Split bridge for PET-MR scanner

摘要

A PET-MRI apparatus includes a patient support assembly having a cradle to accommodate a subject, a carriage assembly to attach to the cradle and cause the cradle to selectively travel, and a rear bridge to receive the cradle and carriage. The patient support assembly also includes a front bridge to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, with the front bridge including a first section and a second section that is spaced apart from the first section to form a gap in the front bridge between the first section and the second section in an area adjacent a PET detector array of the PET-MRI apparatus. The front and rear bridges include an anti-tip rail assembly to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

主权项

1. A PET-MRI apparatus comprising:
a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF coil assembly coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence and arranged to receive resulting MR signals from a subject of interest in the bore; a positron emission tomography (PET) system having a detector array positioned around a PET tube encircling the bore, with the detector array being controlled to acquire PET emissions of the subject of interest; a coil matrix array (CMA); and a patient support assembly configured to provide for support and movement of the subject of interest through the bore to enable acquisition of the MR signals and the PET emissions from the subject of interest, the patient support assembly comprising:
a cradle configured to accommodate the subject of interest;a carriage assembly configured to attach to the cradle and cause the cradle to selectively travel through the bore;a rear bridge configured to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, the rear bridge extending outwardly from a back edge of the PET tube outside a volume of the bore;a front bridge configured to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, the front bridge being mounted to the PET tube and including:
a first section extending from a front edge of the PET tube into the volume of the bore;a second section extending from the back edge of the PET tube into the volume of the bore, wherein the second section is spaced apart from the first section so as to form a gap in the front bridge between the first section and the second section in an area adjacent the detector array of the PET system; anda coil positioning area configured to house the CMA, the coil positioning area including portions of the first and second sections of the front bridge adjacent one another and including the gap formed between the first section and the second section, with the coil positioning area being a cut-out area of the first and second sections of the front bridge that houses the CMA such that the CMA does not contact the cradle when the cradle traverses over the coil positioning area;wherein the rear bridge and front bridge include an anti-tip rail assembly configured to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.