Magnetic resonance apparatus with a patient positioning apparatus and a communication unit

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance apparatus with a patient positioning apparatus comprising at least one coil plug-in element and a communication unit, wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus comprises an adapter apparatus with a communication interface and the adapter apparatus is adapted to couple the communication unit to the at least one coil plug-in element of the patient positioning apparatus.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus, comprising: a patient receiving area configured to receive a patient for a magnetic resonance examination; a patient positioning system configured to move the patient into the patient receiving area, the patient positioning system including at least one coil plug-in element and communication component; and an adapter comprising a MR head coil and a communication interface, the adapter being configured to couple the communication component to the at least one coil plug-in element of the patient positioning system via the communication interface, wherein the communication component comprises a cushion that is integrated into a positioning area of the MR head coil that is configured to receive the head of a patient, and wherein the cushion of the communication component is configured to output audible sound based upon communication data that is received via the communication interface.

2. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a mechanical interface.

3. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a data interface.

4. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data interface comprises a plug-in connection.

5. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data interface is configured for wireless data transmission.

6. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises an energy transmission interface.

7. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication component comprises an output element configured to output the audible sound.

8. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication component is configured to exchange, via the coil plug-in element of the patient positioning system, the communication data between the adapter and a communication console that is remote to the MR apparatus.

9. The MR apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface further comprises a power transmission interface configured to provide the communication component with power via the coil plug-in element of the patient positioning system.

10. A communication apparatus, comprising: a communication component; and an adapter comprising a MR head coil and a communication interface, the adapter being configured to couple the communication component to at least one coil plug-in element of a patient positioning system via the communication interface, wherein the patient positioning system is configured to move a patient into a patient receiving area for a magnetic resonance (MR) examination, wherein the communication component comprises a cushion that is integrated into a positioning area of the MR head coil that is configured to receive the head of a patient, and wherein the cushion of the communication component is configured to output audible sound based upon communication data that is received via the communication interface.

11. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises a mechanical interface.

12. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises a data interface.

13. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data interface comprises a plug-in connection.

14. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data interface is configured for wireless data transmission.

15. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises an energy transmission interface.

16. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication component comprises an output element configured to output the audible sound.

17. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication component is configured to exchange, via the coil plug-in element of the patient positioning system, the communication data between the adapter and a communication console that is remote to the communication apparatus.

18. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication interface further comprises a power transmission interface configured to provide the communication component with power via the coil plug-in element of the patient positioning system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the disclosure will emerge from the exemplary embodiment described in the following and with reference to the drawings.

(2) The drawings show:

(3) FIG. 1 illustrates an example magnetic resonance apparatus according to the disclosure with a communication unit and an adapter unit in a schematic depiction; and

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates an example communication unit with an adapter unit implemented as a magnetic resonance coil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 includes a scanner unit 11 (e.g. a scanner, scanner circuitry, or an MR scanner) formed by a magnet unit. Moreover, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a patient receiving area 12 for receiving a patient 13. In the present exemplary embodiment, the patient receiving area 12 is implemented in a cylinder shape and surrounded by the scanner unit 11, e.g. by the magnet unit, in a circumferential direction. However, in principle, an embodiment of the patient receiving area 12 deviating therefrom is conceivable. The patient 13 can be pushed and/or moved into the patient receiving area 12 by means of a patient positioning apparatus 14 (e.g. a patient positioning system or patient positioning circuitry) of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. For this purpose, the patient positioning apparatus 14 comprises a patient table 15 implemented as moveable within the patient receiving area 12. For instance, herein the patient table 15 is mounted in a movable manner in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the patient receiving area 12 and/or in the z-direction.

(6) The scanner unit 11, e.g. the magnet unit, includes a superconducting main magnet 16 for generating a strong and constant main magnetic field 17. The scanner unit 11, e.g. the magnet unit, further comprises a gradient coil unit 18 for generating magnetic field gradients which are used for spatial encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 18 is controlled by means of a gradient control unit 19 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10. The scanner unit 11, e.g. the magnet unit, further includes a radio-frequency antenna unit 20 for exciting polarization that is established in the main magnetic field 17 generated by the main magnet 16. The radio-frequency antenna unit 20 is controlled by a radio-frequency antenna control unit 21 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 and radiates radio-frequency magnetic resonance sequences into the patient receiving area 12 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10.

(7) To control the main magnet 16, the gradient control unit 19 and the radio-frequency antenna control unit 21, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a system control unit 22. The system control unit 22 controls the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 centrally, such as, for example, for the performance of a predefined imaging gradient echo sequence. Moreover, the system control unit 22 includes an evaluation unit (not shown in further detail) for evaluating medical image data acquired during the magnetic resonance examination.

