Methods and apparatus for patient positioning in magnetic resonance imaging
According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B 0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B 0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
1. An apparatus for imaging a foot, the apparatus comprising:
at least one housing configured to accommodate a patient's foot, during magnetic resonance imaging;
at least one radio frequency transmit and/or receive coil; and
at least one first releasable securing mechanism configured to engage with a member attached to a magnetic resonance imaging system at a location such that, when the at least one first securing mechanism engages with the member, the apparatus is positioned within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at one first releasable securing mechanism comprises:
a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the member; and
a retention portion configured to resist movement of the member once the member has been positioned within the receptacle.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the retention portion comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion, each forming at least a portion of the receptacle, wherein the first arm portion comprises a first protrusion and the second arm portion comprises a second protrusion, and wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured to impede the member from entering and exiting the receptacle, such that force on the first protrusion and the second protrusion is needed to allow the member to enter and exit the receptacle.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured such that a first force required to allow the member to enter the receptacle is less than a second force required to allow the member to exit the receptacle.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the member comprises a first portion having a first diameter and second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are configured to position under the first portion and to grip the second portion when the retention portion is engaged with the member.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first releasable securing mechanism allows rotation of the apparatus about the member.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a second securing mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the apparatus about the member when the second securing mechanism engages with the member.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the member comprises at least one recess, and wherein the second securing mechanism is configured to fit within the at least one recess to prevent rotation of the apparatus about the member when the second securing mechanism engages with the at least one recess.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is tilted at an angle from a vertical axis.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 15 degrees and less than 75 degrees from the vertical axis in a direction of a longitudinal axis.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 45 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 5 degrees and less than 90 degrees from the vertical axis in a direction of a latitudinal axis.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 15 degrees and less than 75 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the latitudinal axis.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 45 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the latitudinal axis.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio frequency transmit and/or receive coil comprises a plurality of receive coils.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receive coils at least partially overlaps at least one other of the plurality of receive coils.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receive coils is arranged above at least one other of the plurality of receive coils in a vertical direction.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of receive coils arranged above the at least one other of the plurality of receive coils is offset in a horizontal direction from the at least one other of the plurality of receive coils.
19. An apparatus for coupling to a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging a foot, the apparatus comprising:
at least one radio frequency transmit and/or receive coil;
at least one housing configured to accommodate a patient's foot during magnetic resonance imaging; and
a base attached to the at least one housing, the base having a latitudinal axis and a vertical axis perpendicular to the latitudinal axis,
wherein the at least one housing is tilted relative to the base along a podal axis.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 15 degrees and less than 75 degrees from the vertical axis in a direction of a longitudinal axis.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 45 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 5 degrees and less than 90 degrees from the vertical axis in a direction of the latitudinal axis.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 15 degrees and less than 75 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the latitudinal axis.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the podal axis of the apparatus has an angle greater than 30 degrees and less than 45 degrees from the vertical axis in the direction of the latitudinal axis.
25. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising at least one first releasable securing mechanism configured to engage with a member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location such that, when the at least one first releasable securing mechanism engages with the member, the apparatus is positioned within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at one first releasable securing mechanism comprises:
a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the member; and
a retention portion configured to resist movement of the member once the member has been positioned within the receptacle.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the retention portion comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion, each forming at least a portion of the receptacle, wherein the first arm portion comprises a first protrusion and the second arm portion comprises a second protrusion, and wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured to impede the member from entering and exit receptacle, such that force on the first protrusion and the second protrusion is needed to allow the member to enter and exit the receptacle.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured such that a first force required to allow the member to enter the receptacle is less than a second force required to allow the member to exit the receptacle.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the member comprises a first portion having a first diameter and second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are configured to position under the first portion and to grip the second portion when the retention portion is engaged with the member.
30. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at east one first releasable securing mechanism allows rotation of the apparatus about the member.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising a second securing mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the apparatus about the member when the second securing mechanism engages with the member.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the member comprises at, least one recess, and wherein the second securing mechanism is configured to fit within the at least one recess to prevent rotation of the apparatus about the member when the second securing mechanism engages with the at least one recess.
33. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the at least one radio frequency transmit and/or receive coil comprises a plurality of receive coils.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receive coils at least partially overlaps with at least one other of the plurality of receive coils.
35. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receive coils is arranged above at least one other of the plurality of receive coils in a vertical direction.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of receive coils arranged above the at least one other of the plurality of receive coils is offset in a horizontal direction from the at least one other of the plurality of receive coils.