Lowerable Patient Support with Retractable X-ray Emitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional under-couch x-ray devices have limited patient support lowering latitude due to fixedly mounted x-ray emitters, making it difficult for patients to access the device, especially those with mobility issues, as the minimal couch height restricts comfortable climbing and requires assistance.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a lowerable patient support and a mechanism allowing the x-ray apparatus to be positioned below the support, enabling the x-ray emitter to be lowered, thus reducing the minimal patient support height and facilitating access, using a releasable contact mechanism and sensor system to manage the lowering process and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the x-ray emitter is fixedly mounted below the patient support, then the x-ray apparatus structure is simple and stable, but the patient support cannot be lowered sufficiently, making patient access difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The x-ray apparatus is divided into separate components: the x-ray emitter, the aperture housing, and the patient support. This segmentation allows the patient support to be lowered independently while the x-ray emitter remains positioned optimally for imaging, resolving the contradiction between patient access and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The x-ray emitter is extracted from the fixed mounting structure and positioned separately below the patient support. This extraction enables the patient support to be lowered to optimal heights for patient access without constraining the x-ray emitter's positioning for optimal imaging geometry.
2Ease of operation
If the patient support height is reduced to facilitate patient access, then climbing becomes easier, but the x-ray emitter cannot maintain optimal distance from the image receiver
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into the patient support and the x-ray apparatus components, the patent allows independent optimization of each: the patient support height is optimized for patient access while the x-ray emitter maintains its optimal distance from the image receiver through separate positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic positioning capabilities where the patient support can be lowered to optimal heights for patient access, and the x-ray apparatus components can be independently adjusted to maintain optimal imaging geometry, allowing both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the patient support is lowered to reduce minimal couch height, then patient access is improved, but the x-ray apparatus may collide with the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture housing acts as an intermediary element between the x-ray emitter and the patient support. It provides a structured interface that allows the patient support to be lowered while maintaining safe clearance from the floor, preventing direct collision between the x-ray apparatus and the floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates preliminary positioning and clearance design where the x-ray apparatus components are pre-positioned to maintain safe distances from the floor during the lowering process, preventing collisions before they can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for irradiating patients with x-ray radiation is provided. The apparatus includes a lowerable patient support and an x-ray apparatus that may be positioned below the lowerable patient support. The apparatus is configured such that part of the x-ray apparatus is moved into the lowerable patient support when the patient support is lowered. The lowerable patient support may be lowered further, thereby facilitating access for the patient.