Patient bed support for an open MRI system

Abstract

A patient bed support for maneuvering a patient in an open MRI system that includes an upper pole assembly and a lower pole assembly. In some embodiments, the patient bed support includes a frame for attaching the patient bed support to the lower pole assembly in the MRI system and a member rotatably attached to the frame such that at least a portion of the member rotates completely about a longitudinal axis of the lower pole assembly. In other embodiments, the frame may be a ring that is sized in order to position the ring around an upper portion of the lower pole assembly. In still other embodiments, the member may be a ring that is sized in order to position the ring around an upper portion of the lower pole assembly.

1 . A patient bed support for maneuvering a patient in an open MRI system that includes an upper pole assembly and a lower pole assembly, the patient bed support comprising: 
 a ring for attaching the patient bed support to the lower pole assembly in the MRI system, the ring being sized in order to position the ring around the lower pole assembly;    a member movably attached to the ring to maneuver patients that are placed on the member relative to the lower pole assembly of the MRI system.    
     
     
         2 . The patient bed support of  claim 1 , wherein the member rotates relative to the ring.  
     
     
         3 . The patient bed support of  claim 2 , further comprising bearings between the ring and the member to facilitate rotating the member relative to the ring.  
     
     
         4 . The patient bed support of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a longitudinal axis and the member rotates about the longitudinal axis of the ring.  
     
     
         5 . The patient bed support of  claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a first semi-circular section and a second semi-circular section that are coupled together to form the ring.  
     
     
         6 . A patient bed support for maneuvering a patient in an open MRI system that includes an upper pole assembly and a lower pole assembly, the patient bed support comprising: 
 a frame for attaching the patient bed support to the lower pole assembly in the MRI system;    a ring movably attached to the frame to maneuver patients that are placed on the member relative to the lower pole assembly of the MRI system.    
     
     
         7 . The patient bed support of  claim 6 , wherein the ring rotates relative to the frame.  
     
     
         8 . The patient bed support of  claim 7 , further comprising bearings between the ring and the frame to facilitate rotating the ring relative to the frame.  
     
     
         9 . The patient bed support of  claim 5 , wherein the ring is sized in order to position the ring around an upper portion of the lower pole assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The patient bed support of  claim 9 , wherein the ring and the lower pole assembly have a common longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         11 . The patient bed support of  claim 10 , wherein the ring rotates about the longitudinal axis of the lower pole assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The patient bed support of  claim 5 , wherein the ring includes a first semi-circular section and a second semi-circular section that are coupled together to form the ring.  
     
     
         13 . A patient bed support for maneuvering a patient in an open MRI system that includes an upper pole assembly and a lower pole assembly, the patient bed support comprising: 
 a frame for attaching the patient bed support to the lower pole assembly in the MRI system;    a member rotatably attached to the frame;    a support extending from the member; and    a platform attached to the support to receive a patient to be analyzed using the MRI system, the platform being attached to the member via the support such that the patient may be at least partially maneuvered within the MRI system by maneuvering the platform relative to the member.    
     
     
         14 . The patient bed support of  claim 13 , wherein the support includes lifting means to maneuver the platform relative to the member.  
     
     
         15 . A patient bed support for maneuvering a patient in an open MRI system that includes an upper pole assembly and a lower pole assembly, the patient bed support comprising: 
 a frame for attaching the patient bed support to the lower pole assembly in the MRI system;    a member rotatably attached to the frame to maneuver patients that are placed on the member relative to the lower assembly of the MRI system, the member being rotatably attached to the frame such that the member rotates completely about a longitudinal axis of the lower pole assembly.    
     
     
         16 . The patient bed support of  claim 15 , wherein the frame is a ring  
     
     
         17 . The patient bed support of  claim 15 , wherein the member is a ring.  
     
     
         18 . The patient bed support of  claim 15 , further comprising bearings between the member and the frame to facilitate rotating the member relative to the frame completely about the longitudinal axis of the lower pole assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The patient bed support of  claim 15 , further comprising a support extending from the member, and a platform attached to the support to receive a patient to be analyzed using the MRI system, the platform being attached to the member via the support such that at least a portion of the platform rotates completely about the longitudinal axis of the lower pole assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The patient bed support of  claim 19 , wherein the support includes lifting means to maneuver the platform relative to the member.