(8) Furthermore, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 includes a user interface 23, which is connected to the system control unit 22. Control information such as, for example, imaging parameters and reconstructed magnetic resonance images can be displayed on a display unit 24, for example on at least one monitor of the user interface 23 for a medical operator. The user interface 23 further comprises an input unit 25 by means of which information and/or parameters can be input by the medical operator during a scanning process.

(9) The scanner unit 11 of the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 is arranged together with the patient positioning apparatus 14 within an examination room 26. On the other hand, the system control unit 22 is arranged together with the user interface 23 within a control room 27. The control room 27 is implemented separately from the examination room 26. For instance, the examination room 26 is shielded from the control room 27 with respect to radio-frequency radiation. During a magnetic resonance examination, the patient 13 is located within the examination room 26, whereas the medical operator is located within the control room 27.

(10) In order to enable communication between the patient 13 and the medical operator during the magnetic resonance examination, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises a communication apparatus 30 (e.g. a communication system). The communication apparatus 30 includes a communication unit 31 (e.g. communication circuitry) arranged within the examination room 26. Herein, the communication unit 31 is available to the patient 13 during the magnetic resonance examination for communication with the medical operator. Furthermore, the communication unit 31 is also available to the patient 13 for patient entertainment, for example for listening to and/or playing music.

(11) The communication apparatus 30 furthermore comprises a communication console 32. The communication console 32 is arranged within the control room 27 and is available to the medical operator during the magnetic resonance examination for communication with the patient 13. For an exchange of communication signals and/or communication data, the communication apparatus 30 comprises a communication data transmission unit 43 (e.g. communication data transmission circuitry) that exchanges the communication signals and/or communication data between the communication console 32 within the control room 27 and the communication unit 31 within the examination room 26.

(12) Herein, the communication signals and/or the communication data can include signals and/or data that are exchanged during communication between the patient 13 and the medical operator. Furthermore, the communication signals and/or communication data can also include signals and/or data for patient entertainment during the magnetic resonance examination of the patient 13. For example, herein a file containing a selection of pieces of music can be stored by the communication console 32. For this purpose, the communication console 32 can also include a memory unit (e.g. any suitable type of memory, storage, etc. not shown in further detail). For instance, the communication signals and/or the communication data may include acoustic communication signals and/or acoustic communication data and/or audio data.

(13) In the present exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 31 includes an audio cushion 33. The audio cushion 33 includes a positioning area for positioning e.g. the head of the patient 13. The communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, includes at least one output element 34 for outputting communication signals and/or communication data, e.g. audible signals such as audible sounds, which may include acoustic communication signals and/or acoustic communication data and/or audio data. The output element 34 can, for example, include headphones and/or loudspeakers. In the present exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, includes two output elements 34, e.g. two acoustic output elements 34. Here, in each case one of the output elements 34 is arranged on a side next to the positioning area of the audio cushion 33 so that the two output elements 34 are arranged on opposite sides next to the positioning area of the audio cushion 33.

(14) The two output elements 34 are integrated within the audio cushion 33. Here, the two output elements 34 may be integrated within the audio cushion 33 in such a way that the comfort of the patient 13 while in a lying position on the cushion, e.g. the audio cushion 33, is not impaired. Moreover, the audio cushion 33 is implemented as magnetic resonance compatible thus preventing any impairment of the magnetic resonance imaging.

(15) The communication apparatus 30 furthermore also includes at least one input element 35 for inputting communication signals and/or communication data, e.g. acoustic communication signals and/or acoustic communication data, such as, for example, a microphone. In the present exemplary embodiment, the at least one input element 35, e.g. the microphone, is arranged on a wall of the patient receiving area 12 opposite a positioning area for the head of the patient 13 so that advantageous acquisition of communication data and/or communication signals of the patient 13 can be ensured. In an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, it can also be provided that the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, includes the at least one input element 35.

(16) For an arrangement of the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, in a positioning area of the patient positioning apparatus 14, the magnetic resonance apparatus 10 comprises an adapter apparatus 36 (e.g. an adapter). The adapter apparatus 36 includes a communication interface 37. The adapter apparatus 36, e.g. the communication interface 37, is used to couple the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, to the patient positioning apparatus 14.

(17) The patient positioning apparatus 14 comprises at least one coil plug-in element 38. The at least one coil plug-in element 38 is, for example, implemented as a plug socket and arranged on the patient positioning apparatus 14. The at least one coil plug-in element 38 can be used to couple a magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. a local magnetic resonance coil 39, for data transmission to an evaluation unit and/or a control unit.

