Adjustable Head Cradle Assembly for Probe Access and Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for cancerous brain tumors, such as surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery, face challenges in precision and safety, with surgery being invasive and radiosurgery lacking confirmation of tumor neutralization, while heat therapy's effectiveness is hindered by the need for precise patient positioning during treatment.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cradle assembly for head fixation allows for precise adjustment of the patient's head position relative to a platform, enabling unobstructed access for treatment probes and maintaining alignment during procedures like stereotactic surgery and medical imaging, using a base with adjustable tabs and mechanisms for pitch and roll angles, and sensors for automatic positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed head fixation device is used, then the patient's head position is precisely fixed, but it interferes with the trajectory guide instrument that needs to guide the treatment probe into the tumor mass
Solution Approach 1:
The head fixation device is designed with adjustable components that allow dynamic repositioning. The cradle assembly can be adjusted to different angles and positions, enabling the trajectory guide instrument to access the tumor mass from various entry points while maintaining precise head fixation. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction between fixed positioning and instrument access.
Solution Approach 2:
The head fixation system is divided into multiple independent adjustable components including the cradle, tabs, and positioning mechanisms. Each component can be independently adjusted to optimize both head fixation precision and trajectory guide access, allowing the system to simultaneously achieve stable positioning and unobstructed instrument passage.
2Productivity
If the patient is moved from the imaging system for treatment, then the treatment can commence, but the tumor location changes significantly due to movement and partial excision
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates imaging capabilities that provide real-time feedback on tumor location and head position during treatment. This allows continuous monitoring and adjustment to maintain precise tumor targeting even as the treatment progresses and tissue changes occur, resolving the loss of measurement precision after patient movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tumors require high doses of radiation, then more tumors can be targeted, but the patient reaches the toxic threshold before all tumors are killed
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables highly localized delivery of radiation or heat therapy to individual tumors while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unaffected. By concentrating the therapeutic effect precisely at each tumor site through adjustable positioning and targeted probe delivery, the system can treat multiple tumors at different locations without cumulatively increasing overall patient toxicity, as each treatment is isolated to its specific target.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an illustrative embodiment, an adjustable cradle assembly for adjusting a head position of a patient relative to a patient platform includes a base portion with a pair of vertical support members and a cradle portion. The vertical support members may each include at least one position aperture for setting a vertical height of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The cradle portion may include a channel for receiving a head fixation ring. The cradle portion may include at least one set of adjustment connection points for aligning with position apertures of each vertical support member. The cradle may be pivotably connected to the vertical support members such that a pitch angle of a head position of a patient secured in the head fixation apparatus may be adjusted. A set of adjustment mechanisms may releasably secure the cradle to the base at a selected lateral and/or pitch position.