Search

DE-102024210787-A1 - Protective device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner

DE102024210787A1DE 102024210787 A1DE102024210787 A1DE 102024210787A1DE-102024210787-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging device (1), comprising a connecting section (30) which is designed and intended to be coupled in an intended operating state with a patient table (12) and/or a guide rail (10) for the patient table (12) of the magnetic resonance imaging device (1), at least one planar extending screen section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed screen surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its extension surface, and at least one joint section (50, 76) which is arranged between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or a further section (74) and which is designed and intended to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section (40) or the further section (74), preferably about two joint axes perpendicular to each other.

Inventors

  • Armin Michael Nagel
  • Sebastian Bickelhaupt
  • Michael Uder

Assignees

  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, in Vertretung des Freistaates Bayern

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241110

Claims (13)

  1. Protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device (1), comprising: - a connecting section (30) which is configured and provided to be coupled to a patient table (12) and/or a guide rail (10) for the patient table (12) of the MRI device (1) in an intended operating state; - at least one planar extending screen section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed screen surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its extent surface; and - at least one hinge section (50, 76) which is arranged between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or a further section (74) and which is configured and provided to enable a rotational adjustment of the screen section (40) or the further section (74), preferably about two mutually perpendicular hinge axes.
  2. Protective device (20) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device (1), comprising: - at least one planar shield section (40, 74) which forms a substantially closed shield surface at least in one viewing direction perpendicular to its planar surface; - a frame section (80) which supports the at least one shield section (40, 74) such that, in its intended setup state, the shield section (40, 74) at least partially obscures a patient table (12) of the MRI device (1) and/or a space occupied by a person lying on the patient table (12) in an intended operating state of the MRI device (1) from a horizontal viewing direction; and - at least one hinge section (50, 76) which is arranged between the shield section (40) and the frame section (80) or a further section (74) and which is designed and intended to allow a rotational adjustment of the shield section (40) or of the further section (74), preferably to enable two joint axes perpendicular to each other.
  3. Protective device (20) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the joint section (50) has a ball joint (52).
  4. Protective device (20) according to Claim 3 , wherein the joint section (50) has two support rods (62) which are each connected to the connecting section (30) and the screen section (40) by means of a ball joint (64, 66).
  5. Protective device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the screen section (40) has a membrane-like body (42) with a closed surface, in particular made of a plastic, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic.
  6. Protective device (20) according to Claim 5 , wherein the membrane-like body (42) has at least one edge facing a tunnel (4) of the magnetic resonance imaging device (1) which, in the intended state of use, has an edge (58) that is optionally bent away from the tunnel by at least 90 degrees.
  7. Protective device (20) according to Claim 5 or 6 , wherein the membrane-like body (42) has a marginal recess (68) or an internal opening which serves to guide a hose or other conduit into the tunnel (4) during intended use.
  8. Protective device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the screen section (40) has a ring-shaped frame (70) on which a plurality of ropes (72) are stretched to form a quasi-closed surface.
  9. Protective device (20) according to Claim 8 , wherein the ropes (72) are arranged parallel to each other and in two layers in the thickness direction and offset transversely to their longitudinal extent.
  10. Protective device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , comprising the further section which is designed as a further screen section (74) and which is movably coupled to the screen section (40) by means of the joint section (50) or a further joint section (76).
  11. Protective device (20) according to Claim 10 , wherein the screen section (40) is coupled to the connecting section (30) or the frame section (80) by means of the joint section (50), which in particular has a hinge with a hinge axis aligned parallel to the tunnel axis (6) in the intended operating state, and wherein the screen section (40) is coupled to the further screen section (40) by means of the further joint section (76), which has a joint with at least one pivot axis which in the intended operating state lies in a plane perpendicular to the tunnel axis (6).
  12. Protective device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , comprising a telescopic section which is connected between the screen section (40) and the connecting section (30) or the frame section (80) and which has a certain has a telescopic function directed parallel to the tunnel axis (6) in the operating condition as intended.
  13. Use of a protective device (20) according to one of the Claims 1 or after Claim 1 and one of the Claims 2 until 12 with a magnetic resonance imaging device (1), wherein the protective device (20) is attached to the patient bed (12) and/or the guide rail (10) for the patient bed (12) by means of the connecting section (30).

Description

The invention relates to a protective device for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. MRI scans are used for imaging – mostly clinical – particularly of tissue structures that cannot be visualized using X-ray technology, or only with increased effort and, in particular, radiation exposure. In an MRI scan, magnetic fields are used to utilize nuclear magnetic resonance to visualize tissue, etc. Typically, the coils required to generate the magnetic fields are arranged around a tube—also called a tunnel—in which the patient is positioned during the examination. A disadvantage of these magnetic fields—which can be quite strong (up to three Tesla or higher in some MRI scanners)—is that they also have an effect outside the tunnel. Metallic objects, especially those made of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, but also those with other magnetic properties, can be attracted by the magnetic fields. This can lead to an undesirable and even dangerous projectile effect, as the attracted objects move towards the tunnel. This is usually addressed through appropriate safety precautions and training, ensuring, for example, that only qualified personnel are present in the MRI area. More recently, however, MRIs have also been used for interventional surgeries, where they are employed for imaging during the procedure (e.g., for navigating catheters, endoscopic instruments, or similar devices). This often results in personnel working directly with patients and thus within the magnetic fields, who may lack extensive experience or routine. Furthermore, emergency situations can also lead to safety regulations being overlooked. For instance, a surgeon might forget scissors, a stethoscope, or other metallic objects in a pocket due to the circumstances. Additionally, the use of rotating cleaning staff means that ensuring adequate training and adherence to safety regulations is not always guaranteed. To prevent such circumstances, for example, US 2018/0267117 A1 An MRI scanner is known whose tunnel can be closed by means of a gate-like device. The invention is based on the objective of further improving patient protection during imaging using an MRI. This problem is solved according to the invention by a protective device having the features of claim 1, which is intended for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. Furthermore, this problem is solved according to the invention by a protective device having the features of claim 2. In addition, this problem is solved according to the invention by using the protective device with the MRI device having the features of claim 13. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description. The protective device according to the invention is designed and intended for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. For this purpose, the protective device has a connecting section (or coupling section) which is designed and intended to be coupled to a patient table and/or a guide rail for the patient table of the MRI scanner in its intended operating state. Furthermore, the protective device has at least one planar shield section (hereinafter also referred to as "the first shield section") which forms a substantially closed shield surface at least in one viewing direction normal to its planar surface. In addition, the protective device has at least one hinge section (hereinafter also referred to as "the first hinge section") which is arranged between the shield section and the connecting section or a further section and which is designed and intended to allow rotational adjustment of the shield section or the further section, preferably about two mutually perpendicular hinge axes. The term "essentially closed screen surface" is understood here and in the following to mean, in particular, that this screen surface forms a closed surface at least when viewed along the line of sight. Along other directions, especially those oblique to the line of sight, the screen surface may, at least optionally, have interruptions. Preferably, the shield section is made of a material that has a sufficiently high breaking strength, so that (especially smaller) objects that are dislodged by the magnetic field of the MRI scanner when the shield is attached to the patient table or the guide rail are protected. direction from an area in front of the protective device, can be stopped by the shield section, in particular without it tearing, breaking or the like. The shield section thus advantageously serves to stop objects attracted by the magnetic field of the MRI scanner and prevent them from entering the MRI tunnel. Due to the articulated mounting of the shield surface, it can be adjusted as needed. Its placement on the patient table or its guide rail makes it particularly possible to create a barrier between staff (e.g., a surgeon, specialist, or similar) and the patient, even during interactio