(18) The adapter apparatus 36, together with the communication interface 37, is implemented to couple the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, to the coil plug-in element 38 of the patient positioning apparatus 14. Herein, the adapter apparatus 36 can include a separately embodied adapter apparatus 36, which is herein specifically implemented to couple the communication unit 31 to the coil plug-in element 38 of the patient positioning apparatus 14. Moreover, the adapter apparatus 36 can also include a magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. a local magnetic resonance coil 39.

(19) The adapter apparatus 36 and the communication interface 37 enable an infrastructure, e.g. the coil plug-in element 38, wherein the infrastructure is adapted or implemented for data exchange with a magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. a local magnetic resonance coil 39, to be used for data exchange and/or for a power supply for the communication unit 31.

(20) In the present exemplary embodiment, the adapter apparatus 36 includes the magnetic resonance coil 39. The magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance coil 39, is implemented to acquire magnetic resonance data during a magnetic resonance examination and, for this purpose, is arranged around the area of the patient to be examined 13. In the present exemplary embodiment, the local magnetic resonance coil 39 is formed by a local magnetic resonance head coil that includes a receiving area 40 for positioning the head of the patient 13. Moreover, the magnetic resonance coil 39 can be formed by further local magnetic resonance coils 39 that appear advisable to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a local magnetic resonance neck coil, etc.

(21) Here, the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, is arranged within the receiving area 40 of the local magnetic resonance coil 31, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil for receiving the area of the patient 13 to be examined. For instance, the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, is arranged in a positioning area of the local magnetic resonance head coil for positioning the head of the patient.

(22) The communication interface 37 comprises at least one first interface element 41, which is included in the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil. The first interface element 41 of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, may be arranged in the positioning area of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil. Furthermore, the communication unit 31 also comprises an interface element 42 formed by a second interface element 42. The second interface element 42 of the communication unit 31 may be arranged on a side of the audio cushion 33 facing a lying surface of the audio cushion 33. Here, e.g. the first interface element 41 of the communication interface 37 and the second interface element 42 of the communication unit are implemented to be compatible and/or to correspond to one another.

(23) The communication interface 37 comprises a mechanical interface for arranging and/or attaching the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, to the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil. Herein, the mechanical interface can for example include a latch connection and/or a clamp connection between the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33. Moreover, further mechanical connections between the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, are conceivable.

(24) Here, the first interface element 41 of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, may comprise a first mechanical interface element. Moreover, the second interface element 42 of the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, may also comprise a second mechanical interface element. For instance, the first mechanical interface element and the second mechanical interface element may be implemented as complementary to one another and/or the second mechanical interface element may be implemented as compatible with the first mechanical interface element. As an example, the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, is connected releasably to the coil plug-in element 38 of the patient positioning apparatus 14 by means of the adapter apparatus 36, e.g. the mechanical interface.

(25) The communication interface 37 further comprises a data interface for exchanging and/or transmitting data and/or signals, e.g. communication data and/or communication signals, between the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33. Here, the first interface element 41 of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, may comprise a first data interface element. Moreover, the second interface element 42 of the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, may further comprise a second data interface element.

(26) Herein, the data interface can include a plug-in connection for exchanging and/or transmitting data and/or signals, e.g. communication data and/or communication signals, between the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33. For instance, here, the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, comprises a first plug-in element and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, comprises a second plug-in element of the plug-in connection. Here, e.g. the first plug-in element and the second plug-in element are implemented as complementary to one another and/or the second plug-in element is implemented as compatible with the first plug-in element.

(27) Alternatively or additionally, it can also be the case that the data interface is implemented for wireless data transmission. Wireless data transmission can, for example, take place between the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, and the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, by means of Bluetooth and/or near-field transmission and/or further types of wireless data transmission that appear advisable to the person skilled in the art. Here, the first data interface element of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, is implemented for wireless data transmission with the second data interface element of the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33.

(28) The communication interface 37 further comprises an energy transmission interface for a power supply for the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, via the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil. Here, the first interface element 41 of the local magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, may comprise a first energy transmission interface element. Moreover, the second interface element 42 of the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33, may comprise a second energy transmission interface element. Herein, the energy transmission interface can include a cabled and/or wired energy transmission interface. Alternatively or additionally, the energy transmission interface can also be embodied for wireless energy transmission to the communication unit 31, such as, for example, near-field energy transmission.

(29) The adapter apparatus 36 and/or the communication interface 37 advantageously enables an existing data transmission infrastructure for data transmission of data and/or signals from the magnetic resonance coil 39, e.g. the local magnetic resonance head coil, to be used for transmission of communication signals from the communication unit 31, e.g. the audio cushion 33.

(30) The magnetic resonance apparatus 10 depicted can obviously include further components usually comprised by magnetic resonance apparatuses 10. Moreover, the general mode of operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus 10 is known to the person skilled in the art so that no more detailed description of the further components will be given.

(31) Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in further detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived by a person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of protection of the disclosure.