  219 , and therefore also about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrically configured setting element  218 . The locking element  219  is also supported in such a manner that it may be moved in the direction of its longitudinal extension in relation to the strip element  205 ,  206 . 
     The locking element  219  has, for example, a square cross sectional area for securing and/or locking purposes, so that when the locking element  219  is rotated, it becomes jammed against the strip element  205 ,  206 . Further embodiments of the locking element  219  are conceivable, as long as a clamping connection and/or a latching connection results between the locking element  219  and the strip elements  205 ,  206 . 
     So that the positioning apparatus  200  may be used together with the magnetic resonance apparatus  10 , the positioning apparatus  200  is configured as magnetic resonance compatible. 
     The illustrated patient support apparatus  100  and the illustrated magnetic resonance apparatus  10  may include further components, which patient support apparatuses and magnetic resonance apparatuses may feature. The mode of operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus and patient support apparatus is also known to the person skilled in the art so there is no need for a detailed description of the components here. 
     It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification. 
     While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it may be understood that many changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.