CT Gantry Rotor Continuous Rotation Scan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CT scan procedures involve a pause between topogram and main scans due to the need to decelerate and accelerate the gantry rotor, leading to increased waiting times, mechanical wear, and higher current consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing both the topogram scan and the main scan with the gantry rotor rotating, eliminating the need for deceleration and acceleration between scans, and using a control facility to establish settings for parameters based on projection data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotor is decelerated after topogram scan and accelerated before main scan, then the system can perform scans at different rotation velocities, but this results in increased waiting time and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor maintains continuous rotation throughout both the topogram scan and main scan without deceleration or acceleration phases. The rotation velocity is kept constant, eliminating idle time and ensuring the useful action of scanning continues uninterrupted, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the topogram scan at the same rotation velocity that will be used for the main scan, preparing the rotor in advance at the correct operating speed. This eliminates the need for subsequent acceleration, reducing waiting time while maintaining the ability to adapt to different scan requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rotor is decelerated and accelerated between scans, then the system can optimize for different scan types, but this increases mechanical wear on the gantry
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining continuous rotation at constant velocity, the system eliminates the mechanical stress cycles associated with acceleration and deceleration. This continuous operation mode reduces mechanical wear on the gantry while still allowing optimization for different scan types through software-controlled parameters rather than mechanical speed changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes for different scan types by changing operational parameters such as X-ray tube current, voltage, and detector integration settings rather than changing the mechanical rotation velocity. This allows scan optimization without subjecting the gantry to repeated acceleration and deceleration cycles, thereby reducing mechanical wear.
3Productivity
If the rotor is accelerated between scans, then the system can reach optimal speed for main scan, but this increases current consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor operates continuously at a constant rotation velocity that is optimal for both topogram and main scans. This eliminates the energy-intensive acceleration phases, significantly reducing current consumption while maintaining high productivity through uninterrupted scanning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares the rotor by maintaining it at the optimal rotation velocity from the beginning, so no additional energy is required for acceleration before the main scan. This preliminary positioning at the correct speed eliminates wasteful energy consumption while ensuring optimal scan performance.
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 approach reduces waiting times, minimizes mechanical wear, and lowers current consumption while maintaining image quality by allowing continuous rotation of the CT system and immediate transition from topogram to main scans.
Implementation Method 1
the X-ray source and the collimator is set to 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°, switched on and then the patient support is displaced
Implementation Method 2
bringing a rotor of a gantry of the computed tomography system into a rotation relative to a patient
Implementation Method 3
projection data which enables an overview of at least a part of the patient is recorded
Data Source
AI summary
One or more example embodiments relates to a method for performing scans via a computed tomography system, wherein the method comprises rotating a rotor of a gantry of the computed tomography system relative to a patient; performing a topogram scan via the computed tomography system including recording projection data which enables an overview of at least a part of the patient; establishing settings for parameters for a main scan based on the projection data, the parameters for the main scan specifying at least one of at least one irradiation power level or an examination region for the main scan; and performing the main scan of the patient using the computed tomography system based on the parameters for the main scan, wherein the topogram scan and the main scan are performed during the rotating.