Method for Marking an Entry Position for an Injection Apparatus in Interventional MR Imaging

Abstract

A method for marking an entry position for an injection apparatus on a surface of a patient positioned inside a patient receiving region of a magnetic resonance device. The method includes providing a virtual entry position, introducing a marking apparatus into the patient receiving region, acquiring time-resolved MR image data from the marking apparatus by the magnetic resonance device, ascertaining a current position of the marking apparatus based on the time-resolved MR image data, iteratively changing the current position of the marking apparatus using the virtual entry position and the current position, and delivering the liquid from the marking apparatus when the current position matches the virtual entry position.

Claims

1. A marking apparatus, comprising: a tubular housing made from MR-visible material surrounding a hollow region oriented in an axial direction; a liquid apparatus, which is arranged inside the hollow region at a first longitudinal end of the tubular housing, and is designed to receive and/or deliver a liquid; and a portioning apparatus, which is arranged inside the hollow region, and is designed to control a volume of the liquid apparatus to receive and/or deliver the liquid.

2. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow region is cylindrical.

3. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular housing has a wall thickness that decreases in a direction of the first longitudinal end.

4. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular housing has a cylindrical part surrounding a first hollow region and a truncated cone-shaped part adjoining the cylindrical part in the axial direction and surrounding a second hollow region at the first longitudinal end, and the hollow region comprises the first hollow region and the second hollow region.

5. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liquid apparatus corresponds to the second hollow region.

6. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portioning apparatus is arranged inside the first hollow region.

7. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the axial direction a length of the hollow region is equal to a length of the tubular housing.

8. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a contrast medium and/or the liquid is sterile and/or is colored.

9. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the tubular housing is variable in the axial direction.

10. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tubular housing is telescopic.

11. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portioning apparatus has flush external dimensions and is movably arranged inside the hollow region.

12. The marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portioning apparatus at a longitudinal end of the tubular housing opposing the first longitudinal end has a widening which is arranged outside of the tubular housing.

13. A method for marking an entry position for an injection apparatus on a surface of patient positioned inside a patient receiving region of a magnetic resonance device, the method comprising: providing a virtual entry position; introducing a marking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 into the patient receiving region; acquiring time-resolved magnetic resonance (MR) image data from the marking apparatus by the magnetic resonance device; ascertaining a current position of the marking apparatus based on the time-resolved MR image data; iteratively changing the current position of the marking apparatus using the virtual entry position and the current position; and delivering the liquid from the marking apparatus when the current position matches the virtual entry position.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the acquisition of the time-resolved MR image data comprises acquiring projection image data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the iterative changing of the current position of the marking apparatus comprises: ascertaining a vector between the current position and the virtual entry position; visualizing the vector, the current position, and the virtual entry position on a display; and moving the marking apparatus taking into account the visualized vector.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the provision of the virtual entry position comprises providing a trajectory, which is taken into account when ascertaining the vector.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the visualization of the vector comprises representing the time-resolved MR image data.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the iterative changing of the current position of the marking apparatus comprises outputting a notification when the current position of the marking apparatus matches the virtual entry position.

19. A magnetic resonance device, comprising: an acquisition unit designed to acquire time-resolved MR image data; and a control unit comprising: an ascertainment unit designed to ascertain a virtual entry position; and a determination unit designed to ascertain a current position of a marking apparatus based on time-resolved MR image data, which is configured to support a method for marking an entry position for an injection apparatus as claimed in claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] Further advantages, features and details of the disclosure can be found in the exemplary aspects described below and with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a first aspect of a disclosed marking apparatus in a schematic representation in a first view,

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a first aspect of a disclosed marking apparatus in a schematic representation in a second view,

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a second aspect of a disclosed marking apparatus in a schematic representation,

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a first aspect of a disclosed method,

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a second aspect of a disclosed method, and

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a magnetic resonance device in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a first aspect of a disclosed marking apparatus comprising a tubular housing apparatus 1 made from MR-visible material in a first view. The longitudinal axis of the tubular housing apparatus 1 defines an axial direction. The housing apparatus 1 encloses a hollow region 2 oriented in the axial direction. The marking apparatus comprises a liquid apparatus 3, which is arranged inside the hollow region 2 at a first longitudinal end 12 of the housing apparatus. The liquid apparatus 3 is designed for acquisition and/or delivery of a liquid 4. The housing apparatus 1 comprises, moreover, a portioning apparatus 5, which is arranged inside the hollow region 2 and is designed for control of a volume of the liquid apparatus 3, so acquisition and/or delivery of the liquid 4 is checked.

[0069] The housing apparatus 1 preferably has a wall thickness that reduces in the direction of the first longitudinal end 12. The housing apparatus 1 may preferably be subdivided into a cylindrical part surrounding a first hollow region 6 and into a truncated cone-shaped part surrounding a second hollow region 7. The cylindrical part and the truncated cone-shape part typically adjoin in the axial direction and the truncated cone-shape part is arranged at the first longitudinal end 12. As a result, the second hollow region 7 is preferably also arranged at the first longitudinal end 12. In this aspect, the hollow region 2 comprises the first hollow region 6 and the second hollow region 7.

[0070] The second hollow region 7 may comprise the liquid apparatus. The portioning apparatus 5 is typically arranged inside the first hollow region 6. The length of the hollow region 2 in the axial direction typically matches the length of the housing apparatus 1.

[0071] The portioning apparatus 5 has external dimensions which are flush with the hollow region 2. The portioning apparatus 5 is movably arranged inside the hollow region 2.

