CN114431888A

CN114431888A - Method for adjusting headrest shape

Info

Publication number: CN114431888A
Application number: CN202111267413.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·霍夫曼; S·施密特
Original assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
Current assignee: Siemens Medical Ag
Priority date: 2020-10-30
Filing date: 2021-10-29
Publication date: 2022-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2041-10-29
Also published as: DE102020213690B4; DE102020213690A1; CN114431888B

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the shape of a headrest, comprising the following steps: positioning the head of the patient by means of a headrest; receiving radiological image data relating to a head of a patient; calculating a prescribed pose of the patient's head based on the radiological image data; calculating a set of feature points of the patient's head based on the radiological image data; calculating a feature point specification position associated with a set of feature points based on the radiological image data and the specified pose of the patient's head; acquiring optical image data relating to the head of the patient by means of a camera; calculating an actual position of a feature point associated with a set of feature points based on the optical image data; calculating control data for adjusting the system based on the feature point actual position and the feature point specified position so as to influence the feature point actual position by the shape of the headrest in a sense of fitting to the feature point specified position; the shape of the headrest is adjusted by means of the adjustment system on the basis of the control data for the adjustment system.

Description

Method for adjusting the shape of a headrest

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of adjusting the shape of a headrest. The invention also relates to a method for providing imaging data and a system with a headrest.

Background

In order to carry out a Computed Tomography (CT) examination of the cranial nerves to ensure reproducibility of the collected data and to reduce unnecessary irradiation of the cornea and the lens, which are extremely sensitive to the eye, the beam path and the patient's head are aligned relative to each other such that the beam path extends parallel to the so-called auditory orbital line. However, the auditory orbital wires are inclined through the skull and in practice are different for each patient.

In order to have the beam path parallel to this line, the CT gantry may be tilted accordingly, for example, or the head may be tilted appropriately in the hood. Since up to now either the tilting of the gantry or the positioning of the head has been done manually by medical staff, there is no comparability between different examinations, based on the fact that the set angle of the beam path relative to the auditory orbital line may be different and the cross-section associated therewith.

However, not only the inclination of the head plays a role; rotation from the center line or tipping to one side can also result in the shoot not being reproducible and, in the worst case, difficult or impossible to evaluate.

It is also important to correctly position the head in a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner. Although the imaging tilt plane here can be tilted by the gradient system, the laterally skewed support (rotation) still makes it more difficult to evaluate the image.

For example, the position of the head of the patient to be examined can be adjusted manually. For example, the angle of inclination can be adjusted by inserting support pillows of various sizes, by "lining" standard pillows or by fixing the head in an inclined arrangement. Alternatively, the gantry of the scanner may be tilted, if possible on the scanner side, so that the beam path is parallel to the theoretical auditory orbitals.

In both cases, the correctness of the placement can only be roughly checked, since there are no identifiable markers for the auditory orbital wires outside the patient's body. Positioning the head is particularly difficult in CT scanners where the gantry cannot be tilted, since the tilt of the head must be properly adjusted and maintained by the patient.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to enable an improved adjustment of the shape of a headrest.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the shape of a headrest, comprising the following steps:

positioning the head of the patient by means of a headrest, wherein the headrest is adjusted such that the shape of the headrest can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system, in particular automatically,

receiving radiographic image data relating to the head of the patient, in particular in a state in which the head of the patient is positioned by means of a headrest,

-calculating a prescribed pose of the patient's head based on the radiological image data,

-calculating a set of feature points on the patient's head based on the radiological image data, in particular also based on a prescribed pose of the patient's head,

-calculating feature point specified positions associated with the set of feature points based on the radiological image data and the specified pose of the patient's head,

acquiring optical image data relating to the head of the patient by means of a camera,

-calculating the actual positions of the feature points in relation to the set of feature points on the basis of the optical image data,

-calculating control data for adjusting the system based on the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions, such that the feature point actual positions are influenced by the shape of the headrest in a sense adapted to said feature point specified positions,

-adjusting the shape of the headrest by means of the adjustment system based on the control data for the adjustment system.

