Interventional MR surgical table

Abstract

There is described method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body in a MR scanner, including supporting it to rotate about its longitudincal axis and cant about a point on the longitudinal axis. Also provided are method and apparatus for supporting a patient's head and neck and using a surgical head-holder. Yet another embodiment of the invention provides method and apparatus for attaching first and second stirrups to a member supporting the patient. According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides for keeping two or more different members for supporting a patient's body during a medical procedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner, wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patient support functionality, selecting one of the different members for use in a medical procedure, positioning a patient's body on the selected member, and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the member is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of medicine, and more particularly to MR scanning equipment and its use in medical procedures.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Since its development in the early 1980s, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become the dominant form in imaging of the central nervous systems and is continuing to grow in its uses in musculoskeletal and body imaging. It offers unprecedented abilities in visualization of the human body. Over the past few years, MR imaging has been investigated as a tool for use in association with therapy, so-called interventional MR imaging or MR-guided therapy. To accomplish this, various new scanner designs have been developed to permit surgical access to patients while inside the scanners. This has resulted in both more open MR scanners and new surgical tools that can be operated safely within the MR environment. Initially, new designs of the interventional MR suites have been required in order to permit surgical procedures in the MR environment. However, these designs have been first efforts and have not been optimized for both surgical procedures and clinical scanning. Specifically, new MR tables have been required with combined MR and surgical capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] As described in more detail herein below, the present invention provides method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis, positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore, and rotating the member about its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so that the patient's body is rotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MR scanner.

[0004] Also provided are method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a recess on one end substantially underneath the patient's head and neck and including a surgical head-holder supporting the patient's head above or within the recess and positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore.

[0005] The invention further provides method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis, positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore, and canting the member about a point along its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so that the head or feet of a patient may be raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the bore of the MR scanner.

[0006] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided method and apparatus for supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis, positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore, and attaching first and second stirrups to the elongate member on one end and putting the feet of the patient in the stirrups.

[0007] According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides for keeping two or more different members for supporting a patient's body during a medical procedure conducted in conjuction with an MR scanner, wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patient support functionality, selecting one of the different members for use in a medical procedure, positioning a patient's body on the selected member, and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the member is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an MR scanne of a type useful with the method and apparatus of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention wherein a patient's body is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention wherein a patient's head is positioned using a surgical head-holder.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention wherein a patient's body is canted about a point along its longitudinal axis.

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention wherein stirrups are attached to the elongate member on one end.

[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention wherein two or more different members are provided and kept for supporting a patient's body during a medical procedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner.

[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a modification to an existing scanner design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the following detailed description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in simplified form an example embodiment of a MR scanner 10 of the kind the methods and apparatus of the present invention can be used with. Scanner 10 has a bore 12 within which a patient is supported on a surface of member 20 and MR scans of the patient's body may be performed. Various example embodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention are described below.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, a patient's body 24 is supported on the elongate member 20 with a substantially planar surface, with the elongate member having a longitudinal axis 22. The member 20 is positioned inside the bore 12 of MR scanner 10 so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore. The member 20 is rotated about its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so that the patient's body is rotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MR scanner. According to one embodiment, the member is supported in the bore on a mechanism (not shown) that supports the member for rotation about the longitudinal axis. Such support may be provided on the edges of the member 20 or along one or more points across the center. Further, the member 20 is freely detachable from the mechanism and removable from the bore, for example onto a wheeled gurney.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a second embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention. According to this embodiment a patient's body 34 is supported on an elongate member 30 with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member 30 having a longitudinal axis and a recess 32 on one end substantially underneath a patient's head and neck when lying on the table, and including a surgical head-holder 34 supporting the patient's head above or within the recess. The member is positioned inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore. The member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removable from the bore.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention. A patient's body is supported on an elongate member 40 with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis 42. The member 40 is positioned inside a bore 12 of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore. The member is canted about a point 46 along its longitudinal axis while the member 40 is inside the bore, so that the head or feet of a patient may be raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the bore of the MR scanner. According to one example embodiment, the member is supported in the bore on a mechanism that supports the member for canting. The member may be canted using a hydraulically driven component. Further, according to one embodiment, the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removable from the bore.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention. A patient's body is supported on an elongate member 50 with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis. The member is positioned inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore when supported on the member. First and second stirrups 52 are attached with a quick connect/disconnect mechanism to the elongate member on one end and putting the feet of the patient in the stirrups. According to one example embodiment, the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated yet another embodiment of a method and apparatus according to the present invention. Two or more different members 61 (inserted in bore 12) and 62 (not in use) are provided and kept for supporting a patient's body during a medical procedure conducted in conduction with an MR scanner, wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patient support functionality. One of the different members is selected for use in a medical procedure. The patient's body is positioned on the selected member, and the member is engaged with the MR scanner such that the member is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

[0022] According to yet another example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the present invention provides a modification to the Philips XXXX brand MR scanner 70. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment of the invention provides for removing the factory apparatus disposed in the lower half of the bore underneath the surface supporting the patient. In its place, the present invention, according to one embodiment, provides a mechanism 72 to rotate and cant a member 74 providing a support surface for the patient.

[0023] Thus, the various embodiments of the invention as described herein provide for supporting patients in MR scanners for the purpose of MR imaging and performance of medical procedures in conjunction with MR scanning.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and rotating the member about its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so that the patient's body is rotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MR scanner.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the member is supported in the bore on a mechanism that supports the member for rotation about the longitudinal axis.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

4. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a recess on one end substantially underneath the patient's head and neck and including a surgical head-holder supporting the patient's head above or within the recess; and positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

6. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and canting the member about a point along its longitudinal axis while the member is inside the bore, so that the head or feet of a patient may be raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the bore of the MR scanner.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the member is supported in the bore on a mechanism that supports the member for canting.

8. The method according to claim 7 further including canting the member using a hydraulically driven component.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

10. A method, comprising: supporting a patient's body on an elongate member with a substantially planar surface, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and attaching first and second stirrups to the elongate member on one end and putting the feet of the patient in the stirrups.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

12. A method, comprising: keeping two or more different members for supporting a patient's body during a medical procedure conducted in conjuction with an MR scanner, wherein each member is adapted to be detachably inserted into a bore of the MR scanner, and wherein each member provides for a different patient support functionality; selecting one of the different members for use in a medical procedure; positioning a patient's body on the selected member; and engaging the member with the MR scanner such that the member is disposed at least in part in a bore of the scanner.

13. Apparatus, comprising: an elongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting a patient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; a mechanism inside a bore of a MR scanner adapted to support and rotate the the member about its longitudinal axis, so that the patient's body is rotated about the body's longitudinal axis while in the bore of the MR scanner.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism.

15. Apparatus, comprising: an elongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting a patient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a recess on one end substantially underneath the patient's head and neck and including a surgical head-holder supporting the patient's head above or within the recess; and the elongate member supported at least in part within a bore of a MR scanner.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

17. Apparatus, comprising: an elongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting a patient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; the member positioned inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and a mechanism adapted to cant the member about a point along its longitudinal axis, so that the head or feet of a patient may be raised or lowered with respect to one another while in the bore of the MR scanner.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 further including a hydraulically driven component adapted to drive the mechanism.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.

20. Apparatus, comprising: an elongate member with a substantially planar surface supporting a patient's body, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis; positioning the member inside a bore of a MR scanner so that at least a portion of the patient's body is inside the bore; and first and second stirrups attached to the elongate member on one end.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the member is freely detachable from the mechanism and removed from the bore.