Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020057088?dq=5754119
Timestamp: 2015-05-06 07:07:16
Document Index: 79674764

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'arts 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102', 'art 102', 'art 202', 'art 102']

Patent US20020057088 - Machine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a nuclear ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe invention relates to a machine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, comprising, in combination therewith, a table (2) for supporting the patient, with at least one peripheral recess (302) in the surface of the table (2) or of a part...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020057088?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020057088 - Machine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machineAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20020057088 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/043,151Publication dateMay 16, 2002Filing dateJan 14, 2002Priority dateOct 5, 1998Also published asDE69931325D1, DE69931325T2, DE69943281D1, EP0995397A2, EP0995397A3, EP0995397B1, EP1004269A1, EP1004269B1, US6346814, US6377830, US6801038Publication number043151, 10043151, US 2002/0057088 A1, US 2002/057088 A1, US 20020057088 A1, US 20020057088A1, US 2002057088 A1, US 2002057088A1, US-A1-20020057088, US-A1-2002057088, US2002/0057088A1, US2002/057088A1, US20020057088 A1, US20020057088A1, US2002057088 A1, US2002057088A1InventorsAlessandro Carrozzi, Fabio Rezzonico, Orfeo Contrada, Gianni Sarasso, Alessio FachinatoOriginal AssigneeAlessandro Carrozzi, Fabio Rezzonico, Orfeo Contrada, Gianni Sarasso, Alessio FachinatoExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (8), Classifications (10), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMachine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine
US 20020057088 A1Abstract
The invention relates to a machine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, comprising, in combination therewith, a table (2) for supporting the patient, with at least one peripheral recess (302) in the surface of the table (2) or of a part thereof (102) which recess is complemented by a side (201) of the operating surface forming part of the structure of the machine, particularly of the delimitation walls of the cavity or chamber for accommodating the patient. Images(9) Claims(38)
[0058] The embodiments illustrated herein particularly relate to a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine in combination with a table according. This combination shall not be deemed to be limited to the scope of the invention. In fact, instead of the lower horizontal side 201 of the magnet cavity, which side 201 complements the recess 301 of the table, the part for complementing the recess 302 of the table may consist of work or operating surfaces, or sides for delimiting operating chambers of any type and/or of any machine for diagnosis and/or therapy. [0059] Since in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance machines, the problems to reduce costs and dimensions are very important, and still directly connected to each other, the combination illustrated and described herein consists of a table and of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, and particularly includes a low or medium cost and a low or medium sized machine. [0060] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine comprises a magnet part 1. The magnet shown in these figures is C-shaped and defines a cavity with three open sides of its perimeter, while being delimited by an upper side 101, a lower side 201 and a vertical side 301. These three sides are the cover of the magnetic structure and of other operating members, which is made of an appropriate material, e.g. of plastic or the like, and has a recess 401, in a predetermined area, for accommodating the fastening base of a receiving coil (see FIGS. 15 and 16). [0061] The free end edges of the upper and lower sides 101 and 201 are rounded, preferably with a semicircular profile. [0062] A table 2 is associated to the magnet 1. The table consists of two parts 102, 202. The part 102 has a supporting surface having a hollow 302 having a shape complementary and a size corresponding to the lower side 201 of the magnet 1, while it can have any outer shape, preferably a circular segment shape with an angular extension of more than 180�, such as to fully surround the central U-shaped hollow, prefereably with a circular rounded portion. The part 102 of the table is designed to be fitted around the side 201 of the magnet 1, which complements the supporting surface. The part 102 of the table is supported by at least a pair of wheeled 4 legs 3, which are provided at least in the end side for connection to the other part 202 of the table, also supported by a pair of wheeled 4 legs 3, being provided on the end side opposite to the one connecting to the part 102. The supporting surface of the two parts of the table is at the same level as the side 201 of the magnet 1. The part 202 of the table, named outer part in the disclosure and claims, rests, at the end connecting to the part 102, on a guide 5 which is supported so as to project downwardly, towards the connecting end of the part 202 of the table, by vertical pins 6 and by radial pins 7, arranged radially inside the guide 5. The guide 5 advantageously consists of a cylindrical section which is arched according to the outer cylindrical profile of the part 102 of the table. The part 102 of the table has a covering case 402, for covering the supporting legs and other members, which, in the magnet-coupling condition, superposes the case 501 of the magnet, providing the machine with a particularly pleasant continuous aspect. [0063] Thanks to this construction, the table 2 may be coupled to the magnet 1, thus forming a complete supporting surface for the patient, having such a size as to be able to comfortably bear the patient body, while reducing the overall dimensions, i.e. the part of the table projecting out of the magnet. Further, the so-called outer part 202 of the table can rotate about the part 102, which is coupled to and complemented by the lower side 201 of the magnet 1, in such a manner that it can have any orientation on the horizontal plane with respect to the part 102. Here, the C-shaped structure of the magnet provides an