C-Arm Anti-Collision via Patient Surface Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging systems with moveable parts, such as C-arm x-ray systems, face challenges in preventing collisions with patients due to insufficient response times and increased braking demands at faster movement speeds, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
Integration of sensors, such as ultrasound, optical, or electromagnetic sensors, to detect patient surface areas and control the movement of moveable parts based on calculated distances, allowing for precise and rapid adjustments to avoid collisions without mechanical contact or high computing demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective zone encasing the patient is defined and the C-arm is slowed down when approaching this zone, then collision risk is reduced, but the movement time increases unnecessarily especially for patients of low weight
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniform protective zone for all patients, the system adapts the protective zone dimensions and position to match the specific patient's body surface geometry. The control device calculates individualized minimal distances from the C-arm to various surface areas of the patient, creating a customized protective zone that closely follows the patient's actual contours. This ensures collision protection is applied only where genuinely needed, eliminating unnecessary slowing down in areas where the standardized ellipsoid protective zone creates excessive clearance.
2Reliability
If capacitative sensors are used to detect patient proximity and slow down the C-arm, then collision risk is reduced, but the sensor coverage is minimal and rapid movements can still result in collision
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical contact-based mechanical position indicators with a field-based detection approach. The control device calculates minimal distances based on the detected patient surface geometry and the C-arm's position, creating a virtual protective zone without requiring extensive physical sensor coverage. This computational approach provides comprehensive collision protection across the entire patient volume while maintaining simple sensor requirements.
3Speed
If mechanical position indicators are used as a final safety device, then collision is stopped immediately upon contact, but the response time is insufficient for increasingly faster movements of the moveable part
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary calculations of minimal distances from the C-arm to the patient's surface areas before actual contact occurs. By continuously monitoring the C-arm's position and the patient's surface geometry, the system identifies approaching trajectories and triggers deceleration or stopping actions in advance, well before mechanical contact would occur. This proactive approach provides sufficient response time even for fast movements, eliminating the need for reactive mechanical safety devices.
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 enables a faster, more precise, and simpler anti-collision system, reducing the risk of collisions and system complexity, while maintaining efficient movement and image acquisition in medical imaging.
Implementation Method 1
with at least one sensor (4), in particular an ultrasound sensor, an optical sensor or an electromagnetic sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical imaging system as well as an anti-collision method for the like. With this, the movement of a moveable part, e.g. a C-arm is stopped or slowed down if the part approaches the patient, i.e. falls below a predeterminable minimal distance to specific surface areas of the patient or approaches these. These distances are detected by means of at least one sensor.