CT Imager Multi-Axis Rotation and Translation for Treatment Position Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CT imagers are limited in their ability to image patients in the planned treatment position for teletherapy, leading to inaccuracies in positioning and potential damage to surrounding tissues due to the restricted movement, which hampers precise targeting of embedded growths during radiation treatment.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus comprising a patient support platform that can be rotated and translated to align with an imager, allowing precise positioning of the patient relative to the irradiation source, utilizing a combination of imager and patient support mechanisms controlled by a circuitry system to ensure accurate imaging along defined axes, enabling imaging in the planned treatment position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If current CT imagers are used with restricted movement capability, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of patient positioning in treatment position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimager movement capabilityVSAvoidpatient positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The CT imager is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, transitioning from a static restricted movement system to a dynamic system that can rotate and translate along multiple axes. This allows the imager to reach the planned treatment position for accurate imaging while maintaining the ability to return to conventional positions, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds rotational and translational degrees of freedom to the CT imager, enabling movement in additional dimensions beyond conventional CT limitations. The imager can rotate about vertical and horizontal axes and translate along patient support platform axes, creating a multi-dimensional positioning capability that achieves treatment position imaging without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If patient positioning is based on visualization of markers, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of target tissue position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient positioning procedureVSAvoidtarget tissue position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the manual visualization-based positioning method with an automated imaging system. The CT imager, controlled by circuitry, automatically positions itself relative to the patient support platform using defined axes and rotation mechanisms, substituting mechanical manual alignment with automated controlled movement for higher precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control circuitry monitors the imager position relative to the patient support platform and adjusts positioning accordingly. The defined axes and rotation capabilities provide reference feedback that enables precise target tissue imaging while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the imager is translated along multiple axes to reach treatment position, then the measurement precision of imaging in treatment position is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging accuracy in treatment positionVSAvoidimager positioning mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The CT imager is designed with multi-functional positioning capabilities that can rotate about vertical and horizontal axes, translate along patient support platform axes, and return to conventional positions. This universal positioning system serves multiple functions - imaging in treatment position, conventional imaging, and positioning adjustment - reducing overall system complexity despite added movement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the CT imager positioning system with the patient support platform movement system. The imager rotation and translation mechanisms are integrated with the patient support platform axes, combining two positioning functions into a unified system that achieves treatment position imaging without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11259760B2Apparatus and method for providing patient imaging

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 P CURE LTD

AI summary

A method of providing imaging of a patient supported by a patient support platform arranged to be rotated about a first patient rotation axis by a patient rotation angle, the method constituted of: rotating an imager about an imager rotation axis by the patient rotation angle; translating the imager along a first imager translation axis; and translating the imager along a second imager translation axis different than the first imager translation axis, wherein responsive to the translation of the imager along the first imager translation axis and along the second imager translation axis, the imager is translated along an imaging axis defined by the patient support platform such that the imager is arranged to image the patient supported by the patient support platform.