Couch Top Pitch and Roll via Universal Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient positioning systems for radiotherapy lack the precision and flexibility to accurately align patients with radiation delivery apparatuses, particularly in providing comprehensive six degrees of freedom for effective cancer treatment while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
Innovation Solution
A patient positioning system incorporating a couch top with a universal joint coupling and actuators that provide pitch and roll movements, equipped with feedback devices for a closed-control loop, allowing for precise vertical translation and independent control of pitch and roll motions, enhancing the system's ability to align patients with radiation delivery apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal joint with actuators is used to provide pitch and roll motion, then the flexibility and precision of patient positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is divided into independent functional modules: a universal joint mechanism providing pitch and roll degrees of freedom, separate actuators for each degree of freedom, and independent feedback devices. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system flexibility and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal joint mechanism serves multiple functions by providing both pitch and roll motion capabilities within a single integrated structure. This multi-functional design achieves six degrees of freedom positioning without requiring separate mechanisms for each degree of freedom, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning versatility.
2Measurement precision
If feedback devices are added to the universal joint and actuators, then the measurement precision and control accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Feedback devices are integrated at the universal joint and actuator levels to provide real-time position information. This feedback enables closed-loop control that automatically compensates for positioning errors, achieving high measurement precision and control accuracy. The feedback system works synergistically with the universal joint mechanism to maintain precision without requiring overly complex control algorithms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the actuator vertical movement is derived from a carriage on a translating inclined plane, then the precision of vertical translation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism replaces direct vertical motion with a carriage translating along an inclined plane. This mechanical substitution transforms the motion generation method, where the inclined plane geometry inherently provides precise vertical translation through controlled linear movement. The approach achieves high manufacturing precision by using geometric constraints rather than complex multi-component mechanisms.
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 achieves precise patient alignment and movement compensation, enabling more effective cancer treatment by providing six degrees of freedom, thus improving the accuracy and safety of radiotherapy by minimizing exposure to healthy tissues.
Implementation Method 1
The vertical movement may be derived from a carriage riding in place on a translating inclined plane
Implementation Method 2
a universal joint coupling the top and the base
Data Source
AI summary
A couch top includes a top, a base, a universal joint coupling the top and the base, and actuators mounted on the base to pitch and roll the top. Feedback devices may be fitted on the rotating ends of the universal joint to provide feedback for a control loop. Each actuator has an actuated end that translates vertically to lift or lower the top. The vertical movement may be derived from a carriage riding in place on a translating inclined plane. When the actuated ends move in the same direction, they pitch the top. When the actuated ends move in the opposite directions, they roll the top. Feedback devices may be fitted on motors in the actuators to provide feedback for the control loop.