Method and system for interface pad for cradle

Abstract

To provide various systems for a head holder and / or extremity holder for a medical imaging system.SOLUTION: In one example, the head and / or extremity holder is a cradle interface pad for use with an imaging system. The cradle interface pad comprises a first wall on a first side and a second wall on a second side opposite the first side. The first and second walls form a concave recess of the cradle interface pad. At least one slot extends through each of the first and second walls. A curved base couples the first and second walls together. At least one attachment part is mounted on each of the first and second walls and extends towards the curved base. A handle is positioned on a top face of each of the first and second walls.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for supporting the head or limbs of a patient's body. [Background technology]

[0002] Patient head or limb support systems are used in a variety of environments. Support systems capable of providing various angles for positioning the patient's head or limbs can be used to support and position the patient's head and / or limbs at a range of individual angles during an imaging scan. The ability to tilt and maintain the patient's head and / or limbs during an imaging scan affects image quality. In one example, a head support system can be used to select and maintain the patient's head position to avoid capturing dental implants and other devices that may cause image artifacts during a medical imaging examination. Furthermore, tilting the patient's head can position sensitive anatomical structures (such as the eyes) outside the X-ray radiation beam, thereby reducing the dose received by the sensitive anatomical structures. Without a patient head and / or limb support system, the patient would not be able to maintain the head and / or limbs in a specific orientation during a scan. However, a patient head and / or limb support system allows the radiologist or operator to position the patient's head and / or limbs. Other patients who may benefit from using a head and / or limb support system include those who exhibit involuntary movements or resistance. Additionally, in emergency situations where a patient is being transported from a first location to a second location, it may be desirable to transport the patient without removing the patient's head and / or limbs from the support system. Having a mechanism for selecting and maintaining a head and / or limb position can prevent a patient in such a condition from changing the tilt angle of the support system on their own. A support system may also be beneficial when some of the multiple positions in which the patient's head and / or limbs may be positioned would be uncomfortable without the support from the support system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one embodiment, a support system includes a cradle interface pad for use with an imaging system, the cradle interface pad including: a base having a flat first surface and a curved second surface opposite the first surface; a first wall positioned at a first end of the base and a second wall positioned at a second end of the base, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the flat first surface of the base form a concave recess in the cradle interface pad; at least one slot extending through each of the first and second walls; at least one attachment portion attached to each of the first and second walls, the at least one attachment portion extending toward the base; and a handle disposed on a top surface of each of the first and second walls.

[0004] It should be appreciated that the foregoing Summary of the Invention is provided to introduce selected concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description of the Invention. It is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined solely by the claims. Moreover, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any of the shortcomings noted above or elsewhere in this disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0005] The present disclosure will be better understood from the following description of non-limiting embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a pictorial perspective view of an imaging system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary imaging system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 shows a first view of one embodiment of an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 3B]10 shows a second view of an embodiment of an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 3C] 10 shows a third view of an embodiment of an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a patient interface head pad. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a patient interface head pad. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a patient interface and limb pad. [Figure 5B] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a patient interface and limb pad. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of an angled locating pad. [Figure 6B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an angled locating pad. [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a first view of a first configuration of a subject positioning kit including an interface pad for a cradle coupled to a table. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 shows a second view of the first configuration of the subject positioning kit coupled to the table. [Figure 7C] FIG. 10 shows a third view of the first configuration of the subject positioning kit coupled to the table. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 shows a first view of a second configuration of a subject positioning kit including an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 8B] 10 shows a second view of a second configuration of the subject localization kit. [Figure 9A] FIG. 10 shows a first view of a third configuration of a subject positioning kit including an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 9B] 10 shows a second view of a third configuration of the subject localization kit. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10 shows a first view of a fourth configuration of a subject positioning kit including an interface pad for a cradle. [Figure 10B] 10 shows a second view of a fourth configuration of the subject localization kit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following description relates to embodiments of a patient head and / or limb support system. In one example, the patient head and / or limb support system is a cradle interface pad for an imaging system (such as the CT imaging system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). One embodiment of the cradle interface pad, shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, includes a first wall and an opposing second wall, forming a concave recess therebetween. Each of the first and second walls has at least one slot extending therethrough, at least one attachment portion attached to the wall, and at least one handle positioned on an upper surface of each of the first and second walls. The concave recess of the cradle interface pad can be configured to accommodate a patient interface head pad (a first embodiment of the patient interface head pad is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) and / or a patient interface limb pad (a first embodiment of the patient interface limb pad is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B). Each of the cradle interface pad embodiment, the first patient interface head pad embodiment, and the first patient interface limb pad embodiment can be configured to interface with at least one angled positioning pad, which is shown in Figures 6A and 6B.

[0007] The subject positioning kit can include a cradle interface pad, at least one angled positioning pad, a patient interface head pad, and a patient interface limb pad. The subject positioning kit can be configured with multiple combinations of angled positioning pads and patient interface pads positioned in the concave recesses of the cradle interface pad, depending on the desired imaging anatomy (e.g., head or limb) and the anatomical positioning angle. Figures 7A-7C show a first configuration of the subject positioning kit, in which the cradle interface pad is coupled to a table (e.g., a CT imaging system table) by at least one attachment portion, and the cradle interface pad further includes two angled positioning pads and a patient interface head pad stacked at a positive angle in the concave recesses of the cradle interface pad. Figures 8A and 8B show a second configuration of the subject positioning kit, in which two angled positioning pads and a patient interface limb pad stacked at a negative angle in the concave recesses of the cradle interface pad. The third configuration of the subject positioning kit, shown in Figures 9A and 9B, is substantially similar to the cradle interface pad of the first configuration, and includes an angled positioning pad and patient interface head pad overlaid in a concave depression in the cradle interface pad. The fourth configuration of the subject positioning kit, shown in Figures 10A and 10B, includes a patient interface head pad positioned in a concave depression in the cradle interface pad, with a smaller angle. Figures 3A through 10B are drawn to scale, but other relative dimensions may be used as desired.

[0008] In one embodiment, the cradle interface pad can assist a radiologist in positioning a patient's head and / or extremities (such as arms, hands, wrists, legs, ankles, or feet) during a computed tomography (CT) x-ray examination. For example, in a CT imaging system with a gantry tilt mechanism, a fixed head holder may be used for axial head scans to avoid directing x-ray radiation toward the patient's eyes. In another example, the head holder includes an adjustment mechanism with a lock to maintain a selected angle. The cradle interface pad of the present disclosure assists in proper positioning for neuroimaging in a CT imaging system and is even more advantageous when the gantry is fixed and cannot be tilted. This can be achieved by inserting one or more pads into the cradle interface pad. The cradle interface pad, with at least one angled positioning pad positioned in a concave recess, can tilt the patient's head forward or backward to align the brain anatomy with the scanner's field of view, depending on the position of the at least one angled positioning pad. This minimizes radiation exposure to the eyes and reduces image artifacts caused by dental implants. If the anatomy being scanned is a patient's head, the patient interface head pad can be positioned (e.g., by surface-to-surface contact) on at least one angled positioning pad that is positioned in a concave recess in the cradle interface pad. The inserts (e.g., angled positioning pads and a type of patient interface pad) can be changed for each patient and / or according to the imaging exam required so that the subject being imaged can be tilted at a desired angle relative to the vertical.

[0009] The cradle interface pad is sized so that additional pads can support appendages (wrists, ankles, feet, etc.), allowing those limbs to be scanned in air with low dose. For example, if the anatomical structure to be scanned is a limb, the patient interface limb pad can be positioned in a concave recess in the cradle interface pad and / or placed on (e.g., in surface contact with) at least one angled positioning pad positioned in the concave recess in the cradle interface pad. To image a patient's limb, tilting the patient's limb forward (e.g., at a positive angle relative to the patient's body) or backward (e.g., at a negative angle relative to the body) allows imaging of areas of interest in the limb that were originally obscured by other anatomical structures or difficult to image. Thus, the cradle interface pad and other components included in the subject positioning kit can be used to support and adjust the patient's head and / or limbs at a discrete range of angles during imaging scans. Furthermore, the cradle interface pad can be equipped with additional pads for supporting infants or small animals while still maintaining the aforementioned advantages.

[0010] In some examples, the pads (e.g., angled positioning pads and patient interface pads) can be color-coded to provide visual recognition and allow the user to quickly select the appropriate pad. In some embodiments, the use of angled pads for positioning is preferable to existing head holder designs because it provides a stable range of tilt relative to vertical and reduces the risk of pinching. In one example, selectable angles are 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°, although other angle ranges may be utilized without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Thus, a subject positioning kit including a cradle interface pad, angled positioning pads, and patient interface pads can be used to support and adjust a patient's head or limbs at a discrete range of angles during an imaging scan.

[0011] In one example, the cradle interface pad can use a strap mechanism to hold one or more selected pads (e.g., an angled positioning pad and / or a patient interface pad positioned in a concave recess in the cradle interface pad) and secure the held pads to the cradle interface pad, so that once the support assembly is properly positioned, the configuration is fixed and the patient cannot change the angle. Additionally, the cradle interface pad can include a pair of slots in opposing walls. The opposing slots provide openings through which additional straps can be inserted to secure the position of the patient's head or limbs. This can reduce movement of the patient's head and / or limbs to positions other than the desired position used for proper imaging, such as when a patient with involuntary movement resists and / or would be supported in an uncomfortable position without support from a support system (such as the cradle interface pad described herein). Additionally, the handles positioned on the top surface of each of the first and second walls of the cradle interface pad can be used as components of the cradle interface pad for the patient to grasp manually during imaging, which can help keep the patient's hands, arms, and shoulders away from the area being imaged while providing a comfortable position for the patient during imaging. The cradle interface pad and other elements included in the subject positioning kit (such as positioning straps and side handles) can fixate the position of the patient's head and / or limbs, meaning that once the patient's head and / or limbs are properly positioned, the angle is locked in place and the patient cannot lift their head and / or limbs off the cradle interface pad to change the angle.

