Abstract: A subject support (14) is configured to dock with a medical imaging device (50) with a fixed spatial relationship between the docked subject support and the medical imaging device. A patient positioning device includes a range camera (10) that acquires a two-dimensional (2D) range image of a human imaging subject (12) disposed on a subject support (14). The range image has pixel values corresponding to distances from the range camera. An electronic processor (16) is programmed to perform a positioning method to determine a reference point on or in the human subject in a frame of reference (FS) of the subject support from the 2D range image. This reference point is translated to a frame of reference (FD) of the imaging device based on a priori known spatial relationship of the medical imaging device and the docked subject support. Using 3D models, the loading process may be simulated.

Abstract: A subject support (14) is configured to dock with a medical imaging device (50) with a fixed spatial relationship between the docked subject support and the medical imaging device. A patient positioning device includes a range camera (10) that acquires a two-dimensional (2D) range image of a human imaging subject (12) disposed on a subject support (14). The range image has pixel values corresponding to distances from the range camera. An electronic processor (16) is programmed to perform a positioning method to determine a reference point on or in the human subject in a frame of reference (FS) of the subject support from the 2D range image. This reference point is translated to a frame of reference (FD) of the imaging device based on a priori known spatial relationship of the medical imaging device and the docked subject support. Using 3D models, the loading process may be simulated.