The radiological image data may be based on, for example, a scout image capture and/or a localizer image capture.

In calculating the prescribed pose of the patient's head, e.g., based on the radiological image data, the orbital lines may be automatically identified, e.g., with artificial intelligence and/or using a priori knowledge, and/or the optimal tilt angle of the patient's head may be calculated. The defined position of the head of the patient can in particular correspond to a regular arrangement of the head of the patient. The prescribed posture of the patient's head may be related to, inter alia, a prescribed position of the patient's head and a prescribed orientation of the patient's head. In particular, based on the radiological image data, a first virtual three-dimensional model, for example in the form of a prescribed avatar, may be generated for the patient's head. In particular, the set of feature points may be calculated based on the first virtual three-dimensional model. Further, a target image may be computed that displays the first virtual three-dimensional model in a prescribed pose of the patient's head. In particular, each feature point of the set of feature points may be anatomically and/or optically visible. The set of feature points may be calculated based on the optical image data, among other things.

The feature point specifying position may be specifically calculated, that is, when the set of feature points is arranged at the feature point specifying position, specifically, when the feature point actual position is the same as the feature point specifying position, the head of the patient is placed in a specified posture. For example, feature point specified positions may be calculated based on application of artificial intelligence and/or a priori knowledge to the radiological image data and the specified poses. The feature point specified positions may be projected into the target image.

In particular, based on the optical image data, a second virtual three-dimensional model, for example in the form of an actual avatar, may be generated for the patient's head. For example, the set of feature points may be identified based on the second virtual three-dimensional model. In particular, the feature point actual positions may be calculated based on the second virtual three-dimensional model and/or based on the application of artificial intelligence and/or a priori knowledge to the optical image data.

In calculating the control data for adjusting the system, it is possible, for example, to calculate how the shape of the headrest has to be changed, thereby enabling the actual position of the feature point to be adapted to the specified position of the feature point. The feature point actual position can be adapted to the feature point specified position by minimizing the difference between the feature point actual position and the feature point specified position.

For example, control data for adjusting the system may be calculated based on machine learning algorithms. In the context of the present application, a machine learning algorithm is understood to be an algorithm specifically designed for machine learning. For example, machine learning algorithms may be designed for supervised learning and/or for unsupervised learning. For example, machine learning algorithms may be designed for deep learning and/or reinforcement learning and/or edge space learning.

For example, the machine learning algorithm may be based on decision trees, random forests, logistic regression, support vector machines, artificial neural networks, in particular convolutional and/or cyclic neural networks, kernel methods, bayesian classifiers, etc., or combinations thereof.

One exemplary embodiment provides that the shape of the headrest is adjusted on the basis of the characteristic point setpoint position as reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as manipulated variable, in particular continuously linearly or nonlinearly or discontinuously and/or in particular by means of a controller, for example by means of a PID controller (proportional-integral-derivative controller). The regulator may be based on artificial intelligence, for example in the form of machine learning, among others.

One embodiment proposes that the acquisition of the optical image data, the calculation of the actual position of the feature point, the calculation of the control data for the adjustment system, and the adjustment of the shape of the headrest are carried out continuously at least until a point in time when a predetermined condition relating to a deviation of the actual position of the feature point from a prescribed position of the feature point is satisfied for the first time.

Specifically, the deviation of the feature point actual position and the feature point specified position is continuously calculated until a time point at which a predetermined condition relating to the deviation of the feature point actual position and the feature point specified position is satisfied for the first time. In particular, it is possible to indicate, for example, through a user interface: a predetermined condition relating to a deviation of the actual position of the feature point from the specified position of the feature point is satisfied.

In this way, the posture of the patient's head can be continuously checked and adapted to the prescribed posture of the patient's head. In particular, the pose of the actual avatar may be continuously recalculated. When the characteristic point actual position sufficiently coincides, particularly coincides, with the characteristic point specified position, the predetermined condition relating to the deviation of the characteristic point actual position and the characteristic point specified position may be particularly satisfied.

