JPH07143974A - Magnetic resonance laminagraph - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arrange a surface coil above a part of concern of a subject without spoiling habitability and generating artifact. CONSTITUTION:A subject M is made to lie on his back on an upper board 2 and while the light KL from a projector 27 is observed, the upper board 2 is moved to left and right by means of indicating switches LB and RB and positioning a surface coil 5 connected with a supporting member 22 and a part of concern of the subject M is performed while the light KL from the projector 27 is watched. When the positioning is completed, an indicating switch CB is pushed. A driving part 11 moves thereby the supporting member 22 (the surface coil 5) to a photographing position SP interlockingly with the movement of the upperboard to the photographing position SP. At the photographing position SP, the part of concern of the subject M and the surface coil 5 are positioned so as to make them under a positioned condition. Under this condition, a laminagraphic image of the part of concern is photographed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for arranging a surface coil above a region of interest of a subject and photographing a tomographic image of the region of interest.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus of this type will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a base that is installed on the floor and can be moved up and down, and a top plate 2 on which the subject M lies on its back is horizontally movably supported. Then, by horizontally moving the top plate 2 in the direction of the opening 4 of the gantry 3, the region of interest of the subject M on the top plate 2 is moved to the center of the opening 4 of the gantry 3 as shown by the chain double-dashed line. The sheet is conveyed to the shooting position SP. At this time, the surface coil 5 is arranged above the region of interest of the subject M, and in that state, a tomographic image of the region of interest of the subject M is captured.

Conventionally, the surface coil 5 is arranged above the region of interest of the subject M, for example, as shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), a support portion 6 attached to a longitudinal end portion of the top plate 2 and a bellows portion 7 which can be expanded and contracted.
The surface coil 5 is attached to the support member 8 composed of. A signal cable 9 for taking in a signal received by the surface coil 5 is connected to a signal processing unit (not shown) that reconstructs a tomographic image based on the received signal through the bellows portion 7, the support portion 6, and the top plate 2. Has been done. In the conventional device configured in this way, the bellows portion 7 is expanded and contracted to make the surface coil 5
Is positioned above the region of interest of the subject M, and in that state, the top plate 2 is inserted into the opening 4 of the gantry 3, so that the position of the surface coil 5 is adjusted. M and the surface coil 5 can be conveyed to the photographing position SP. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the position of the surface coil 5 is adjusted when a tomographic image of the head is taken and FIG. 9B shows a tomographic image of the chest.

Further, in FIG. 9 (c), except that the supporting portion 6 to which the surface coil 5 is attached via the bellows portion 7 is attached to the side portion of the top plate 2, the above-mentioned FIG. ),
The configuration is the same as that of (b).

Further, FIG. 9D shows a case where the surface coil 5 is directly attached to the subject M without providing a supporting member or the like. Even when the surface coil 5 is aligned with the region of interest in this manner, the top plate 2 is inserted into the opening 4 of the gantry 3 to align the surface coil 5 with the subject M. And the surface coil 5 at the photographing position S
Can be transported to P.

[0007]

However, the conventional example having such a structure has the following problems. That is, in the configuration of FIGS. 9A and 9B, for example, if the length of the bellows portion 7 when it is extended is short, the surface coil 5 is
Does not reach the foot of the subject M, and the foot cannot be imaged. Further, when the length of the bellows part 7 is adjusted so that all parts of the whole body of the subject M can be taken, the bellows part 7 is too long and the bellows part is folded when the head part is taken. It will be in a state or it will be in a state of winding a tuna. As a result, there is also a problem that the signal cable 9 passed through the bellows portion 7 forms an antenna, noise is added to the signal received by (the antenna of) the surface coil 5, and an artifact is generated in a captured image.

Further, in the structure of FIG. 9C, there is a problem that the support member 6, the bellows portion 7 and the like hit the subject M, and the habitability of the subject M deteriorates.

Further, in the configuration of FIG. 9D, since the surface coil 5 is directly attached to the subject M, there is a problem that the habitability of the subject M is deteriorated, and the attached surface coil 5 is also attached. Since it becomes unstable, there is also a problem that if the subject M moves during imaging, the surface coil 5 also moves and motion artifacts occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not impair the habitability of the subject, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus capable of disposing a surface coil above a region of interest of a subject so that an artifact does not occur.

