Adjustable Patient Couch Cushioning for Wide Imaging Bores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging apparatuses face challenges in accommodating patients of varying sizes due to narrower patient couches, leading to uncomfortable positioning, increased preparation time, and potential image artifacts from patient movement, especially in large patient receiving zones.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a cushioning element and side elements that can be adjusted to fit the patient's shape, preventing contact with the apparatus walls and ensuring secure positioning, using motors and actuators for variable movement and inflation/deflation to conform to the patient's body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single model of patient couch is used for multiple imaging apparatuses, then device versatility is improved, but patient comfort and safety deteriorate due to insufficient width coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patient couch width is made dynamically adjustable through extendable side elements that can be moved between retracted and extended positions. This allows the same couch model to adapt to different patient receiving zone sizes while maintaining optimal patient support and safety margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The couch structure is divided into a central fixed section and extendable side elements. This segmentation allows the side elements to be independently adjusted to match different patient receiving zone widths, providing versatility across multiple imaging apparatus models.
2Reliability
If patient couch width is increased to match large patient receiving zones, then patient safety and comfort improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a permanently wide couch that would be unnecessarily complex, the design uses dynamically extendable side elements that only increase width when needed. This maintains simplicity for standard applications while providing enhanced safety for large patient receiving zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The side elements are pre-configured in a retracted state for normal operation, and only extended when required for specific patient sizes or receiving zone configurations. This preliminary positioning minimizes structural complexity while ensuring safety when needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual positioning aids and support wedges are used for each patient, then patient positioning accuracy improves, but preparation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning element automatically adapts to patient body contours through inflation and deflation, eliminating the need for manual positioning aids. The system performs self-positioning by sensing patient presence and adjusting cushioning accordingly, significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical positioning aids (wedges, sandbags, straps) are replaced by an automated pneumatic cushioning system. This substitution eliminates manual intervention while achieving precise patient positioning through automated inflation/deflation cycles.
4Device complexity
If thin flat mattresses are used on patient couches, then device simplicity is maintained, but patient comfort deteriorates especially on wide receiving zones
Solution Approach 1:
The mattress transitions from a static thin flat structure to a dynamic pneumatic cushioning element whose thickness and firmness can be adjusted via inflation and deflation. This parameter change enables the same simple structure to provide differentiated comfort levels across different patient sizes and positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid thin mattress is replaced by a flexible pneumatic cushioning element that can conform to patient body shapes. This flexible structure provides enhanced comfort while maintaining relative simplicity through the use of inflatable chambers rather than complex multi-layer constructions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances patient comfort, reduces preparation time, minimizes image artifacts, and ensures safe, efficient patient positioning for imaging examinations.
Implementation Method 1
using motors and actuators for variable movement and inflation/deflation to conform to the patient's body
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus for an imaging apparatus, including: a patient couch and a cushioning element, wherein the cushioning element is arranged on a surface of the patient couch and forms a receiving surface for a patient, wherein the patient couch is designed to accommodate a patient in a recumbent posture, and wherein the patient support apparatus is designed to transport the patient on the patient couch into a patient receiving zone of the imaging apparatus, wherein a width of the cushioning element along an X direction of the patient support apparatus substantially corresponds to a width of the patient receiving zone at a receiving height for the patient couch.