Mechanical Guide Positioning for Medical Imaging Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small and medium-sized radiological practices face challenges in accurately positioning patients for medical imaging due to high costs of fully automated systems and a lack of trained staff for manual positioning, leading to suboptimal image quality and unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a mechanical guide with sensors and a computing unit to determine and output positioning instructions for imaging-relevant components, allowing for accurate manual positioning of imaging components relative to patients, reducing the need for costly motorization and enabling precise alignment without requiring extensive staff training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fully automated positioning systems are used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex motorized positioning systems with a simplified mechanical guide structure combined with optical sensors. The mechanical guide provides physical constraints for movement along degrees of freedom, while optical sensors detect position and generate feedback signals. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy through sensor-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables operators to perform positioning tasks independently through visual feedback from display units that show the current position and target position of imaging components. The mechanical guide structures provide self-aligning features that assist operators in achieving correct positioning without requiring specialized training or complex automated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If fully automated positioning systems are used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs cost-effective optical sensors and standard display units instead of expensive motorized positioning systems. The mechanical guide structures use simple, manufacturable components such as rails and guides that can be produced at low cost. This approach achieves accurate positioning without the high manufacturing costs associated with fully automated motorized systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If manual positioning is used, then cost is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates optical sensors that continuously detect the position of imaging components and generate feedback signals. These signals are processed by a computing unit to determine the current position and compare it with the target position. Display units provide visual feedback to operators, showing arrows or indicators that guide manual positioning adjustments until the correct position is achieved, thereby ensuring high positioning accuracy with manual operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of manufacture

If manual positioning is used, then cost is reduced, but image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism through display units provides real-time guidance to operators during manual positioning. The system shows the current position and target position of imaging components, enabling operators to achieve correct positioning reliably. This ensures high-quality images are obtained even with manual positioning, eliminating the need for repeated imaging and reducing radiation exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11766232B2Method, imaging apparatus and computer program product for positioning imaging-relevant components

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A method is for positioning an imaging-relevant component of an imaging apparatus in an application-appropriate position for recording medical image data from a target region of a patient. In an embodiment, the method includes: acquiring information on the target region of the patient, acquiring a position of the patient relative to the imaging-relevant component, determining an application-appropriate position of the imaging-relevant component, determining a positioning instruction, and outputting the positioning instruction. An imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes an imaging-relevant component. The imaging-relevant component has a mechanical guide configured to position the imaging-relevant component along at least one degree of freedom of movement relative to a static arrangement of the imaging apparatus and/or a patient.