Initiating a Scan in a Medical Imaging System

Abstract

A method of initiating a scan in a medical imaging device includes detecting a patient-ready signal from a magnetically and radiographically inert communication device and automatically initiating the scan upon detecting the patient-ready signal.

1 . An apparatus for use in a medical imaging system, the apparatus comprising:
 a magnetically and radiographically inert patient communication device; and   a sensor coupled to the patient communication device wherein the sensor is couplable to the medical imaging system, and wherein the sensor is operable to initiate a scan by the medical imaging system upon manual activation of the patient communication device, and wherein the communication device comprises a pneumatic actuation device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the communication device is hand-held. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor is operable to detect a patient-ready signal generated by the communication device. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a pneumatic coupler coupled to the communication device and to the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the pressure sensor is operable to detect a change in pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the pressure sensor is operable to detect an absolute pressure level. 
     
     
         9 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a processor coupled to the sensor. 
     
     
         17 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the medical imaging system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the medical imaging system comprises a computed tomography imaging system.