[0011]

The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve such an object. That is, the present invention inserts the subject lying on the top into the opening of the gantry, and arranges a surface coil above the region of interest of the subject to obtain a tomographic image of the region of interest of the subject. In a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for photographing, (a) a support member that includes a connector portion that replaceably connects the surface coils, and is slidably supported above the opening of the gantry; and (b) the support. A surface coil connected to the member, and a positioning means for positioning the object of interest on the subject lying on the top plate; and (c) the surface coil and the object of interest of the object by the positioning means. After the alignment of the surface coil is performed, the surface coil is positioned at the imaging position in conjunction with the operation of inserting the region of interest of the subject lying on the tabletop into the imaging position at the center of the gantry. To so that is a support member that includes a support member moving means for sliding movement in the opening above the gantry.

[0012]

The operation of the present invention is as follows. The surface coil is connected to a connector portion of a support member slidably supported above the opening of the gantry. It is possible to replace the surface coil according to the site of interest through this connector portion. Prior to imaging, the alignment means aligns the surface coil connected to the support member with the region of interest of the subject lying on the top. Then, the support member moving means interlocks with the operation in which the region of interest of the subject lying on the tabletop is inserted into the imaging position at the center of the gantry, and the supporting member moves the supporting member so as to position the surface coil at the imaging region. Slide over the gantry opening. When the region of interest of the subject lying on the tabletop reaches the imaging position, the surface coil is also arranged above the region of interest of the subject located at the imaging position. Photographing is performed in this state.

Since the surface coil is connected to the support member supported above the opening of the gantry, the surface coil and the support member do not come into contact with the subject, and the habitability of the subject is impaired. Absent.

Further, since the surface coil and the region of interest of the subject are aligned with each other, the surface coil is moved to the photographing position in conjunction with the movement of the top plate. Since it is not necessary to expand and contract, noise is prevented from being added to the signal received by the surface coil on the support member, and the surface coil is stable during imaging, so that an artifact is generated in the obtained tomographic image. Is also prevented.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connector portion of a support member.

The top plate 2 on which the subject M lies is supported on a vertically movable base 1 so as to be horizontally movable. By moving the top plate 2 horizontally toward the opening 4 of the gantry 3, In the configuration, the region of interest of the subject M on the top plate 2 is transported to the imaging position SP at the center of the opening 4 of the gantry 3.

The base 1 is provided with instruction buttons LB, RB, CB for instructing the horizontal movement of the top plate 2.
The instruction button LB is a button that gives an instruction to move only the top 2 in the opening direction of the gantry 3 (left in the figure), and the instruction button RB is an instruction to move only the top 2 in the right in the figure. Is a button that gives. These instruction buttons L
B and RB are buttons for moving the couchtop 2 to the left and right when aligning the region of interest of the subject M lying on the couchtop 2 with the surface coil 5 as described later.

In addition, the instruction button CB includes the top plate 2 in a position where the site of interest of the subject M and the surface coil 5 are aligned together with the surface coil 5 described later.
It is a button for giving an instruction to move to the photographing position SP at the center of the opening 4 of the gantry 3.

These instruction buttons LB, RB, CB are operated by the operator. Each instruction button LB, RB, CB
Is given to the drive control unit 11, and the drive control unit 11 drives the motor 12 and the motor 25 as described later according to the instruction contents of the instruction buttons LB, RB, and CB, so that the top board is driven. 2. The support member 22 is moved in a predetermined manner.

The motor 12 is provided in the base 1. When the motor 12 is rotated in the forward direction, the table 2 is moved leftward in the figure, and when it is rotated in the opposite direction, the table 2 is moved. It is configured to be moved to the right. This motor 12
The drive control of is performed by the drive control unit 11 described later.

A position detector 13 for detecting the current position of the top plate 2 is attached to the motor 12. The position detection unit 13 takes in a pulse signal from the number of rotations of the motor 12 with a rotary encoder or the like, adjusts the taken-in pulse signal according to the rotation direction of the motor 12, and determines the current position of the tabletop 2. Is detected by the integrated value (count value) of the pulse signal. For example,
The count value when the tabletop 2 is located at the initial position is "0". This initial position is the position of the top plate 2 when the subject M gets on and off the top plate 2 outside the gantry 3. Then, when the motor 12 is rotated in the forward direction and the tabletop 2 is moved to the left in the figure, the pulse signal taken in accompaniment therewith is added to the count value. On the other hand, when the motor 12 is rotated in the opposite direction and the tabletop 2 is moved to the right, the pulse signal taken with it is subtracted from the count value. As a result, the count value of the pulse signal indicates the current position of the top 2. The count value accumulated by the position detector 13 is used as the drive controller 11
Given to.