[0012] The cradle interface pad is free of metal or sharp-edged components within the imaging area. This is achieved by having at least one attachment portion located on the first and / or second wall of the cradle interface pad and extending toward the curved base of the cradle interface pad, away from the imaging area of ​​the patient's head or neck that may be imaged by the CT imaging system. The at least one attachment portion may be configured, for example, to connect with a patient table on which the patient rests during imaging with the CT imaging system. The at least one attachment portion may be configured as a hook that slides into a track on the patient table, eliminating from the cradle interface pad locking mechanisms that other support systems may include, which may present pinch points or other metal sources that may interfere with imaging.

[0013] Having a mechanism for selecting and maintaining the head and / or limb position can prevent a patient with the above conditions from changing the tilt angle of the support system themselves. Another advantage of a support system that supports a patient's head and / or limbs is that some positions into which the support system positions the patient's head and / or limbs would be uncomfortable for the patient without the support of the support system. Furthermore, in emergency situations, such as moving a patient from a first location to a second location, it may be desirable to move the patient without removing the patient's head and / or limbs from the support system. At least one attachment portion of the cradle interface pad allows the cradle interface pad to be coupled to and detached from a table having tracks configured to accept the cradle interface pad, thereby allowing the cradle interface pad to be moved between tables or other surfaces without removing the patient's head and / or limbs from the cradle interface pad.

[0014] 3A through 10B illustrate exemplary configurations of the relative positions of various elements. When elements are shown as being in direct contact with or directly coupled to one another, these elements can, in at least one embodiment, be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled elements, respectively. Similarly, elements shown as being contiguous or adjacent to one another can, in at least one embodiment, be referred to as being contiguous or adjacent elements, respectively. As an example, elements in surface contact with one another can be referred to as surface contacting elements. As another example, elements spaced apart from one another can, in at least one embodiment, be referred to as being separated from one another if there is space between the elements but not other elements. As yet another example, elements shown above and below one another, opposite one another, or left and right from one another can be referred to as being above and below, opposite one another, or left and right. Furthermore, as shown in the figures, in at least one embodiment, the topmost element or the uppermost point of an element can be referred to as the "top" of the element, and the bottommost element or the lowermost point of an element can be referred to as the "bottom" of the element. As used herein, top / bottom, upper / lower, and above / below represent relative to the vertical axis of the figure and are used to describe the relative positions of elements of the figure with respect to one another. Thus, elements shown on top of other elements, in one example, are vertically positioned above the other elements. As yet another example, shapes of elements shown in the figures can be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., circular, rectilinear, flat, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, etc.). Furthermore, elements shown to intersect with one another, in at least one example, can be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting elements. Furthermore, elements shown within or outside of other elements can, in one example, be referred to as elements shown within or outside of other elements.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary CT imaging system 100 configured to perform CT imaging. In particular, the CT imaging system 100 is configured to image an object 112 (e.g., a patient), an inanimate object, one or more manufactured parts, and / or a foreign object (e.g., an implant, a stent, and / or a contrast agent present in the body). In one embodiment, the CT imaging system 100 includes a gantry 102, which may further include at least one X-ray source 104 that emits an X-ray radiation beam 106 (see FIG. 2 ) used to image the object 112 residing on a table 114. Specifically, the X-ray source 104 is configured to output the X-ray radiation beam 106 toward a detector array 108 positioned on the opposite side of the gantry 102. Although only a single X-ray source 104 is shown in FIG. 1 , in an exemplary embodiment, multiple X-ray sources and multiple detectors may be used to output multiple X-ray radiation beams 106 and acquire projection data at different energy levels corresponding to the patient. In some embodiments, the X-ray source 104 is capable of performing dual-energy gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) through rapid peak kilovoltage (kVp) switching. In some embodiments, the X-ray detector employed is a photon-counting detector capable of distinguishing between X-ray photons of different energies. In other embodiments, two sets of X-ray sources and detectors are used to generate dual-energy projections: one set at low kVp and the other at high kVp. Thus, it should be understood that the methods described herein can be implemented with single-energy collection techniques as well as dual-energy collection techniques.

[0016] In certain exemplary embodiments, the CT imaging system 100 further includes an image processor unit 110 that reconstructs an image of a target volume of the subject 112 using an iterative image reconstruction method or an analytical image reconstruction method. For example, the image processor unit 110 may reconstruct an image of the target volume of the patient using an analytical image reconstruction method such as filtered back projection (FBP). As another example, the image processor unit 110 may reconstruct an image of the target volume of the subject 112 using an iterative image reconstruction method such as advanced statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), conjugate gradient (CG), maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM), or model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). As described further herein, in some examples, the image processor unit 110 may also use analytical image reconstruction methods (such as FBP) in addition to the iterative image reconstruction method.

[0017] In some CT imaging system configurations, an x-ray source emits a cone-shaped beam of x-ray radiation that is collimated in the XYZ plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and is commonly referred to as the "image plane." The x-ray radiation beam passes through the object being imaged (such as a patient or subject). After being attenuated by the object, the x-ray radiation beam impinges on an array of detector elements. The intensity of the attenuated x-ray radiation beam received at the detector array depends on the attenuation of the x-ray radiation beam by the object. Each detector element in the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the x-ray beam attenuation at the detector location. The attenuation measurements from all detector elements are acquired separately to create a transmission profile.

[0018] In some CT imaging systems, the X-ray source and detector array are rotated by a gantry around the object to be imaged in an imaging plane so that the angle at which the radiation beam intersects the object is constantly changing. A group of X-ray radiation attenuation measurements (e.g., projection data) obtained from the X-ray detector array at a certain gantry angle is called a "view." A "scan" of an object includes a set of views made at different gantry angles, or view angles, during one rotation of the X-ray source and detector. Because the benefits of the methods described herein are contemplated for medical imaging modalities other than CT, the term "view" is not limited herein to use with projection data obtained from one gantry angle, as described above. The term "view" is used to refer to a single data acquisition whenever there are multiple data acquisitions from different angles, whether from CT, positron emission tomography (PET), or single-photon emission CT (SPECT) acquisitions, and / or any other modalities, including modalities yet to be developed, as well as combinations thereof in fusion embodiments.

[0019] The projection data is processed to reconstruct an image corresponding to a two-dimensional slice taken through the object, or, in some cases where the projection data includes multiple views or scans, a three-dimensional rendering of the object. One method for reconstructing an image from a set of projection data is known in the art as filtered backprojection. Reconstruction techniques for transmission and emission tomography also include statistical iterative methods, such as maximum likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) and ordered-subsets expectation-reconstruction techniques, as well as iterative reconstruction techniques. This process converts the attenuation measurements from the scan into integers called "CT numbers" or "Hounsfield numbers." This integer is used to control the brightness of the corresponding pixel on a display device.

[0020] To reduce the total scan time, a "helical" scan can be performed by moving the patient while acquiring the data for the desired number of slices. In such a system, a cone-beam helical scan generates a spiral. The spiral traced by the cone beam generates projection data from which images for each desired slice are reconstructed.

[0021] As used herein, the phrase "reconstructing an image" is not intended to exclude embodiments of the present disclosure in which data representing an image is generated but no displayable image is generated. Thus, as used herein, the term "image" broadly refers to both a displayable image and data representing a displayable image. However, many embodiments generate (or are configured to generate) at least one displayable image.

[0022] In one embodiment, the table 114 includes a cradle interface pad 116 that can be combined with one or more of the pads to position and / or tilt the table 114 to image anatomical structures. In the example of FIG. 1 , the cradle interface pad 116 supports the head. In other examples, the cradle interface pad 116 may support limbs (e.g., arms, wrists, legs, and / or ankles). Previous head holders have been bulky, complicated, or have the potential for pinching of the medical professional and / or patient working with the cradle interface pad 116. Furthermore, previous examples have required significant operator effort, making the process cumbersome and time-consuming. If the patient moves their head while positioned in the previous head holder, the adjustment mechanism may be released, causing the head holder to change position. This could result in the patient slipping off the table and falling into the CT gantry. Furthermore, previous examples have required a different support system for positioning the patient's limbs than the support system used to position the patient's head. Therefore, when switching from imaging the head to imaging the limbs, the head holder may be removed from the table 114 and the limb holders may be installed on the table 114, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. Previous head holders that allow different angles to be set are bulky, complicated, or lack automatic adjustment capabilities. Furthermore, previous examples require significant operator effort, making the process cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, previous examples require the operator to use both hands to adjust the head holder. If the patient moves their head while it is positioned in the previous head holder, the adjustment mechanism may be disengaged, changing the angle at which the patient's head and / or limbs are positioned. This may result in the patient being exposed to undesirable levels of X-ray radiation (e.g., exposing the patient's eyes and / or organs outside the region of interest to X-ray radiation). Furthermore, adjusting the head holder to position the patient's head and / or limbs at different angles is complex and may require, for example, a mechanical lock and pin mechanism.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as described in further detail below with respect to FIG. 3A and subsequent figures, the cradle interface pad 116 can be configured to support the patient's head and / or limbs at various angles. The cradle interface pad can be used in combination with a patient interface pad (e.g., a patient interface head pad or a patient interface limb pad) and, optionally, at least one angled positioning pad positioned in a concave recess in the cradle interface pad. Using different combinations of pads allows for various inclinations or angles relative to the imaging exam. Additionally, the cradle interface pad can include at least one attachment portion that allows the cradle interface pad to be coupled to a table (e.g., table 114 of CT imaging system 100). By configuring the at least one attachment portion as a hook, the cradle interface pad can be easily coupled to the table and positioned at points along the length of the table, thereby allowing for patient positioning where patient positioning may be difficult, inadequate, and / or impractical with conventional support systems. The cradle interface pad includes a curved base that allows the cradle interface pad to be placed in surface contact with the table, thereby reducing undesirable angles of the patient's head and / or extremities. In some embodiments, straps may be used in combination with the cradle interface pad to secure the patient's anatomy to the cradle interface pad.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary imaging system 200 similar to the CT imaging system 100 of FIG. 1. In aspects of the present disclosure, the imaging system 200 is configured to image a subject 204 (e.g., subject 112 of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the imaging system 200 includes a detector array 108 (see FIG. 1). The detector array 108 further includes a plurality of detector elements 202. The plurality of detector elements 202 sense an x-ray radiation beam 106 (see FIG. 2) passing through the subject 204 (e.g., a patient) to acquire corresponding projection data. Thus, in one embodiment, the detector array 108 is fabricated in a multi-slice configuration including multiple rows of cells or detector elements 202. In such a configuration, one or more additional rows of detector elements 202 are arranged in a parallel configuration to acquire projection data.

