Lower Extremity Support with Fine Positioning for Radiotherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient positioning devices lack precision and capability for fine adjustments, requiring significant manipulation of the patient's anatomy, especially for larger regions like the lower extremities, which impacts workflow efficiency and patient comfort during radiotherapy and imaging procedures.
Innovation Solution
A support apparatus with locators, directional guides, shuttles, and releasable locks that allow for precise positioning and fine adjustments of the patient's anatomy, minimizing large manipulations and enabling discrete incremental adjustments without lifting the patient off the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing positioning devices are used to support patient anatomy, then the patient can be positioned for treatment, but the devices lack precision and capability for fine adjustment requiring significant manipulation of patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is divided into multiple independent components: coarse positioning mechanism with indexing structures, fine adjustment mechanism with shuttle and directional guides, and locking mechanism. Each component handles a specific aspect of positioning (gross positioning vs. fine adjustment), allowing precise control without requiring significant manipulation of patient anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static positioning structure to a dynamic system with movable shuttles that can slide along directional guides. The releasable lock allows the system to switch between locked (stable) and unlocked (adjustable) states, enabling fine adjustments while maintaining positional stability when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing positioning devices require significant manipulation of patient anatomy for adjustments, then positioning can be changed, but workflow efficiency is impacted and patient comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary coarse positioning using indexing structures and locators before fine adjustment is needed. This preliminary action establishes the gross position, allowing subsequent fine adjustments to be made with minimal manipulation of patient anatomy, thereby improving workflow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary mechanism between the coarse positioning system and the final patient anatomy. It provides a mechanical interface that translates small movements into precise positional adjustments without requiring direct manipulation of the patient's body, thus maintaining workflow efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If existing positioning devices lack fine adjustment capability, then gross positioning can be achieved, but finer adjustments to patient anatomy position cannot be made without removing anatomy from the device
Solution Approach 1:
The fine adjustment mechanism (shuttle with directional guides) is nested within the broader coarse positioning structure. The locator and indexing structures provide the outer framework, while the shuttle mechanism provides the inner fine adjustment capability. This nested arrangement achieves high positioning accuracy without requiring a completely separate device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses its own integrated mechanisms (shuttle sliding along directional guides, releasable lock) to perform fine adjustments without requiring external tools or removal of patient anatomy from the positioning device. The system is self-sufficient for both coarse and fine positioning tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
A support system configured to support the lower extremities of a patient, for example during radiotherapy and imaging procedures, and methods for employing the same is provided. The support system includes a knee support apparatus and a foot support apparatus, each of which may be used together or independently in order to customize the support needed for the particular procedure. When used on the patient table of an appropriate imaging or treatment modality, the support system is configured to allow the clinician to independently adjust the knee support and foot support's positioning in the superior-inferior axis of the patient table in both a gross and fine manner for optimal positioning of the patient for the target procedure. The robust adjustment capabilities of the support system enable enhanced patient comfort, setup reproducibility, and workflow efficiency.