Combined apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, and method thereof

Abstract

A combined apparatus for diagnostic imaging an inner part of a body, the apparatus including at least a device for imaging and displaying images according to at least two types of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part of the body to be examined, the device including a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device and an ultrasound imaging and displaying device in an integrated configuration within the same apparatus.

1 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
 a static field magnet defining a patient receiving space for receiving at least a part of a patient body; and   a patient support adapted to hold a patient's body or at least a part of the patients body;   wherein at least said patient support or at least said static field magnet or both said patient support and said static field magnet being displaceable so as to move said patient support and said static field magnet relative one to the other over a range of relative positions;   at least one of the patient support and the static field magnet or both being displaceable along al least one of three orthogonal axis and/or rotatable or oscillatable relative one to the other around at least one axis of rotation so that the patient body and/or the part of the patient body is displaceable over a range of translational or angular positions within the static field magnet relative to the said static field magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein mechanical links between the static field magnet and the patient support are provided, said links comprising one or more guides along which the magnet and/or the patient support are displaceable with a translational motion or rotary supports defining one or more axis of rotation of said magnet and/or of said patient support relative one to the other. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising motor driven actuators provided for carrying out the translational and the rotational displacement of the static field magnet and/or of the patient support. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising tracer means for detecting the relative position and orientation of the magnet and of the patient support table along the directions of translational and rotational displacement. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tracer means are proximity sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tracer means are encoders for detecting the angles of rotation and the number of revolutions completed by the driving motors. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the tracer means include means for reading the resistance between conductors associated to the guides and/or to the rotational links between the magnet and the patient support. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein mechanical links between the static field magnet and the patient support are provided, said links comprising one or more guides along which the magnet and/or the patient support are displaceable with a translational motion or rotary supports defining one or more axis of rotation of said magnet and/or of said patient support relative one to the other, and wherein the tracer means include code reading means associated with the guides and/or the rotational links for reading codes disposed along the translational and rotational path of the magnet and/or of the patient support defined by the said guides and rotational links. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient support includes an elongated bed. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet is provided with a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of said patient-receiving space and said patient support is displaceable up and down along a vertical axis of translation and in two horizontal directions which are perpendicular one to the other and which defines a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body under examination to be displaced relative to the magnet, with respect to at least three spatial directions and with no mechanical interference of the patient body with the magnetic structure and especially with the receiving coil. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for relative displacement of the magnet and of the body under examination or a part thereof are a movable support means which include a bearing member for supporting the patient body or a part thereof and which passes through a receiving coil placed in the patient receiving space protruding outside the said patient receiving space with its ends, which body bearing member is supported at the said ends protruding out of the patient receiving space defined by the magnet on first slides mounted on first guides which are oriented parallel to the axis of the receiving coil, which axis is in turn parallel to a displacement axis;
 said first guides being supported on second slides which are designed to slide on second guides orthogonal to the said first guides and which are supported by a stationary part of the magnet; and   said second guides being borne by third guides which are orthogonal to the said second guides and to the said first guides and are slidably engaged in the second slides.   
     
     
         13 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet is provided with at least a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of said patient-receiving space and the bearing member is a patient support table on which the patient is laid and which support table is positioned between the said two poles. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the patient support table is linked by translational guides and/or by rotational supports to the lower pole of the magnet or to the magnet in the region of the lower pole. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the patient support table is laid over the lower pole of the magnet. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet is provided with at least a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of said patient-receiving space;
 the patient support being a patient support table on which the patient can be laid;   the said patient support being positioned outside the patient receiving space adjacent to the said magnet;   the said patient support being provided with a projecting cantilever means for carrying specific parts of part of the body of the patient such as one limb;   the said cantilever means being designed to enter into the patient receiving space; and   the said patient support and or the said cantilever means and the said magnet being displaceable relatively one to the other.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient support is displaceable vertically up and down relatively to the magnet and along two axis which are horizontal and perpendicular one to the other, one of said axis being oriented in the direction of insertion and extraction of the projecting cantilever means of the patient support in and out of the receiving space of the magnet along a range of different positions of insertion and extraction. 
     