[0025] In certain embodiments, imaging system 200 is configured to move through different angular positions around object 204 to acquire desired projection data. Thus, gantry 102 and the components mounted on the gantry may be configured to rotate about center of rotation 206 to acquire projection data at different energy levels, for example. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the projection angle changes as a function of time relative to object 204, the mounted components may be configured to move along a general curve rather than along a circular arc.

[0026] As the x-ray source 104 and detector array 108 rotate, the detector array 108 collects data of the attenuated x-ray beam. The data collected by the detector array 108 undergoes pre-processing and calibration to condition the data to represent line integrals of the attenuation coefficients of the scanned object 204. The processed data are commonly referred to as projections.

[0027] In some examples, individual detectors or detector elements 202 of the detector array 108 may include photon-counting detectors that record individual photon interactions in one or more energy bins. It should be understood that the methods described herein may also be implemented with energy-integrating detectors.

[0028] The acquired set of projection data can be used for reference material decomposition (BMD). During BMD, the measured projections are converted into a set of material density projections. The material density projections can be reconstructed to form a pair or set of material density maps or images for each reference material, such as bone, soft tissue, and / or contrast map. These density maps or density images can be correlated in order to form a volumetric rendering of the reference material (e.g., bone, soft tissue, and / or contrast agent) in the imaging volume.

[0029] Once reconstructed, the reference material images produced by the imaging system 200 reveal internal features of the subject 204 that are represented by the densities of the two reference materials. The density images can be displayed to show these features. In a traditional approach to diagnosing a medical condition (such as a disease state), or more generally, diagnosing a medical event, a radiologist or physician would review a hard copy or displayed density image to identify features of interest. Such features might include lesions, the size and shape of particular anatomical structures or organs, and other features that would be identifiable in the image based on the skill and knowledge of the individual practitioner.

[0030] In one embodiment, imaging system 200 includes a control mechanism 208 that controls the movement of components, such as the rotation of gantry 102 and the operation of x-ray source 104. In certain embodiments, control mechanism 208 further includes an x-ray controller 210 configured to provide power and timing signals to x-ray source 104. Furthermore, control mechanism 208 includes a gantry motor controller 212 configured to control the rotational speed and / or position of gantry 102 based on imaging requirements.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the control mechanism 208 further includes a data acquisition system (DAS) 214 configured to sample analog data received from the detector elements 202 and convert the analog data to a digital signal for subsequent processing. The DAS 214 may be configured to selectively aggregate analog data from a subset of the detector elements 202 into a so-called macro-detector, as described further herein. The data sampled and digitized by the DAS 214 is transmitted to a computer or computing device 216. In one example, the computing device 216 stores the data in a storage device 218. The storage device 218 may be, for example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a compact disk read / write (CD-R / W) drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive, a flash drive, and / or a solid-state storage drive.

[0032] Additionally, the computing device 216 provides instructions and parameters to one or more of the DAS 214, the X-ray controller 210, and the gantry motor controller 212 to control system operations (e.g., data acquisition and / or data processing). In certain embodiments, the computing device 216 controls system operations based on operator input. The computing device 216 accepts operator input, including commands and / or scanning parameters, for example, by an operator console 220 operably coupled to the computing device 216. The operator console 220 may include a keyboard (not shown) or a touch screen to enable an operator to specify commands and / or scanning parameters.

[0033] 2, more than one operator console 220 may be coupled to imaging system 200, for example, to input or output system parameters, request exams, present data, and / or view images. Additionally, in certain embodiments, imaging system 200 may be coupled through one or more configurable wired and / or wireless networks (e.g., the Internet and / or virtual private networks, wireless telephone networks, wireless local area networks, wired local area networks, wireless wide area networks, wired wide area networks, etc.) to multiple displays, printers, workstations, and / or similar devices located locally or remotely within a facility or hospital or at entirely different locations.

[0034] In one embodiment, for example, imaging system 200 includes or is coupled to a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) 224. In an exemplary embodiment, PACS 224 is further coupled to a remote system, such as a radiology information system, a hospital information system, or an internal or external network (not shown), to allow an operator at another location to provide commands and parameters and / or access image data.

[0035] The computing device 216 uses operator-supplied and / or system-defined instructions and parameters to operate the table motor controller 226. The table motor controller 226 can control the table 114, which can be a motorized patient table. Specifically, the table motor controller 226 can move the table 114 so that the subject 204 is properly positioned in the gantry 102 to acquire projection data corresponding to a target volume of the subject 204.

[0036] As previously mentioned, DAS 214 samples and digitizes the projection data acquired by detector elements 202. Image reconstructor 230 then performs high-speed reconstruction using the sampled and digitized x-ray data. While FIG. 2 illustrates image reconstructor 230 as a separate entity, in certain exemplary embodiments, image reconstructor 230 may form part of computing device 216. Alternatively, image reconstructor 230 may not be present in imaging system 200; instead, computing device 216 may perform one or more functions of image reconstructor 230. Furthermore, image reconstructor 230 may be located locally or remotely and may be operably connected to imaging system 200 using a wired or wireless network. In particular, in one exemplary embodiment, computing resources in a “cloud” network cluster may be used for image reconstructor 230.

[0037] In one embodiment, image reconstructor 230 stores the reconstructed image in storage device 218. Alternatively, image reconstructor 230 may transmit the reconstructed image to computing device 216 for generating patient information useful for diagnosis and evaluation. In some embodiments, computing device 216 may transmit the reconstructed image and / or patient information to a display or display device 232 communicatively coupled to computing device 216 and / or image reconstructor 230. In some exemplary embodiments, the reconstructed image may be transmitted from computing device 216 or image reconstructor 230 to storage device 218 for short-term or long-term storage.

[0038] Although a CT system has been described as an example, it should be understood that the techniques of the present invention can be used with other imaging modalities, such as X-ray imaging systems, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, nuclear medicine imaging systems, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging systems, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging systems, ultrasound imaging systems, and combinations thereof (e.g., multi-modality imaging systems such as PET / CT or PET / MR imaging systems). This description of the CT imaging modality is provided merely as an example of one suitable imaging modality.

[0039] The cradle interface pad can be used with an imaging system having a table, such as that shown in Figures 1-2. In some embodiments, the cradle interface pad can be used in combination with one or more of a plurality of interchangeable pads (e.g., patient interface pads (e.g., patient interface head pads and / or patient interface limb pads) and optionally at least one angled positioning pad) to adjust the tilt angle of the subject's head or limbs relative to a horizontal axis (e.g., see coordinate system 390 below).

[0040] 3A-3C, various views of an example cradle interface pad 300 are shown. As described above, a patient (such as subject 112 of FIG. 1) can place their head on cradle interface pad 300 so that the head is maintained at a desired tilt angle for imaging. CT imaging system 100 represents one exemplary use of cradle interface pad 300. Cradle interface pad 300 can be a non-limiting example of cradle interface pad 116 of FIG. 1.

[0041] The illustrated coordinate system 390 has three axes: an x-axis parallel to the horizontal direction, a y-axis parallel to the vertical direction, and a z-axis perpendicular to the x- and y-axes. For reference, coordinate system 390 is included in FIGS. 3A-6B and 8-10B. Cradle interface pad 300 includes a central axis 399, which lies in the xz plane. Cradle interface pad 300 includes a first end 392 and a second end 396. As will be further described with respect to FIGS. 7A-10B, when cradle interface pad 300 is placed in a CT system (such as CT imaging system 100 of FIG. 1), first end 392 can face toward or away from gantry 102.

[0042] Cradle interface pad 300 is formed by a base 304 and a first wall 306 and a second wall 308 extending from base 304. Base 304 may be a curved base that is substantially flat on a first side 310 but curved on a second side 312, the angle of curvature of second side 312 being complementary to the angle of curvature of a table (such as table 114 in FIG. 1 ) on which cradle interface pad 300 rests. First wall 306 and second wall 308 may be parallel to the y-axis with respect to coordinate system 390. First wall 306 and second wall 308 extend from opposite edges of base 304, and first wall 306 and second wall 308 can act as a boundary to prevent a patient from moving their head and / or limbs laterally (e.g., along the x-axis of coordinate system 390) and dislodging them from cradle interface pad 300. For example, first wall 306 and second wall 308 are disposed at opposite ends of base 304 along length 316 of cradle interface pad 300. First wall 306 is disposed at a first end and second wall 308 is disposed at a second end opposite the first end. The second surface 312 of the base 304 is curved along the length 316, and the second surface 312 of the base 304 can be supported on a flat surface (e.g., a non-curved table) along the central axis 399, while the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 can be unsupported on a flat surface. In some examples, the first wall 306, the second wall 308, and the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300 are formed of an inflexible (e.g., rigid) material (such as carbon fiber or plastic). In other examples, the first wall 306, the second wall 308, and the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300 can be formed of a foam material (such as rubber, polyethylene, polyurethane, or polystyrene foam). The cradle interface pad 300 may be formed from or covered with a non-porous material, which allows the cradle interface pad 300 to be cleaned and disinfected, such as between patient scans.The components of the cradle interface pad 300 may be formed from other materials without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0043] A concave recess 302 is formed between the first wall 306 and the second wall 308, and the concave recess 302 can receive a subject interface pad and, optionally, at least one angled positioning pad, as further described with respect to FIGS. 4A-10B . The first inner surface 318 of the first wall 306 and the second inner surface 320 of the second wall 308 can be curved to form the concave recess 302. In other words, the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 are curved extensions of the first surface 310 of the base 304, flattening as they extend upward. The structure of the first wall 306 can mirror the structure of the second wall 308. Thus, the concave recess 302 can be substantially flat along the central axis 399 and curve laterally to form a U-shape.

