Mobile CT Imaging With Pivoting Motorized Bed for Bedside Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile CT imaging systems lack an on-board motorized bed and ultrasound imager, limiting their ability to scan patients without requiring them to move to a scanning bed or exposing them to excessive radiation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile CT imaging system with an on-board motorized bed and/or ultrasound imager that can pivot between a folded configuration for transport and an unfolded configuration for scanning, allowing the system to be moved to the patient and facilitating imaging without requiring patient movement or excessive radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile CT imaging system is designed without an on-board motorized bed, then the device complexity is reduced and transportability is improved, but the patient cannot be scanned without moving them to a scanning bed
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized bed is merged with the mobile CT imaging system, integrating the patient support function directly into the imaging device. This allows the bed to be part of the mobile unit, enabling the system to move to the patient while providing both support and imaging capabilities in a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing it to extend from a retracted position during transport to a deployed scanning position during imaging. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt between mobile and stationary functions, providing full scanning capability when needed while maintaining transportability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile CT imaging system uses standard CT imaging, then imaging capability is provided, but patients are exposed to excessive radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile CT imaging system is equipped with multiple imaging modalities including both CT and ultrasound capabilities. This allows the system to switch between imaging types based on clinical needs, enabling ultrasound to be used for certain examinations to avoid radiation exposure while maintaining CT capability for other indications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can change imaging parameters by switching between different imaging modalities (CT and ultrasound). This allows adaptation of the imaging approach based on patient-specific factors, clinical questions, and radiation risk considerations, providing flexibility in managing radiation exposure.
3Ease of operation
If the patient support is fixed in position, then the device structure is simplified, but the system cannot be moved to the patient's bedside
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support system incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities with motorized mechanisms that allow the bed to move between retracted and deployed positions. This dynamic design enables the system to be compact during transport and fully functional during scanning, bridging the gap between mobility and operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient support system is segmented into movable and stationary components, with the bed itself being a separate movable unit that can be deployed from the mobile CT platform. This segmentation allows the imaging system to remain compact and mobile while providing full patient support functionality when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables scanning of patients at their bedside or in non-radiolucent beds, reducing patient movement and radiation exposure, and enhancing imaging flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
X-ray tube assembly 25 and an X-ray detector assembly 30 are mounted to rotating disc 23 in diametrically-opposing relation, such that an X-ray beam 40 (generated by X-ray tube assembly 25 and detected by X-ray detector assembly 30) is passed through the patient anatomy
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system for imaging an object, the imaging system comprising: an imaging unit comprising a housing having a center opening for receiving the object to be imaged; and a patient support for supporting the object to be imaged, the patient support being pivotally mounted to the housing, wherein the patient support is configured to pivot between (i) a first, folded configuration in which the patient support is disposed close to the housing, whereby to facilitate transport of the imaging unit, and (ii) a second, unfolded configuration in which the patient support is aligned with the center opening, whereby to facilitate imaging of the object on the patient support.