     
         18 . A combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:
 a static field magnet defining a patient receiving space for receiving at least a part of a patient body;   an ultrasound probe; and   a patient support adapted to hold a patient's body or at least a part of the patient body;   at least said patient support or at least said static field magnet or both said patient support and said static field magnet being displaceable so as to move the said patient support and said static field magnet relatively one to the other over a range of relative positions;   at least one of the patient support and of the static field magnet or both being displaceable along at least one of three orthogonal axis and/or rotatable or oscillatable relative one to the other around at least one axis of rotation so that the patient body and/or the part of the patient body is displaceable over a range of translational or angular positions within the static field magnet relatively to the said static field magnet;   wherein said range of positions includes a position in which at least part of the patient body is inserted in the patient receiving space and a position in which at least part of the patient body is extracted from the said patient receiving space.   
     
     
         19 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the static filed magnet comprises a receiving coil which is housed in said patient receiving space being the said patient support displaceable relatively to said receiving coil at least along one of three orthogonal axis and/or rotatable around at least one axis. 
     
     
         20 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein mechanical links are provided between the static field magnet and the patient support are provided the said links being one or more guides along which the magnet and/or the patient support are displaceable with a translational motion or rotary supports defining one or more axis of rotation of the said magnet and/or of the said patient support relatively one to the other. 
     
     
         21 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising tracer means provided for detecting the relative position and orientation of the magnet and of the patient support table along the directions of translational and rotational displacement. 
     
     
         22 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising
 an apparatus for MRI imaging and display of MRI images; and   an apparatus for ultrasound imaging and display of ultrasound images;   wherein the MRI imaging and display apparatus comprises a static field magnet which forms a cavity for receiving the body under examination or a part thereof;   wherein the ultrasound imaging and display apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe which is positioned outside the said cavity for receiving the body or the part thereof under examination; and   means provided for determining the position and the orientation of the ultrasonic probe relative to the magnet for determining the relative position and orientation of the images acquired by the MRI apparatus and by the ultrasound probe.   
     
     
         23 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the magnet structure has a receiving coil associated therewith, and said magnet structure or said receiving coil has a combination of guides or slides to displace the ultrasonic probe in at least one direction with a translational motion or around at least one axis with a rotational motion, which guides are associated with tracing systems for reading the position of the ultrasonic probe along the direction of displacement. 
     
     
         24 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the means for relative displacement of the magnet and of the body under examination or a part thereof are a movable support means which include a bearing member for supporting the patient body or a part thereof and which passes through a receiving coil placed in the patient receiving space protruding outside the said patient receiving space with its ends, which body bearing member is supported at the said ends protruding out of the patient receiving space defined by the magnet on first slides mounted on first guides which are oriented parallel to the axis of the receiving coil, which axis is in turn parallel to a displacement axis;
 said first guides being supported on second slides which are designed to slide on second guides orthogonal to the said first guides and which are supported by a stationary part of the magnet; and   said second guides being borne by third guides which are orthogonal to the said second guides and to the said first guides and are slidably engaged in the second slides.   
     
     
         25 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said magnet is provided with at least a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of said patient-receiving space and the bearing member is a patient support table on which the patient is laid and which support table is positioned between the said two poles. 
     
     
         26 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the patient support table is linked by translational guides and/or by rotational supports to the lower pole of the magnet or to the magnet in the region of the lower pole. 
     
     
         27 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the patient support table is laid over the lower pole of the magnet. 
     
     
         28 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said magnet is provided with at least a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of said patient-receiving space;
 the patient support being a patient support table on which the patient can be laid;   the said patient support being positioned outside the patient receiving space adjacent to the said magnet;   the said patient support being provided with a projecting cantilever means for carrying specific parts of part of the body of the patient such as one limb;   the said cantilever means being designed to enter into the patient receiving space; and   the said patient support and or the said cantilever means and the said magnet being displaceable relatively one to the other.   
     
     
         29 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the patient support is displaceable vertically up and down relatively to the magnet and along two axis which are horizontal and perpendicular one to the other, one of said axis being oriented in the direction of insertion and extraction of the projecting cantilever means of the patient support in and out of the receiving space of the magnet along a range of different positions of insertion and extraction. 
     
     
         30 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein a circuit for synchronizing the enabling/disabling functions for the different imaging devices is provided which may be controlled by the console. 
     
