Simulated patient setup for medical imaging with increased patient throughput

摘要

A preliminary simulated patient setup is done with a x-ray unit (14) or an ultrasound unit (16) with patient on a flat table top insert (68) on preliminary imaging tables (12) in preliminary imaging support rooms (10). Patient is transported from tables to table by sliding the flat table top insert (68) on these tables' cradle. If surgery is to be done, before or after surgery, patient is transferred to flat table top insert (68). Multiple preliminary imaging tables (12) are connected to patient transport room (26). It also connects to CT or MRI imaging room (32). A patient transport table (28), in patient transport room (26) makes connection with preliminary imaging tables (12), a mobile surgical table (22) and CT or MRI-table (36). After imaging, patient is unloaded to a patient unloading room (66). For use of a single CT or MRI for CT or MRI combined radiation therapy, patient is transported from CT or MRI scanning table (36) to patient handling table on rail (40) on rails (42) in accelerators' anteroom (38) and to accelerators' table (48) in accelerator room (44). Delivery of a required radiation dose to the CT or MRI verified treatment field generally takes only about a minute. With this system configuration, a continuous flow of patients can be imaged and or treated with a single CT or MRI (FIG. 1). For still further increased patient throughput, more than one CT or MRI and accelerator is used as in FIG. 5 and 6.