Self-Shielded Breast CT Gantry with Rotating Lead Enclosure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current breast computed tomography (CT) systems pose a safety risk due to radiation exposure, requiring large, expensive shielding of entire rooms, which is costly and limits facility usage.

Innovation Solution

A self-shielded CT system with an x-ray shield enclosure made from high-Z materials like lead or tungsten, fully enclosing the x-ray source and detector, allowing for rotation and reducing radiation leakage to safe levels without additional shielding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breast CT systems are used with rotating x-ray source around pendant breast, then breast imaging function is achieved, but radiation exposure risk to workers increases requiring expensive room shielding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreast imaging functionVSAvoidradiation exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful x-ray source is extracted from the traditional room environment and enclosed within a self-shielding gantry assembly. The x-ray tube is positioned inside a lead-lined enclosure that rotates with the gantry, isolating the radiation source from the surrounding workspace and eliminating the need for extensive room shielding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A lead-lined shielding enclosure acts as an intermediary between the x-ray source and the surrounding environment. This enclosure absorbs and blocks radiation, allowing the x-ray source to operate safely within the gantry while protecting workers and equipment outside the gantry area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If heavy shielding on all four walls, floor, and ceiling is implemented, then radiation safety is ensured, but system footprint and facility cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation safetyVSAvoidfacility footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing uniform shielding throughout the entire room, shielding is concentrated locally at the source of radiation - within the gantry assembly. The lead-lined enclosure is positioned only where the x-ray tube rotates, providing protection exactly where needed while leaving the rest of the facility space unrestricted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The gantry assembly provides self-shielding through its integrated lead-lined enclosure. The shielding structure is attached to and rotates with the gantry, making the gantry itself protective rather than requiring separate room-wide shielding infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If specially constructed x-ray screening rooms with heavy shielding are built, then radiation worker safety is improved, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation worker safetyVSAvoidshielding system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding function is merged with the gantry assembly structure. The lead-lined enclosure is integrated into the gantry's rotating mechanism, combining the support structure and radiation protection into a single unified assembly rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system minimizes radiation exposure to users and workers, eliminating the need for extensive room shielding, thus reducing costs and maintaining safety standards while allowing for efficient breast imaging.

Implementation Method 1

the x-ray shield enclosure attenuates x-rays from said x-ray source sufficiently for users of said system to be in a vicinity of said x-ray shield enclosure during operation of said system without further shielding while complying with radiation safety

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11540789B1Self-shielded x-ray computed tomography system

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 IZOTROPIC CORP

AI summary

A system for breast computed tomography includes a table supporting a patient in a prone position with an opening positioned for a breast of the patient to extend downwards therethrough, a gantry assembly positioned beneath the table with a platform driven to rotate by a motor, an x-ray source assembly coupled to the platform to rotate therewith and positioned to irradiate with an x-ray beam at least a portion of the breast, and a detector assembly coupled to the platform to rotate therewith and positioned to receive the x-ray beam from the x-ray source assembly. The system includes a shielding enclosure rigidly mounted atop the platform to rotate therewith, enclosing during rotation of the platform the detector assembly, the breast, and the x-ray beam, and having walls composed of a material and a thickness to attenuate an x-ray beam of a predetermined energy and intensity by a predetermined amount.