angular orientation range of about 180�, hence allowing to dispose the patient along an axis parallel to the vertical side 301, along an axis perpendicular thereto, or along axes with intermediate directions on both sides of the axis perpendicular to the vertical side 301. [0064] In combination with machines having magnets with different conformations, the rotation of the part 202 with respect to the part 102 can be either reduced, for instance by using magnets with two open sides perpendicular to each other, or extended, for instance by using magnets in which the cavity is only defined by two sides, e.g. the upper horizontal side and the lower horizontal side, whereas the poles associated to said two sides are spaced by uprights or columns, whose number and size can vary from at least 1 to 2, 3 or more. [0065] In order to use this table, for example to transport the patient, the part 102 may have a pair of wheeled legs also at the ends of the branches of the U-shape. Also, a removable member may be provided for closing the hollow, thereby completing the supporting surface, for example by sliding engagement means. [0066] According to a further characteristic of the invention, which is particularly clear in FIGS. 4 to 10, a receiving coil 30 can be applied to the magnet 1, on the lower side 201. This coil may be either annular or C-shaped, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Since the patient may have different orientations with respect to the magnet, by rotating the part 202 of the table with respect to the 102 associated to the magnet, the receiving coil 30 must be oriented accordingly. Here, the coil 30 has a fastening base 31 which can be rotatably mounted and locked in temporary position in the recess 401 of the side 201 of the magnet. The base 31 of the receiving coil 30 has a circular lower hollow 131, which is designed to be inserted on a guide disc 32. The guide disc 32 is mounted in the recess 410 of the lower side 201 of the magnet 1 and forms a box for accommodating a mechanism with radial wedges for locking the base of the receiving coil 30. [0067] The locking mechanism comprises three wedges 33, which are accommodated in such a manner as to be able to slide along radial guides 34 formed in the guide disc 32, and open at the peripheral walls of said guide disc 32. A control disc 35 is mounted in such a manner as to be able to rotate about its own axis inside the guide disc 32. The control disc has three axial projections 135, coinciding with the wedges 33 and each engaged in an inclined slot 133 of the corresponding wedge. A control lever 36, pivoted coaxially to the control disc 35 and rotatably engaged therewith by an axial tooth 37 of the disk, engaged in a corresponding aperture of the lever in a radial intermediate position between the peripheral edge and the center of the control disc 35, project out of the guide disc 32. By angularly displacing the control lever 36, the control disc 35 is caused to rotate and, thanks to the axial projections 135 engaged in the inclined slots 133 of the wedges 33, the latter are alternately moved radially out of the peripheral edge of the guide disc 32 or radially backwards. [0068] In the peripheral wall of the circular recess 131 of the base 31 of the receiving coil, there is provided, at the same level as the radial wedges 33, an annular throat whose width substantially corresponds to an intermediate thickness of the radial wedges 33. When said wedges 33 are moved radially outwards, they penetrate the peripheral annular throat 231 of the peripheral wall of the recess 131 of the base 31, whereby the base 31, with the receiving coil, is locked in position, the guide disc 32 being non-rotatably fastened in the recess 401 of the lower side 201 of the magnet 1. [0069] Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 31 of the receiving coil 30 extends to the bottom side of the recess 401 for accommodating the guide disc 32, whereas the radial wedges 33 have, at their radial outer end, a perfectly upper horizontal side, while the lower side, i.e. the one oriented towards the bottom of the recess 401, is inclined. In this way, the radial wedges 33 also cause the base 31 of the receiving coil 30 to be clamped against the bottom side of the housing recess 401 in the lower side 201 of the magnet 1. In order to provide a certain elasticity of the clamping movement, between the upper side of the guide disc 32 and the facing bottom side of the circular recess 131 in the base 31, elastic means 38 are provided. These elastic means advantageously consist of an annular seal, having a preferably round section, that is an O-ring, made of an elastic material, such as rubber or the like, and being held in an annular coaxial throat formed in the upper side of the guide disc 32. If required, several annular seals of this type may be provided, disposed concentrically. [0070] Relating to the features according to FIGS. 4 to 10 showing the receiving coil for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus it is important to stress out that also the broader combination of the sole receiving coil with the sole MRI Apparatus is considered by leaving out the table. In fact such combination of receiving coil and apparatus might be applied also when conventional tables or seats are used with the MRI Apparatus. [0071] In any case the angularly displaceable receiving coil has a particular relevance in combination with the MRI Apparatus and in combination with the particular kind of table according to the invention. Indeed the rotatable receiving coil takes particular functional relevance when one part of the table might rotate around the other part of the table secured to the MRI Apparatus. [0072] FIGS. 11 to 19 show a second embodiment of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the magnet 1 has a comparatively small size as regards the surfaces of the sides 201 and 101, and especially the depth of the lower side 201 of the magnet 1 is smaller than the overall width of a table 2 of an approximately conventional size. [0073] The dimension towards the closed or substantially closed vertical wall 301 is also a submultiple of the length and/or width of the table 2. In this example, the side 201 has an arched or semicircular or U shape. The table 2 has, in the area substantially corresponding to the shoulder and to the upper limbs and in the area corresponding to the leg and to the