Method, graphical interface, and medical apparatus for planning a medical imaging examination

1. A method for planning a medical imaging examination of an examination subject by operation of a medical imaging apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a representation of a planning environment for planning of the medical imaging examination on a touch display of a graphical interface;

making a manual input on the touch display that specifies at least one imaging parameter for said medical imaging examination, the at least one imaging parameter specifying a position of the examination subject with respect to an isocenter of said medical imaging apparatus on the touch display; and

haptically providing information on said touch display in response to said manual input.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising: providing said information on said touch display as feedback dependent on the specification of said at least one imaging parameter.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , comprising:

comparing, using a processor of said graphical interface, the specified image parameter with a parameter range associated with said at least one imaging parameter; and

providing said feedback dependent on a result of said comparing.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said parameter range represents a valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter, and wherein providing said feedback on said touch display dependent on the result of said comparing to indicates that said at least one specified image parameter is outside of said valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:

providing said feedback continuously until a further specification, made via said touch display, of said at least one imaging parameter is within said valid parameter range.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:

providing said feedback only once, as soon as said at least one imaging parameter is determined, by said comparing, to be outside of said valid parameter range.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said parameter range represents a valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter,

wherein providing said feedback on said touch display dependent on the result of said comparing indicates that said at least one specified image parameter is outside of said valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter, and

wherein said valid parameter range is for said isocenter and comprises a region of a body of the examination subject that has been prepared for said medical imaging examination.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

detecting a position of at least one accessory item for said medical imaging examination; and

preparing said region of the body of the examination subject for said medical imaging examination dependent on the detected position of said at least one accessory item.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

entering said at least one imaging parameter as an extent of a field of view of said medical imaging apparatus.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said parameter range represents a valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter,

wherein providing said feedback on said touch display dependent on the result of said comparing indicates that said at least one specified image parameter is outside of said valid parameter range for said at least one imaging parameter, and

wherein said valid parameter range is for said extent of said field of view and comprises a maximum size of said field of view that can be acquired in an imaging scan executed by said medical imaging apparatus.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

presenting said planning environment as a graphical visualization of said examination subject with said at least one imaging parameter being specified within said graphical visualization.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , comprising:

generating said graphical visualization in said graphical interface dependent on an evaluation of positional data of the examination subject acquired before said examination subject is introduced into a patient receiving zone of said medical imaging apparatus.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

providing said information haptically as a vibration.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

providing said information haptically as a change in a shape of a surface of said touch display, wherein said touch display comprises at least one physical element that causes said change in said shape of said surface of said touch display when there is a change in position of said physical element.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

providing said information haptically as a tactile texture on said touch display.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , comprising:

generating said graphical visualization in said graphical interface dependent on an evaluation of positional data of the examination subject acquired before said examination subject is introduced into a patient receiving zone of said medical imaging apparatus and comprising determining a contour of the body of the examination subject from positional data of the examination subject; and

configuring said tactile texture on said touch display to represent said contour of the body of the examination subject.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , comprising:

detecting a position of at least one accessory item for said medical imaging examination and also configuring said tactile texture on said touch display to represent the detected position of said at least one accessory item.

18. A graphical interface for a medical imaging apparatus comprising:

a touch display;

a processor in communication with said touch display;

said processor being configured to provide a representation of a planning environment for planning of the medical imaging examination on a touch display of a graphical interface;

said touch display being configured to detect a manual input on the touch display that specifies at least one imaging parameter for said medical imaging examination and to enter an electronic signal representing said at least one imaging parameter into said processor, the at least one imaging parameter specifying a position of the examination subject with respect to an isocenter of said medical imaging apparatus on the touch display; and

said processor being configured to haptically provide information on said touch display in response to said manual input.

19. A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

a medical imaging device configured to implement an examination of an examination subject in said medical imaging device;

a graphical interface for said medical imaging device comprising a processor and a touchscreen;

said processor being configured to provide a representation of a planning environment for planning of the medical imaging examination on a touch display of a graphical interface;

said touch display being configured to detect a manual input on the touch display that specifies at least one imaging parameter for said medical imaging examination and to enter an electronic signal representing said at least one imaging parameter into said processor, the at least one imaging parameter specifying a position of the examination subject with respect to an isocenter of said medical imaging apparatus on the touch display; and

said processor being configured to haptically provide information on said touch display in response to said manual input.

20. A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with

programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a processor of a graphical interface for a medical imaging apparatus, and said programming instructions causing said processor to:

provide a representation of a planning environment for planning of the medical imaging examination on a touch display of a graphical interface;

detect a manual input on the touch display that specifies at least one imaging parameter for said medical imaging examination, the at least one imaging parameter specifying a position of the examination subject with respect to an isocenter of said medical imaging apparatus on the touch display; and

haptically provide information on said touch display in response to said manual input.