Automated Diagnostic Imaging Kiosk for Self-Guided Patient Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiological scanning devices require human intervention and are limited to clinical settings due to their bulky nature, restricting access to radiological services, especially in rural or isolated areas, and causing delays in populated areas.
Innovation Solution
An automated diagnostic imaging kiosk that includes a controller to receive patient information, determine imaging settings, verify patient positioning, and obtain diagnostic images without human intervention, enabling radiological scans in non-clinical settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiological equipment is operated by trained medical professionals in clinical settings, then imaging quality and safety are ensured, but access to radiological services is limited and delays occur in populated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The automated kiosk enables patients to perform self-positioning and self-guided imaging procedures without requiring trained medical professionals. The system includes automated body positioning verification and self-service interfaces that allow patients to independently complete the imaging process, eliminating delays caused by professional availability while maintaining imaging quality through automated verification mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radiological equipment is made available in rural or isolated areas, then access to imaging services is improved, but the equipment requires trained professionals to operate which limits deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The kiosk is designed as a self-service system that eliminates the need for trained operators. Patients receive automated guidance, the system automatically verifies positioning, and the imaging process is fully automated. This self-service capability enables deployment in rural and isolated areas where trained medical professionals are scarce, significantly improving access to imaging services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical requirement of human operator intervention with automated electronic control systems. The controller automatically manages imaging parameters, verifies patient positioning using sensors, and coordinates the entire imaging process without human intervention, enabling the equipment to operate independently in locations without trained personnel.
3Productivity
If automated imaging systems are deployed, then access to imaging services is increased and 24/7 operation is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated kiosk is divided into distinct functional modules: patient information intake module, body positioning system with verification module, imaging acquisition module, and result processing module. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall complex system more manageable and easier to implement while enabling 24/7 automated operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If radiological equipment is placed in non-clinical settings, then accessibility is improved, but the equipment is typically bulky and difficult to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is segmented into a compact kiosk unit that can be deployed in non-clinical settings such as pharmacies, retail stores, and community centers. The kiosk integrates all necessary imaging components, positioning systems, and control mechanisms into a space-efficient unit, eliminating the need for bulky clinical-grade equipment while maintaining imaging capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated method and kiosk for obtaining diagnostic images of a patient are provided. The method is performed by receiving personal information about the patient at the automated kiosk, obtaining, with a diagnostic imaging system at the automated kiosk, a first diagnostic image of the patient from a first projection angle relative to at least one body part of the patient, and obtaining, with the diagnostic imaging system, a second diagnostic image of the patient from a second projection angle relative to the at least one body part. The method steps are performed without real-time control of the automated kiosk by another human.