Modular Animal Holder Alignment for Multi-Modal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in accurately and repeatably positioning specimens, such as laboratory animals, across different imaging machines for longitudinal studies, as current methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming, leading to variability in image coregistration and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A modular animal management system with a positioning receiver assembly and animal holding system, featuring a specialized coupling mechanism for precise alignment and connection, allowing for consistent placement of specimens across various imaging machines, minimizing handling and setup time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual positioning and alignment methods are used for specimens across different imaging machines, then flexibility in handling different specimen types is maintained, but positioning repeatability and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is divided into separate modular components: a positioning assembly with adjustable elements and a receiver assembly with alignment features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system repeatability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning assembly incorporates universal adjustment mechanisms that can accommodate different specimen types and imaging machine configurations. The receiver assembly uses standardized alignment features that work across multiple machine types, enabling repeatable positioning without requiring machine-specific customization.
2Productivity
If manual setup and adjustment processes are used for specimen positioning, then adaptability to different imaging scenarios is maintained, but time consumption and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning assembly is pre-configured with adjustable elements and alignment features that enable rapid setup. The receiver assembly includes pre-positioned alignment markers and mechanical stops that guide specimen placement, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual adjustments while maintaining ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If fixed positioning methods are used for specimens, then positioning repeatability improves, but adaptability to different specimen types and imaging machines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning assembly incorporates adjustable elements that can be dynamically configured for different specimen types and imaging machines. The receiver assembly uses flexible alignment features that can accommodate variations in specimen geometry and machine configurations, maintaining both precision and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An animal holder is provided with a specialized coupling that is releasably mountable to a number of different imaging machines such as X-ray, CAT, MRI and PET machines. Composite images created from combining images from such different machines are particularly clear due to the predetermined alignment of the animal holder within the center of the field of view of each machine.