Abstract: In interventional MRI, for example, in neurosurgical applications, the head of a patient must be positioned on a head support while allowing reproducible manipulation of the head. The head support must be made of a material that is compatible with MR. Furthermore, spatial restrictions imposed by the bore of the magnetic resonance apparatus have to be dealt with. The head support in accordance with the invention includes a support whereon the patient head or a stereotactic frame can be rested. The head support is suppored by a mounting device. Both the support and mounting device are fixed on the table top. The mounting device provides a sliding surface that enables rotation of the support relative to the mounting device. The support can be curved towards the table top thus providing a concave surface so as to lower the supporting surface for a stereotactic frame and hence to minimize the total volume of the construction.

Abstract: In interventional MRI, for example, in neurosurgical applications, the head of a patient must be positioned on a head support while allowing reproducible manipulation of the head. The head support must be made of a material that is compatible with MR. Furthermore, spatial restrictions imposed by the bore of the magnetic resonance apparatus have to be dealt with The head support (15) in accordance with the invention comprises supporting means (1) whereon the patient head or a stereotactic frame can be rested. The supporting means (1) rest on the mounting means (2) and are fixed on the table top thereby. The mounting means (2) provide a sliding surface (16) that enables rotation of the supporting means (1) relative to the mounting means (2). The supporting means (1) can be curved towards the table top on which they rest, thus providing a concave surface (9) so as to lower the supporting surface for a stereotactic frame and hence minimize the total volume of the construction.