U.S. patent application number 09/302144 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-31 for mri vertical magnet apparatus and mri apparatus.
Invention is credited to HAYAKAWA, KAZUHIKO, HAYASHI, YUJIRO, NOSE, KATSUMASA.
Application Number | 20020013524 09/302144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15842397 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020013524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAYASHI, YUJIRO ; et
al. |
January 31, 2002 |
MRI VERTICAL MAGNET APPARATUS AND MRI APPARATUS
Abstract
In order to give a physician easy access to a patient placed in
an interjacent space within a vertical magnet apparatus of a
vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus, support and movement mechanisms
19 are provided on respective opposing surface sides of a pair of
vertical opposing magnets 11, for supporting a cradle 22 or a seat
32 of a chair on belts 18, and moving the cradle 22 or the seat 32
in the horizontal direction by motors 17 and in the vertical
direction by hydraulic cylinders 13.
Inventors: |
HAYASHI, YUJIRO; (TOKYO,
JP) ; HAYAKAWA, KAZUHIKO; (TOKYO, JP) ; NOSE,
KATSUMASA; (TOKYO, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOONRAY KOJIMA
BOX 627
WILLIAMSTOWN
MA
01267
|
Family ID: |
15842397 |
Appl. No.: |
09/302144 |
Filed: |
April 29, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 33/3806
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/410 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/055 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 1998 |
JP |
10-167046 |
Claims
1. MRI vertical magnet apparatus having a pair of vertical opposing
magnets whose opposing surfaces stand vertically, wherein support
and movement means is provided on each of the opposing surface
sides of the pair of vertical opposing magnets, for supporting a
cradle or a seat of a chair and allowing the cradle or the seat of
the chair to move in the horizontal or vertical direction.
2. An MRI apparatus comprising: the MRI vertical magnet apparatus
of claim 1; and a table apparatus which can be detached from the
MRI vertical magnet apparatus after the cradle is transferred to
the support and movement means in the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus.
3. An MRI apparatus comprising: the MRI vertical magnet apparatus
of claim 1; and a chair apparatus which can be detached from the
MRI vertical magnet apparatus after the seat is transferred to the
support and movement means in the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus.
4. An MRI apparatus comprising an MRI vertical magnet apparatus
having a pair of vertical opposing magnets whose opposing surfaces
stand vertically, and an MRI table apparatus having a cradle for
laying a subject and a table for supporting the cradle and capable
of moving the cradle in the horizontal or vertical direction,
wherein one end portion of the table is extended into an
interjacent space within the MRI vertical magnet apparatus and is
bifurcated.
5. The MRI apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a seat which
can be locked at one end portion of the cradle or the table.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) vertical magnet apparatus and an MRI apparatus, and more
particularly, to an MRI vertical magnet apparatus and an MRI
apparatus which are improved to give a physician (or operator) easy
access to a patient (or subject) placed in an interjacent space
within the vertical magnet apparatus.
[0002] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a main portion of
an exemplary vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus, such as those
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-15829 (counterpart
U.S. patent application No. 09/218402).
[0003] The vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus 900 comprises a
vertical magnet apparatus 50 consisting of a pair of vertical
opposing magnets 11 whose opposing surfaces stand vertically, and a
table apparatus 90 having a table 91 which can be hydraulically
moved upward and downward and a non-magnetic cradle 22 which can be
moved forward and backward in the horizontal direction by a
motor.
[0004] The vertical magnet apparatus 50 is provided with up/down
buttons 50ud for moving the table 91 upward and downward, and
in/out buttons 50io for moving the cradle 22 forward and backward
to positions inside and outside of an interjacent space of the
vertical magnet apparatus 50. The "interjacent space" used herein
designates a space between the vertical opposing magnets 11.
[0005] In the conventional vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus 900,
the table 91 is extended into the interjacent space of the vertical
magnet apparatus 50 so that the cradle 22 can be moved in and out
of the interjacent space of the vertical magnet apparatus 50.
[0006] However, as shown in FIG. 2, the table 91 extending into the
interjacent space obstructs easy access by a physician (or
operator) D to a patient (or subject) in the interjacent space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an MRI
vertical magnet apparatus and an MRI apparatus which are improved
to give a physician (or operator) easy access to a patient (or
subject) in an interjacent space within the vertical magnet
apparatus.
