Integrated ECG and Nuclear Imaging System Wire Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The concurrent use of nuclear medical imaging systems and ECG devices is cumbersome and obstructive due to long conductive wires that can entangle with equipment and create clutter, making it difficult for technologists to operate effectively.
Innovation Solution
Integration of the ECG device into the nuclear medical imaging system, with wires fixedly connected to the platform to minimize snagging and using wireless communication mechanisms to avoid obstruction, allowing concurrent display of ECG and imaging data on a single monitor within the operating region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long conductive wires are used to connect ECG electrodes to the ECG device, then the technologist can move the wires to desired locations and ensure they are non-obstructive, but the wires can entangle with equipment and create clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (long conductive wires) from the system by replacing them with wireless communication technology. The ECG device and imaging system communicate data wirelessly, eliminating the physical wires that cause entanglement and clutter while maintaining the ability to position equipment freely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (conductive wires) with an electromagnetic communication system (wireless data transmission). This substitution eliminates the need for physical wire connections while maintaining data transmission functionality between the ECG device and imaging system.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate ECG device and imaging system are used, then each device can be optimized independently, but the concurrent use is cumbersome and creates operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ECG device and imaging system into an integrated system where both functions operate within a unified platform. This integration allows independent optimization of each subsystem while eliminating the operational complexity of managing separate devices, as they now share common control interfaces and data processing pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system that combines ECG monitoring and imaging capabilities in one integrated platform. This universal system performs multiple functions (ECG data acquisition, imaging data acquisition, synchronized display) that previously required separate devices, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining independent optimization of each function.
3Ease of operation
If ECG device is placed separately from the imaging system, then the ECG device can be positioned for viewing, but it creates additional clutter and makes operation cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ECG device and imaging system into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate positioning of ECG equipment. The integrated design allows ECG data to be displayed within the imaging system's display area, maintaining visibility while removing the clutter created by separate ECG device placement.
Data Source
AI summary
In some preferred embodiments, a medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device is disclosed which includes: a movable platform for supporting a patient during image acquisition; an image acquisition device for the acquisition of images of the patient upon the platform; a body monitoring device for the monitoring of a body function of the patient during image acquisition; the body monitoring device being adapted to transmit body function signals to the image acquisition device and the image acquisition device being adapted to effect image acquisition based on the signals received from the body monitoring device; wherein the body monitoring device is integrated with the image acquisition system. In the preferred embodiments, the medical imaging system is a nuclear medical imaging system and the body monitoring device is an ECG device.