A weightbearing simulation assembly includes a substrate comprising a mounting surface extending in a first direction a subject support disposed on a first region of the mounting surface and a pedal assembly disposed on a second region of the mounting surface. The pedal assembly includes a spring assembly including a contact plate facing the subject support, a compression plate, and a first spring disposed between the contact plate and the compression plate. A subject applies a compressive force to the contact plate in a compression direction to simulate a load-bearing condition by compressing the first spring. An orientation of the pedal assembly may be adjusted to change a relative angle between the compression direction and the first direction to alter an imaging angle.

A patient support device includes a patient support surface having a size to accommodate at least a part of the patient body, the device including at least one receptacle for housing a coil, which at least one receptacle is arranged in an area of the patient supporting surface corresponding to the position of the anatomic region to be imaged, the patient support surface being covered at least partially by one or more cushions covering in combination the entire patient supporting surface or at least a part of it. At least one of the receptacles for coupling to a receiving coil being provided on at least each of one or more than one of the said cushions, the coil once coupled to a corresponding receptacle is connected to a control and processing unit of the MRI apparatus by means of a cable which is external to the said patient support device.

A head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient includes a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest. The system can further include a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet. The mask frame is releasably connected to the support rail structure via a first interface section and a second interface section, with at least two pins protruding from the first interface section in a first direction, and at least two pin-receptions provided at the second interface section. Each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins. A catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

A medical apparatus includes a table portion that has a contact surface with which a subject comes into contact, a structural portion in which a relative position with the table portion is determined within a predetermined range, and a sterilization unit that is attached to the table portion or the structural portion and sterilizes the contact surface. The sterilization unit is configured to switch between a first state in which the sterilization unit is in contact with or close to the contact surface and a second state in which the sterilization unit is separated from the contact surface.

A system for use in positioning and restraining an equine hoof during imaging, with at least one panic-releasable connection. The system may comprise an equine boot and an interface plate attached to the underside thereof, a receiver plate attached to a limb placement region of an imaging apparatus, and a placement plate attached to the receiver plate. Further disclosed is use of one or more components apart from the whole system, and methods of use for positioning and restraining an equine hoof during imaging.

A biomagnetic measuring apparatus includes a biomagnetic detector, a first marker configured to be detectable by the biomagnetic detector, a radiation source, a radiation detector provided to face the radiation source, and a second marker configured such that an image of the second marker can be captured by the radiation source and the radiation detector. Positional information about the first marker and the second marker is known or obtainable.

A patient positioning method constituted of: rotating a pelvis support member about a first axis; rotating the pelvis support member about a second axis, between a first position where the pelvis of a patient is supported by a first face of the pelvis support member and a second position where the pelvis of the patient is supported by a second face of the pelvis support member, the rotation being at least 180 degrees about the second rotation axis; and adjusting an angle between the pelvis support member and a torso support member between a first angle where the torso support member supports the torso of the patient when the pelvis is supported by the first face of the pelvis support member and a second angle where the torso support member supports the torso of the patient when the pelvis is supported by the second face of the pelvis support member.

Systems and methods for securely positioning a patient's head during medical imaging are presented. A fixation device includes a headrest which may be provided with inflatable chambers to adjust the headrest to the patient's head, a neck section which may be adjustable, and a base designed to couple to a patient bed or gurney forming part of a medical imaging system. The fixation device allows adjustment of the patient's head to an orientation which may variously minimize scanning time, improve imaging results, and/or protect sensitive tissues from unnecessary irradiation.

A three-dimensional model for a patient fixation device that serves to immobilize at least a portion of a particular patient when capturing CT image information of that patient is accessed and then registered with the pixels that correspond to the patient fixation device in the CT image. The model can specify rules of movement for each of a plurality of structural elements that comprise the patient fixation device and that are capable of movement relative to one another. By one approach the aforementioned registration occurs on a part-by-part basis for each of the structural elements. Following registration, the CT image can be automatically segmented.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.