Articulated Touch Screen for Mammography Patient Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mammography apparatuses do not address patient anxiety related to the imaging process, as they lack features to provide information or alleviate fears during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A mammography apparatus with an articulated touch screen user interface that can be positioned to deliver information and allow patient control over the imaging process, enabling guidance and anxiety reduction by displaying relevant information and allowing the patient to control the compression process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed user interfaces are used in mammography apparatuses, then the device structure remains simple, but patient anxiety cannot be alleviated and no information can be provided to patients during procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable, articulated structure that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The interface includes a screen and control elements that can be repositioned to face the patient, allowing information delivery and patient interaction during the procedure, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple structure and providing adaptive patient communication capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If the mammography apparatus includes additional features for patient communication and control, then patient anxiety is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays information to the patient, accepts patient input for controlling the imaging procedure, and provides real-time feedback. This multi-functional design allows the apparatus to reduce patient anxiety and improve ease of operation without requiring entirely separate systems, thereby mitigating the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional imaging procedures are used without patient involvement, then the imaging process is efficient, but patient fears remain unaddressed and procedural success may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated user interface enables real-time feedback between the patient and the imaging system. The patient can observe the imaging process, control compression timing, and receive immediate information about procedure status. This feedback mechanism increases patient confidence and cooperation, thereby improving procedural success rates while justifying the added interface complexity.
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
The solution effectively reduces patient anxiety by providing information and allowing patient control, leading to improved procedural success and comfort during mammography and biopsy procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source and at the second end, a radiation detector
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to mammography apparatuses, especially to the user interfaces of mammography apparatuses. A mammography apparatus according to the invention comprises a certain basic structure and a user interface arrangement placed to this basic structure, the user interface arrangement being implemented to enable aligning of the view of the user interface both such that the view is only visible to the operator of the apparatus and such that a patient positioned for imaging can see it.