Ergonomic Head and Arm Support for Reproducible Cardiac Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients, especially older individuals, face discomfort and pain due to the difficulty of maintaining an unnatural position with arms above their heads during nuclear cardiology scanning, and often experience discomfort and stress on their back from improper leg positioning during these long procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of ergonomic support systems for medical imaging, including a head and arm support with depressions for patient comfort and a leg support with a curved body to accommodate both supine and prone positions, which engage with the patient table to maintain stable and comfortable patient positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the patient maintains arms above the head during scanning, then the torso is clear for scanning and detectors can get close to the heart, but the patient experiences difficulty and pain especially older patients with shoulder stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is divided into multiple functional segments: a head support portion with a depression for the head, an arm support portion with depressions for the arms, and a leg support portion. This segmentation allows each part to independently support specific body regions, distributing the burden and maintaining comfort during the required scanning position.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device acts as an intermediary between the patient and the scanning table. Instead of the patient directly contacting the hard scanning table in an uncomfortable position, the support device with its cushioned depressions serves as a mediator that maintains the required arm-raised position while providing comfort through its ergonomic design.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the scanning time is extended to fifteen minutes or more, then complete cardiac imaging can be achieved, but the patient finds it difficult or impossible to maintain the position
Solution Approach 1:
The support device provides beforehand cushioning by incorporating cushioned surfaces and ergonomic depressions that are designed in advance to support the patient's body during the extended scanning period. The cushioning is built into the structure itself, providing continuous comfort throughout the fifteen-minute or longer scan duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the required arm-raised position for scanning, provides comfort through cushioned surfaces, supports the head and legs, and enables extended scanning durations. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address all the challenges of long-duration cardiac imaging.
3Productivity
If the patient's legs are improperly positioned during scanning, then the scan can proceed, but the patient experiences back stress and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The support device applies local quality by providing targeted support at specific body regions. The leg support portion is specifically designed to support the legs in the required position, preventing back stress. Each portion of the device (head, arm, leg support) is optimized for its specific function, ensuring that local needs are met without compromising overall scan efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for medical imaging using an ergonomic patient head an arm support are provided. A support for medical imaging is provided that includes a lower body configured to engage a portion of a medical imaging system and an upper surface having a plurality of depressions configured to receive therein at least one of a head and arm of a patient.