A rail 21 is laid above the opening 4 of the gantry 3, and a support member 22 of the surface coil 5 is slidably supported by the rail 21. Further, both ends of a wire 24 hung on pulleys 23 a to 23 d arranged outside the gantry 3 are connected to the support member 22. The rotation shaft of the motor 25 is connected to the pulley 23b. When the motor 25 is rotated in the forward direction, the wire 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown by the solid line in the figure, and the support member 22 is moved leftward in the figure along the rail 21, while the motor 25 is rotated in the reverse direction. When rotated in the direction, the wire 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown by the chain line in the figure, and the support member 22 is moved rightward along the rail 21.

An origin detection sensor 26 for detecting that the support member 22 has reached the origin position and is located at the origin position is attached to the rail 21. The origin detection sensor 26 is composed of, for example, a limit switch, and the support member 22 is conveyed to a photographing position SP in the left direction in the drawing and is conveyed in the right direction in the drawing after photographing, as described later. At this time, the support member 22 is configured to output the "ON" signal by pushing down the lever 26a of the limit switch 26.
The "ON" signal detects that the support member 22 has reached the origin position and is located at the origin position, and the "OFF" signal has not reached the origin position of the support member 22. And that it is not located at the origin position. Origin detection sensor 26
The signals (“ON” signal and “OFF” signal) from are supplied to the drive control unit 11. The origin position is a position when the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 is aligned with the region of interest of the subject M lying on the top plate 2, and the center of the surface coil 5 is located. Is described later.
This is the position of the support member 22 when the light KL emitted from the light passes through.

At the tip of the support member 22, the surface coil 5 is attached.
A connector portion 22a for connecting the interchangeably is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector portion 22a includes a plurality of (eight in the figure) recesses 22b and a recessed signal line connecting portion 22c. On the other hand, the connector portion 5a of the surface coil 5 is provided with the convex portions 5b so that the same number and the same arrangement as the concave portions 22b are provided, and the convex signal pins 5c connected to the signal line connecting portion 22c are provided. It is equipped. Then, as shown in FIG.
22a of the connector portion 22a of the above, the signal line connecting portion 22c
By fitting the convex portion 5b of the connector portion 5a of the surface coil 5 and the signal pin 5c on the surface coil 5, the surface coil 5 can be connected to the support member 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, another surface coil 5 is supported by removing the convex portion 5b of the connector portion 5a and the signal pin 5c from the concave portion 22b of the connector portion 22a and the signal line connecting portion 22c. Two
2 can be connected. Thus surface coil 5
With the replaceable structure, the surface coil 5 having a shape corresponding to the region of interest can be replaced and connected to the support member 22. In addition, the signal cable 9 connected to the antenna of the surface coil 5 includes the connector portions 5a and 22a.
It is connected by a and is connected to the signal processing unit 10 for reconstructing a tomographic image based on the received signal via the support member 22 and the rail 21.

The drive control unit 11 has an instruction button L on the base 1.
The instructions from B, RB, and CB, the count value from the position detection unit 13, and “ON” and “O” from the origin detection sensor 26.
The FF "signal is used to rotationally drive each of the motors 12 and 25 as follows.

(1) While the instruction button LB is being pressed, the motor 12 is rotated in the forward direction to move the top plate 2 to the left in FIG.

(2) While the instruction button RB is being pressed, the motor 12 is rotated in the reverse direction, the top plate 2 is moved in the right direction in FIG. 1, and the motor 25 is rotated in the reverse direction. 22 is moved to the right in FIG. However, when the count value from the position detection unit 13 reaches the count value (“0”) when the top plate 2 is located at the initial position, the rotation of the motor 12 is stopped. Further, when the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is “ON”, that is, when the support member 22 is located at the origin position, the motor 2 is
When the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is switched from "OFF" to "ON" without rotating 5, the support member 22 moves from the photographing position SP to the right in FIG.
When reaching the origin position, the rotation of the motor 25 is stopped.