One embodiment proposes that the acquisition of the optical image data, the calculation of the actual position of the feature point, the calculation of the control data for the adjustment system, and the adjustment of the headrest shape are carried out continuously until the point in time at which the suspension signal is received, in particular such that the predetermined condition relating to the deviation of the actual position of the feature point from the specified position of the feature point is satisfied during the entire period of time from the point in time at which the predetermined condition relating to the deviation of the actual position of the feature point from the specified position of the feature point is first satisfied until the point in time at which the suspension signal is received.

In particular, the abort signal may be automatically sent by the medical imaging device, for example when the acquisition of the image data is ended. The abort signal may be sent manually, for example, by a user, for example, to prepare the patient for removal from the patient positioning device.

One embodiment provides that the headrest is arranged such that the position of the headrest can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system, wherein control data for the adjustment system are calculated on the basis of the characteristic point actual positions and the characteristic point specified positions in order to influence the characteristic point actual positions by means of the headrest shape and by means of the headrest positions in a manner adapted to the characteristic point specified positions, wherein the headrest shape and the headrest positions are adjusted by means of the adjustment system on the basis of the control data for the adjustment system.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the head rest shape is adjusted on the basis of the characteristic point setpoint position as reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as manipulated variable, in particular continuously linearly or nonlinearly or discontinuously, and/or in particular by means of a regulator, for example by means of a PID regulator (proportional-integral-derivative regulator).

The invention also relates to a method of providing imaging data relating to a head of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the patient by means of a patient positioning device of the medical imaging apparatus, wherein the patient positioning device has a headrest, wherein the headrest is designed such that the shape of the headrest can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system,

-performing a method for adjusting the shape of a headrest according to the invention,

obtaining imaging data relating to the head of the patient by means of a medical imaging device,

-providing imaging data relating to the head of the patient.

For example, the acquisition of imaging data of a patient by means of a medical imaging device can be started as soon as a predetermined condition relating to a deviation of the actual position of the feature point from a specified position of the feature point is fulfilled for the first time. The imaging data may for example be radiological imaging data, in particular computed tomography imaging data and/or magnetic resonance imaging data.

An embodiment provides that the shape of the headrest is continuously adjusted during the entire duration of the acquisition of the imaging data relating to the head of the patient, based on the characteristic point specified position as reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as adjustment variable.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the headrest shape and the headrest position are continuously adjusted during the entire duration of the acquisition of the imaging data relating to the head of the patient, based on the characteristic point specified position as a reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as an adjustment variable.

In particular, the posture of the patient's head may be continuously adjusted during the acquisition of the imaging data in the sense of being adapted to the prescribed posture of the patient's head. In this way, deviations of the posture of the patient's head from the prescribed posture of the patient's head, for example, caused by the patient's motion, can be counteracted. If such movement of the patient is indicated by the 3D camera and/or the obtained imaging data, the shape of the headrest may be adjusted accordingly to correct the posture of the head before further imaging data is obtained.

The invention also relates to a system comprising:

a headrest for the positioning of the head of the patient and an adjustment system, wherein the headrest is adjusted such that the shape of the headrest can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system, wherein the adjustment system is designed to adjust the shape of the headrest based on control data for the adjustment system, in particular to automatically adjust the shape of the headrest based on the control data for the adjustment system,

a camera for acquiring optical image data relating to the head of the patient, in particular when the head of the patient is positioned by means of a headrest,

-a data processing system designed for:

-receiving radiological image data relating to a head of a patient,

-calculating feature point defined positions associated with the set of feature points based on the radiological image data and the defined pose of the patient's head,

-calculating the actual positions of the feature points associated with the set of feature points on the basis of the optical image data,

-calculating control data for adjusting the system based on the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions, such that the feature point actual positions are influenced by the shape of the headrest in a sense adapted to the feature point specified positions.

In particular, it can be provided that the system is designed to carry out a method according to one of the disclosed aspects.

The data processing unit may form, for example, a regulator, wherein the shape of the headrest is regulated by means of the regulator on the basis of the characteristic point specified position as a reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as a regulating variable.

