MR Elastography Motor Positioning Without Long Shaft Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MR elastography systems face challenges with integration into MR tomography rooms due to bulky shafts that introduce unwanted frequencies, impede operator and patient movement, and disrupt magnetic fields, making them difficult to incorporate into clinical workflows.
Innovation Solution
A motor system with a movable bearing means allows the rotational drive to be integrated within the MR tomography room, reducing shaft length and enabling flexible positioning of the MR elastography transducer, using MR-compatible materials and shielding to minimize interference with magnetic fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long shaft is used to transmit vibration from the motor to the front end module, then the motor can be positioned farther from the MR device, but unwanted frequencies are introduced and imaging accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motor from the MR room and places it in the control room, separating the vibration generation function from the imaging area. This eliminates the shaft connection between motor and transducer, removing the source of unwanted frequencies while maintaining motor positioning flexibility through remote placement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible shaft as an intermediary element that can transmit vibration over longer distances without introducing unwanted frequencies. The flexible shaft acts as a mediator between the remote motor and the transducer, allowing motor positioning flexibility while maintaining imaging accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If a long shaft is used to connect the motor, then the system becomes more flexible in positioning, but the system becomes bulky and impedes operator and patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the MR room and placed in the control room, eliminating the need for a long physical shaft connection. This reduces system bulkiness within the MR room while maintaining positioning flexibility through remote motor placement
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two separate locations: the motor in the control room and the transducer in the MR room. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's position without requiring a bulky connecting shaft, improving operator and patient movement
3Productivity
If the motor is positioned in the MR control room, then integration into clinical workflow is improved, but the shaft length increases and introduces unwanted frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the MR room and placed in the control room, improving clinical workflow integration by allowing the motor to remain stationary while the transducer is positioned on the patient. This extraction eliminates the shaft connection, removing the source of unwanted frequencies and maintaining imaging accuracy
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
This design enhances MR elastography imaging accuracy by limiting unwanted frequencies and improves clinical workflow integration, allowing for more precise and flexible operation of MR elastography devices within MR tomography environments.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational drive (11) for supplying rotational energy to power a MR elastography transducer (21) usable during the MR elastography imaging protocol
Implementation Method 2
a MR elastography transducer to generate such mechanical shear waves in the tissue. For example, the mechanical vibrations are generated by rotating an eccentric mass within said MR elastography transducer. Such a transducer is also called gravitation transducer
Implementation Method 3
a bearing means (15) configured such that the terminal (14) relative to the support structure (13) is movable along a trajectory predetermined by the bearing means (15)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a motor for a magnetic resonance (MR) tomography room, to a patient table for the MR room, to a MR elastography device, and to a MR tomography device. A MR tomography device for a MR elastography imaging protocol is arranged within the MR tomography room, and includes a rotational drive for supplying rotational energy to power a MR elastography transducer usable during the MR elastography imaging protocol, and a support structure. The rotational drive comprises a terminal for connecting the MR elastography transducer to the rotational drive, and a bearing means configured such that the position of the terminal relative to the support structure is adaptable along a trajectory predetermined by the bearing means. The rotational drive is mounted to the support structure via the bearing means.