Hammock Patient Support Reducing Radiation Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cantilevered patient supports in medical imaging systems attenuate radiation and induce noise, affecting radiation dose efficiency and image quality, and pose challenges in patient transfer due to their thickness and material density.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system with a hammock-like configuration featuring a backing with a reduced cross-sectional area and a restraint that secures the patient to support beams, allowing for minimal material usage while maintaining structural integrity, thereby reducing radiation attenuation and facilitating patient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a cantilevered patient support is used to support patients of various size and weight, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the vertical thickness increases causing radiation attenuation and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support is divided into a patient-contact portion and a support beam portion. The patient-contact portion is made thin to minimize radiation attenuation, while the support beam portion provides structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The support beam is positioned vertically above the patient table rather than extending horizontally as a cantilever. This dimensional repositioning allows the thin patient-contact portion to be supported from below, eliminating the need for thick cantilevered structures while maintaining support capability.
2Strength
If the vertical thickness of the patient support is increased to support heavier patients, then the load-bearing capacity improves, but the radiation dose efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented between the thin patient-contact portion and the separately positioned support beam. This allows the patient support to be thin for radiation efficiency while the support beam provides the necessary load-bearing capacity from a different spatial location.
Solution Approach 2:
The support beam acts as an intermediary structure that provides mechanical support without interfering with the radiation path. By positioning the support beam vertically above the table rather than as a horizontal cantilever, it supports the patient indirectly while keeping the direct radiation path clear.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a cantilevered patient support configuration is used, then patient support functionality is provided, but patient transfer becomes difficult due to thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support is segmented into a thin patient-contact portion and a support structure, allowing the contact portion to be easily accessible for patient transfer while the support structure remains positioned to provide necessary support during imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support system includes a support beam that may translocate along an axial axis of a medical imaging system. At least a portion of the support beam may be disposed within a central bore of the medical imaging system. The patient support system also includes a patient support removably coupled to the support beam and including a backing that may support a patient during an imaging procedure and a restraint extending a longitudinal length of the backing. The restraint includes a first end coupled to the backing and a second end that may be removably coupled to the support beam, and the restraint may secure the patient support to the support beam and to restrain the patient within the patient support.