[0044] The cradle interface pad 300 further includes an exterior surface 322, which is the outward-facing surface (e.g., exterior surface) of the first wall 306, the base 304 (e.g., the second side 312 of the base 304), and the second wall 408. In some embodiments, the exterior surface 322 includes a fastening portion to which a fastening material can be attached. For example, the fastening material can extend along a width 324 of each of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308. The width 324 can be shorter than the length 316 of the cradle interface pad 300. In some embodiments, the connecting member can include multiple panels of the connecting member. As shown in the example of FIG. 3A , the first wall 306 includes a first panel 314 a, a second panel 314 b, a third panel 314 c, and a fourth panel 314 d of fastening material. Similarly, the second wall 308 can be configured with a panel of fastening material, as shown in Figure 3B, which can couple a positioning strap to the cradle interface pad 300, as further shown herein and in Figures 9A-10B.

[0045] Each of the first wall portion 306 and the second wall portion 308 includes at least one slot extending therethrough, for example, from the outer surface 322 to the first inner surface 318 of the concave recess 302 and from the outer surface 322 to the second inner surface 320 of the concave recess 302. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-10B , the cradle interface pad 300 includes a pair of slots in each of the first wall portion 306 and the second wall portion 308. The first wall portion 306 includes a first slot 326 located above a second slot 328. The second wall portion 308 also includes a first slot (here, a third slot 330) located above the second slot (here, a fourth slot 332). The third slot 330 and the fourth slot 332 are located directly across the central axis 399 from the first slot 326 and the second slot 328, respectively. The second slot 328 and the fourth slot 332 are parallel to the top edges 335 of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308, respectively. The first slot 326 and the third slot 330 have a non-zero angle relative to the top edges 335 of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308, respectively, as further described in FIG. 3B. As further described with respect to FIG. 3B, the first slot 326, the second slot 328, the third slot 330, and the fourth slot 332 each have a first length and a first height. In some embodiments of the cradle interface pad 300, the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 may have more than two slots or fewer than two slots, so long as the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 have an equal number of slots.

[0046] The slot configuration (e.g., first length, first width, and angle (e.g., parallel to the top edge 335 of each wall or at a non-zero angle relative to the top edge 335 of each wall)) is configured to allow a positioning strap 336 to pass through a pair of slots (e.g., first slot 326 and third slot 330, or second slot 328 and fourth slot 332). In some examples, the positioning strap 336 can be inserted into the first slot 326 and third slot 330 to secure the patient's head or limb when positioned at a first angle. In other examples (such as the examples shown in FIGS. 3A-3C ), the positioning strap 336 can be inserted into the second slot 328 and fourth slot 332 to secure the patient's head or limb when positioned at a second angle. The positioning strap 336 can include a receiving portion 338 that secures the positioning strap 336 to a fastening member of a fastening portion on the outer surface 322 of the cradle interface pad 300. 3B , the positioning strap 336 may include a receiving portion 338 on both a first strap end 340 and a second strap end opposite the first strap end. For example, the receiving portion 338 of the positioning strap 336 may be a symmetrical member relative to the fastening material of the fastening portion of the cradle interface pad 300 and may be coupled to the second panel 314 b of the fastening material of at least one of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308. For example, the receiving portion 338 of the positioning strap 336 may be coupled to at least one of the first panel 314 a, the second panel 314 b, the third panel 314 c, and the fourth panel 314 d of the first wall 306 and to at least one of the first panel 314 a, the second panel 314 b, the third panel 314 c, and the fourth panel 314 d of the second wall 308. In some embodiments, the receiving material of receiving portion 338 and the fastening material of first panel 314a, second panel 314b, third panel 314c, and fourth panel 314d can be hook and loop fasteners.The positioning straps 336 can be made of nylon or other bendable / foldable material, and the receiving material of the receiving portion can be attached to the material of the positioning straps 336 .

[0047] At least one attachment portion is attached to each of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 and extends toward the second surface 312 of the base 304. In the example shown in FIG. 3A , a first attachment portion 342 is attached to the first wall 306. It should be understood that a second attachment portion is attached to the second wall 308 in a similar location to the first attachment portion 342, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C . As further illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 7A-7C , a hook configuration on each of the at least one attachment portion allows the at least one attachment portion to connect with a track on a table (such as table 114 in FIG. 1 ) on which the cradle interface pad 300 is placed.

[0048] Cradle interface pad 300 further includes a first handle 344 located on top surface 334 of first wall 306 and a second handle 346 located on top surface 334 of second wall 308. First handle 344 and second handle 346 may be equivalently configured and positioned such that a patient can grasp one or both handles when the patient's head is positioned in concave recess 302 of cradle interface pad 300. By grasping at least one of first handle 344 and second handle 346, the patient's arms can be positioned above the patient's head so that they do not obstruct imaging of the region of interest.

[0049] FIG. 3B shows a side profile 350 of the cradle interface pad 300 as viewed from the x-axis of the coordinate system 390. The side profile 350 shows the second wall 308 having the third slot 330, the fourth slot 332, and the second handle 346, as described in FIG. 3A. As briefly described in FIG. 3A, the second wall 308 is comprised of fastening material (such as the fastening material of the first wall 306). The second wall 308 includes a fifth panel 354a, a sixth panel 354b, a seventh panel 354c, and an eighth panel 354d of fastening material. As shown in FIG. 3B, the positioning strap 336 includes a receiving portion 338 at the second strap end 356. The receiving portion 338 of the second strap end 356 can be used to couple the positioning strap 336 to at least one of the fifth panel 354 a, sixth panel 354 b, seventh panel 354 c, and eighth panel 354 d of the fastening material. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the positioning strap 336 is coupled to the sixth panel 354 b.

[0050] As described in FIG. 3A , each of first wall 306 and second wall 308 is configured with at least one slot through which positioning strap 336 can pass to assist in positioning the patient's head and / or limbs in concave recess 302 of cradle interface pad 300. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A-3C , first slot 326, second slot 328, third slot 330, and fourth slot 332 each have a slot length 360 and a slot height 362, where slot length 360 is greater than slot height 362. In other examples, the slot height may be less than or equal to the slot length, and the slot height and slot length may vary from slot to slot and / or from set to set (e.g., first set of slots in first wall 306 and second set of slots in second wall 308) so long as the slots are sized to allow positioning strap 336 to pass through. 3A, each of first slot 326 and third slot 330 has a non-zero angle relative to the top surface of first wall 306 and second wall 308, respectively. For example, first slot 326 and third slot 330 have angle 364.

[0051] Additionally, second wall 308 has second attachment portion 352 coupled thereto, which can have the same configuration as first attachment portion 342 coupled to first wall 306. The configurations of first attachment portion 342 and second attachment portion 352 are further described in Figures 3C and 7A-7C.

[0052] 3C shows a rear profile 370 of cradle interface pad 300 as viewed from the z-axis of coordinate system 390. Rear profile 370 shows first wall 306, second wall 308, and base 304. As shown, positioning strap 336 passes through second slot 328 and fourth slot 332 and is coupled to cradle interface pad 300 at second panel 314b of fastening material of first wall 306 and sixth panel 354b of second wall 308. In other embodiments, the positioning strap 336 can pass through the first slot 326 and the third slot 330 and / or be coupled to the cradle interface pad 300 by at least one of the first panel 314a, the third panel 314c, and the fourth panel 314d of the first wall 306 and at least one of the fifth panel 354a, the seventh panel 354c, and the eighth panel 354d of the second wall 308.

[0053] The rear profile 370 further illustrates the first attachment portion 342 of the first wall 306 and the second attachment portion 352 of the second wall 308. In some embodiments of the cradle interface pad 300, each of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 can have multiple attachment portions disposed thereon. As briefly described in FIGS. 3A and 3B , the first attachment portion 342 and the second attachment portion 352 can have the same configuration in some embodiments. For example, each attachment portion of the first attachment portion 342 and the second attachment portion 352 can be configured to connect with a track of a table (such as the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 of FIG. 1 ). For simplicity, the configurations of the first attachment portion 342 and the second attachment portion 352 are described herein with reference to the first attachment portion 342, but it should be understood that in some embodiments, the second attachment portion 352 has the same configuration and is attached to the second wall portion 308 in a similar manner.

[0054] The configuration of the first attachment portion 342 can include a mounting portion 372, a curved extension 374 coupled to the mounting portion 372, and a hook end 376 coupled to the curved extension 374. In some embodiments, the first attachment portion 342 is formed as a single continuous piece. The mounting portion 372 can couple the first attachment portion 342 to the outer surface 322 of the first wall 306. As shown in FIG. 3A, the first attachment portion 342 can be positioned below the second panel 314b and between the third panel 314c and the fourth panel 314d. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the curved extension 374 of the first attachment portion extends away from the first wall 306 (e.g., along the x-axis of the coordinate system 390) and toward the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300. The hook end 376 is angled toward the first wall 306 and has an end diameter that is greater than the width of the curved extension 374 and the mounting portion 372. As described further with respect to Figures 7A-7C, the hook end 376 can be positioned in a track on a table (such as the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 of Figure 1) so that the cradle interface pad 300 is coupled to the table. A first distance 378 between a bottom edge 382 of the first wall 306 and the hook end 376 and a second distance 380 between the bottom edge 382 of the first wall 306 and the hook end 376 are sized to accommodate the edge of the table (such as the edge of the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 of Figure 1).

[0055] The cradle interface pad 300 can be a component of a subject positioning kit used to position and secure a patient's head and / or limbs at a desired angle for imaging, for example, performed by a CT imaging device. The subject positioning kit can further include at least one angled positioning pad, a patient interface head pad, and a patient interface limb pad. In some embodiments, the subject positioning kit includes a securing strap for coupling at least one of the angled positioning pad, the patient interface head pad, and the patient interface limb pad to the cradle interface pad 300.