[0008] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an MRI vertical magnet apparatus having a pair of
vertical opposing magnets whose opposing surfaces stand vertically,
wherein support and movement means is provided on each of the
opposing surface sides of the pair of vertical opposing magnets,
for supporting a cradle or a seat of a chair and allowing the
cradle or the seat of the chair to move in the horizontal or
vertical direction.
[0009] The MRI vertical magnet apparatus of the first aspect is
provided with support and movement means on each of the opposing
surface sides of the pair of vertical opposing magnets, for
supporting a cradle or a seat of a chair and allowing the cradle or
the seat of the chair to move in the horizontal or vertical
direction, thereby eliminating the need to extend the table into
the interjacent space. That is, since the obstructive table is
eliminated in the interjacent space, a physician (or operator) D is
given easy access to a patient (or subject) H in the interjacent
space.
[0010] Especially, by supporting the seat of the chair by the
support and movement means, imaging can be done with the patient
(or subject) in a sitting position and joint motion imaging of the
neck, knee, loins and the like can be suitably performed.
[0011] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an MRI apparatus comprising the MRI vertical
magnet apparatus as described regarding the first aspect, and a
table apparatus which can be detached from the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus after the cradle is transferred to the support and
movement means in the MRI vertical magnet apparatus.
[0012] In the MRI apparatus of the second aspect, a table apparatus
(excluding the cradle) can be detached from the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus after the cradle is transferred to the support and
movement means, thereby facilitating access to the patient from the
side on which the table apparatus would otherwise be
positioned.
[0013] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an MRI apparatus comprising the MRI vertical
magnet apparatus as described regarding the first aspect, and a
chair apparatus which can be detached from the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus after the seat is transferred to the support and movement
means in the MRI vertical magnet apparatus.
[0014] In the MRI apparatus of the third aspect, a chair apparatus
(excluding the seat) can be detached from the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus after the seat is transferred to the support and movement
means, thereby facilitating access to the patient from the side on
which the chair apparatus would otherwise be positioned. Moreover,
by supporting the seat of the chair by the support and movement
means, imaging can be done with the patient (or subject) in a
sitting position and joint motion imaging of the neck, knee, loins
and the like can be suitably performed.
[0015] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an MRI apparatus comprising an MRI vertical
magnet apparatus having a pair of vertical opposing magnets whose
opposing surfaces stand vertically, and an MRI table apparatus
having a cradle for laying a subject and a table for supporting the
cradle and capable of moving the cradle in the horizontal or
vertical direction, wherein one end portion of the table is
extended into an interjacent space within the MRI vertical magnet
apparatus and is bifurcated.
[0016] In the MRI apparatus of the fourth aspect, one end portion
of a table extending into the interjacent space within the MRI
vertical magnet apparatus is bifurcated, thereby eliminating the
table portion that obstructs access to the patient (or subject) H.
Thus, the physician (or operator) D is given easy access to the
patient (or subject) H in the interjacent space.
[0017] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an MRI apparatus as described regarding the
fourth aspect, further comprising a seat which can be locked at one
end portion of the cradle or the table.
[0018] In the MRI apparatus of the fifth aspect, by locking the
seat at one end portion of the cradle or the table, imaging can be
done with the patient (or subject) in a sitting position and joint
motion imaging of the neck, knee, loins and the like can be
suitably performed.
[0019] Thus, according to the MRI vertical magnet apparatus and the
MRI apparatus of the present invention, the following advantages
can be obtained:
[0020] (1) Because the support and movement means is provided on
each of the opposing surface sides of the pair of vertical opposing
magnets, for supporting the cradle or the seat of the chair and
moving the cradle or the seat of the chair in the horizontal or
vertical direction, the need to extend the obstructive table into
the interjacent space is eliminated, thereby giving the physician
(or operator) easy access to the patient (or subject) in the
interjacent space.