(3) When the instruction button CB is pressed, the motor 12 is rotated in the forward direction, the top plate 2 is moved leftward in FIG. 1, the top plate 2 is moved to the photographing position SP, and the motor 25 is moved. Is rotated in the positive direction to move the support member 22 to the left in FIG. 1 and move the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 to the imaging position SP. At this time, the drive control unit 11 corresponds to the count value (for example, “1000”) when the top plate 2 is located at the shooting position SP and the current position of the top plate 2 given from the position detection unit 13. The difference value (“1000” − “400” = “60”) is calculated.
The motor 12 is driven by the drive amount of the motor 12 corresponding to "0"). On the other hand, the driving of the motor 25 is performed in conjunction with the driving of the motor 12. That is, the motor 25 is driven so as to move the support member 22 at the same moving speed as the moving speed of the top plate 2 by the driving of the motor 12. As a result, the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 located at the origin position and the region of interest of the subject M lying on the table 2 are aligned with each other and the table 2 is supported. When the member 22 (surface coil 5) is moved to the imaging position SP at the same moving speed and the motors 12 and 25 are stopped, the surface coil 5 and the region of interest of the subject M are aligned. , Will be positioned at the shooting position SP.

A floodlight 27 is installed above the opening 4 in the outer wall of the gantry 3 on the side where the top plate 2 is loaded. Light KL emitted from the projector 27 passes through the center of the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 at the origin position,
The subject M lying on the top 2 is irradiated. The operator moves the top plate 2 left and right with the instruction buttons LB and RB of the base 1 so that the light KL from the projector 27 irradiates the region of interest of the subject M, and thus the surface coil 5 is moved. Can be aligned with the region of interest of the subject M.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the first embodiment having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the surface coil 5 corresponding to the region of interest to be imaged is connected to the connector portion 22a of the supporting member 22 located at the origin position, and the surface coil 5 is placed at the initial position. The subject M is placed on the top plate 2 in operation.

Next, the operator pushes the instruction button LB,
The top plate 2 is moved to the left in FIG. And FIG.
As shown in (b), when the light KL projected from the projector 27 and passing through the center of the surface coil 5 irradiates the region of interest of the subject M moved together with the top plate 2, the instruction button LB is pressed. Stop. As a result, the site of interest of the subject M and the surface coil 5 are aligned. If necessary, the instruction buttons LB and RB are pressed to finely adjust the alignment between the surface coil 5 and the region of interest of the subject M. At this time, the support member 22 is located at the origin position, and the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is “O”.
Therefore, even if the instruction button RB is pressed, the motor 25 is not rotated and the support member 22 does not move.

With the surface coil 5 and the region of interest of the subject M aligned, the operator then presses the instruction button CB to move the top plate 2 and the support member 22 (surface coil 5). The movement to the imaging site SP is performed. When the movement of the top plate 2 and the support member 22 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 3C, the region of interest of the supine subject M on the top plate 2 and the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22. And will be positioned at the shooting position SP in the aligned state. In this state, a tomographic image of the region of interest is taken.

When the photographing is completed, the operator pushes the instruction button RB to move the top plate 2 to the initial position and
The support member 22 is moved to the origin position. At this time, since the support member 22 is not located at the origin position and the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is “OFF”, the motor 25 is rotated in the opposite direction and the support member 22 moves together with the top plate 2. To be done. Then, when the support member 22 reaches the origin position, the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is switched to "ON", so that the rotation of the motor 25 is stopped and the support member 2 is stopped.
2 is stopped at the origin position. After that, only the top 2 is moved to the initial position, and when the top 2 reaches the initial position (when the count value from the position detector 13 becomes “0”), the rotation of the motor 12 is stopped. The top plate 2 reaches the initial position,
When the movement is stopped, the operator stops pressing the instruction button RB, lowers the subject M from the top plate 2, and ends one imaging operation. In this state, by performing the procedure as described above, the next region of interest of the subject M can be imaged.

By configuring the apparatus as described above,
The surface coil 5 and the support member 22 do not contact the subject M, and the habitability of the subject M is not impaired. In addition, since the surface coil 5 and the region of interest of the subject M are aligned, the surface coil 5 is moved to the imaging position SP in conjunction with the movement of the top plate 2. It is not necessary to expand and contract the support member according to the region of interest as in (a) and (b), and since the signal cable 9 does not form an antenna in the support member, noise is generated in the signal received by the surface coil 5. It is prevented from riding, and since the surface coil 5 is stable during imaging, it is also possible to prevent occurrence of an artifact in the obtained tomographic image.

