Iso-Roll Table Mechanism for Stable Imaging During Lateral Tilt
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical tables for vascular and interventional procedures often have their axis of rotation located under the tabletop, causing the region of interest to move laterally during imaging, which can result in the region drifting out of the imaging field of view, and these tables are complex and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A medical table with an iso-roll device that positions the axis of rotation above the tabletop, utilizing a pair of iso-roll guide plates with arcuate channels and cam followers, allowing for ±12 degrees of lateral tilt and maintaining the region of interest at the imaging iso-center without mechanical complexity or high cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the axis of rotation is located under the tabletop, then the table structure is simpler, but the region of interest moves laterally during imaging causing it to drift out of the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional location of the rotation axis from under the tabletop to above the tabletop at the iso-center. This inversion allows the tabletop to rotate while keeping the region of interest stable within the imaging field of view, resolving the contradiction between region stability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the iso-roll device with guide plates and cam followers) that mediates between the simple tabletop structure and the requirement for stable region positioning. This intermediary allows lateral tilt movement while maintaining the region of interest at the iso-center.
2Reliability
If complex linkages and mechanisms are used to create an axis of rotation above the tabletop, then the region of interest remains stable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of creating an above-tabletop rotation axis from complex linkages and implements it using simpler components: guide plates with arcuate channels and cam followers. This extraction maintains region stability while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex mechanical linkages with simpler, more cost-effective components such as guide plates and cam followers. These simpler components achieve the same functional outcome of maintaining region stability during rotation.
3Ease of operation
If the tabletop is rotated about an arc with center under the tabletop, then the table can provide lateral movement, but the region of interest appears to move laterally across the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the rotation center from under the tabletop to above the tabletop at the iso-center. This allows the tabletop to rotate laterally while keeping the region of interest stationary in the imaging field, simultaneously achieving ease of operation and imaging stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved medical procedure table has motorized elevation, Trendelenburg tilt, floating tabletop with both longitudinal and lateral travel, multi-caster control, and an iso-roll device for the tabletop. The iso-roll device is connected between a roll plate and a cross plate. The iso-roll device includes a pair of iso-roll guide plates, which are mounted laterally to a bottom of the roll plate. Each iso-roll guide plate has an arcuate guide channel therein having an upwards concave shape. A set of cam followers are positioned in both guide channel and travel therein and also fixedly mounted to a base on the cross plate. A center of radius of the arcuate guide channel is approximately 5 inches above the tabletop. Further, mounted between the iso-roll guide plates and to the roll plate is a support guide plate having an arcuate bottom surface.