[0021] (2) Because one end portion of the table extending into an
interjacent space within the MRI vertical magnet apparatus is
bifurcated, the table portion that is obstructive of access to the
patient (or subject) can be eliminated, thereby giving the
physician (or operator) easy access to the patient (or subject) in
the interjacent space.
[0022] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional
vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the problem of the conventional vertical
magnet-type MRI apparatus.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a vertical
magnet-type MRI apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing imaging of the head
by the vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing imaging of the
loins by the vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing joint motion
imaging of the cervical vertebrae by the vertical magnet-type MRI
apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing joint motion
imaging of the knee joint by the vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus
of FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing another example of
the support and movement mechanism.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a vertical
magnet-type MRI apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing imaging of the
head by the vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus of FIG. 9.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing joint motion
imaging of the cervical vertebrae by the vertical magnet-type MRI
apparatus of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The present invention will now be described in more detail
with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying
drawings.
[0035] First Embodiment
[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a vertical
magnettype MRI apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0037] The vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus 100 comprises a
vertical magnet apparatus 10, a table apparatus 20 and a chair
apparatus 30.
[0038] The vertical magnet apparatus 10 comprises a pair of
vertical opposing magnets 11 whose opposing surfaces stand
vertically, a laterally spaced pair of support and movement
mechanisms 12 disposed on the respective opposing surface sides of
the pair of vertical opposing magnets 11.
[0039] Each of the support and movement mechanisms 12 comprises a
pair of hydraulic cylinders 13, 13, a non-magnetic base panel 14
which is supported by the hydraulic cylinders 13, 13 so that it can
be moved upward and downward, a multiplicity of non-magnetic
rollers 15 and a pair of pulleys 16, 16, each pivoted to the base
panel 14, a motor 17 attached to the pulley 16, a belt 18 fitted
over the rollers 15 and the pulleys 16, and a non-magnetic
connecting block 19 secured to the belt 18.
[0040] One of the vertical opposing magnets 11 is provided with
up/down buttons 10ud for moving the base panels 14 upward and
downward by the hydraulic cylinders 13, and in/out buttons 10io for
moving the connecting blocks 19 forward and backward in the
horizontal direction by circulating the belts 18 by the motors
17.
[0041] The table apparatus 20 comprises a table 21 which can be
moved upward and downward by a motor, a non-magnetic cradle 22
which can be moved forward and backward in the horizontal direction
by a motor, wheels 23 for movement, connecting pins 24 which
protrude from the front end of the cradle 22 and can be coupled
with the connecting blocks 19, and a detach lever 25 for detaching
the cradle 22 from the table 21.
[0042] The table 21 is provided with up/down buttons 20ud for
moving the table 21 upward and downward, and in/out buttons 20io
for moving the cradle 22 forward and backward to move the cradle 22
onto and off of the table 21.
[0043] The chair apparatus 30 comprises a base portion 31, a seat
32 removably attached to the base portion 31, wheels 33 for
movement, connecting pins 34 which protrude from the front end of
the seat 32 and can be coupled with the connecting blocks 19, and a
detach lever 35 for detaching the seat 32 from the base portion
31.
[0044] The base portion 31 is provided with up/down pedals 30ud for
moving the seat 32 upward and downward.
[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates imaging of the head of a subject H using
the table apparatus 20.
[0046] The up/down buttons 10ud of the vertical magnet apparatus 10
are operated to adjust the height of the belts 18 to a height
suitable for imaging. The in/out buttons 10io are also operated to
place the connecting blocks 19 at positions closest to the table
apparatus 20. The up/down buttons 20ud of the table apparatus 20
are then operated to adjust the cradle 22 to a height aligned with
the belts 18. The in/out buttons 20io are also operated to advance
the cradle 22 toward the connecting blocks 19 and join the
connecting pins 24 to the connecting blocks 19. Next, the in/out
buttons 10io of the vertical magnet apparatus 10 are operated to
draw the cradle 22 connected to the connecting blocks 19 into the
interjacent space within the vertical magnet apparatus 10 and align
the head of the subject H with a magnet center C. Under this
condition, the head of the subject H is imaged.