As shown in FIG. 4, by providing the support member 22 with the bellows portion 28 capable of expanding and contracting in a short distance, the region above the region of interest of the subject M can be adjusted according to the body thickness of the subject M. It is also possible to adjust the position of the surface coil 5. Further, even if the bellows part 28 that can be expanded and contracted in such a short distance is expanded and contracted, an antenna is not formed in the bellows part 28, so that an artifact is not generated.

Next, the configuration of the second embodiment device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the second embodiment device, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration for connecting the support member and the top plate, and FIG. 7 is a connection for connecting the support member and the top plate. It is a figure which shows the structure of a mechanism. In addition,
In the figure, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 have the same configuration as the above-described first embodiment device, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

This embodiment is characterized in that the support member 22 to which the surface coil 5 is connected and the top plate 2 can be connected and disconnected.

As shown in FIG. 6, the support member 22 is connected to the base end portion of the arc-shaped member 31, and the arc-shaped member 31.
A plate 32 is connected to the tip of the. on the other hand,
A case 38 accommodating the connection mechanism 33 is connected to the top plate 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the coupling mechanism 33 is wound around the pulleys 34a and 34d one or more times.
b, 34c, a scissor-like connecting member 36 that opens and closes by reciprocating the wire 35, and a motor 3 that reciprocates the wire 35 by rotating a pulley 34a.
7 and 7. In addition, the pulleys 34a to 34c
The motor 37 and the like are housed in a case 38.

When the motor 37 is rotated in the forward direction, the wire 35 moves in the direction indicated by the solid arrow, and the pulley 34
The pulley 34d is rotated in the positive direction via b and 34c,
Pinion 36 of connecting member 36 connected to pulley 34d
a is rotated in the forward direction. Then, the opening / closing members 36b, 3
The gear parts 36d and 36e of 6c are the pinion 3
The opening / closing members 36b, 36c are swung about the swing fulcrum 36f by meshing with the 6a, and the opening / closing members 36b, 36c are closed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the plate 32 connected to the support member 22 via the arc-shaped member 31 is sandwiched between the opening / closing members 36b and 36c, so that the support member 22 and the top plate 2 are connected. And are connected. In addition, the member 36 is provided at the tip of the opening / closing members 36b and 36c.
g and 36f are swingably connected to each other, and the opening / closing member 36
It ensures that the plate 32 is sandwiched between b and 36c.

On the other hand, when the motor 37 is rotated in the opposite direction, the wire 35 moves in the direction indicated by the chain line arrow, the opening / closing members 36b and 36c are opened, and the opening / closing member 36b is opened as shown in FIG. 7C. , 36c, the sandwiching of the plate 32 is released, and the connection between the support member 22 and the top plate 2 is released.

Further, as will be described later, the surface coil 5 supported by the support member 22 and the subject M lying on the top 2 are suspected.
The connecting member 36 is in the state of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7C until it is aligned with the region of interest. At this time, the connecting member 36 also moves as the top plate 2 moves, but Since 32 has an appropriate length in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 2, the plate 32 is sandwiched by the opening / closing members 36b and 36c after the surface coil 5 and the region of interest of the subject M are aligned. It is performed at an appropriate position.

The drive controller 11 controls the drive of the motor 37 for connecting and disconnecting the support member 22 and the top plate 2, that is, for sandwiching the plate 32 by the opening / closing members 36b and 36c and releasing it. To be done.

(1) When the instruction button CB is pressed,
The motor 37 is rotated in the forward direction to support the support member 22 and the top plate 2.
Connect and.

(2) When the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is "OFF" or when the signal is switched from "ON" to "OFF", the motor 37 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the support member 22 and the top plate 2 are rotated. Release the connection with.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment apparatus having the above construction will be described.

First, similarly to the first embodiment, the operator operates the instruction buttons LB and RB to make the light K from the projector 27.
While looking at L, the site of interest of the subject M lying on the top 2 and the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 at the origin position are aligned. At this time, since the support member 22 is at the origin position and the "ON" signal is output from the origin detection sensor 26, the connection between the top plate 2 and the support member 22 is released.

Next, in a state where the surface coil 5 and the site of interest of the subject M are aligned, the operator presses the instruction button CB to move the top plate 2 to the imaging site SP. . At this time, since the instruction button CB is pressed, the top plate 2 and the support member 22 are connected, and the support member 22 is also moved in the shooting position SP direction in conjunction with the movement of the top plate 2.

