Double-Layer Couch for Prone Breast Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient positioning methods for breast cancer treatment in the prone position are inadequate for precise and easy setup, especially for weak or overweight patients, leading to inaccuracies in tumor targeting due to breast motion and limited access angles.
Innovation Solution
A double-layer couch with a thick bottom layer and a thin top layer that uses ball transfer units for easy sliding motion and a locking mechanism for precise positioning, allowing the top layer to move planarly relative to the bottom layer, with features to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and constrain motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a patient is placed in the prone position for breast imaging and radiation therapy, then tumor targeting accuracy is improved and radiation exposure to critical organs is reduced, but the patient loses the ability to move controllable distances for accurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The couch is divided into two independent layers: a fixed bottom layer and a movable top layer. The top layer can be independently positioned relative to the bottom layer, allowing the patient to be accurately positioned in the prone position while maintaining the ability to move the breast through the opening. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both stable support and adjustable positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable top layer acts as an intermediary between the fixed couch structure and the patient. It provides a stable base while enabling precise adjustment of the patient's position, particularly the breast position through the opening. This intermediary layer solves the positioning problem by decoupling the support function from the positioning function.
2Ease of operation
If a patient is placed in the supine position for breast radiation therapy, then the setup is easier, but access angles are limited and gravitational force compresses the breast against the chest
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional supine position approach by enabling prone position treatment with a movable top layer. This inversion allows the breast to be pulled away from the chest wall by gravity, creating superior access angles for radiation therapy while maintaining ease of setup through the adjustable top layer.
3Strength
If a thick couch is used to support the patient in prone position, then structural strength is improved, but the patient cannot easily move the breast for accurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The couch is segmented into a thick fixed bottom layer for structural strength and a thin movable top layer for easy positioning. The bottom layer provides the necessary structural support, while the top layer can be easily moved to adjust the patient's position and the breast position through the opening, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The top layer is designed to be dynamically movable relative to the bottom layer, allowing easy adjustment of the patient's position. This dynamic capability enables the patient to move the breast controllable distances for accurate positioning while the static bottom layer maintains structural strength.
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
Enables easy and accurate patient positioning in the prone position for breast imaging and radiation treatments, reducing radiation exposure to critical organs and improving tumor targeting accuracy by allowing precise movement along two horizontal axes.
Implementation Method 1
ball transfer units for easy sliding motion
Implementation Method 2
the breast tissue is pulled away from the chest wall by the gravitational force
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for accurately easily and accurately positioning patients with breast cancer in the prone position for imaging and radiotherapy is disclosed. The device is a couch or support structure with a double-layer structure that allows relative planar motion between the two layers. To easily slide the top layer, an array of ball transfer units is embedded on the upper side of the bottom layer while the under side of the top layer has a corresponding array of bearing plates to prevent the ball transfer units from grinding into the top layer. A locking mechanism is specially designed to interlock the two layers safely when a knob handle is tightened. A frame of bars is attached to the bottom layer to constrain translation of the top layer. Each layer has two openings for the through insertion of breasts. When a patient lies in the prone position, the breast to be treated is pendent through the couch, and the untreated breast may be blocked from radiation exposure by a removable opening cover.