Automatic Collimator Installation Cart for SPECT Scanner Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual installation and removal of collimators in nuclear medicine SPECT devices are time-consuming and labor-intensive, necessitating an automated solution for improved efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An automatic collimator installation system comprising a cart equipped with a processor, storage medium, and navigation algorithms, which identifies the target collimator, transports it from a storage device to a medical scanner, and automatically aligns and installs it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual installation of collimators is used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but installation time and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cart system performs self-navigation and self-alignment to the detector without requiring manual intervention. The navigation algorithm automatically guides the cart to the correct position, and the alignment mechanism automatically positions the collimator relative to the detector, enabling the system to serve itself in the installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical installation process is replaced with an automated cart-based system that uses navigation algorithms (laser, visual, or inertial) to guide positioning. The mechanical alignment is automated through the cart's positioning mechanism, substituting manual mechanical operations with an automated system.
2Measurement precision
If manual alignment of collimator with detector is performed, then alignment accuracy can be controlled by operator skill, but alignment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation algorithm performs preliminary positioning by calculating the correct location before the actual alignment occurs. The cart is guided to the pre-calculated position based on the detector's location, and the alignment mechanism is pre-positioned, so that when alignment occurs, it is already accurately positioned, reducing the time needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment process uses feedback from sensors (laser, visual, or inertial) to continuously monitor and adjust the cart's position. The navigation algorithm receives feedback about the cart's actual position versus the target position and automatically adjusts guidance commands to achieve precise alignment, ensuring accuracy while reducing time through automated real-time adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to automatic collimator installation systems and methods. An automatic collimator installation method may include obtaining an installation instruction for installing a target collimator into a medical scanner; identifying, from a plurality of collimators stored in a collimator storage device, the target collimator based on the installation instruction; using a cart to transport the target collimator from the collimator storage device to the medical scanner; and automatically installing, using the cart, the target collimator into the medical scanner.