Couch-Top Display with Reflecting Mirror for MRI Gantry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical diagnostic imaging devices often create a cooped-up feeling for users due to the inability to effectively display images within the gantry space, either because projected images are obstructed by the gantry's material or wearing an eyepiece can be oppressive.
Innovation Solution
A display device comprising a reflecting member with a focusing optical property and a display surface positioned between the focal point and the reflecting surface, fixed to the couch top within the gantry, projects images in a way that they are reflected and viewed by the user, reducing the cooped-up feeling by providing a larger field of view and avoiding direct obstruction by the gantry walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If images are projected on the wall surface of the room, then images can be viewed without wearing an eyepiece, but the images are not visible due to the material used to create the blocking space
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting member (mirror) is introduced as an intermediary to redirect light from the display surface to the user's eyes. The mirror reflects the displayed image to the user while allowing the display surface to remain visible, solving the problem of image visibility through blocking materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The display surface is positioned in a different spatial dimension (between the focal point and reflecting surface) rather than directly on the wall. This creates a virtual image that appears to be in front of the user, bypassing the obstruction problem of wall material.
2Reliability
If the user wears an eyepiece to watch the liquid crystal display, then images are visible, but mounting the eyepiece brings an oppressive feeling
Solution Approach 1:
The eyepiece is removed from the system entirely. Instead of requiring the user to wear an eyepiece, the display surface and reflecting member are configured to create a visible virtual image that can be viewed directly by the user without any additional optical components on the user's face.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system (display surface + reflecting member) is configured to automatically present the image to the user in a viewable format without requiring the user to don any equipment. The system serves the user's viewing need directly through proper optical arrangement.
3Volume of moving object
If the gantry space is enclosed to create a blocking space, then the imaging function is achieved, but the images projected on the wall surface are not visible
Solution Approach 1:
The image presentation is moved from the wall surface (2D plane) to a virtual image in 3D space created by the reflecting member. This allows the image to be viewed from within the enclosed gantry space without being blocked by the enclosure materials.
4Reliability
If the display surface is positioned close to the user to improve visibility, then the user can see images better, but the gantry's inner walls are more perceived
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting member acts as an intermediary that creates a virtual image at a distance from the user. This allows the user to view the image clearly while maintaining a larger perceived space between the user and the gantry walls, reducing the cooped-up feeling.
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 effectively reduces the oppressive feeling for users by projecting enlarged, erect virtual images that are viewable from a distance, minimizing the perception of the gantry's inner walls and maintaining image quality while allowing for user movement within the gantry.
Implementation Method 1
The reflecting member has a reflecting surface and has an optical property that reflected light of parallel light incident on the reflecting surface is focused a focal point
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a display device includes a reflecting member and a display. The reflecting member has a reflecting surface and has an optical property that reflected light of parallel light incident on the reflecting surface is focused a focal point. The reflecting member is fixed to a couch top on which a user lies down. The display has a display surface for displaying an image. The display is fixed to the couch top so that the display surface is positioned between the focal point and the reflecting surface to face the reflecting surface.