In particular, the headrest may be arranged such that the position of the headrest is adjustable by means of an adjustment system. It can furthermore be provided that the data processing system is designed to calculate the control data for the adjustment system on the basis of the actual position of the feature point and the specified position of the feature point, so that the actual position of the feature point is influenced by the shape of the headrest and by the position of the headrest in the sense of being adapted to the specified position of the feature point.

The camera may be, for example, a 3D camera. The camera may be arranged, for example, relative to the medical imaging device such that acquiring the optical image data may be performed in parallel with obtaining the imaging data.

The headrest may in particular be a support pillow. For example, the headrest may have a plurality of compartments which can be filled with fluid independently of one another, in particular by means of a fluid energy machine. This makes it possible to adapt the setting of the head individually, in particular with regard to the inclination. Artificial intelligence now calculates and controls the inflation of the chambers in the support pillow to achieve the optimal tilt position.

It may furthermore be provided that the headrest is designed in the form of a headband, hat or hood, and/or that the plurality of compartments form a ring structure into which the head of the patient can be inserted.

An embodiment provides that the adjustment system has a fluid energy machine for exchanging mechanical work with a fluid and a fluid line system for transmitting a fluid, wherein the headrest is fluidically connected to the fluid energy machine by means of the fluid line system, in particular fluidically connected such that a fluid can be transmitted, for example bidirectionally, between the headrest and the fluid energy machine, wherein the shape of the headrest can be adjusted fluidically by means of the adjustment system.

One embodiment provides that the fluid is a gas, the head restraint is pneumatically connected to the fluid energy machine by means of a fluid line system, and the shape of the head restraint can be pneumatically adjusted by means of an adjustment system. The fluid energy machine can be designed, for example, in the form of at least one compressor and/or a blower. In particular, if the headrest is pneumatically operated, the headrest can be easily designed to be MR compatible by placing pressure generation and control outside of critical areas.

It may furthermore be provided that the fluid is a liquid, that the head rest is hydraulically connected to the fluid energy machine by means of a fluid line system, and that the shape of the head rest can be hydraulically adjusted by means of an adjustment system. The fluid energy machine may be designed, for example, in the form of at least one pump. It may also be provided that the fluid is a gel.

One embodiment provides that the headrest has a plurality of compartments, each of which is fluidically connected to the fluid energy machine by means of a fluid line system, in particular fluidically connected such that fluid between the headrest and the fluid energy machine can be transferred, for example can be transferred bidirectionally, wherein the shape of the headrest can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system on the basis of control data for the adjustment system by adjusting the amount of fluid located in and/or the pressure of the fluid in the compartment for each of the plurality of compartments, in particular by transferring fluid into or out of the compartment.

Furthermore, it can be provided that each of the plurality of compartments abuts the head of the patient in a form-fitting manner when the head of the patient is positioned by means of the headrest. In particular, the headrest may comprise, in addition to the compartments of the plurality of compartments, other compartments not comprised in the plurality of compartments.

One embodiment provides that the plurality of compartments has a first compartment, a second compartment and a third compartment, the first compartment and the second compartment being arranged in series along a first direction, wherein the first compartment and the third compartment are arranged in series along a second direction substantially perpendicular, in particular perpendicular, to the first direction.

It may furthermore be provided that the plurality of compartments has a fourth compartment, the third compartment and the fourth compartment being arranged in succession in a first direction, wherein the second compartment and the fourth compartment are arranged in succession in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular, in particular perpendicular, to the first direction.

One embodiment provides that the adjustment system has a positioning device which is designed to move the head restraint in a linear manner in a direction of movement, wherein the position of the head restraint can be adjusted in the direction of movement by means of the adjustment system. The direction of movement may for example be perpendicular to the first direction and/or perpendicular to the second direction.

One embodiment provides that the system has a medical imaging apparatus for obtaining imaging data relating to a head of a patient, wherein the medical imaging apparatus has a patient positioning device for positioning the patient, wherein the patient positioning device has a headrest.

