Apparatus and methods for compressing a patient during imaging

Abstract

An apparatus for compressing at least a portion of a patient during imaging includes a base member and a shoulder engagement member adapted to engage the shoulders of the patient. A flexible strap secures the shoulder engagement member to the base member. A foot plate is movably mounted to the base member so that the foot plate can move relative to the base member, the foot plate being adapted to receive the feet of the patient when the shoulder engagement member engages the shoulders of the patient. A biasing force forces the foot plate toward the shoulder engagement member so as to axially compress a portion of the patient between the foot plate and the shoulder engagement member when the feet of the patient are positioned on the foot plate and the shoulders of the patient is engaged by the shoulder engagement member.

1 . An apparatus for compressing at least a portion of a patient during imaging, the apparatus comprising: 
 a shoulder engagement member adapted to engage at least one shoulder of the patient;    a base member;    a flexible first strap securing the shoulder engagement member to the base member;    a foot plate movably mounted to the base member so that the foot plate can move relative to the base member, the foot plate being adapted to receive the feet of the patient when the shoulder engagement member engages the at least one shoulder of the patient; and    a biasing force forcing the foot plate toward the shoulder engagement member so as to axially compress a portion of the patient between the foot plate and the shoulder engagement member when the feet of the patient are positioned on the foot plate and at least one shoulder of the patient is engaged by the shoulder engagement member.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder engagement member is adapted to engage both shoulders of the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder engagement member comprises a flexible shoulder loop that is adapted to pass over the shoulder of the patient.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a panel.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible second strap spaced apart from the first strap securing the shoulder engagement member to the base member.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a buckle mounted on the first strap.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base member has a first end disposed toward the shoulder engagement member and an opposing second end, the first strap being secured to the shoulder engagement member and the first end of the base member.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the base member comprises a base plate having a top surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end; and    the foot plate orthogonally upwardly projecting from the top surface of the base plate and being selectively movable along the top surface of the base plate.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the biasing force is resilient so that the foot plate can move relative to movement of the patient.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the biasing force is produced by an resilient member interacting with the foot plate.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member comprises an elastic medium.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the elastic medium comprises shock cord, surgical tubing, or bungee cord.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member comprises a force resistant medium.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the force resistant medium comprises a spring or a viscoeleastic rod.  
     
     
         15 . A method for compressing at least a portion of a patient during imaging, the method comprising: 
 securing a shoulder engagement member to a patient so that the shoulder engagement member engages at least one shoulder of the patient;    positioning the feet of the patient against a foot plate when the patient is in a supine position, the foot plate being movably mounted to the base member so that the foot plate can move relative to the base member, the shoulder engagement member being secured to the base member by a flexible strap, a biasing force forcing the foot plate toward the shoulder engagement member so as to axially compress a portion of the patient between the foot plate and the shoulder engagement member; and    taking an image of the patient having the portion axially compressed.    
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein securing the shoulder engagement member comprises passing a flexible shoulder loop over each shoulder of the patient.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising measuring the biasing force axially compressing the portion of the patient.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein taking an image of the patient comprises subjecting the patient to magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, or x-rays.  
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a resilient member interacting with the foot plate so as to produce the biasing force.  
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the resilient member comprises a spring or a viscoeleastic rod.