[0056] In some examples, the cradle interface pad 300 can have a receiver 386 in the concave recess 302. The receiver 386 can be made of a hook-and-loop fastener or similar fastening material complementary to the fastening material, as described further herein. In some embodiments, the receiver 386 can extend to have a width 324 (as illustrated in FIG. 3B ) and a planar width 388 of the first surface 310 of the base 304. In other examples, the cradle interface pad 300 can include a first receiver portion adjacent the first end 392 and a second receiver portion adjacent the second end 396, where the first receiver portion and the second receiver portion are non-contiguous along the length of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300. In this manner, a stacking pad (such as an angled positioning pad and / or a patient interface pad) can be coupled to the cradle interface pad 300 by fastening material on the stacking pad that is complementary to the receiving material 386.

[0057] FIGS. 4A through 6B show first, second, and third examples of stacking pads, respectively, that can be included in a subject positioning kit. In one example, the stacking pads can be used alone or in combination (e.g., stacked) to support a patient's head or limbs. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a first example of a subject interface pad, i.e., a patient interface head pad 400 for positioning a patient's head. FIGS. 5A and 5B show a second example of a subject interface pad, i.e., a patient interface limb pad 500 for positioning a patient's limbs. In one example, the patient interface head pad 400 and the patient interface limb pad 500 can position a patient's body part at an angle of approximately 0°. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of an angled positioning pad 600 for increasing the tilt angle of the patient's head or limb relative to the horizontal. In one example, the angled positioning pad can have an angle greater than 0° (e.g., 5°, 10°, 15°, etc.). In another example, the patient interface head pad 400, patient interface limb pad 500, and angled positioning pad 600 may be color coded for ease of use. For example, the patient interface head pad 400 may be green, the patient interface limb pad 500 may be blue, and the angled positioning pad 600 may be red.

[0058] FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of a patient interface head pad 400. In one embodiment, the patient interface head pad 400 can be placed on a head holder of an imaging device (such as the cradle interface pad 116 for the CT imaging system 100 shown in FIG. 1). As another example, the pad can be placed on the cradle interface pad 300 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. In yet another example, the patient interface head pad 400 can be placed directly on a patient table (such as the table 114 in FIGS. 1-2). In one embodiment, the patient interface head pad 400 can support the patient's head at a 0° angle during an examination. For example, when the patient interface head pad 400 is placed on the cradle interface pad 300 or the table 114, the patient's head, positioned on the patient interface head pad 400, can be aligned with the patient's body. The patient interface head pad 400 has a central axis 499, which is located in the xz plane.

[0059] The patient interface head pad 400 includes a head cradle or cradle 402 that can receive a patient's head. The cradle 402 includes a body portion 404, with a first side 406 and a second side 408 extending from the body portion 404. The body portion 404 includes a substantially flat surface or plane 410 that supports the patient's head. The first side 406 and the second side 408 can extend from opposite edges of the body portion 404. The patient interface head pad 400 includes a first end 412 and a second end 414. When the patient interface head pad 400 is placed in a CT system (e.g., placed in the concave recess of the cradle interface pad 116 of FIG. 1 ), the second end 414 faces toward the gantry 102 and the first end 412 faces away from the gantry 102.

[0060] In one embodiment, the dimensions of the patient interface head pad 400 include a first dimension 422 that is greater than a second dimension 424. In other words, the sides 406, 408 of the cradle 402 include a wide first region 428 located near the body portion 404 and a second region 430 that narrows as the sides extend upward along the Y-axis. The wide first region 428 forms a curved portion that joins the second region 430 of the sides 406, 408 to the body portion 404. The third dimension 426 of the cradle 402 (e.g., the height of the cradle) may be less than the first dimension 422 (e.g., the length of the cradle). The cradle 402 is formed with a wall 439 having a material thickness 432. The material thickness 432 of the wall 439 may be substantially the same throughout the patient interface head pad 400. The patient interface head pad 400 shows a width 435 of the body portion 404. In one example, the width 435 of the body portion 404 can be a similar dimension to the second dimension 424 of the sides 406, 408.

[0061] The first end 412 of the cradle includes a first opening 434. The first opening 434 is formed by cutting out a wall 439 between the wider first region 428 and the narrower second region 430 of the sides 406, 408. In some use cases, the first opening 434 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300. The second opening 436 at the second end 414 of the cradle 402 can be perpendicular to the plane of the body portion 404. In some use cases, the second opening 436 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300, as further described in FIGS. 7B, 9A, and 10B. The patient interface head pad 400 includes an outer surface 420. In one embodiment, the outer surface 420 is the outward-facing surface of the first side 406, the body portion 404, and the second side 408. When the patient interface head pad 400 is placed on the cradle interface pad 300, the outer surface 420 is in surface contact with the inner surfaces of the concave recess 302 (e.g., the first side surface 310 of the base 304, the first inner surface 318 of the first wall 306, and the second inner surface 320 of the second wall 308), as further described with respect to Figures 10A and 10B. The inner surface of the cradle includes a flat surface 410 and a side surface 418. A peripheral surface 438 joins the inner surface and the outer surface 420. In one embodiment, the peripheral surface 438 can meet the outer surface 420 at an acute angle.

[0062] 4B shows a bottom view 450 of the patient interface head pad 400. In particular, the bottom view 450 shows the patient interface head pad 400 from the second end 414. The bottom view 450 shows the side surface 418, the outer surface 420, and a portion of the peripheral surface 438 between the side surface 418 and the outer surface 420. In one example, the second opening 436 can be U-shaped.

[0063] A recess 452 formed in the body portion underside 456 of the patient interface head pad 400 can provide a recess into which a fastening material 454 can be positioned. In one embodiment, the recess 452 can be positioned adjacent the second end 414 of the cradle 402. In one embodiment, the fastening material 454 can be a corresponding fastener for engaging with a receiver 386 positioned in the concave recess of the cradle interface pad 300 or a receiver positioned within the cradle of the angled positioning pad (see, e.g., FIGS. 6A and 6B below). For example, the fastening material 454 can make surface contact with the receiver 386 to secure the patient interface head pad 400 to the cradle interface pad 300. In one embodiment, the fastening material 454 can be a hook-and-loop fastener or a similar fastening material complementary to the receiver 386.

[0064] FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of a patient interface limb pad 500. In one embodiment, the patient interface limb pad 500 can be placed on a head holder of an imaging device (such as the cradle interface pad 116 for the CT imaging system 100 shown in FIG. 1). As another example, the patient interface limb pad 500 can be placed in a concave recess of the cradle interface pad 300 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. In yet another example, the patient interface limb pad 500 can be placed directly on a patient table (such as the table 114 in FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the patient interface limb pad 500 can support the patient's head at a 0° angle during an examination. For example, when the patient interface limb pad 500 is placed on the cradle interface pad 300 or the table 114, the patient's limb placed on the patient interface limb pad 500 can be aligned with the patient's body. The patient interface limb pad 500 has a central axis 599, which lies in the xz plane.

[0065] The patient interface limb pad 500 includes a limb cradle or cradle 502 that can support a patient's limb. The cradle 502 includes a body portion 504 having a first side 506 and a second side 508 extending from the body portion 504. The body portion 504 includes a substantially flat surface or plane 510 that supports the patient's limb. The first side 506 and the second side 508 can extend from opposite edges of the body portion 504. The patient interface limb pad 500 includes a first end 512 and a second end 514. When the patient interface limb pad 500 is placed in a CT system so as to be secured to the cradle interface pad 116 of FIG. 1 , the patient interface limb pad 500 can be configured in a first orientation or a second orientation. For example, when in the first orientation, the first end 512 faces the gantry 102, and when in the second orientation, the first end 392 faces away from the gantry 102. Further details describing the configuration of the patient interface limb pad 500 are set forth in Figures 8A and 8B.

[0066] In one example, when viewed along the z-axis, the sides 506, 508 of the patient interface limb pad are generally trapezoidal. For example, the second side 508 and the first side 506 (e.g., mirror image of the second side 508) are formed with a first side 542 in a first dimension 522 that is generally parallel to a second side 544 in a second dimension 524. The first dimension 522 is greater than twice the second dimension 524. The second side 508 includes a first side 546 in a third dimension 526. The first side 546 is disposed generally perpendicular to the first side 542 and the second side 544. The second side 508 of the patient interface limb pad 500 includes a second side 548 in a fourth dimension 550. The second side 548 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the first side 542 and at an obtuse angle relative to the second side 544. The sides 506, 508 of the cradle 502 include a first region 528 proximal to the main body portion 504 and a second region 530 distal to the main body portion 504 along the y-axis. In one embodiment, the width 532 of the main body portion 504 may be greater than the second dimension 524 and less than the first dimension 522 of the sides 506, 508.

[0067] The patient interface limb pad 500 includes a planar surface 510 of the body portion 504, a second inner surface 518 of a first region 528 of the sides 506, 508, a third inner surface 552 of a second region 530 of the sides 506, 508, and an outer surface 520. In one embodiment, the outer surface 520 is the outward-facing surface of the first side 506, the body portion 504, and the second side 508. The outer surface 520 of the patient interface limb pad 500 may be U-shaped. In one embodiment, when the patient interface limb pad 500 is placed in the cradle interface pad 300, the outer surface 520 may be in surface contact with the inner surfaces of the concave recess 302 (e.g., the first surface 310 of the base 304, the first inner surface 318 of the first wall 306, and the second inner surface 320 of the second wall 308). A peripheral surface 538 joins the inner surfaces 510 , 518 , 552 and the outer surface 520 .

[0068] The cradle first end 512 includes a first opening 534. The first opening 534 forms part of a peripheral surface 538 that includes a ridge 554, an angled first surface 556, and an angled second surface 558. In some examples, the first opening 534 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300, as further described with respect to FIGS. 8A-8B . The second opening 536 in the second end 514 of the cradle 502 can be substantially perpendicular to the plane 510 of the body portion 504. In some examples, the second opening 536 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad.