     
         31 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the synchronization circuit enables the individual imaging devices in an alternate manner and for intervals of a predetermined duration. 
     
     
         32 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the circuit for synchronizing the enabling/disabling functions for the imaging devices is connected to the output of at least one of the devices for detecting physiological parameters and particularly to an electrocardiograph, to control the enabling/disabling functions for the different imaging devices or of devices for detecting any other physiological parameters in such a manner as to synchronize them with certain values or curves of at least one of the physiological parameters, particularly with one or more predetermined phases of the heart cycle. 
     
     
         33 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising means for univocally locating the position and/or the orientation of the ultrasonic probe relative to the body or the part thereof under examination. 
     
     
         34 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the means for univocally locating the position and/or orientation of the ultrasonic probe are provided consisting in marking elements provided on the probe itself, which are univocally visible in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance image. 
     
     
         35 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the probe has a plurality of marking elements, aligned at least in pairs in one of three orthogonal spatial directions. 
     
     
         36 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the marking elements have an elongated shape with the longitudinal axis being aligned in at least one of three orthogonal spatial directions. 
     
     
         37 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the means for locating the position and/or orientation of the ultrasonic probe consist of magnetized elements and/or magnetic sensors, such as Hall probes or the like, which are secured or associated to the ultrasonic probe and to the magnet of the MRI apparatus. 
     
     
         38 . A combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:
 a static field magnet defining a patient receiving space for receiving at least a part of a patient body;   an ultrasound probe;   and a patient support adapted to hold a patient's body or at least a part of the patient body;   at least said patient support or at least said static field magnet or both said patient support and said static field magnet being displaceable so as to move the said patient support and said static field magnet relatively one to the other over a range of relative positions;   at least one of the patient support and of the static field magnet or both being displaceable along at least one of three orthogonal axis and/or rotated or oscillated relatively one to the other around at least one axis of rotation so that the patient body and/or the part of the patient body is displaceable over a range of translational or angular positions within the static field magnet relatively to the said static field magnet;   wherein said range of positions includes a position in which at least part of the patient body is inserted in the patient receiving space and a position in which at least part of the patient body is extracted from the said patient receiving space;   means are provided for detecting the relative position and orientation of the magnet and of the patient support table along the directions of translational and rotational displacement;
 means for univocally locating the position and/or the orientation of the ultrasonic probe relative to the body or the part thereof under examination are also provided; 
 means being provided for computing the relative position of the image planes of the images acquired with the MRI apparatus and of the images acquired with the ultrasound apparatus from the data of the relative position and orientation of the patient support table relatively to the magnet and of the ultrasound probe relatively to the patient body or to a part thereof; 
 and means being provided for registering the images acquired with the MRI apparatus with the images acquired with the ultrasound apparatus by means of the said computed data on the relative positions of the said image planes. 
   
     
     
         39 . The combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein said means for computing the relative position of the image planes of the images acquired with the MRI apparatus and of the images acquired with the ultrasound apparatus from the data of the relative position and orientation of the patient support table relatively to the magnet and of the ultrasound probe relatively to the patient body or to a part thereof;
 and the means for registering the images acquired with the MRI apparatus with the images acquired with the ultrasound apparatus by means of the said computed data on the relative positions of the said image planes are software programs carried out by a programmable computational apparatus.   
     
