PATIENT SUPPORT BRIDGE METHODS AND APPARATUS
According to some aspects, a bridge adapted for attachment to a magnetic resonance imaging system and configured to facilitate positioning a patient within the magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. Embodiments of the bridge comprise a support having a surface configured to support at least a portion of the patient, the support being moveable between an up position and a down position, wherein the surface is substantially vertical in the up position and substantially horizontal in the down position, a hinge configured to allow the support to be moved from the up position to the down position and vice versa, and a base configured to attach the bridge to the magnetic resonance imaging system. According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided having a bridge configured to facilitate positioning a patient within the magnetic resonance imaging system attached thereto.
1 . A bridge adapted for attachment to a magnetic resonance imaging system and configured to facilitate positioning a patient within the magnetic resonance imaging system, the bridge comprising:
a support having a surface configured to support at least a portion of the patient, the support being moveable between an up position and a down position, wherein the surface is substantially vertical in the up position and substantially horizontal in the down position;
a hinge configured to allow the support to be moved from the up position to the down position and vice versa; and
a base configured to attach the bridge to the magnetic resonance imaging system.
2 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a pivot portion coupled to the support to allow the support to pivot between the up position and the down position.
3 . The bridge of claim 2 , wherein the support comprises a groove and the pivot portion comprises a tongue inserted into the groove to couple the pivot portion to the support.
4 . The bridge of claim 3 , wherein the tongue is comprised of a plastic material.
5 . The bridge of claim 3 , wherein the support is comprised of a plastic material.
6 . The bridge of claim 2 , wherein the pivot portion comprises a first bore and the base comprises a second bore, and wherein the hinge further comprises a shaft inserted through the first bore and the second bore to couple the pivot portion to the base and to allow the pivot portion to rotate about the shaft to cause the support to pivot between the up position and the down position.
7 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the support has a length of between 8 inches and 16 inches.
8 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the support has a width of between 12 inches and 30 inches.
9 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the bridge is rated for a 500 pound patient.
10 . The bridge of claim 9 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor of at least 2.5.
11 . The bridge of claim 9 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor greater than or equal to 2.5 and less than or equal to 4.0.
12 . The bridge of claim 9 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor greater than or equal to 2.5 and less than or equal to 4.3.
13 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of bores configured to allow the bridge to be bolted to the magnetic resonance imaging system.
14 . The bridge of claim 13 , wherein at least the portion of the base that includes the plurality of bores is made of steel.
15 . The bridge of claim 13 , wherein the bridge is bolted to a B 0 magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
16 . The bridge of claim 2 , wherein the bridge further comprises a counter-balance mechanism that resists pivoting of the support from the up position to the down position.
17 . The bridge of claim 16 , wherein the counter-balance mechanism comprises at least one torsion spring that resists pivoting of the support from the up position to the down position.
18 . The bridge of claim 17 , wherein the at least one torsion spring is coupled to the pivot portion so that, when the pivot portion is rotated, the at least one torsion spring slows the rate at which the support pivots from the up position to the down position.
19 . The bridge of claim 18 , further comprising a lock-out switch that, when activated, is configured to disable a motor drive of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
20 . The bridge of claim 19 , wherein the lock-out switch is configured to be activated when the support is moved to the down position and an additional weight is applied to the support.
21 . The bridge of claim 19 , wherein the lock-out switch is configured to be activated when the support is placed in the down position.
22 . The bridge of claim 19 , wherein the lock-switch comprises at least one sensor configured to detect when a patient is positioned on the support.
23 . A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
a B 0 magnet configured to generate a magnetic field suitable for magnetic resonance imaging;
a conveyance mechanism configured to allow the magnetic resonance imaging system to be moved to different locations; and
a bridge configured to facilitate positioning a patient within the magnetic resonance imaging system, the bridge comprising:
a support having a surface configured to support at least a portion of the patient, the support being moveable between an up position and a down position, wherein the surface is substantially vertical in the up position and substantially horizontal in the down position;
a hinge configured to allow the support to be moved from the up position to the down position and vice versa; and
a base attaching the bridge to the magnetic resonance imaging system.
24 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the hinge comprises a pivot portion coupled to the support to allow the support to pivot between the up position and the down position.
25 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the support comprises a groove and the pivot portion comprises a tongue inserted into the groove to couple the pivot portion to the support.
26 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 25 , wherein the tongue is comprised of a plastic material to reduce eddy currents generated in the bridge when the magnetic resonance imaging system is operated.
27 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 25 , wherein the support is comprised of a plastic material.
28 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 24 , wherein the pivot portion comprises a first bore and the base comprises a second bore, the hinge further comprising a shaft inserted through the first bore and the second bore to couple the pivot portion to the base and to allow the pivot portion to rotate about the shaft to cause the support to pivot between the up position and the down position.
29 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the surface of the support has a length of between 8 inches and 16 inches.
30 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the surface of the support has a width of between 12 inches and 30 inches.
31 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the bridge is rated for a 500 pound patient.
32 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 31 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor of at least 2.5.
33 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 31 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor greater than or equal to 2.5 and less than or equal to 4.0.
34 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 31 , wherein the bridge has a safety factor greater than or equal to 2.5 and less than or equal to 4.3.
35 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of bores accommodating respective bolts that attach the base to the magnetic resonance imaging system.
36 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 35 , wherein at least the portion of the base comprising the plurality of bores is made of steel.
37 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 35 , wherein the base of the bridge is bolted to the B 0 magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
38 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 24 , wherein the bridge further comprises a counter-balance mechanism that resists pivoting of the support from the up position to the down position.
39 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 38 , wherein the counter-balance mechanism comprises at least one torsion spring that resists pivoting of the support from the up position to the down position.
40 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 39 , wherein the at least one torsion spring is coupled to the pivot portion so that, when the pivot portion is rotated, the at least one torsion spring slows the rate at which the support pivots from the up position to the down position.
41 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 23 , wherein the bridge further comprises a lock-out switch coupled to the conveyance mechanism that, when activated, disables a motor drive of the conveyance mechanism.
42 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 41 , wherein the lock-out switch is activated when the support is moved to the down position and an additional weight is applied to the support.
43 . The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 42 , wherein the lock-out switch comprises at least one sensor configured to detect when a patient is positioned on the support.
44 . A method of imaging a portion of anatomy of a patient while the patient is at least partially supported by a standard medical bed, the method comprising:
positioning a magnetic resonance imaging system and the bed proximate one another;
moving a bridge attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system from a vertical position to a horizontal position so that the bridge overlaps a portion of the bed;
positioning the patient via the bridge so that the portion of anatomy of the patient is within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system; and
acquiring at least one magnetic resonance image of the portion of the anatomy of the patient while the patient is at least partially supported by the bed and at least partially supported by the bridge.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein moving the bridge from the vertical position to a horizontal position disables a conveyance mechanism of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein positioning the patient via the bridge disables a conveyance mechanism of the magnetic resonance imaging system.