CT Gantry Lift-and-Rotate Rail Cart for Dual-Couch Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional CT systems face challenges in efficiently moving a gantry between two treatment areas with opposite patient couches, requiring 180° rotation to align the front side towards each couch, complicating data processing and necessitating complex cable management.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a cart, rail system, rotary bearing, and lifting apparatus allows the gantry to be translated, lifted, and rotated relative to the rail system, enabling 180° alignment without complex cable routing, using a modular lift-and-rotate module for easy installation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the CT system is made mobile to share between two treatment areas, then space requirements and cost are improved, but the complexity of moving and repositioning the gantry increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementsVSAvoidcomplexity of moving gantry

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: a mobile cart carrying the gantry, a rail system for guidance, a lifting apparatus for vertical movement, and a rotary bearing for rotation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall moving mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gantry mounting system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one, enabling the cart to move horizontally along rails, the gantry to lift vertically, and the entire assembly to rotate 180° to access both treatment areas. This dynamic capability allows one CT system to serve two locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the gantry is rotated 180° to align the front side towards each patient couch, then imaging quality and data processing are improved, but the mechanical complexity and cable management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidmechanical complexity and cable management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting apparatus and rotary bearing are combined into an integrated mounting system on the cart. The lifting apparatus raises the gantry, the rotary bearing enables 180° rotation, and then the gantry is lowered into position. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate mechanisms needed and simplifies cable routing compared to conventional fixed installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cart acts as an intermediary platform between the fixed rail system and the movable gantry. It provides a stable base that carries the lifting apparatus and rotary bearing, mediating the complex movements and protecting cables from damage during rotation and positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a fixed CT system is installed in each treatment area, then imaging availability and speed are improved, but cost and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging availabilityVSAvoidcost and space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single CT system is designed to perform the function of two fixed systems by enabling the gantry to access both treatment areas through horizontal movement along rails, vertical lifting, and 180° rotation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for duplicate equipment, reducing cost and space requirements while maintaining imaging availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If conventional fixed mounting is used for the gantry, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different treatment area configurations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables changes in multiple parameters: horizontal position along the rails, vertical height through lifting, and orientation angle through 180° rotation. By controlling these parameters, the same gantry can be precisely positioned for different treatment area configurations while maintaining structural stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260020828A1System with computed tomography gantry and lifting apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

The system includes a cart, a rail system, a rotary bearing and a lifting apparatus. The cart is configured to hold a computed tomography gantry. In a translational operating state of the system, the cart is mounted to be movable along the rail system in a first translational motion along the rail system. The computed tomography gantry, the rotary bearing and the lifting apparatus are each held in the cart such that they follow the first translational motion of the cart. In a transitional operating state of the system, the cart is mounted to be movable, via the lifting apparatus, along a vertical axis of rotation relative to the rail system in a lifting motion, wherein the computed tomography gantry is held in the cart and follows the lifting motion of the cart relative to the rail system.