Methods and apparatus for patient positioning in magnetic resonance imaging

1. A magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient at least partially supported by a support comprising ferromagnetic material, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the B 0 magnet comprising:

at least one first B 0 magnet to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system; and

at least one second B 0 magnet to produce a second magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the at least one first B 0 magnet and the at least one second B 0 magnet are arranged relative to one another so that an imaging region is provided there between; and

a coupling member attached to the B 0 magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging system, such that the coupling member is disposed between the at least one first B 0 magnet and the at least one second B 0 magnet, and

wherein the coupling member is configured to engage with a securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the securing mechanism for securing the radio frequency coil apparatus to and releasing the radio frequency coil apparatus from the coupling member, so that, when the coupling member is engaged with the securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within the imaging region.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is attached to the at least one second B 0 magnet.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the coupling member comprises a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the first diameter is selected so that the coupling member can fit within a receptacle of the securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 4 , wherein a height of the first portion of the coupling member is configured to allow at least a portion of the securing mechanism forming the receptacle to fit underneath the second portion of the coupling member.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the coupling member comprises at least one recess configured to accommodate the securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus to prevent rotation of the radio frequency coil apparatus about the coupling member.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the B 0 magnetic field has a magnetic field strength of less than or equal to 0.2 Tesla (T) and greater than or equal to 20 mT.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the B 0 magnetic field has a magnetic field strength of less than or equal to 0.1 T and greater than or equal to 50 mT.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a hospital bed.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising the securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient at least partially supported by a support comprising ferromagnetic material, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a B 0 magnet configured to produce a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the B 0 magnet comprising:

at least one first B 0 magnet to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system; and

at least one second B 0 magnet to produce a second magnetic field to contribute to the B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the at least one first B 0 magnet and the at least one second B 0 magnet are arranged relative to one another so that an imaging region is provided there between; and

a coupling member attached to the B 0 magnet of the magnetic resonance imaging system, such that the coupling member is disposed between the at least one first B 0 magnet and the at least one second B 0 magnet, and

wherein the coupling member is configured to engage with a securing mechanism of a patient handling apparatus configured to secure to a radio frequency coil apparatus, the securing mechanism for securing the patient handling apparatus to and releasing the patient handling apparatus from the coupling member, so that, when the coupling member is engaged with the securing mechanism of the patient handling apparatus, the radio frequency coil secured to the patient handling apparatus is positioned substantially within the imaging region.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the coupling member is attached to the at least one second B 0 magnet.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the coupling member comprises a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the first diameter is selected so that the coupling member can fit within a receptacle of the securing mechanism of the patient handling apparatus.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 13 , wherein a height of the first portion of the coupling member is configured to allow at least a portion of the securing mechanism forming the receptacle to fit underneath the second portion of the coupling member.

16. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the B 0 magnetic field has a magnetic field strength of less than or equal to 0.2 Tesla (T) and greater than or equal to 20 mT.

17. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 16 , wherein the B 0 magnetic field has a magnetic field strength of less than or equal to 0.1 T and greater than or equal to 50 mT.

18. A method for facilitating imaging using a magnetic resonance imaging system, the method comprising:

positioning a portion of anatomy of a patient 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 portion of the anatomy of the patient is within the imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system,

wherein positioning the portion of the anatomy of the patient comprises engaging a securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus to a coupling member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location between first and second B 0 magnets of the magnetic resonance imaging system, the securing mechanism for securing the radio frequency coil apparatus to the coupling member and releasing the radio frequency coil apparatus from the coupling member, so that, when the coupling member is engaged with the securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within the imaging region.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein acquiring the at least one magnetic resonance image of the portion of the anatomy of the patient is performed while the patient is at least partially supported by a medical bed comprising at least some ferromagnetic material.

20. The magnetic resonance imaging system of claim 11 , further comprising the securing mechanism of the patient handling apparatus.