Support component for use in imaging by magnetic resonance and x-ray
View Patent ↗A structural support component such as a head clamp for use in imaging of a part of a patient using Magnetic Resonance and X-ray imaging is formed of different materials each of which has an Aluminum equivalence factor of less than 10 mm and generally less than 6 mm and is arranged such that the presence of the structural support component in an imaging zone of a magnetic resonance imaging system when generating the image does not generate any visually determinable distortion in the image. The materials can be epoxy resin combined with a glass fiber substrate for easily machined parts, polyphenylene sulphide with random fiber reinforcement using glass fibers for high wear parts and polyurethane foam or Polymethacrylimide foam shaped to form a required member and covered on its outer surface with a layer formed from aramid fibers for elongate parts.
1. Apparatus for use in imaging of a head of a patient using Magnetic Resonance and X-ray imaging comprising:
a patient support table, the patient support table comprising;
a table support base for mounting in a fixed position in an imaging suite;
and an upper patient support portion on which the patient can lie with the part of the patient exposed for imaging;
the upper patient support portion being mounted for controlled movement thereof relative to the table support base;
a magnetic resonance imaging system for obtaining images of the part of the patient, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a magnet for use with a control system for controlling and varying a magnetic field of the magnet;
wherein the magnet is mounted on a magnet support arranged so that the magnet is movable between a magnetic resonance imaging position while the patient support portion remains supported on the table support base and a remote position in which the magnet is removed from the upper patient support portion by a distance such that the upper patient support portion is out of the magnetic field of the magnet;
and an X-Ray imaging system comprising:
an X-Ray transmitter;
an X-Ray receiver;
the X-Ray source and the X-Ray receptor being arranged to define an imaging zone;
an X-Ray support base;
wherein the X-Rav imaging system is mounted for movement relative to the patient support table;
the patient table including a head holder for the head of the patient comprising:
a mounting portion for engaging an end of the upper patient support portion;
a head clamp having mounting points for engaging the head of the patient and an adjustment device for adjusting the spacing of the points;
an adjustment coupling for moving the head clamp to different positions on the mounting portion for moving the head of the patient to different positions;
the head holder and upper patient support portion being formed of one or more materials which are MR compatible;
the head holder and upper patient support portion being formed of one or more materials each of which has for a sample of 10 mm thickness an Aluminum equivalence factor of less than 10 mm;
the head holder and upper patient support portion being arranged such that the presence of the structural support component in an imaging zone of a magnetic resonance imaging system when generating the image does not generate any visually determinable distortion in the image.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the head holder and upper patient support portion is formed of two different materials where the materials have different physical characteristics.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of the materials is harder and is used to form wear parts where two separate parts are butting.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of the materials is more rigid and is used to form elongate bars.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the head holder and upper patient support portion is formed of three different materials where the materials have different physical characteristics, with a first material selected to form an elongate bar, a second material selected to form machined end portions of the bar and a third material selected to form wear parts attached to the end portions.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one of the materials is an epoxy resin combined with a glass fiber substrate.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said epoxy resin system combined with a glass fabric substrate is used for machined parts of the head holder and upper patient support portion.
8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one of the materials is a polyphenylene sulphide with random fiber reinforcement using glass fibers.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the polyphenylene sulphide with random fiber reinforcement using glass fibers is used to form wear parts.
10. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one of the materials is a polyurethane or Polymethacrylimide foam shaped to form a required member and covered on its outer surface with a layer formed from aramid fibers coated with a heat curable resin.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the foam shaped covered on its outer surface with a layer formed from aramid fibers is used.