     
         40 . A method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus for MRI imaging and display of MRI images, said apparatus comprising a magnet defining patient receiving space for receiving at least a part of the body of the patient;   providing an apparatus for ultrasound imaging and display of ultrasound images, said apparatus comprising at least one ultrasound probe for scanning at least a part of the patient body;   providing patient support means for displacing the patient or part of the patient body relatively to the MRI apparatus over a range of relative position including a position in which at least a selected region of the patient body or of a part of the patient body is within the patient receiving space and a position in which at least the said selected region of the patient body or of a part of the patient body is outside the said patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus;   acquiring a first image or a set of first images of the said selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the apparatus for MRI imaging when the patient support means and the said selected region are inside the patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus;   acquiring a second image or a set of second images of the same selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the said apparatus for ultrasound imaging, when the said selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient to be examined is outside the patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus; and   displaying the said images either alternatively one to the other or simultaneously side by side or combining the said two images obtaining a sole image of the said selected region.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said first and second types of images or set of images are acquired alternately and at successive intervals of time by displacing each time the patient support table relatively to the magnet so to bring the selected region of the patient body or of part of the said patient body in and outside the patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the modulus and the direction of displacement of the selected region are measured when the patient is displaced in and outside the patient receiving space for carrying out the acquisition of the first and second images, while the position and the displacement of the probe of the ultrasound imaging apparatus relatively to the magnet is measured for determining the relative distance and orientation of the second images relatively to the first images as a function of the measures of the orientation and the displacement of the probe relatively to the magnet. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising the steps of successive imaging of the at least a selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof by means of an MRI apparatus and of an ultrasound apparatus;
 display of the two images in an overlaid position and/or combination of the two images in a common image formed by the information of both the images acquired by MRI and ultrasound apparatus.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein for each first and second image of image sets, said method provides successive imaging of slices of the selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof, univocal location of the position and orientation in space for each slice image and reconstruction of a three-dimensional image formed by the individual slice images. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , further comprising providing successive imaging of the at least one selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof by the MRI imaging apparatus and by the ultrasound imaging apparatus and reconstruction of two three-dimensional images acquired by the said two imaging apparatus and/or display of the two images acquired by the said two imaging apparatus in an overlaid position and/or combination of the two three-dimensional images into a common three-dimensional image formed by the information of both three-dimensional images obtained by the two imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the slice images acquired by the MRI imaging apparatus and by the ultrasound imaging apparatus are obtained along coincident slice planes of the selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the slice images acquired by the MRI imaging apparatus and by the ultrasound imaging apparatus are obtained along non-coincident slice planes of the said selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising the step of injecting contrast agents for ultrasound images, and carrying out ultrasound imaging of the selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising the step of injecting contrast agents for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance images, and carrying out MRI imaging of the selected region of the body under examination or of a part thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 40  further comprising the steps of:
 injecting contrast agents for ultrasound images and for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance images, whereas the moment in which the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance contrast agents reach the region of interest for imaging purposes is determined by detecting the moment in which the region of interest is reached by ultrasound imaging of ultrasound contrast agents, or vice versa.   
     
     
         51 . A method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus for MRI imaging and display of MRI images;   providing an apparatus for ultrasound imaging and display of ultrasound images;   providing the step of injecting contrast agents for ultrasound imaging and of contrast agents for MRI imaging;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the said selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the apparatus for MRI imaging;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the same selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the said apparatus for ultrasound imaging; and displaying the said images either alternatively one to the other or simultaneously side by side or combining the said two images obtaining a sole image of the said selected region.   
     
     
         52 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of:
 providing an apparatus for MRI imaging and display of MRI images, said apparatus comprising a magnet defining patient receiving space for receiving at least a part of the body of the patient;   providing an apparatus for ultrasound imaging and display of ultrasound images, said apparatus comprising at least one ultrasound probe for scanning at least a part of the patient body;   providing patient support means for displacing the patient or part of the patient body relatively to the MRI apparatus over a range of relative position including a position in which at least a selected region of the patient body or of a part of the patient body is within the patient receiving space and a position in which at least the said selected region of the patient body or of a part of the patient body is outside the said patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the said selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the apparatus for MRI imaging when the patient support means and the said selected region are inside the patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the same selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the said apparatus for ultrasound imaging, when the said selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient to be examined is outside the patient receiving space defined by the magnet of the MRI apparatus; and   displaying the said images either alternatively one to the other or simultaneously side by side or combining the said two images obtaining a sole image of the said selected region.   
     
     
         53 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, according to  claim 51 , further comprising the steps of:
 injecting the ultrasound and MRI specific contrast agents separately one after the other or together as a mixture.   
     
     
         54 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of:
 preparing a combined contrast agent for ultrasound and MRI imaging by encasing paramagnetic materials in ultrasound responsive microbubbles;   injecting the contrast agent for combined MRI and ultrasound imaging in the body to be examined or in a selected region thereof;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the said apparatus for ultrasound imaging;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the same selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the apparatus for MRI imaging; and   displaying the said images either alternatively one to the other or simultaneously side by side or combining the said two images obtaining a sole image of the said selected region.   
     