[0069] 5B shows an underside view 560 of the patient interface limb pad 500. The underside view 560 shows the second opening 536 of the patient interface limb pad 500 as viewed from the second end 514. The underside view 560 shows the second inner surface 518, the third inner surface 552, the outer surface 520, and the peripheral surface 538 therebetween.

[0070] The patient interface limb pad 500 is formed with walls 561 having a non-uniform material thickness. For example, the walls 561 can be formed to have a first thickness 562 in a first region 528 of the pad. The walls 561 increase to a second thickness 566 in a second region 530 of the sides 506, 508. In other examples, the patient interface limb pad may be formed with walls having approximately the same material thickness throughout.

[0071] The second opening 536 has a U-shaped outer edge 570 and an irregular inner edge 572. The inner edge 572 of the second opening 536 is narrow near the body portion 504, widens toward the top 568 of the side portions 506, 508, and is narrowest at the transition 584 between the first region 528 and the second region 530 of the side portions 506, 508. For example, the inner edge 572 can be width 532 near the body portion 504, narrow to a second width 574 at the transition 584, and increase to a third width 576 toward the top 568 of the side portions 506, 508.

[0072] A recess 578 formed in the body portion underside 580 can provide a recess into which a fastening material 582 can be positioned. In one embodiment, the recess 578 can be positioned adjacent the second end 514 of the cradle 502. In one embodiment, the fastening material 582 can be a corresponding fastener for engaging with a receiver positioned in the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300 (see, e.g., FIG. 3C ) or a receiver positioned within the cradle of the angled positioning pad (see, e.g., FIGS. 6A and 6B below). For example, the fastening material 582 can interface with the receiver 386 to secure the patient interface head pad to the cradle interface pad 300. The fastening material 582 can be a hook-and-loop fastener or a similar fastening material that is complementary to the receiver 386.

[0073] FIG. 6A is a front perspective view of an angled positioning pad 600. In one embodiment, the angled positioning pad 600 can be placed on a head holder of an imaging device (such as the cradle interface pad 116 for the CT imaging system 100 shown in FIG. 1). As another example, the angled positioning pad 600 can be placed in a concave recess of the cradle interface pad 300 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. In yet another example, the angled positioning pad 600 can be placed directly on a patient table (such as the table 114 in FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the angled positioning pad 600 can support a patient's head or limbs at a tilt angle 652 (see FIG. 6B) greater than 0° during an examination. For example, when the angled positioning pad is placed on the cradle interface pad 300 or the table 114, the angled positioning pad can tilt the patient's head or limbs at a positive or negative angle relative to the patient's body. The angled positioning pad 600 has a central axis 699, which lies in the x-z plane.

[0074] The angled positioning pad 600 includes a cradle 602, which in some embodiments can receive a patient's head or limbs. Additionally or alternatively, the angled positioning pad 600 can receive one or more of a patient interface head pad, a patient interface limb pad, or a second angled positioning pad, as described in further detail in FIGS. 7A-10B . The cradle 602 includes a body portion 604 having a first side 606 and a second side 608 extending therefrom. The first side 606 and the second side 608 can extend from opposite edges of the body portion 604. The body portion 604 includes an inner surface 610 that can support a patient or one or more additional pads. The body portion 604 further includes an outer surface 620. In one embodiment, the outer surface 620 is the outward-facing surface of the first side 606, the body portion 604, and the second side 608. A peripheral surface 638 joins the inner surface 610 and the outer surface 620 .

[0075] The angled positioning pad 600 includes a first end 612 and a second end 614. When the angled positioning pad 600 is placed on a CT system, for example, secured to the cradle interface pad 116 of FIG. 1 , the angled positioning pad 600 may be configured in a first orientation or a second orientation. For example, when configured in the first orientation, the first end 612 faces toward the gantry 102, and when configured in the second orientation, the first end 612 faces away from the gantry 102. Further configurations of the angled positioning pad 600 of the subject positioning kit are illustrated in FIGS. 7A-10B . The first end 612 of the angled positioning pad 600 includes a first opening 634. In some examples, the first opening 634 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300, as illustrated in Figures 7A, 8B, and 9B. The second opening 636 in the second end 614 of the angled positioning pad 600 can be positioned substantially perpendicular to the base 641 of the body portion 604. In some examples, the second opening 636 can be substantially flush with the first end 392 or the second end 396 of the concave recess 302, as illustrated in Figures 7B, 8A, and 9A.

[0076] The angled positioning pad 600 is formed with a wall 644 that varies in material thickness throughout. For example, the thickness of the wall 644 may increase from the first end 612 to the second end 614. The thickness of the wall 644 may decrease from an upper portion 646 to a lower portion 648 of the sides 608, 608.

[0077] A first recess 640 is formed in the body portion 604 and can form a recess in which a receiver 642 is positioned. In one embodiment, the first recess 640 can be located adjacent the second end 614 of the cradle 602. In one embodiment, the receiver 642 can be a corresponding fastener that engages with a fastening member (e.g., fastening member 454, 582) of the patient interface head pad 400 and the patient interface limb pad 500. For example, the receiver 642 can be in face-to-face contact with the fastening member 454 to secure the patient interface head pad 400 to the angled positioning pad 600. The receiver 642 can be made of a hook-and-loop fastener or similar receiver that is complementary to the fastening member (e.g., fastening member 454 of the patient interface head pad 400 and / or fastening member 582 of the patient interface limb pad 500).

[0078] 6B shows a cross section 650 of the angled positioning pad 600. In particular, the cross section 650 illustrates an exemplary bevel angle 652 of the body portion 604 and the exemplary fastener. The cross section 650 shows that the thickness of the wall portion 644 increases from the first end 612 to the second end 614, for example, at the bevel angle 652. The bevel angle 652 can support the patient's head or limb at an angle greater than 0° during the examination. In one example, the bevel angle can be 15°.

[0079] In one embodiment, the angled locating pad 600 is generally trapezoidal when viewed along the z-axis. For example, the second side 608 is formed by a first side 654 having a first dimension 662 that is generally parallel to a second side 656 having a second dimension 664. The first dimension 662 is approximately twice the second dimension 664. The second side 608 includes a first side 658 having a third dimension 666. The first side 658 is disposed generally perpendicular to the first side 654 and the second side 656. The second side 608 of the angled locating pad 600 includes a second side 660 having a fourth dimension 668. The second side 660 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the first side 654 and an obtuse angle relative to the second side 656. Second side 608 further includes a rectangular portion 670 having a height in fifth dimension 672 and a length in second dimension 664. Rectangular portion 670 is contiguous with a lower portion 674 of wall 644.

[0080] Cross section 650 shows the recess formed by first recess 640 and receiver 642 disposed therein. Similarly, second recess 676 can form a recess in first side 654 in which fastening material 643 can be disposed. In one embodiment, first recess 640 and second recess 676 can be located adjacent second end 614 of the pad, and fastening material 643 can engage and be secured to receiver 386 disposed in concave recess 302 of cradle interface pad 300 (e.g., as further described in FIGS. 7A-10B ). In one embodiment, fastening material 643 can be made from a hook-and-loop fastener or similar fastening material that is complementary to receiver 386.

[0081] As described above, the subject positioning kit can include a cradle interface pad 300, a patient interface head pad 400, a patient interface limb pad 500, and at least one angled positioning pad 600. The subject positioning kit can be configured to have multiple combinations of angled positioning pads and patient interface pads placed in the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300 depending on the desired imaging anatomy (e.g., head or limb) and the angle at which the anatomy is to be positioned.

[0082] 7A-7C show a first configuration 700 of the subject positioning kit, in which the cradle interface pad 300 is coupled to a table (e.g., the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100) via at least one attachment portion, and the cradle interface pad 300 has two angled positioning pads 600 and a patient interface head pad 400 stacked in a concave recess 302 so that a positive angle is formed. FIG. 7A shows a first view 702, FIG. 7B shows a second view 704, and FIG. 7C shows a third view 706. The first angled positioning pad 710 and the second angled positioning pad 712 are configured as described for the angled positioning pad 600.

[0083] In the first configuration 700, the base 641 of the body portion 604 of the first angled positioning pad 710 is positioned in surface contact with the first surface 310 of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300. As described with respect to FIG. 3C , in some embodiments in which the cradle interface pad 300 includes a receiving material, the fastening material 643 of the first angled positioning pad 710 can mate with the receiving material of the cradle interface pad 300 to secure the first angled positioning pad 710 in the concave recess 302. Additionally, the outer surfaces 620 of the first and second sides 606, 608 of the first angled positioning pad 710 can be in surface contact with the second inner surface 320 of the second wall 308 and the first inner surface 318 of the first wall 306 of the cradle interface pad 300, respectively.

[0084] The base 641 of the body portion 604 of the second angled locating pad 712 is positioned in surface contact with the inner surface 610 of the first angled locating pad 710. The outer surface 620 of the second angled locating pad 712 (including the outer surfaces of the first side 606 and second side 608 of the second angled locating pad 712) can be in surface contact with the inner surface 610 of the first angled locating pad 710. The fastening member 643 of the second angled locating pad 712 can be coupled to the receiving member 642 of the first angled locating pad 710 to couple the first angled locating pad 710 to the second angled locating pad 712.

[0085] The first end 612 of each of the first angled positioning pad 710 and the second angled positioning pad 712 can be positioned to face in the same direction as the first end 392 of the cradle interface pad 300. The first end 392 can face away from the gantry, toward the table of the imaging system (such as the gantry 102 and table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 ). In this manner, the first angled positioning pad 710 and the second angled positioning pad 712 can collectively be at a positive angle 714 relative to the first surface 310 (which is substantially planar) of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300, at which the patient's head can be positioned. For example, if the tilt angle 652 of each of the first angled positioning pad 710 and the second angled positioning pad 712 is 15 degrees, the combination of the first angled positioning pad 710 and the second angled positioning pad 712 can achieve a positive angle 714 equal to 30 degrees.

