US5541515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
MRI joint imaging system
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-09
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Granted: 1996-07-30
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Expires: 2015-01-09
Abstract
Abstract To fix a joint portion of a patient for imaging the joint portion being bent, a joint fixing apparatus for a magnetic resonance image (MRI) system includes: a moving mechanism for bending the joint portion; and a non-magnetic driving mechanism for supplying a driving force to the moving mechanism. Further, an MRI joint imaging system for obtaining a magnetic resonance image of a joint portion of a patient by bending the joint portion includes: a moving mechanism having a fixing base for fixing the joint portion and for bending the joint portion; a non-magnetic driving mechanism for supplying a driving force to the moving mechanism; an imaging unit for imaging the joint portion; and a controller for controlling the driving mechanism and the imaging mechanism so that the bending motion of the joint portion by the driving mechanism, and the image of the joint portion by the imaging unit, can be timed with each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiko Tsujita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/563; G01R33/56375; G01R33/56391; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; A61B5/45; A61B5/4528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A joint fixing apparatus for a magnetic resonance image system that images one of two knee joint portions of a patient, which comprises: moving means for fixing and bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged; means for supporting the other of the knee joint portion not being imaged so as to not interfere with the one knee joint portion; and non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A joint fixing apparatus for a magnetic resonance image system that images one of two knee joint portions of a patient, which comprises: moving means for fixing and bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged; means for supporting the other of the knee joint portion not being imaged so as to not interfere with the one knee joint portion; and non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a power source and transmitting means for transmitting power of the power source to said moving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power source is an ultrasonic motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said moving means includes: a disk-shaped turntable; and a jig disposed on said turntable, for holding a part connected to the one knee joint portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said power transmitting means is a timing belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said power transmitting means is a gear train.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means is remote-controlled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
An MRI joint imaging system for obtaining magnetic resonance image of a joint portion of one of the knees of a patient by bending the joint portion, which comprises: moving means having a fixing base for fixing and bending the joint portion of the one knee; means for supporting the other of the knees not being imaged so as to not interfere with the one knee joint portion being bent; non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means; imaging means for imaging the joint portion of the one knee; and control means for controlling said driving means and said imaging means so that the bending motion of the joint portion of the one knee by said driving means, and the image of the joint portion of the one knee by said imaging means, can be timed with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
An MRI joint imaging system for obtaining magnetic resonance image of a joint portion of one of the knees of a patient by bending the joint portion, which comprises: moving means having a fixing base for fixing and bending the joint portion of the one knee; means for supporting the other of the knees not being imaged so as to not interfere with the one knee joint portion being bent; non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means; imaging means for imaging the joint portion of the one knee; and control means for controlling said driving means and said imaging means so that the bending motion of the joint portion of the one knee by said driving means, and the image of the joint portion of the one knee by said imaging means, can be timed with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a limiter means for limiting the range of the bending of the one knee joint portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a limiter means for limiting the range of the bending of the joint portion of the one knee.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A joint fixing apparatus for a magnetic resonance image system that images one of two knee joint portions of a patient, which comprises: a fixing base for supporting the patient by his/her back; moving means attached to the fixing base for bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged, said moving means having a movable member which supports the back of the one knee joint portion and which is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the one knee joint portion; and non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A joint fixing apparatus for a magnetic resonance image system that images one of two knee joint portions of a patient, which comprises: a fixing base for supporting the patient by his/her back; moving means attached to the fixing base for bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged, said moving means having a movable member which supports the back of the one knee joint portion and which is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the one knee joint portion; and non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said driving means comprises a power source and transmitting means for transmitting power of the power source to said moving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the power source is an ultrasonic motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said power transmitting means is a timing belt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said driving means is remote-controlled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said driving means is remote-controlled.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The joint fixing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a limiter means for limiting the range of the bending of the one knee joint portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
156 words
An MRI joint imaging system for obtaining a magnetic resonance image of a joint portion of one of the knees of a patient by bending the joint portion, which comprises: a fixing base for supporting the patient by his/her back; moving means attached to the fixing base for bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged, said moving means having a movable member which supports the back of the one knee joint portion and which is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the one knee joint portion; non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means; imaging means for imaging the one knee joint portion; and control means for controlling said driving means and said imaging means so that the bending motion of the one knee joint portion by said driving means, and the image of the one knee joint portion by said imaging means, can be timed with each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
156 words
An MRI joint imaging system for obtaining a magnetic resonance image of a joint portion of one of the knees of a patient by bending the joint portion, which comprises: a fixing base for supporting the patient by his/her back; moving means attached to the fixing base for bending the one knee joint portion to be imaged, said moving means having a movable member which supports the back of the one knee joint portion and which is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the one knee joint portion; non-magnetic driving means for supplying a driving force to said moving means; imaging means for imaging the one knee joint portion; and control means for controlling said driving means and said imaging means so that the bending motion of the one knee joint portion by said driving means, and the image of the one knee joint portion by said imaging means, can be timed with each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5154178A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |