Suspended DSA Rail Wear Reduction via Hardness Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing suspended digital subtraction angiography (DSA) equipment faces challenges with high rolling friction between the rollers of the movable mechanism and the rail, leading to increased resistance and wear, which affects the movement capability and cleanliness of the operating room.

Innovation Solution

A suspended travelling device is introduced, featuring rails, guide belts, and a movable mechanism with first travel rollers that have a material hardness similar to the guide belts, reducing wear and friction during movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the rail is processed through aluminum drawing to ensure a flat surface for supporting rollers, then the movement capability of the movable mechanism is ensured, but the wear between the curved-surface supported rollers and the rail increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement capabilityVSAvoidwear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material hardness parameter by making the roller and rail materials have similar hardness values (difference ≤ 30 HB), deviating from the conventional aluminum drawing process where the rail is softer. This parameter change reduces wear while maintaining movement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent copies the material properties between roller and rail, making them have similar hardness characteristics. This copying approach ensures uniform wear distribution and reduces overall wear compared to the conventional dissimilar material pairing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Length of moving object

If the rail is made relatively long to ensure the movement range of the DSA equipment, then the movement range is improved, but the uniformity of the spacing between two rails becomes difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement rangeVSAvoidspacing uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the rail structure into multiple modular sections that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for better control of spacing uniformity while achieving the required total length for equipment movement range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the curved-surface supported rollers engage with the aluminum drawing processed rail to ensure displacement capability, then the displacement capability is improved, but the rolling resistance increases due to large wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement capabilityVSAvoidrolling resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the hardness parameter pairing between roller and rail materials, making them similar rather than dissimilar. This parameter change reduces friction and rolling resistance while maintaining the necessary displacement capability through the curved-surface engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution significantly reduces wear and rolling resistance, ensuring smooth movement of the DSA equipment while maintaining the cleanliness and operational efficiency of the operating room.

Implementation Method 1

a difference between material hardness of an outer peripheral surface of the first travel roller and material hardness of the guide belt is less than or equal to a preset material hardness threshold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4545009A1Suspended travelling equipment and medical imaging system
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE
  • EP4545009A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4545009A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4545009A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A suspended travelling device and a medical imaging system. The suspended travelling device includes at least one rail (10), at least one guide belt (30), and a movable mechanism (20). The at least one guide belt (30) is arranged on each rail (10) along an extension direction (X) of each rail (10). The movable mechanism (20) has at least one first travel roller (21). Each first travel roller (21) is rollable on and abuts against a surface of a corresponding guide belt (30), and a difference between material hardness of an outer peripheral surface of each first travel roller (21) and material hardness of the corresponding guide belt (30) is less than or equal to a preset material hardness threshold.