X-ray CT Couchtop Positioning for Puncture Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray CT apparatuses face challenges in efficiently positioning a subject for puncture procedures, as they struggle to move the couchtop to optimal positions that allow practitioners to easily perform puncture processes while avoiding contact with the gantry, which limits the precision and ease of medical examinations.
Innovation Solution
The X-ray CT apparatus includes a gantry, couch, and processing circuitry that stores and controls the movement of the couchtop to specific positions based on unique information about practitioners and subjects, allowing for real-time adjustment of the couchtop's position to facilitate puncture procedures by moving it to optimal operation and target positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the couchtop is moved manually to position the subject for puncture procedures, then the practitioner can perform the procedure, but the positioning precision and efficiency are reduced due to lack of automated control
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-stores optimal couchtop positions (target positions and operation positions) for different puncture procedures and practitioners in advance. When a procedure is initiated, the system automatically retrieves and executes the pre-determined positioning parameters, eliminating the need for manual trial-and-error positioning and achieving high precision without complex real-time control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The couchtop positioning system automatically adjusts the subject's position based on stored programmatic instructions without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously navigating the couchtop to predetermined coordinates, reducing the complexity of real-time human-operated control while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
2Speed
If the acquisition rate of projection data is decreased to enable real-time CT fluoroscopy, then the image can be displayed in real-time, but the image quality and diagnostic precision are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the acquisition rate of projection data based on the procedural stage. During CT fluoroscopy for real-time guidance, a lower acquisition rate is used to maintain real-time display capability. During critical imaging phases requiring high diagnostic quality, the system automatically increases the acquisition rate to capture sufficient projection data for high-quality reconstruction, thus balancing speed and quality adaptively.
3Reliability
If the couchtop position is not precisely controlled, then the procedure can be performed without sophisticated control systems, but the practitioner may contact the gantry reducing safety and procedure efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the couchtop position during movement and imaging. The processing circuitry compares the actual position with the target position and automatically adjusts the couchtop movement to prevent contact with the gantry. This feedback control ensures procedure safety without requiring overly complex mechanical restraint systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and stores safe operation positions and movement trajectories for the couchtop based on the specific procedure and practitioner characteristics. By having these parameters predetermined, the system guides the couchtop along pre-validated safe paths, preventing contact with the gantry without needing complex real-time collision detection and avoidance algorithms.
4Productivity
If multiple practitioners with different characteristics perform puncture procedures, then the system must accommodate various positions and ergonomics, but without stored information this increases setup time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-stores practitioner-specific information including physical characteristics, preferred positions, and optimal couchtop settings for each practitioner in a database. When a practitioner begins a procedure, the system automatically retrieves their personalized parameters and configures the positioning system accordingly, eliminating time-consuming manual setup and enabling efficient accommodation of multiple practitioners without sacrificing individualized optimization.
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
This solution enables practitioners to easily perform puncture processes by accurately positioning the subject relative to the gantry, enhancing the precision and efficiency of medical examinations and reducing the risk of mechanical interference.
Implementation Method 1
a gantry (10) having an opening provided to be interposed between an X-ray tube (12a) and an X-ray detector (13)
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray CT apparatus includes: a gantry having an opening provided to be interposed between an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector; a couch including driving circuitry for inserting a couchtop on which a subject is placed, into the opening; storage circuitry storing therein pieces of information that are related to puncture positions of the couchtop and correspond to pieces of unique information of practitioners who each apply a manipulation to the subject; and processing circuitry configured, when a first practitioner is to apply the manipulation, to control the driving circuitry so as to move the couchtop to a puncture position indicated by a piece of information related to a puncture position corresponding to a piece of unique information pertaining to the first practitioner, the piece of information being among the pieces of information that are related to the puncture positions and stored in the storage circuitry.