[0086] In the first configuration 700, the patient interface head pad 400 is shown positioned on top of the second angled positioning pad 712. In other configurations, the patient interface head pad 400 may be replaced with the patient interface limb pad 500. As shown in FIG. 7A , the lower body surface 456 of the patient interface head pad 400 is positioned in surface contact with the inner surface 610 of the second angled positioning pad 712. The outer surface 420 of the patient interface head pad 400 (including the outer surfaces of the first side 406 and second side 408 of the patient interface head pad 400) may be in surface contact with the inner surface 610 of the second angled positioning pad 712. The fastening members 454 of the patient interface head pad 400 may be coupled to the receiving member 642 of the second angled positioning pad 712 to couple the patient interface head pad 400 to the second angled positioning pad 712. Because the body portion 404 of the patient interface head pad 400 is not angled (e.g., comprises a substantially flat or planar surface 410), placing the patient interface head pad 400 on the second angled positioning pad 712 does not increase the tilt angle of the patient's head (e.g., positive angle 714).

[0087] 7B , the first angled positioning pad 710, the second angled positioning pad 712, and the patient interface head pad 400 are aligned in a longitudinal direction 716 with the second end 396 of the cradle interface pad 300. In the first configuration 700, the height of the first side 406 and the second side 408 of the patient interface head pad 400 can extend above the height 718 of the cradle interface pad 300. In other configurations, as described herein, the height of the patient interface head pad 400 cannot extend beyond the height 718 of the cradle interface pad 300.

[0088] As described in Figure 3C, each of the at least one attachment portion attached to each of the first wall portion 306 and the second wall portion 308 is configured to connect with a track on the table. The table can be configured to have a track on a first side of the table and a track on a second side of the table opposite the first side, as shown in Figure 7C. While the attachment of the cradle interface pad 300 to the table by inserting the at least one attachment portion into the track on the table is described herein with respect to the track on the first side of the table, it should be understood that the description herein also applies to the second side of the table.

[0089] FIG. 7C shows the table track 720 in greater detail. An example of a table may be the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 of FIG. 1. The track 720 is configured to have a C-shape, with a top 722 and a bottom 724 of the track 720 forming an inner diameter within which the first attachment portion 342 of the cradle interface pad 300 may be positioned. As further explained in FIG. 7C , a gap between the top 722 and bottom 724 of the track 720 allows the hook end 376 of the attachment portion to slide within the track 720.

[0090] The hook end 376 can slide within the track 720 of the table 114 in the direction indicated by arrow 726. As described in FIG. 3C , the hook end 376 is configured to have an end diameter that is larger than the width of the curved extension 374 and the mounting portion 372. The end diameter (not shown in FIG. 7C ) can be smaller than the diameter 728 of the track 720. This allows the hook end 376 to slide within the track 720 of the table 114 in the direction indicated by arrow 726 and be retained within the track 720, thereby preventing it from sliding laterally out of the track 720 (e.g., along the x-axis of the coordinate system 390). Thus, the hook end 376 is positioned between the top 722 and bottom 724 of the track 720. More specifically, the hook end 376 can be partially enclosed by the track 720. A portion of the hook end 376 is exposed by a gap in the track 720, allowing the hook end 376 to slide along the track 720.

[0091] The angle of curvature of the second surface 312 of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300 is complementary to the angle of curvature of the table 114. This allows the cradle interface pad 300 to be placed in surface contact with the table 114, with no additional pads or interfaces placed between the cradle interface pad 300 and the table 114. This reduces undesirable bumps, curves, or other shapes that may distort the base 304 (and thus the concave recess 302). Thus, a patient's head and / or limbs placed on the patient interface head pad 400 and / or patient interface limb pad 500 can be positioned at a desired angle to image the patient.

[0092] A second configuration 800 of the subject positioning kit is shown in Figures 8A and 8B. The second configuration 800 is similar to the first configuration 700 and includes a first angled positioning pad 810 and a second angled positioning pad 812 (each positioning pad configured as the angled positioning pad 600 of Figures 6A-6B) and a patient interface limb pad 500 nested within the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300. The first angled positioning pad 810, the second angled positioning pad 812, and the patient interface limb pad 500 can be positioned to form a negative angle at which the patient's limbs can be positioned for imaging.

[0093] As described with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C , stacking two angled positioning pads configured as angled positioning pad 600 forms a 30-degree angle with respect to first surface 310 (e.g., substantially planar) of base 304 of cradle interface pad 300, thereby positioning a patient's extremity at a 30-degree angle. As shown in FIG. 8A , first angled positioning pad 810 and second angled positioning pad 812 may have second ends 614 oriented in the same direction as first end 392 of cradle interface pad 300 and aligned in longitudinal direction 816 with first end 392 of cradle interface pad 300. Second end 396 of cradle interface pad 300 may face toward an imaging system gantry (such as gantry 102 of CT imaging system 100 described in FIG. 1 ) and away from an imaging system table (such as table 114 of CT imaging system 100 described in FIG. 1 ). From another perspective, the first angled positioning pad 810, the second angled positioning pad 812, and the patient interface limb pad 500 may be positioned in the concave recess 302 at an orientation rotated 180 degrees compared to the arrangement of the first angled positioning pad 710, the second angled positioning pad 712, and the patient interface head pad 400 in the first configuration 700. In this manner, the arrangement of the second configuration 800 (including the first angled positioning pad 810 and the second angled positioning pad 812) may generally achieve a negative angle 814 relative to the first surface 310 (e.g., substantially planar) of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300. For example, if the tilt angle 652 of each of the first angled positioning pad 810 and the second angled positioning pad 812 is 15 degrees, the first angled positioning pad 810 and the second angled positioning pad 812 may combine to achieve an angle of 30 degrees. The cradle interface pad 300 is positioned so that the second end 396 faces towards the gantry and away from the table 114 .

[0094] In some examples, a binding strap 820 can be used to couple the first angled positioning pad 810, the second angled positioning pad 812, and the patient interface limb pad 500 to each other and to the cradle interface pad 300. The binding strap 820 can be included in a subject positioning kit or can be used in other configurations (such as those described in FIGS. 7A-7C, 9A-9B, and 10A-10B). The binding strap can be similar to the positioning strap 336 and can include a receiving portion on a first side 826 of the binding strap 820 at both the first strap end 822 and the second strap end 824 opposite the first strap end 822. The binding strap 820 can further include a fastening portion on a second side 826 of the binding strap 820 opposite the first side 826 of the binding strap 820 at both the first strap end 822 and the second strap end 824. For example, the receiving portion of the connecting strap 820 can be a receiving member that corresponds to the fastening member of the fastening portion. The receiving member can also be a complementary member that corresponds to the fastening member 643 of the angled positioning pad 600, the fastening member 454 of the patient interface head pad 400, and the fastening member 582 of the patient interface limb pad 500. The fastening member can also be a complementary member that corresponds to the receiving member 386 of the cradle interface pad 300 and the receiving member 642 of the angled positioning pad 600. As shown in FIG. 8A , this configuration allows the first strap end 822 of the connecting strap 820 to be positioned between the patient interface limb pad 500 and the second angled positioning pad 812, with the receiving portion coupled to the fastening member 582 of the patient interface limb pad 500 and the fastening portion coupled to the receiving member 642 of the angled positioning pad 600.The second strap end 824 of the coupling strap 820 can be positioned between the first angled positioning pad 810 and the cradle interface pad 300, with the receiving portion coupled to the fastening material 643 of the first angled positioning pad 810 and the fastening portion coupled to the receiving material 386 of the cradle interface pad 300.

[0095] The weight of a patient's limb placed on the patient interface limb pad 500 can compress the respective fastening and receiving materials, eliminating any undesirable bumps, bends, or other shapes that could distort the angle formed by the first angled positioning pad 810 and the second angled positioning pad 812. Thus, a patient's limb placed on the patient interface limb pad 500 can be positioned at a desired angle to capture an image of the patient, without the angle of the patient's limb changing due to movement of the first angled positioning pad 810, the second angled positioning pad 812, and / or the patient interface limb pad 500 during capture.

[0096] 9A and 9B , a third configuration 900 of the subject positioning kit includes one angled positioning pad 910 configured as the angled positioning pad 600 and a patient interface head pad 400 nested within the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300. A rear view 920 of the third configuration 900 is shown in FIG. 9B . The angled positioning pad 910 is coupled to the cradle interface pad 300 and the patient interface head pad 400 by fastening members 643 and receiving members 642, as described in FIGS. 7A-8B . The angled positioning pad 910 forms a 15-degree angle with respect to the patient interface head pad 400. The second end 396 of the cradle interface pad 300 can face toward an imaging system gantry (such as the gantry 102 of the CT imaging system 100 described in FIG. 1 ) and away from an imaging system table (such as the table 114 of the CT imaging system 100 described in FIG. 1 ). In this manner, the angled positioning pad 910 can achieve a positive angle 914 for positioning the patient's head relative to the first surface 310 of the base 304 of the cradle interface pad 300. For example, if the tilt angle 652 of the angled positioning pad 910 is 15 degrees, then placing the patient interface head pad 400 on the angled positioning pad 910 can result in the patient's head being at a 15 degree tilt angle. As further shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the positioning strap 336 can be threaded through the first slot 326 in the first wall 306 and the third slot 330 in the second wall 308.

[0097] 10A and 10B, a fourth configuration 1000 of the subject positioning kit includes a patient interface head pad 400 positioned within the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300, forming a negligible angle. A rear view 1020 of the fourth configuration 1000 is shown in FIG. 10B. The patient interface head pad 400 can be coupled to the cradle interface pad 300 by engaging the fastening members 454 of the patient interface head pad 400 with the receiving members 386 of the cradle interface pad 300. Thus, the lower body surface 456 of the patient interface head pad 400 is in surface contact with the concave recess 302 of the cradle interface pad 300. The fourth configuration 1000 can be used when it is desirable to position the patient's head approximately horizontal during imaging.