In particular, the patient positioning device may have a head cap for receiving a head rest in a form-fitting manner. For example, the head rest may be received in the hood in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, it may be provided that the fluid line system is arranged on or integrated into the patient positioning device. The patient positioning device may, for example, have an imaging table, radiation table or operating table (OP table) to which the head rest and/or headgear are attached. The imaging table may in particular be a CT table or an angiography table.

The medical imaging device may be selected from, for example, the group of imaging modalities consisting of x-ray devices, C-arm x-ray devices, computed tomography devices (CT devices), molecular imaging devices (MI devices), single photon emission computed tomography devices (SPECT devices), positron emission tomography devices (PET devices), magnetic resonance tomography devices (MR devices), and combinations thereof, in particular PET-CT devices and PET-MR devices. Furthermore, the medical imaging device may have a combination of an imaging modality, for example selected from a group of imaging modalities, and an irradiation modality. The irradiation modality may have, for example, an irradiation unit for therapeutic irradiation.

One embodiment provides that the patient positioning device forms a positioning device for positioning the headrest.

The prescribed pose of the patient's head may be, for example, a prescribed pose of the patient's head relative to a coordinate system of the medical imaging device. The feature point specifying positions may be, for example, feature point specifying positions relative to a coordinate system of the medical imaging apparatus. The feature point actual position may be, for example, a feature point actual position relative to a coordinate system of the medical imaging device. The position of the headrest may for example be the position of the headrest relative to a coordinate system of the medical imaging device. For example, the positioning device may be adjusted to move the headrest linearly along the movement direction relative to the coordinate system of the medical imaging device.

In this way, on the one hand, the inclination of the patient's head can be adjusted. On the other hand, rotational misalignment of the patient's head or lateral tilt from the centerline can be identified and corrected in order to adjust the optimal pose of the head. Furthermore, in case of a patient shaking, the pressure in the headrest may be increased to achieve a tighter seating of the patient's head.

On the one hand, particularly sensitive eyes to illumination and a reduction in image quality due to poor patient positioning can be avoided in this way. On the other hand, the adjustment of the headrest shape can now be performed in a fully automatic and reproducible manner. In this way, images from different imaging exams may be better compared and more reliably evaluated. The patient can be placed faster than traditional placement solutions, thereby improving examination throughput.

Within the scope of the present invention, features described in relation to different embodiments of the invention and/or different claim categories (methods, uses, devices, systems, arrangements, etc.) may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention. For example, claims directed to a device may also be developed with features described or claimed in connection with the method, and vice versa. The functional features of the method may be implemented by means of correspondingly designed physical components. In addition to the embodiments of the invention explicitly described in this application, various other embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Drawings

Hereinafter, the present invention is explained based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The representations in the drawings are schematic, greatly simplified and not necessarily drawn to scale.

Here:

figure 1 shows a system with a headrest and an adjustment system,

figure 2 shows the head restraint in a first operating state in a first view,

figure 3 shows the head restraint in a second operating condition in a first view,

figure 4 shows the head restraint in a first operating condition in a second view,

figure 5 shows the head restraint in a third operating condition in a second view,

fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a method of adjusting the shape of a headrest.

Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for providing imaging data.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a system 1 comprising:

a headrest 16 for positioning the head 14 of the LK patient 13 and an adjustment system 17, wherein the headrest 16 is designed such that the shape of the headrest 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17, wherein the adjustment system 17 is designed to adjust the shape of the NK headrest 16 on the basis of control data for the adjustment system 17,

a camera 4 for acquiring optical image data relating to the head 14 of the patient 13,

a data processing system 3 designed for:

receiving radiological image data of ER related to the head 14 of the patient 13,

calculating a prescribed pose of the head 14 of the BK patient 13 based on the radiographic image data,

calculating a set of feature points L on the head 14 of the BL patient 13 based on the radiological image data,

calculating a feature point specification position of BS in relation to the set of feature points L based on the radiological image data and the specified pose of the head 14 of the patient 13,

calculating the actual positions of the feature points BI associated with the set of feature points L based on the optical image data,

on the basis of the feature point actual position and the feature point specified position, the control data BN for the adjustment system 17 is calculated so that the feature point actual position is influenced by the shape of the headrest 16 in the sense of being adapted to the feature point specified position.

