Split bridge for PET-MR scanner

1. A patient support assembly for use in a combination PET-MRI imaging system having a single bore, the patient support assembly comprising:

a cradle configured to accommodate a subject of interest;

a carriage assembly attachable to the cradle and configured to drive the cradle through an imaging volume of the PET-MRI imaging system; a bridge assembly configured to accommodate the cradle and the carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, the bridge assembly including:

a rear bridge;

a front bridge comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections are distinct from one another and define a gap, the gap positioned within a PET imaging volume defined by a PET detector array of the PET-MRI imaging system;

wherein the gap is sized to reduce degradation of PET image quality; and

an anti-tip assembly extending from the first section to the second section and extending over the gap, wherein the anti-tip assembly is configured to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

2. The patient support assembly of claim 1 wherein the cradle and the carriage assembly each include slide blades formed thereon configured to interact with the anti-tip rail assembly to prevent tipping.

3. The patient support assembly of claim 2 wherein the anti-tip rail assembly comprises a pair of anti-tip guide rails formed on opposing sides of the front bridge, each of the pair of anti-tip guide rails comprising a groove and upper flange, with the upper flange configured to apply a downward pressure onto the slide blades as the carriage assembly and cradle traverse over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

4. The patient support assembly of claim 3 wherein the pair of anti-tip guide rails extend along a length of the rear bridge and the front bridge, with the pair of anti-tip guide rails extending over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge so as to prevent tipping of the carriage assembly as it traverses over the gap.

5. The patient support assembly of claim 1 wherein the bridge assembly further comprise a plurality of roller bearings positioned along a length thereof and configured to support the cradle as it is translated through the imaging volume of the PET-MRI imaging system.

6. The patient support assembly of claim 5 wherein the front bridge includes a coil positioning area formed therein configured to house a coil matrix array (CMA) of the PET-MRI imaging system, the coil positioning area including a portion of the plurality of roller bearings therein to support the cradle as it passes over the coil positioning area.

7. The patient support assembly of claim 1 further comprising a set of mounting blocks configured to provide for mounting of the first and second sections of the front bridge to the a PET tube of the PET-MRI imaging system, wherein the set of mounting blocks is embedded on the PET tube and space the PET tube apart from a PET tube skin positioned between the PET tube and the subject of interest.

8. A PET-MRI apparatus comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system configured to acquire MR signals from a subject of interest, the MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a single bore of a magnet and an RF coil assembly coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence;

a positron emission tomography (PET) system integrated into the MRI system and having a PET detector array positioned around a PET tube encircling the single bore, with the detector array being controlled to acquire PET emissions of the subject of interest; and

a patient support assembly configured to provide for support and movement of the subject of interest through the single bore to enable acquisition of the MR signals and the PET emissions from the subject of interest, the patient support assembly comprising:

a carriage assembly configured to drive a patient cradle so as to provide for translation of the subject of interest through the single bore, the carriage assembly including a pair of slide blades formed thereon; and

a bridge assembly configured to provide for translation of the carriage assembly and cradle therealong, the bridge assembly including a split front bridge having a gap positioned within a PET imaging volume defined by the detector array;

wherein the gap is sized to reduce degradation of PET image quality;

wherein the split front bridge includes an anti-tip rail assembly extending over the gap configured to interact with the slide blades on the carriage assembly to prevent tipping of the carriage assembly when traversing over the gap in the split front bridge.

9. The PET-MRI apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cradle and the carriage assembly each include slide blades formed thereon configured to interact with the anti-tip rail assembly to prevent tipping.

10. The PET-MRI apparatus of claim 9 wherein the anti-tip rail assembly comprises a pair of anti-tip guide rails formed on opposing sides of the front bridge, each of the pair of anti-tip guide rails comprising a groove and upper flange, with the upper flange configured to apply a downward pressure onto the slide blades as the carriage assembly and cradle traverse over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

11. The PET-MRI apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pair of anti-tip guide rails extend along a length of the rear bridge and the front bridge, with the pair of anti-tip guide rails extending over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge so as to prevent tipping of the carriage assembly as it traverses over the gap.

12. The PET-MM apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bridge assembly further comprise a plurality of roller bearings positioned along a length thereof and configured to support the cradle as it is translated through the imaging volume of the PET-MRI apparatus.

13. The PET-MRI apparatus of claim 12 wherein the front bridge includes a coil positioning area formed therein configured to house a coil matrix array (CMA) of the PET-MRI apparatus, the coil positioning area including a portion of the plurality of roller bearings therein to support the cradle as it passes over the coil positioning area.

14. The PET-MRI apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a set of mounting blocks configured to provide for mounting of the first and second sections of the front bridge to the PET tube, wherein the set of mounting blocks is embedded on the PET tube and space the PET tube apart from a PET tube skin positioned between the PET tube and the subject of interest.