     
         55 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 54 , wherein the image or set of images are acquired by said apparatus for ultrasound imaging by providing an ultrasound energy for deleting the microbubbles and delivering the encased paramagnetic substance in the selected region to be imaged of the patient body. 
     
     
         56 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of:
 preparing a combined contrast agent for ultrasound and MRI imaging by providing ultrasound sensible microbubbles with a wall made by paramagnetic substance or made by a substance doped with a further paramagnetic substance;   injecting the contrast agent for combined MRI and ultrasound imaging in the body to be examined or in a selected region thereof;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the said apparatus for ultrasound imaging;   acquiring an image or a set of images of the same selected region of the body of the patient or of part of the body of the patient by means of the apparatus for MRI imaging; and   displaying the said images either alternatively one to the other or simultaneously side by side or combining the said two images obtaining a sole image of the said selected region.   
     
     
         57 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of:
 injecting the ultrasound specific contrast agents and the MRI specific contrast agents at the same time and in the same selected region either separately, as a mixture or in combined form;   using the ultrasound imaging acquisition of ultrasound specific contrast agents for rapidly determining the presence of the contrast agents in the selected region to be imaged; and   carrying out the MRI image acquisition by means of the MRI specific contrast agents for obtaining a high resolution image.   
     
     
         58 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of injecting in combination with the contrast agents substances which enhances the oxygen request in the selected region to be imaged. 
     
     
         59 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 51 , comprising the further steps of synchronizing the image acquisition by means of the MRI apparatus and/or by means of the ultrasound imaging apparatus with the heart cycle of the patient, by providing the steps of detecting the electrocardiogram of the patient and of defining the curve thereof wherewith imaging by means of the MRI apparatus and/or of the ultrasound imaging apparatus or by means of both imaging apparatus is synchronized. 
     
     
         60 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 59 , wherein synchronization with the heart cycle is adjusted in such a manner that imaging by one of the MRI imaging apparatus and of the ultrasound imaging apparatus is synchronized with a predetermined phase of the heart cycle while imaging by means of the other of the said imaging apparatus I synchronized with another phase of the heart cycle. 
     
     
         61 . The method for carrying out a combined magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 59 , wherein the selected region is the region of the heart for determining functional properties of the heart. 
     
     
         62 . A contrast agent for combined MRI and ultrasound imaging comprising:
 a mixture of an MRI specific and an ultrasound specific contrast agent.   
     
     
         63 . A contrast agent for combined MRI and ultrasound imaging comprising:
 a plurality of microbubbles each filled with a paramagnetic substance or a mixture of paramagnetic substances.   
     
     
         64 . The contrast agent according to  claim 63 , wherein the microbubbles are ultrasound specific contrast agents while the paramagnetic substance encased in the microbubbles is an MARI specific contrast agent. 
     
     
         65 . The contrast agent according to  claim 63 , wherein the microbubbles are provided with a wall having a predetermined resistance to a maximum acoustic energy above which the said wall is destroyed for delivering of the paramagnetic substance. 
     
     
         66 . The contrast agent for combined MRI and ultrasound imaging according to  claim 63 , wherein the wall of the microbubbles are made by a substance having paramagnetic properties or the said wall material is doped with a substance having paramagnetic properties. 
     
     
         67 . An integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus for MRI imaging and display of MRI images;   an apparatus for ultrasound imaging and display of ultrasound images;   and wherein each of the MRI imaging and display apparatus and ultrasound imaging and display apparatus comprises:   dedicated means for generating waves or radiations that are transmitted to the internal part of the body to be imaged;   dedicated means for receiving said waves or said radiations transmitted by the part of the body under examination or waves or radiations deriving from excitation of the part of the body under examination; and   a circuit designed to relate the information of the waves or the radiations transmitted by the part of the body to a position in space, for each of a plurality of unit image elements and a circuit designed to construct an image from the unit image elements so obtained, which transforms the information of the waves or the radiations that have been received into brightness or color characteristics of the individual unit image elements;   wherein the circuits of the ultrasound imaging apparatus and/or of the MRI imaging apparatus is divided into a first part which consists in control and processing units being specifically designed for the control of specific type of operative units of the MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus and for processing the corresponding specific type of transmission/excitation signals and of received signals, i.e., ultrasonic echoes or RF magnetic resonance signals, and into a second part which is common to the said MRI imaging apparatus and to the said ultrasound imaging apparatus.   
     