The adjustment system 17 has a fluid energy machine 18 for exchanging mechanical work with the fluid F and a fluid line system 19 for transmitting the fluid F, wherein the head restraint 16 is fluidically connected to the fluid energy machine 18 by means of the fluid line system 19, wherein the shape of the head restraint 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17 by means of flow technology.

The fluid F is a gas, wherein the head restraint 16 is pneumatically connected to the fluid energy machine 18 by means of a fluid line system 19, wherein the shape of the head restraint 16 can be adjusted pneumatically by means of the adjustment system 17.

The system 1 has a medical imaging apparatus 2 for acquiring V3 image data relating to a head 14 of a patient 13, wherein the medical imaging apparatus 2 has a patient positioning device 10 for positioning a V1 patient 13, wherein the patient positioning device 10 has a headrest 16. The patient positioning device 10 also has a hood 15, a support plate 12 and a support base 11.

The medical imaging apparatus 2 has a gantry 20 with a tunnel-shaped opening 9 into which a patient 13 can be introduced. Within the tunnel-shaped opening 9 is an acquisition region 29 of the medical imaging device 2, wherein the medical imaging device 2 can interact with a region to be examined of the patient 13 to obtain imaging data from the region to be examined of the patient 13. The acquisition area 29 is located in the field of view 40 of the camera 4. The camera 4 is arranged relative to the medical imaging device 2 such that acquiring optical image data may be performed in parallel with obtaining imaging data.

The system 1 also has a computer 30 for controlling the medical imaging device 2, the camera 4 and the adjustment system 17. The computer 30 has a processor 33, a memory 31, and a data transmission interface 32, and constitutes the data processing system 3.

Fig. 2 shows the head restraint 16 in a first operating state in a first view. The headrest 16 has a plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of compartments is fluidically connected to a fluid energy machine 18 by means of a fluid line system 19, wherein the shape of the headrest 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17 on the basis of control data for the adjustment system 17, which is achieved in that, for each of the plurality of compartments, the amount of fluid F located in the compartment and/or the pressure of the fluid F in the compartment can be adjusted.

The plurality of compartments has a first compartment 16A, a second compartment 16B and a third compartment 16C, the first compartment 16A and the second compartment 16B being arranged in sequence along a first direction z, wherein the first compartment 16A and the third compartment 16C are arranged in sequence along a second direction x perpendicular to the first direction z.

The first direction z is parallel to the system axis AS of the medical imaging device 2. The second direction x is perpendicular to the system axis AS and the vertical axis AV.

Fig. 3 shows the head restraint 16 in a second operating state in a first view. The head restraint 16 is mounted in such a way that the position of the head restraint 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17, wherein the control data for the adjustment system 17 are calculated on the basis of the characteristic point actual position and the characteristic point specified position in order to influence the characteristic point actual position by the shape of the head restraint 16 and by the position of the head restraint 16 in the sense of being adapted to the characteristic point specified position, wherein the shape of the head restraint 16 and the position of the head restraint 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17 on the basis of the control data for the adjustment system 17.

The adjustment system 17 has a positioning device 1P which is designed to move the headrest 16 linearly in a movement direction y, wherein the position of the headrest 16 can be adjusted in the movement direction y by means of the adjustment system 17. The direction of movement y is perpendicular to the first direction z and perpendicular to the second direction x. The direction of movement y is parallel to the vertical axis AV.

The patient positioning device 10 forms a positioning device 1P for positioning the headrest 16. The position of the headrest 16 is the position of the headrest 16 relative to the coordinate system K of the medical imaging device 2. The positioning device 1P is designed to move the headrest 16 linearly in the movement direction y relative to the coordinate system K of the medical imaging apparatus 2.

In the second operating state, the position of the headrest 16 about the vertical axis AV is lower than in the first operating state, so as to continue to adjust the isocenter of the head 14 when the head 14 is tilted more than in the first operating state. By adjusting the shape of the headrest 16 according to fig. 2 and 3, a rotation of the head 14 of the patient 13 in the sagittal plane is achieved.

