Computed Tomography Couch Positioning via Scout-View Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computed tomography scanners in dentistry require manual adjustment of patient positioning, leading to multiple unnecessary x-ray exposures due to inefficiencies in centering the anatomical area of interest during scout-view acquisitions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a computer-controlled positioning system with actuators and a processing unit to automatically adjust the couch along multiple axes based on two-dimensional co-ordinates input by the operator, allowing precise centering of the patient's head within the scanner's field of view without additional radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of patient positioning is used, then the operator can correct position by displacing head manually, but multiple unnecessary x-ray exposures are administered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning adjustment with an automated computer-controlled positioning system. The processing unit automatically calculates and executes positioning corrections based on scout-view images, eliminating the need for manual head displacement and multiple retry acquisitions, thus reducing unnecessary x-ray doses while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service positioning by automatically detecting the anatomical area of interest from scout-views and autonomously adjusting the couch position. The processing unit processes the scout-view images, determines the required displacement, and controls the actuators to reposition the patient automatically, without requiring repeated manual interventions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple scout-view acquisitions are performed for positioning, then the anatomical area can be centered, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by acquiring scout-views and automatically processing them to determine the precise displacement needed before the actual tomography acquisition. The processing unit calculates the required couch displacement based on the scout-view images, allowing the positioning correction to be executed in a single automated step rather than requiring multiple iterative adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the scout-view images as input to automatically determine positioning corrections. The processing unit analyzes the scout-views, calculates the displacement vector, and controls the actuators accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates the need for multiple trial acquisitions by directly using the scout-view information to achieve precise centering.
3Measurement precision
If manual head displacement is performed, then positioning can be corrected, but the operator must perform numerous attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex manual positioning process with an automated computer-controlled system. The processing unit automatically processes scout-view images, calculates the required displacement, and controls the actuators to reposition the patient. This substitution eliminates the need for numerous manual attempts and reduces the positioning process from a complex iterative procedure to a single automated operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
In a computed tomography scanner having a support (3) for supporting an object to be analysed in an area of analysis (5), and a source-detector assembly (4) for emission of a given radiation and for detection of said radiation, which rotates about the area of analysis (5) for acquiring radiographies of the object, the support (3) being mobile with respect to the source-detector assembly (4) along three axes of displacement (18-20), at least one scout-view of the object is acquired via the source-detector assembly (4) and is displayed via a monitor (14), the co-ordinates of a desired point (P) of the object are acquired from the scout-view displayed and are processed to obtain actual displacements to be imparted on the support (3) along the axes of displacement (18-20) so as to centre the object in the area of analysis (5) with respect to the desired point (P), and the support (3) is moved according to said actual displacements by actuating three actuators (21-23).