     
         68 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein part common to the said MRI imaging apparatus and to the said ultrasound imaging apparatus is designed to carry out image processing and image displaying and processes both image data from acquired by the MRI imaging apparatus and image data from the ultrasound imaging apparatus, the first circuit part specifically designed to the said MRI imaging apparatus and to the ultrasound imaging apparatus having an output line which is connected to an input port of the said second common circuit part. 
     
     
         69 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein a common control and display console is provided comprising a communication unit with input and output ports;
 the outputs and inputs of the control and processing units dedicated to the ultrasound imaging apparatus and to the MRI imaging apparatus have output and input sections with input and output ports connected or connectable by a communication bus respectively to the output and input ports of the communication unit of the said display and control console, which input and output section encode data and control signals according to identical structures, protocols and transmission/reception parameters which are supported by the communication unit and the communication bus.   
     
     
         70 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 69 , wherein the electronic units of the console includes the control and adjustment means and the image data processing means. 
     
     
         71 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein the common circuit part comprises a unit for controlling the imaging procedures of the MRI imaging apparatus and of the ultrasound imaging apparatus on a time-sharing basis. 
     
     
         72 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein at least part of the control and processing units being specifically designed for the control of specific type of operative units of the MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus and for processing the corresponding specific type of transmission/excitation signals and of received signals, i.e., ultrasonic echoes or RF magnetic resonance signals, and of the second part which is common to the said MRI imaging apparatus and to the said ultrasound imaging apparatus is made by a common hardware unit which executes specific control and processing programs for carrying out specific control and processing tasks dedicated or common to the MRI apparatus and to the ultrasound imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         73 . The integrated MRI and ultrasound imaging apparatus according to  claim 72 , wherein a memory for loading MRI imaging apparatus specific and ultrasound imaging apparatus specific control and processing programs to be executed by a common hardware unit. 
     
     
         74 . A patient support, comprising:
 a patient table mounted on a carriage and the carriage being supported slidably on at least a guide which guide has a predetermined orientation relatively to the a patient receiving space of a magnet of an MRI imaging apparatus and on which guide the carriage can be displaced according to two opposite directions relatively to the said magnet.   
     
     
         75 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , wherein the carriage is movable along two different horizontal guides which are orthogonal one with respect to the other and have a predetermined position relatively to the magnet. 
     
     
         76 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , wherein the table is displaceable along a vertical axis restively to the carriage ad to the magnet so as to being lowered and elevated at a range of different vertical positions relatively to the carriage. 
     
     
         77 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , wherein the table is linked by a rotational support to the carriage, the said rotational support being designed to allow rotation of the said table relatively to the carriage and to the magnet around at least one axis. 
     
     
         78 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , which is provided in combination to a magnet; the said magnet being provided with at least a pair of poles spaced horizontally from one another on opposite sides of a patient-receiving space and the support table is positioned between the said two poles, the first guide on which the carriage is slidably mounted being horizontal and secured to the said magnet. 
     
     
         79 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , wherein the carriage is movable also along a second horizontal guide which is orthogonal to the first guide and which second guide is secured to the magnet. 
     
     
         80 . The patient support according to  claim 79 , further comprising a third guide is provided which guide is vertical and along which guide the table is displaceable relatively to the magnet. 
     
     
         81 . The patient support according to  claim 74 , wherein the first guide is provided on a side of the magnet and is oriented in the direction of insertion and of extraction of the patient body or of a part thereof in the patient receiving space defined by the magnet and the second guide is provided perpendicularly to the said direction of insertion and of extraction, a third guide being provided which is oriented vertically and along which the table can be lowered or raised relatively to the carriage and to the magnet, the said table being provided outside the patient receiving space and having a cantilevered protrusion for supporting a part of the patient body such as a limb or the head, the said cantilevered protrusion of the patient table being displaceable at different positions inside and outside the patient receiving space.