Movable Radiation Booth for Medical Imaging Gantry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Medical imaging procedures often require personnel to leave the examination chamber due to radiation exposure risks, limiting patient proximity and workflow efficiency, especially in emergency situations where rapid intervention is critical.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a gantry with an X-ray source and a movable radiation protection booth that can be installed or suspended within the examination chamber, allowing personnel to operate the medical imaging apparatus while protected from radiation, with the booth's dimensions optimized for reduced space requirements and comprehensive radiation protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If personnel wear radiation protection vests to remain close to the patient, then patient proximity is improved, but radiation protection effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient proximityVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a radiation protection booth as an intermediary structure between the X-ray source and the personnel. The booth provides comprehensive radiation shielding while allowing the operator to remain close to the patient, thus mediating between the need for patient proximity and radiation protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The examination chamber is segmented into protected and unprotected zones by introducing the radiation protection booth. This segmentation allows personnel to operate from a protected zone while maintaining proximity to the patient in the unprotected zone, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If personnel leave the examination chamber before radiation initiation, then radiation protection is improved, but patient proximity and workflow efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposureVSAvoidworkflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation protection booth serves as an intermediary workspace that allows personnel to remain in the examination chamber during radiation procedures. This eliminates the need to leave the chamber, thereby maintaining workflow efficiency and patient proximity while providing adequate radiation protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic operation where personnel can move between protected and unprotected zones as needed. The booth provides a flexible protected environment that adapts to different procedural requirements, allowing continuous workflow without mandatory evacuation of the examination chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a radiation protection booth is introduced in the examination chamber, then radiation protection effectiveness is improved, but space requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposureVSAvoidexamination chamber space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation protection booth is designed to be nested within the existing examination chamber space. By utilizing the available volume efficiently and positioning the booth to overlap with the X-ray beam path, the design minimizes the additional space required while maximizing radiation protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The booth extends in the vertical dimension to provide comprehensive radiation shielding. By utilizing the vertical space within the examination chamber, the design achieves effective radiation protection without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint, thus preserving examination chamber accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 personnel to remain close to the patient during imaging, enhancing safety and workflow efficiency while maintaining effective radiation protection, thereby improving patient care and reducing exposure risks.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation protection booth, wherein the radiation protection booth can be installed, in particular is installed in at least one operating condition of the system, or suspended, in particular is suspended in at least one operating condition of the system, relative to the gantry

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonizing radiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11141118B2System with a gantry and a radiation protection booth and method for operating a medical imaging apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A system includes a gantry of a medical imaging apparatus. In an embodiment, the gantry includes an X-ray source, and a radiation protection booth, which can be installed or suspended relative to the gantry.