Dual Drum CT Gantry Layout for Fast Cardiac Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional CT machines with a single drum design require high rotational speeds for cardiac scans, necessitating patient breath-holding and have large external dimensions and weight due to the cylindrical structure of the drum.
Innovation Solution
A dual source CT machine with a dual drum design, where the drums are mounted to the outer rim of a bearing and include separate mounting areas for X-ray tubes and detectors, arranged coaxially with perpendicular X-ray paths, and protrusions to manage centrifugal forces, integrated with balance weights and heat dissipation features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional single drum design is used with high rotational speed for cardiac scans, then scan speed is improved, but patients need to hold their breath and the drum requires large dimensions and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional single drum into two separate drums: a first drum for mounting the first X-ray tube system and a second drum for mounting the second X-ray tube system. This segmentation allows each drum to be optimized independently, reducing the overall weight and dimensions while maintaining high rotational speed capability for cardiac scanning
2Productivity
If a traditional single drum design is used with high rotational speed for cardiac scans, then scan speed is improved, but patients need to hold their breath
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the X-ray tube systems onto separate drums, the patent enables independent rotation and operation of each drum. This allows for flexible scanning protocols that can capture cardiac images without requiring patients to hold their breath, improving both scan efficiency and patient comfort
3Adaptability or versatility
If a cylindrical drum structure with sufficient height and thickness is used to mount electrical components, then component mounting capability is improved, but the drum has large external dimensions and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional cylindrical drum structure to a planar plate-like structure for the drums. Electrical components are mounted on the surfaces of these plates rather than on the curved surface of a cylinder, allowing for efficient component placement without requiring large height and thickness, thus reducing overall drum dimensions
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a dual source CT machine and a drum therefor. The drum is mounted to an outer rim of a bearing, and an inner rim of the bearing is mounted to a gantry of the dual source CT machine.