Fig. 4 shows the head rest 16 in a first operating state in a second view. The head 14 is tilted about a system axis AS, which in the case shown also corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the patient 13.

Fig. 5 shows the head restraint 16 in a third operating state in a second view. The tilt of the head 14 about the system axis AS is counteracted by adjusting the shape of the headrest 16. By adjusting the shape of the headrest 16 according to fig. 4 and 5, a rotation of the head 14 of the patient 13 in a transverse plane is achieved.

The headrest 16 may also have a compartment for rotating the head 14 within the frontal plane of the patient 13. For example, the compartments may be arranged laterally beside the head 14 and/or adjacent to the apex region of the head 14 in the direction of the system axis AS.

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a method for adjusting the shape of the headrest 16, comprising the steps of:

positioning the head 14 of the LK patient 13 by means of a headrest 16, wherein the headrest 16 is designed such that the shape of the headrest 16 can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system 17,

acquiring optical image data of the EO in relation to the head 14 of the patient 13 by means of the camera 4,

calculating BN control data for adjusting the system 17 based on the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions, such that the feature point actual positions are influenced by the shape of the headrest 16 in a manner suitable for the feature point specified positions,

adjusting the shape of the NK headrest 16 by means of the adjustment system 17 based on the control data for the adjustment system 17.

The broken line shows the continuous adjustment of the headrest shape based on the characteristic point specified position as the reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as the adjustment variable.

Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for providing imaging data relating to a head 14 of a patient 13, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning V1 the patient 13 by means of the patient positioning device 10 of the medical imaging apparatus 2, wherein the patient positioning device 10 has a headrest 16, wherein the headrest 16 is designed such that the shape of the headrest 16 can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system 17,

performing V2 the method for adjusting the shape of the headrest 16 according to the invention,

obtaining imaging data of V3 in relation to the head 14 of the patient 13 by means of the medical imaging device 2,

providing imaging data of V4 in relation to the head 14 of the patient 13.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting the shape of a headrest (16), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-positioning (LK) the head (14) of a patient (13) by means of the headrest (16), wherein the headrest (16) is arranged such that the shape of the headrest (16) can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system (17),

-receiving (ER) radiological image data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13),

-calculating (BK) a prescribed pose of the head (14) of the patient (13) based on the radiological image data,

-computing (BL) a set of feature points (L) on the head (14) of the patient (13) based on the radiological image data,

-calculating (BS) a feature point specification position related to the set of feature points (L) based on the radiological image data and the prescribed pose of the head (14) of the patient (13),

-acquiring (EO) optical image data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13) by means of a camera (4),

-calculating (BI) a feature point actual position related to the set of feature points (L) based on the optical image data,

-calculating (BN) control data for the adjustment system (17) based on the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions in order to influence the feature point actual positions by the shape of the headrest (16) in a sense adapted to the feature point specified positions,

-adjusting (NK) the shape of the headrest (16) by means of the adjustment system (17) based on the control data for the adjustment system (17).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

-wherein the shape of the headrest (16) is adjusted based on the characteristic point specified position as a reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as an adjustment variable.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

-wherein the acquisition of the optical image data (EO), the calculation of the actual position of the feature points (BI), the calculation of the control data (BN) for the adjustment system (17), and the adjustment of the shape of the headrest (16) are performed successively at least until a point in time when a predetermined condition relating to a deviation of the actual position of the feature points from the specified position of the feature points is fulfilled for the first time.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3,

-wherein the acquisition of the optical image data (EO), the calculation of the actual positions of the feature points (BI), the calculation of the control data (BN) for the adjustment system (17), and the adjustment of the shape of the headrest (16) (NK) are performed successively at least until a point in time when a pause signal is received.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4,

-wherein the headrest (16) is arranged such that the position of the headrest (16) is adjustable by means of the adjustment system (17),

-wherein the control data for the adjustment system (17) are calculated on the basis of the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions in order to influence the feature point actual positions by the shape of the headrest (16) and by the position of the headrest (16) in a sense adapted to the feature point specified positions,

-wherein the shape of the headrest (16) and the position of the headrest (16) are adjusted by means of the adjustment system (17) based on the control data for the adjustment system (17).

