Cage-Type CT Scanner Reducing Vibration and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bedside CT scanners are cumbersome and inefficient for field operations due to their large size, high vibration, and power requirements, limiting their use in hostile environments and emergency situations, and existing mobile scanners face issues with dynamic balance and mechanical efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cage-type CT scanner design with a reduced rotation arc and vibration amplitude, featuring a rack, slewing bearing, and turbine assembly for reduced weight and volume, eliminating the need for a crawler and belts, and integrating imaging and processing systems for efficient data transmission and image reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a large ring structure is used as the rotating member in mobile CT scanners, then the mechanical stability is improved, but the volume and weight increase, reducing maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating member is divided into a cage-type structure with multiple rotating accessories (first rotating accessory, second rotating accessory, and ridge) instead of a solid large ring. This segmentation reduces the overall volume and weight while maintaining structural stability through the distributed framework design.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a traditional solid ring structure that rotates around a central axis, the invention inverts the design by creating a cage-type structure where the rotating accessories are positioned on the periphery and connected by ridges, effectively inverting the mass distribution to reduce moment of inertia and improve maneuverability.
2Measurement precision
If the turntable is heavily loaded by the X-ray source and detector, then the imaging function is improved, but the mechanical efficiency of the engine deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic turbine assembly that can adjust its operational characteristics based on the load. The turbine assembly with gearwheel engagement provides variable torque transmission, allowing the system to maintain mechanical efficiency even when heavily loaded with X-ray source and detector by optimizing the power transmission ratio during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional belt-driven mechanical transmission is replaced with a turbine assembly and gearwheel mechanism. This substitution eliminates belt slippage and locking issues, providing more reliable and efficient power transmission to the heavily loaded turntable, thereby maintaining mechanical efficiency under heavy imaging loads.
3Ease of operation
If belts and wheels are used for mechanical driving, then the transmission function is improved, but belt slippage and locking occur, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The belt-and-wheel mechanical transmission system is completely replaced with a turbine assembly that directly engages with a gearwheel. This substitution eliminates the soft belt connection that causes slippage and locking, providing a rigid, positive engagement mechanism that ensures reliable and accurate power transmission without the drawbacks of belt-driven systems.
4Volume of moving object
If the rotation arc is reduced to improve maneuverability, then the volume is reduced, but the vibration amplitude increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cage-type rotating member with multiple separated rotating accessories allows for a reduced rotation arc while maintaining balance. The segmented structure distributes the mass more evenly, reducing the vibration amplitude generated during partial rotation and enabling compact design without excessive vibration.
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 design enhances maneuverability, reduces operator workload, and allows for wireless data communication, enabling effective tomography and fluoroscopy in diverse settings, including emergency rooms and field rescues, with improved mechanical efficiency and reduced power demands.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine assembly, arranged on the first rotating accessory in a slanting direction; the gearwheel engaged with the turbine assembly is fixed on the side of the rack that is not the side where the first rotating accessory is
Implementation Method 2
the first rotating accessory is so arranged on the rack through the slewing bearing in a rotatable manner
Implementation Method 3
The X-ray source assembly emits cone beams, and the imaging system scans and images the object by completing dynamic volumetric scanning in one revolution
Implementation Method 4
the detector assembly receives the emergent rays from the X-ray source assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a cage-type CT scanner. The present invention involves reducing the rotation arc of the rotating member and the vibration amplitude of the whole machine by means of reducing the volume and weight of the CT scanner, without reducing the vibration of the CT scanner itself by eliminating eccentric force in transmission via balance correction or by any other means. Moreover, in the present invention, no crawler that realizes mechanical driving is used so as to decrease the parts in the motor's synchronization structure. Such efforts help reduce costs and allow the CT scanner to be suitable for more applications.