lower limbs, a recess 302, which can be normally closed by a removable, complementarily shaped member 502. This removable complementary member 502 may be, for example, inserted in and removed from its position by using simple sliding guides (not shown in detail), which can consist of a peripheral throat formed in the wall of the recess 302 or of the completion member 502 and of a rib formed in the peripheral wall of the other part. [0074] As shown in the figures, the recesses 302 have such a size that they do not affect the comfortable support of the patient on the table 2, since they can be bridged by the patient body with no effort and ensuring the support thereof. [0075] When the width of the table allows to do so, a recess 302 may be also provided at the end side of the table 2, for head and neck testing. However, the configuration as shown in the figures also allows head and neck testing by appropriately positioning the patient on the table without affecting its support and comfort. [0076] The magnet is small and may be mounted on a cart structure 40. The table, shown in the figures as stationary, may be also provided with supports in the form of a cart. [0077] FIGS. 13 to 19 show several different operation modes of the machine-table combination according to this variant embodiment. [0078] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the magnet 1 may be provided with a member 41 for shielding electromagnetic noise, which is designed in the form of a rigid oscillating cover. [0079] In the illustrated embodiment, the shielding member 41 has such an extension that it only substantially closes the open side opposite to the vertical closed side 301 of the cavity of the magnet 1. obviously, shielding members with different extensions may be also provided. [0080] A U-shaped frame 141 whose shape is complementary to the outside perimeter of the upper side of the magnet 1 is hinged so as to be oscillate about a horizontal axis, parallel to the closed vertical side 301. The axis is substantially at the same level as or at a slightly higher level than the upper side 101 of the magnet 1 and extends by a closing shield 241 into the area of the open side which is parallel or substantially opposite to said closed side 301. This shield or extension 241 may be formed of one piece with or removably fastened to the U-shaped frame 141. The shielding member 41 is made of an electrically conducting material, or is coated by a layer made of an electrically conducting material. At the peripheral edges and possibly also at the faces of the U-shaped frame 141 which superpose the peripheral edges of the upper part of the magnet 1, whereto the frame is hinged, there are provided electric connection means which interact with complementary means disposed in a coincident position on the surface of the part 102 of the table and/or on the side 201 of the magnet. Along the free peripheral edges which leave two opposite passages open, there may be provided similar fastening and electric connection means for fastening and connecting electrically other complementary parts of the shield, either rigid or flexible for closing the aperture completely, or for flexible closing elements having means for electric connection to and clamping against the patient body and/or the table, as described in a previous patent application, published by the same owner as the present one and already mentioned herein. Obviously, this shield can be adapted to the shape of the different magnet conformations and may be also provided in a slightly modified shape even with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 19. [0081] It is to be noted that similarly as in the case of the receiving coil. The shielding device has particular relevance in combination with the MRI Apparatus and the table according to the invention. However, the shielding itself might be provided also in a broader combination comprising only the MRI-Apparatus and the shielding device itself but not the table, or at least the particular table according to the invention. [0082] According to another feature of the invention, resulting from FIG. 11, in combination with at least one of the recesses 302 of the table there might be provided a set of inserts 502′ which progressively reduce the dimension of the recess 302 in order to adapt these dimensions to different sizes or different shapes of working surfaces 201 of diverse MRI Apparati or other machines. [0083] These inserts 502′ can be coupled to each other and to the recess of the table like modular elements, and modules might have different shapes, so as to allow them to fit the different possible shapes of the operating surfaces 201. The coupling elements might be mechanical, such as pins and correspondent insert holes in the facing surface of adjacent inserts modules 502′. Alternatively or in combination the coupling means might be for example straps of the kind of the so called VELCRO�. Further known coupling means that might appear obvious to the expert of the art may be used alternatively or in combination with the above cited ones. This feature is only shown in combination with the table of FIG. 11 but it might as well applied to the table according to the previous embodiment of the invention according FIGS. 1 to 3. [0084] According to a further feature to the machine and particularly to the table a surface for scanning a body part under the influence of force is provided. This surface indicated with 6 in FIGS. 16 e 19 is secured to the table. The means for securing the said surface to the table may be of whichever known kind, for example one or more securing rods protruding form the lower edge of the surface and being engageable in correspondent holes in the table. The securing rods may be toothed and may cooperate with removable tooth engaging means located in the holes for regulating the height. The securing rods may also be telescopic having radial means such as screws for blocking them in the desired elongation position. Obviously other securing means might be provided as for example securing brackets which are disegnageably fixed to the table frame. [0085] Obviously, the invention is not intended to be limited to the above description and illustrations, but may be greatly varied, especially as regards construction, without departure from the guiding principle disclosed above and claimed below. 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