6. A method for providing imaging data relating to a head (14) of a patient (13), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-positioning (V1) the patient (13) by means of a patient positioning device (10) of a medical imaging apparatus (2), wherein the patient positioning device (10) has a headrest (16), wherein the headrest (16) is arranged such that the shape of the headrest (16) can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system (17),

-performing (V2) a method for adjusting the shape of the headrest (16) according to any of claims 1 to 5,

-obtaining (V3) the imaging data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13) by means of the medical imaging device (2),

-providing (V4) imaging data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

-wherein the shape of the headrest (16) is continuously adjusted based on the characteristic point specified position as a reference variable and the characteristic point actual position as an adjustment variable during the entire duration of obtaining (V3) the imaging data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13).

8. A system (1) comprising:

-a headrest (16) and an adjustment system (17) for positioning (LK) a head (14) of a patient (13), wherein the headrest (16) is arranged such that a shape of the headrest (16) is adjustable by means of the adjustment system (17), wherein the adjustment system (17) is arranged to adjust (NK) the shape of the headrest (16) based on control data for the adjustment system (17),

a camera (4) for acquiring optical image data relating to the head (14) of the patient (13),

-a data processing system (3) arranged for:

-calculating (BS) a feature point specification position related to the set of feature points (L) based on the radiological image data and the specified pose of the head (14) of the patient (13),

-calculating (BN) control data for the adjustment system (17) based on the feature point actual positions and the feature point specified positions, in order to influence the feature point actual positions by the shape of the headrest (16) in a sense adapted to the feature point specified positions.

9. The system (1) according to claim 8,

-wherein the regulation system (17) has a fluid energy machine (18) for exchanging mechanical work with a fluid (F) and a fluid line system (19) for transferring the fluid (F),

-wherein the head restraint (16) is fluidically connected to the fluid energy machine (18) by means of the fluid line system (19),

-wherein the shape of the headrest (16) is adjustable fluid-technically by means of the adjustment system (17).

10. The system (1) according to claim 9,

-wherein the fluid (F) is a gas,

-wherein the headrest (16) is pneumatically connected with the fluid energy machine (18) by means of the fluid line system (19),

-wherein the shape of the headrest (16) is pneumatically adjustable by means of the adjustment system (17).

11. System (1) according to claim 9 or 10,

-wherein the headrest (16) has a plurality of compartments,

-wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartments is fluidically connected with the fluid energy machine (18) by means of the fluid line system (19),

-wherein by enabling, for each of the plurality of compartments, the amount of the fluid (F) located in that compartment to be adjusted, and/or the pressure of the fluid (F) in that compartment to be adjusted, the shape of the headrest (16) can be adjusted by means of the adjustment system (17) based on the control data for the adjustment system (17).

12. The system (1) according to claim 11,

-wherein the plurality of compartments has a first compartment (16A), a second compartment (16B) and a third compartment (16C),

-wherein said first compartment (16A) and said second compartment (16B) are arranged in succession along a first direction (z),

-wherein said first compartment (16A) and said third compartment (16C) are arranged in succession along a second direction (x) perpendicular to said first direction (z).

13. The system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12,

-wherein the adjustment system (17) has a positioning device (1P) arranged to move the headrest (16) linearly along a movement direction (y),

-wherein the position of the headrest (16) is adjustable along the direction of movement (y) by means of the adjustment system (17).

14. The system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 13,

-wherein the system (1) has one medical imaging device (2) for obtaining (V3) imaging data related to the head (14) of the patient (13),

-wherein the medical imaging apparatus (2) has a patient positioning device (10) for positioning (V1) the patient (13),

-wherein the patient positioning device (10) has a headrest (16).

15. The system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 14,

-wherein the patient positioning device (10) forms the positioning device (1P) for positioning the headrest (16).