[0047] At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the physician D can enter
a space between the pair of the support and movement mechanisms 12
and has easy access to the patient H, thereby enabling
interventional examinations such as centesis while viewing a
captured MRI image.
[0048] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, by operating the detach lever
25 of the table apparatus 20 to detach the cradle 22 from the table
21 and transfer the cradle to the support and movement mechanisms
12, and then moving the table apparatus 20 (excluding the cradle
22) away, a large space can be secured to give the physician D easy
access to the patient H from the side on which the table apparatus
20 would otherwise be positioned. In addition, instruments for the
interventional examination can be conveniently arranged.
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates joint motion imaging of the neck of the
subject H using the chair apparatus 30.
[0050] The up/down buttons 10ud of the vertical magnet apparatus 10
are operated to adjust the height of the belts 18 to a height
suitable for imaging. The in/out buttons 10io are also operated to
place the connecting blocks 19 at positions closest to the chair
apparatus 30. The up/down pedals 30ud of the chair apparatus 30 are
then operated to adjust the seat 32 to a height aligned with the
belts 18. The chair apparatus 30 is then moved to join the
connecting pins 34 of the seat 32 to the connecting blocks 19.
Next, the detach lever 35 of the chair apparatus 30 is operated to
detach the seat 32 from the base portion 31 and transfer the seat
32 to the support and movement mechanisms 12, and then the chair
apparatus 30 (excluding the seat 32) is moved away. Then, the
in/out buttons 10io of the vertical magnet apparatus 10 are
operated to draw the seat 32 connected to the connecting blocks 19
into the interjacent space within the vertical magnet apparatus 10
and align the neck of the subject H with the magnet center C.
[0051] Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the operator D can enter a space
between the pair of the support and movement mechanisms 12 and has
easy access to the patient H, thereby enabling suitable joint
motion imaging of the neck of the subject H.
[0052] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the knee of the
subject H is aligned with the magnet center C, joint motion imaging
of the knee of the subject H can be suitably performed.
[0053] As in the exemplary variation shown in FIG. 8, it is
possible to employ a vertical magnet apparatus 10' comprising
support and movement mechanisms 12' for achieving upward and
downward movement by means of chains 13' circulated by a motor.
[0054] Second Embodiment
[0055] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a vertical
magnet-type MRI apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0056] The vertical magnet-type MRI apparatus 200 comprises a
vertical magnet apparatus 50 consisting of a pair of vertical
opposing magnets 11 whose opposing surfaces stand vertically, and a
table apparatus 40 having a table 41 which can be hydraulically
moved upward and downward and a non-magnetic cradle 22 which can be
moved forward and backward in the horizontal direction by a
motor.
[0057] The vertical magnet apparatus 50 is provided with up/down
buttons 50ud for moving the table 41 upward and downward, and
in/out buttons 50io for moving the cradle 22 forward and backward
to move the cradle 22 in and out of the interjacent space within
the vertical magnet apparatus 50.
[0058] The table 41 of the table apparatus 40 is extended into the
interjacent space of the vertical magnet apparatus 50 so that the
cradle 22 can be moved in and out of the interjacent space of the
vertical magnet apparatus 50. A portion extending into the
interjacent space is bifurcated to form a bifurcated arm portion 43
defining a space for access 44.
[0059] FIG. 10 illustrates imaging of the head of the subject
H.
[0060] The up/down buttons 50ud of the vertical magnet apparatus 50
are operated to adjust the cradle 22 to a height suitable for
imaging. The in/out buttons 50io are also operated to draw the
cradle 22 into the interjacent space within the vertical magnet
apparatus 10 and align the head of the subject H with a magnet
center C. Under this condition, the head of the subject H is
imaged.
[0061] At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the physician D can enter
the space for access 44 within the bifurcated arm portion 43 and
has easy access to the patient H, thereby enabling interventional
examinations such as centesis while viewing a captured MRI
image.
[0062] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, if a seat 62 is attached
at the front end of the cradle 22, the imaging can be performed
with the subject H in a sitting position. This is suitable for
joint motion imaging of, for example, the neck.
[0063] Many widely different embodiments of the invention may be
configured without departing from the spirit and the scope of the
present invention. It should be understood that the present
invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in
the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *