The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that collects magnetic resonance signals from a subject.
In the case where an image of a subject is obtained by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the subject is carried into a bore. However, in the case where the subject suffers from claustrophobia, it is impossible for the subject to tolerate and continue the imaging in some cases because the bore is a narrow space. Further, in the case where an operator gives necessary instructions to the subject during the imaging, the operator generally gives audio instructions. In the case of a subject with hearing disability, however, it is impossible for the operator to give audio instructions. As a method of solving the above-described problem, there has been known a method of installing a liquid crystal display (LCD) in a bore (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-190112).
For a subject suffering from claustrophobia, videos that can provide a sense of safety for the subject are displayed on the LCD in the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-190112. Further, for a subject with hearing disability, necessary instructions are displayed on the LCD. However, strong magnetic fields are generated at and around the bore of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. Thus, the LCD cannot be properly operated under the influence of the generated strong magnetic fields, and it is difficult, in fact, to display necessary information (for example, videos and instructions) for the subject. Accordingly, it has been desired to be able to display necessary information for the subject irrespective of the strong magnetic fields of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that collects magnetic resonance signals from a subject is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generating device, and an electronic paper that is provided at the magnetic field generating device to display predetermined information.
Information can be displayed for a subject by using an electronic paper.
Advantages of the embodiments described herein will be apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described, but the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described herein.
First Embodiment
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus 100 includes a magnetic field generating device 2, tables 3 and 4, and the like in a shield room 101.
The magnetic field generating device 2 includes a tunnel-type accommodation space 21 in which a subject 11 is accommodated. The table 3 is arranged on the front side of the magnetic field generating device 2, and the table 4 is arranged on the rear side of the magnetic field generating device 2. The table 3 includes a cradle 31 on which the subject 11 is placed. Movement of the cradle 31 in the z-direction allows the subject 11 to be carried into the accommodation space 21.
Further, on an inner wall 22 of the accommodation space 21 of the magnetic field generating device 2, attached is an electronic paper 5 that displays, for the subject 11, predetermined information (for example, a remaining scan time, precautions when obtaining an image, and an image that suits the preferences of the subject 11). The electronic paper 5 will be described in detail later.
The MRI apparatus 100 includes, outside the shield room 101, a control device 7, a console 8, and the like for controlling the electronic paper 5. The electronic paper 5 and the control device 7 are connected to each other through a cable 6. An operator 12 operates the console 8 to input information necessary when obtaining an image.
Next, the electronic paper 5 will be described with reference to
The inner wall 22 of the accommodation space 21 includes a support face 22a (shown by diagonal lines in
The electronic paper 5 is attached so as to cover nearly the entire surface of the curved face 22b of the inner wall 22. The electronic paper 5 is as thin as paper, and can be bent for use. Thus, the electronic paper 5 can be easily attached to the curved face 22b of the inner wall 22.
It should be noted that a y-z cross-section of the magnetic field generating device 2 is shown to facilitate understanding of the position of the electronic paper 5.
The magnetic field generating device 2 incorporates therein superconducting coils 23, gradient coils 24, and transmission coils 25. The superconducting coils 23 generate magnetostatic fields, the gradient coils 24 apply gradient fields, and the transmission coils 25 transmit RF pulses. It should be noted that permanent magnets may be used instead of the superconducting coils 23.
The electronic paper 5 attached to the inner wall of the accommodation space 21 is connected to the control device 7 arranged outside the shield room 101 through the cable 6. The electronic paper 5 receives a signal from the control device 7 through the cable 6, and displays, for the subject 11, predetermined information (for example, a remaining scan time, precautions when obtaining an image, and an image that suits the preferences of the subject 11) in response to the signal received from the control device 7. Since the electronic paper 5 is attached to the inner wall 22 of the accommodation space 21, the subject 11 can easily and visually recognize the information displayed on the electronic paper 5 in the accommodation space 21. An example of the information displayed on the electronic paper 5 will be described below.