[0072] The portioning apparatus 5 preferably has at the longitudinal end of the housing apparatus 1 opposing the first longitudinal end 12 a widening 8, which widening 8 is arranged outside of the housing apparatus 1.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows the first aspect of the disclosed marking apparatus in a second view. The second view shown in FIG. 2 matches the cross-section marked by A in FIG. 1. The hollow region 2 is preferably cylindrical. The tubular housing apparatus 1 preferably has a round periphery. The tubular housing apparatus 1 is accordingly preferably hollow cylindrical in shape.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a second aspect of a disclosed marking apparatus in a schematic representation. The second aspect provides a variable length of the housing apparatus 1 in the axial direction, with the housing apparatus 1 being telescopic. The hollow region 2 is preferably cylindrical and also has a variable length.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a first aspect of a disclosed method for marking an entry position 35 for an injection apparatus on a surface of a patient positioned inside a patient receiving region 14 of a magnetic resonance device. The method begins with method step 110, the provision of a virtual entry position. Method step 120, introducing a disclosed marking apparatus into the patient receiving region, typically takes place at the same time or subsequently. The following method step 130 comprises an acquisition of time-resolved MR image data from the marking apparatus by means of the magnetic resonance device. Typically, the marking apparatus and the entry position 35 are arranged in the patient receiving region 14. Method step 140 comprises the ascertainment of a current position of the marking apparatus based on the time-resolved MR image data. Method step 150 provides an iterative change in the current position of the marking apparatus using the virtual entry position and the current position. When the current position of the marking apparatus matches the virtual entry position, the liquid from the marking apparatus is delivered in method step 160. Optionally, when the current position of the marking apparatus matches the virtual entry position, a notification may also be output with method step 165.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a second aspect of a disclosed method. The second aspect differs from the first aspect shown in FIG. 4 in method step 150, in other words the iterative change in the current position of the marking apparatus. Method step 150 comprises with method step 151 an ascertainment of a vector between the current position and the virtual entry position. In method step 152, the vector, the current position and the virtual entry position are visualized on a display unit 25 of the magnetic resonance device 11. Optionally, the time-resolved MR image data may also be displayed on the display unit 25. Method step 153 comprises a movement of the marking apparatus 10 by taking into account the visualized vector.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a magnetic resonance device 11 for supporting a disclosed method for marking an entry position for an injection apparatus in a schematic representation. The magnetic resonance device 11 comprises a detector unit formed by a magnet unit 13 with a main magnet 17 for generating a strong and, in particular, constant main magnetic field 18. In addition, the magnetic resonance device 11 has a cylindrical patient receiving region 14 for receiving a patient 15, with the patient receiving region 14 being cylindrically enclosed in a circumferential direction by the magnet unit 13. The patient 15 may be pushed by means of a patient supporting apparatus 16 of the magnetic resonance device 11 into the patient receiving region 14.

[0078] The magnet unit 13 also has a gradient coil unit 19, which are used for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 19 is actuated by means of a gradient control unit 28. Furthermore, the magnet unit 13 has a radio-frequency antenna unit 20 and a radio-frequency antenna control unit 29 for excitation of a polarization, which establishes itself in the main magnetic field 18 generated by the main magnet 17. The radio-frequency antenna unit 20 is actuated by the radio-frequency antenna control unit 29 and irradiates radio-frequency pulses into an examination space, which is formed substantially by the patient receiving region 14.

[0079] The magnetic resonance device 11 has a control unit 24 in order to control the main magnet 17, the gradient control unit 28 and the radio-frequency antenna control unit 29. The control unit 24 centrally controls the magnetic resonance device 11, such as carrying out MR control sequences. The control unit 24 together with the magnet unit 13 may be referred to as an acquisition unit. In addition, the control unit 24 comprises a reconstruction unit (not shown) for reconstruction of medical image data, which is captured during the magnetic resonance examination. The magnetic resonance device 11 has a display unit 25. Control information such as control parameters, as well as reconstructed image data may be displayed for a user on the display unit 25, for example on at least one monitor. In particular, the vector and/or the time-resolved MR image data and/or a notification when a current position of a marking apparatus matches a virtual entry position may be visualized on the display unit 25. In addition, the magnetic resonance device 11 has an input unit 26, by means of which information and/or control parameters may be input by a user during a measuring process. The control unit 24 may comprise the gradient control unit 28 and/or radio-frequency antenna control unit 29 and/or the display unit 25 and/or the input unit 26.

[0080] The control unit 24 also comprises a determination unit 33 and an ascertainment unit 34. The determination unit 33 is designed for ascertainment of a current position of a marking apparatus based on time-resolved MR image data. The ascertainment unit 34 is designed for an ascertainment of a virtual entry position.

[0081] For this purpose, the control unit 24 has computer programs and/or software, which may be loaded directly in a memory unit (not shown) of the control unit 24, with program means in order to carry out an ascertainment of a current position of a marking apparatus based on time-resolved MR image data and/or an ascertainment of a virtual entry position when the computer programs and/or software is/are executed in the control unit 24. The control unit 24 has for this purpose a processor (not shown), which is configured for execution of the computer programs and/or software. Alternatively, the computer programs and/or software may also be stored on an electronically readable data carrier 21 formed separately from the control unit 24, with data access from the control unit 24 to the electronically readable data carrier 21 being possible via a data network.

[0082] The illustrated magnetic resonance device 11 may of course comprise further components, which magnetic resonance devices 11 conventionally have. A general mode of operation of a magnetic resonance device 11 is known to a person skilled in the art, moreover, so a detailed description of the further components will be omitted.

[0083] Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred exemplary aspects, it is not limited by the disclosed examples and a person skilled in the art can derive other variations herefrom without departing from the scope of the disclosure.