Medical Imaging Gantry Detector Arm Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical imaging systems, particularly nuclear medicine imaging systems, face challenges in achieving high-quality images due to difficulties in configuring detector positions relative to the patient and managing patient movement during scans, which can result in sub-optimal detector positioning and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging system with a gantry and display device that generates a subject shape outline based on contour image data, allowing for the determination and display of designated scan positions for detector arms, enabling precise positioning and real-time monitoring of detector arm positions relative to the patient, even from a remote location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If detector heads are positioned close to the patient to achieve high quality images, then image quality is improved, but it becomes difficult for the operator to configure and monitor detector positions due to limited accessibility and visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical imaging system by generating a 3D surface representation of the patient's body and a corresponding virtual representation of the detector array. This virtual model allows the operator to view, configure, and monitor detector positions from a remote location without physical proximity to the detectors, thereby maintaining precise positioning capability while improving operator accessibility and safety.
2Manufacturing precision
If the operator manually configures detector positions at fixed positions prior to image acquisition, then setup time is reduced, but the operator cannot manually set up detector positioning at each rotational position, resulting in sub-optimal detector positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically calculating and determining optimal detector positions based on the 3D surface representation of the patient's body before the actual imaging acquisition begins. This preliminary positioning calculation ensures optimal detector placement without requiring time-consuming manual adjustment at each rotational position, thereby maintaining high positioning accuracy while reducing overall setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment of detector positions with an automated computer-based system. The control circuit automatically determines detector positions using algorithms that process the 3D surface representation, substituting manual mechanical configuration with automated computational methods. This substitution maintains precise positioning while eliminating the time loss associated with manual repositioning at each rotational position.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the operator is in a different room to avoid radiation exposure during imaging scan, then radiation exposure is reduced, but the operator cannot be aware of patient movement or detector contact with the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the virtual representation of the detector array is continuously updated based on real-time data from the physical system. The system monitors detector positions, patient movement, and contact events, then feeds this information back to the operator through the visual interface. This allows the operator to remain in a radiation-safe environment while maintaining full awareness of patient movement and system status through continuous visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual 3D representation serves as an intermediary between the physical imaging system and the operator. Instead of requiring direct visual observation of the physical detectors and patient, the operator interacts with and monitors the virtual model that mediates all system information. This intermediary allows the operator to work from a remote, radiation-safe location while maintaining complete awareness of system status and patient position.
4Reliability
If detector arms are configured to automatically retract upon contact with the patient, then patient safety is improved, but the distance from the detection head to the target region increases, reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning calculations to determine the optimal retraction distance that maintains both patient safety and image quality. By pre-calculating safe retraction distances based on the 3D surface representation and detector geometry, the system ensures that automatic retraction occurs at the precise moment of contact while maintaining the detector at the optimal distance for high-quality imaging, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging system includes a gantry, a display device, and a control circuit. The gantry includes detector arms circumferentially spaced apart along a perimeter of a bore and radially movable towards and away from a subject. The control circuit generates a subject shape outline of the subject within the bore based on obtained contour image data of the subject. The control circuit determines designated scan positions of the detector arms based on the subject shape outline. The control circuit displays the subject shape outline on the display device within a gantry visualization that is a graphical representation of the gantry showing the bore. The control circuit displays a set of graphical detector arms on the display screen within the gantry visualization. The graphical detector arms are displayed at the designated scan positions relative to the gantry of the gantry visualization to show a subject-gantry geometric relationship.