In
Displaying the fields of flowers and the forest as shown in
Further, a small amount of electric power is required to rewrite the information on the electronic paper 5 as compared to that for a liquid crystal display. Thus, noise is hardly generated. Accordingly, if the information is rewritten during the scanning of the subject 11, a high-quality MR image can be obtained.
It should be noted that an electrophoretic-type electronic paper is used as the electronic paper 5 in the exemplary embodiment. Even if the electrophoretic-type electronic paper is used in strong magnetic fields, the electrophoretic-type electronic paper is relatively unaffected by magnetic fields. Thus, necessary information can be correctly displayed. In order to verify that the electrophoretic-type electronic paper can correctly display necessary information even in strong magnetic fields, an experiment was conducted using the electrophoretic-type electronic paper. The result of the experiment will be described below.
In the experiment, the electrophoretic-type electronic paper 50 is attached to the inner wall 22 of the accommodation space 21 of the MRI apparatus, and number “7” is displayed on the electronic paper 50. With reference to
It should be noted that although the accommodation space 21 accommodating the subject is of a tunnel type in the first embodiment, any type of accommodation space, including an open-type accommodation space may be utilized.
Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, there has been described the MRI apparatus 100 in which the electronic paper 5 is attached to the inner wall 22 of the accommodation space 21. In a second embodiment, there will be described an MRI apparatus in which the electronic paper is attached to an external surface of the magnetic field generating device.
In the MRI apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, the electronic paper 5 is attached to the external surface of the magnetic field generating device 2, but the other configurations are the same as those of the MRI apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the electronic paper 5 displays personal information (for example, name, date of birth, and body weight) of the subject 11. Displaying the personal information of the subject 11 allows the subject 11 himself/herself to be able to confirm the identification when the subject 11 enters the shield room 101, and it is possible to preliminarily prevent a wrong subject from being inspected. Further, the electronic paper 5 is attached to the external surface of the magnetic field generating device 2, so that the operator 12 also can easily confirm the personal information of the subject 11 displayed on the electronic paper 5. Of the personal information of the subject 11, the body weight of the subject 11 is highly important from the viewpoint of an SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) or the like, and thus it is preferable from the aspect of safety management that the operator 12 can easily confirm the body weight of the subject 11. Further, if the subject 11 is, for example, a child, an image (a cartoon character or the like) that suits the preferences of the subject 11 may be displayed on the electronic paper 5. In the case where the subject 11 is a child, a sense of anxiety of the child can be reduced by displaying an image that suits the preferences of the subject 11 on the electronic paper 5.
Third Embodiment
As shown in
The cable 6 includes n pieces of signal lines S1 to Sn, an inner shield 61, an outer shield 62, an insulator 63, and capacitors C.
The inner shield 61 is provided so as to cover the signal lines S1 to Sn from the position of the electronic paper 5 to the position near the control device 7. The outer shield 62 is shorter than the inner shield 61, and is provided on the side of the electronic paper 5. The insulator 63 is provided between the inner shield 61 and the outer shield 62. The capacitors C are provided between the inner shield 61 and the respective signal lines S1 to Sn.
The cable 6 according to the third embodiment has not only a single-shield structure of the inner shield 61, but also a double-shield structure of the inner shield 61 and the outer shield 62. Thus, most of the high-frequency noise caused by the RF pulses can be shielded, and can be prevented from being mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn. It should be noted that the lengths of the inner shield 61 and the outer shield 62 are not limited to those shown in
Further, since the cable 6 includes the capacitors C, if the high-frequency noise is mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn, most of the high-frequency noise mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn can be eliminated by the capacitors C. Thus, even if the high-frequency noise is mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn, most of the high-frequency noise mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn can be eliminated before reaching the control device 7, and the control device 7 can be prevented from breaking down due to the high-frequency noise.
In addition, the cable 6 may include a ferrite (see
The cable 6 shown in
It should be noted that although the ferrite F is attached to the inner shield 61 in
Further, as noise elimination filters for eliminating the noise mixed in the signal lines S1 to Sn, the capacitors C (see
Many widely different embodiments may be configured without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.
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