[0098] 7A-10B illustrate several possible configurations of the subject positioning kit, including, but not limited to, other possible combinations of angled pads and interface pads. In each configuration, positioning straps 336, such as those described in FIGS. 3A-3C, can be used to assist in positioning the patient's head and / or limbs on the patient interface head pad 400 or patient interface limb pad 500. The slots through which the positioning straps 336 extend (e.g., the first slot 326 and the third slot 330, the second slot 328 and the fourth slot 332, or another pair of slots having one slot in the first wall 306 and another slot in the second wall 308) and which fastening panels on each of the first wall 306 and the second wall 308 the positioning straps 336 are coupled to depend on the size of the patient's head and / or limbs, the number of angled positioning pads 600 stacked in the concave recesses 302 of the cradle interface pad 300, and which of the patient interface head pads 400 and patient interface limb pads 500 are used. Furthermore, the coupling straps 820 may be used as described in FIGS. 8A and 8B in any of the above configurations or possibly other configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0099] In one aspect, the cradle interface pad, when used in combination with one or more pads, can position and support a patient's head or limbs to achieve a range of discrete angles. The combination of the pad, color coding, and cradle interface pad allows for quick, accurate, and optimal positioning of the patient's head or limbs. Furthermore, at least one attachment portion of the cradle interface pad allows for simple and seamless positioning and removal of the cradle interface pad from the imaging system table, and allows the patient's head and / or limbs to be secured to the cradle interface pad while the cradle interface pad is positioned on the table. The technical effect of using the cradle interface pad, patient interface pad, and optional angled positioning pad is that an area of ​​interest can be repeatedly scanned while the operator can easily and stably adjust the tilt of the object being scanned with minimal patient discomfort and reduced incidence of pinching, thereby improving the quality of medical imaging.

[0100] In the present disclosure, a first end of the strap is coupled to the first wall by a bonding material, a second end of the strap is coupled to the second wall by a bonding material, and the first end of the coupling strap is further coupled to the bottom of the cradle interface pad and to fastening material of the angled positioning pad or subject interface pad.

[0101] The present disclosure also provides a support for a cradle interface pad for use with an imaging system. The cradle interface pad includes a base having a flat first surface and a curved second surface opposite the first surface, a first wall positioned at a first end of the base and a second wall positioned at a second end of the base, where the first wall, the second wall, and the flat first surface of the base form a concave recess in the cradle interface pad, at least one slot extending through each of the first and second walls, at least one attachment portion attached to each of the first and second walls and extending toward the base, and a handle disposed on an upper surface of each of the first and second walls. In a first embodiment of the system, the at least one slot includes a first slot and a second slot, and the first slot is located above the second slot. A second embodiment of the system optionally includes the first embodiment, wherein the second slot is parallel to the top edge of the first wall and the first slot is inclined at a non-zero angle relative to the top edge of the first wall. A third embodiment of the system optionally includes one or both of the first and second embodiments, and further includes a positioning strap passing through the first slot in the first wall and the second wall and / or a positioning strap passing through the second slot in the first wall and the second wall. A fourth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more or each of the first through third embodiments, wherein each of the at least one attachment portion includes a hook end configured to connect with a track of a table. A fifth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more or each of the first through fourth embodiments, wherein the cradle interface pad is configured with fastening material extending along a length of each of the first wall and the second wall.A sixth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more of the first to fifth embodiments, wherein the concave recess is configured to accommodate a subject interface pad disposed in the concave recess, with a lower surface of a body portion of the subject interface pad in surface contact with the concave recess. A seventh embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the concave recess is configured to accommodate at least one angled positioning pad disposed in the concave recess, with a base of a body portion of the angled positioning pad in surface contact with the first flat surface of the base of the cradle interface pad. An eighth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more of the first to seventh embodiments, wherein an inner surface of the angled positioning pad is configured to accommodate a lower surface of a body portion of the subject interface pad and / or a base of a body portion of a second angled positioning pad, with the second angled positioning pad having the same configuration as the angled positioning pad. A ninth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more or each of the first to eighth embodiments, wherein each of the at least one angled positioning pad and the subject interface pad are coupled using coupling straps and / or fasteners and receiving material between the fasteners.

[0102] The present disclosure also provides a support for a subject positioning kit, the subject positioning kit including a cradle interface pad having a concave depression; at least one angled positioning pad configured to be positioned in a concave recess of the cradle interface pad; and and a subject interface pad configured to be disposed in a concave recess of the cradle interface pad, the subject interface pad further configured to be disposed in surface contact with an inner surface of the at least one angled positioning pad. In a first embodiment of the system, in a first configuration, a lower surface of a body portion of the subject interface pad is disposed in surface contact with an interior surface of a first angled positioning pad of the at least one angled positioning pad, and a base of a body portion of the first angled positioning pad is disposed in surface contact with an interior surface of a second angled positioning pad of the at least one angled positioning pad, and / or is disposed in surface contact with the concave recess of the cradle interface pad. A second embodiment of the system optionally includes the first embodiment, wherein when the base of the body portion of the first angled positioning pad is in surface contact with the interior surface of the second angled positioning pad, the base of the body portion of the second angled positioning pad is in surface contact with the concave recess of the cradle interface pad. A third embodiment of the system optionally includes one or both of the first and second embodiments, wherein the subject interface pad is configured to have fastening material on an underside of a main body portion of the subject interface pad, and the concave recess of the cradle interface pad and the interior of the at least one angled positioning pad are each configured to have receiving material complementary to the fastening material of the subject interface pad, and the subject interface pad is coupled to the concave recess of the cradle interface pad and / or the interior of the at least one angled positioning pad by engaging the fastening material with the receiving material.A fourth example of the system optionally includes the or each of the first through third examples, wherein the at least one angled locating pad is further configured with fastening material at a base of a body portion of the angled locating pad, wherein the angled locating pad is coupled to a concave recess of the cradle interface pad by engaging the fastening material of the angled locating pad with a receiving material of the cradle interface pad, and wherein the angled locating pad is coupled to a second angled locating pad having the same configuration as the angled locating pad by engaging the fastening material of the angled locating pad with a receiving material of the second angled locating pad. A fifth embodiment of the system optionally includes one or more of the first through fourth embodiments, wherein in the second configuration, a first end of at least one angled positioning pad is positioned to face in the same direction as a first end of the cradle interface pad to form a positive angle, and in the third configuration, a first end of at least one angled positioning pad is positioned to face in the same direction as a second end of the cradle interface pad opposite the first end to form a negative angle.

[0103] The present disclosure also provides support for a system. The system includes a patient table and a cradle interface pad selectively coupled to the patient table, the cradle interface pad including a concave recess formed by a base, a first wall, and a second wall opposite the first wall, and at least one attachment portion attached to each of the first wall and the second wall, the at least one attachment portion extending toward the base. In a first embodiment of the system, each attachment portion of the at least one attachment portion includes a mounting portion connecting the at least one attachment portion to the first wall or the second wall, a curved extension coupled to the mounting portion, and a hook end coupled to the curved extension, the hook end being formed as a hook end having an end diameter. In a second embodiment of the system, optionally including the first embodiment, the patient table is configured with a track having a top and a bottom, the track forming a C-shape with an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the end diameter of the hook end. In a third embodiment of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second embodiments, the cradle interface pad is coupled to the patient table when the hook end is positioned on the inner diameter of the track between the top and bottom of the track.

[0104] As used herein, elements or steps described in the singular and preceded by the words "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding a plurality of elements or steps, unless the exclusion is expressly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the invention do not exclude the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, unless expressly stated to the contrary, embodiments "comprising," "including," or "having" an element or elements having a particular characteristic may include additional elements that do not possess that characteristic. The terms "including" and "in which" are used as the plain-language equivalents of the terms "comprising" and "wherein," respectively. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a specific positional order on objects.

[0105] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also enables any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems, and performing any methods incorporated therein. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they contain structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or equivalent structural elements that do not differ substantially from the literal language of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 110 Image Processor Unit 114 Tables 210 X-ray controller 212 Gantry motor controller 216 Computing Devices 218 Storage device 220 Operator Console 226 Table Motor Controller 230 Image Reconstructor

Claims

1. An interface pad (300) for a cradle for use with an imaging system, comprising: a base (304) having a flat first surface (310) and a curved second surface (312) opposite the flat first surface; a first wall (306) positioned at a first end of the base and a second wall (308) positioned at a second end of the base, the first wall, the second wall, and a flat first surface of the base forming a concave recess in the cradle interface pad; at least one slot (326, 328, 330, 332) extending through each of the first wall and the second wall; at least one attachment portion (342, 352) attached to each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion, the at least one attachment portion extending toward the base portion; and a handle (344, 346) disposed on the upper surface of each of the first wall and the second wall; Includes interface pad for cradle.

2. 2. The interface pad for a cradle of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot includes a first slot and a second slot, the first slot being located above the second slot.

3. 3. The cradle interface pad of claim 2, wherein the second slot is parallel to a top edge of the first wall and the first slot is inclined at a non-zero angle relative to the top edge of the first wall.

4. 3. The interface pad for a cradle of claim 2, further comprising a positioning strap passing through the first slot in the first wall and the second wall and / or a positioning strap passing through the second slot in the first wall and the second wall.

5. The cradle interface pad of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one attachment portion includes a hook end configured to connect with a track of a table.

6. 2. The cradle interface pad of claim 1, wherein the cradle interface pad is configured to have fastening material extending along the width of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

7. 2. The cradle interface pad according to claim 1, wherein the concave recess is configured so that a subject interface pad is placed in the concave recess, and the underside of the main body of the subject interface pad is in surface contact with the concave recess.

8. 2. The cradle interface pad of claim 1, wherein the concave recess is configured to receive at least one angled positioning pad, the base of the body of the angled positioning pad being in surface contact with the flat first surface of the base of the cradle interface pad.

9. 9. The cradle interface pad of claim 8, wherein the angled positioning pad and patient interface pad are coupled together using a coupling strap, the coupling strap including a receiving portion on a first side of the coupling strap and a fastening portion on a second side of the coupling strap opposite the first side, the receiving portion coupled to a fastening material on the patient interface pad, and the fastening portion coupled to a receiving material on the angled positioning pad.

Images