The position where the plate 32 is sandwiched by the opening / closing members 36b and 36c differs depending on the region of interest, that is, the position of the top plate 2 when the above alignment is completed. For example, if the head is to be imaged, the position of the top plate 2 at the time of completion of the alignment is the position on the base 1 side away from the imaging position SP, and therefore the position corresponding to the position of the top plate 2. The opening / closing members 36b and 36c in FIG. 3 sandwich the vicinity of the end of the plate 22 on the base 1 side. On the other hand, if the foot is to be photographed, the opening / closing members 36b and 36c are to be reversed in contrast to head photographing. Will sandwich the vicinity of the end of the plate 22 on the photographing position SP side. In this way, during the above alignment, the opening / closing members 36b, 3b
6c is moved along the plate 22 in the open state,
It is configured to sandwich the position of the plate 22 corresponding to the position when the alignment is completed. Also, the plate 22
Is configured to have a length such that the plate 22 can be sandwiched at the position where the opening / closing members 36b and 36c are present when the above-mentioned alignment according to the region of interest is completed.

When the movement of the top plate 2 and the support member 22 to the photographing position SP is stopped, the region of interest of the subject M lying on the top plate 2 and the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 are separated. , Will be positioned at the shooting position SP in the aligned state. In this state, a tomographic image of the region of interest is taken.

When the photographing is completed, the operator pushes the instruction button RB to move the table 2 to the initial position and
The support member 22 is moved to the origin position. At this time, the support member 22 is not located at the origin position, and the signal from the origin detection sensor 26 is “OFF”.
Is moved while being connected to the top plate 2. When the support member 22 reaches the origin position, the origin detection sensor 2
Since the signal from 6 is switched to "ON", the connection between the top plate 2 and the support member 22 is released, and the support member 22 is stopped at the origin position. After that, only the top plate 2 is moved to the initial position, and when the top plate 2 reaches the initial position, the rotation of the motor 12 is stopped.

The structure for connecting and disconnecting the top plate 2 and the supporting member 22 is not limited to the connecting mechanism 33 described above,
You may implement | achieve by another structure.

Further, the configuration for aligning the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 with the region of interest of the subject M is limited to the configuration using the projector 27 as in the first and second embodiments described above. Instead, it may be realized by other configurations.

Further, after the surface coil 5 connected to the support member 22 and the region of interest of the subject M are aligned, the structure for moving the support member 22 in conjunction with the movement of the top plate 2 is described above. The configuration is not limited to the configurations of the first and second embodiments, and may be realized by other configurations.

[0055]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, after the surface coil and the region of interest of the subject are aligned, the subject is interlocked with the movement of the supine tabletop. Since it is configured to move the surface coil to the imaging position, it is not necessary to expand and contract the support member according to the region of interest, and in that support member, artifacts caused by noise on the signal received by the surface coil are generated. It can be prevented.

Further, since the support member and the surface coil are not in contact with the subject, the surface coil is stable during imaging, and motion artifacts can be prevented from occurring.

Furthermore, since the surface coil is connected to the support member supported above the opening of the gantry, the surface coil and the support member do not come into contact with the subject, and the habitability of the subject is impaired. Nothing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connector portion of a support member.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the first embodiment device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a modified example of the first embodiment device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration for connecting a support member and a top plate.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection mechanism that connects a support member and a top plate.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional magnetic resonance tomography apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example in which a region of interest of a subject is aligned with a surface coil.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Top plate 3 ... Gantry 4 ... Gantry opening 5 ... Surface coil 5a ... Surface coil connector 11 ... Drive controller 12, 25 ... Motor 13 ... Position detector 21 ... Rail 22 ... Support member 22a ... Support member Connector part 26 ... Origin detection sensor 27 ... Projector M ... Subject SP ... Imaging position

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tomographic image of a region of interest of the subject is photographed with the subject lying on a top plate inserted into the opening of a gantry and a surface coil placed above the region of interest of the subject. In the magnetic resonance tomography apparatus described above, (a) a support member that includes a connector portion that replaceably connects the surface coils, and is slidably supported above the opening of the gantry; and (b) the support member. A surface coil connected to the top coil, and a positioning means for positioning the object of interest on the subject lying on the top plate; and (c) the surface coil and the object of interest of the object by the position adjusting means. After the alignment is performed, the surface coil is positioned at the imaging position in conjunction with the operation of inserting the region of interest of the subject lying on the tabletop into the imaging position at the center of the gantry. A magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, comprising: a supporting member moving means for slidingly moving the supporting member above the opening of the gantry.