Medical Imaging Gantry with Movable Patient Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical image diagnosis apparatuses face challenges in obtaining high-quality images due to the inability to freely move patients into desired positions, leading to low throughput in medical examinations.

Innovation Solution

A medical image diagnosis apparatus with a gantry supported by columns, a supporting and moving mechanism, and a mechanism controlling unit that aligns the patient's center of interest with the imaging center based on a region of interest, using cameras and gas bags to compensate for patient movement and maintain posture, ensuring optimal imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mobile terminal is used for medical image diagnosis, then patient mobility is improved, but examination throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient mobilityVSAvoidexamination throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a movable supporting mechanism that can dynamically adjust its position along the patient support table, allowing the imaging system to track and maintain optimal imaging positions of moving patients during examination, thereby preserving both patient mobility and examination throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the gantry is made movable in vertical direction, then imaging flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gantry is designed with vertical movability along columns, allowing it to adjust its height position dynamically. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different patient positions and imaging requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through guided linear motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If automatic position alignment is implemented, then image quality is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs detection units that monitor patient position and provide feedback to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the supporting mechanism's position to maintain optimal alignment. This closed-loop feedback control achieves precise image quality improvement through automated position correction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated control system that uses detection units and control algorithms to manage the position alignment, reducing the need for complex manual mechanical adjustments while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3944818B1Medical image diagnosis apparatus and controlling method
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 CANON MEDICAL SYST CORP
  • EP3944818B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3944818B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3944818B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a gantry (11), one or more columns (13), an image generating unit (115), a supporting and moving mechanism (35), and a mechanism controlling unit (119). The gantry (11) includes an imaging system related to imaging a patient. The one or more columns (13) are each configured to support the gantry (11) so as to be movable in a vertical direction. The image generating unit (115) generates an image on the basis of an output from the imaging system. The supporting and moving mechanism (35) is configured to support the patient from underneath, while being installed so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the gantry (11). The mechanism controlling unit (119) controls the moving of the supporting and moving mechanism (35).