MRI Table Mattress Cable Duct for Burn-Safe Cable Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable management systems for MR examination tables are inefficient, leading to risks of balun burning, cable dislodgment, and patient discomfort due to the presence of cables and spacers on the body during MR scans.

Innovation Solution

A cable duct arrangement integrated with the mattress of the examination table, featuring a flexible outer wall with a longitudinal slit for easy cable insertion and removal, and a design that prevents accidental access to cables, ensuring patient comfort and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cables with balun are placed on the patient's body during MR scan, then cable management becomes simpler, but the risk of balun burning the patient increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable managementVSAvoidbalun burning risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful element (cables with balun) from the patient's body by providing a dedicated cable receiving space within the mattress structure. The mattress includes a cable receiving space defined by a front wall, rear wall, and side walls, where cables can be stored away from the patient, eliminating the burning risk while maintaining organized cable management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional spacers are placed between balun and patient to prevent burning, then burning risk is reduced, but patient comfort and cable management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebalun burning riskVSAvoidcable setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cable management function and patient protection function into a single integrated structure - the mattress. The cable receiving space is built into the mattress structure itself, combining the protective function (keeping cables away from patient) with the organizational function (providing dedicated cable storage), thereby eliminating the need for separate spacers and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple coils and cables are arranged on the examination table, then examination capability is improved, but the risk of cables falling off and patient comfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexamination capabilityVSAvoidcable stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested structure where the cable receiving space is embedded within the mattress body. The space is defined by walls that are integral parts of the mattress structure, creating a nested containment system that securely holds multiple cables and coils in place during examination, preventing them from falling off while maintaining examination versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4388334B1Mattress for an examination table of a MRI apparatus equipped with a cable duct
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4388334B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4388334B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4388334B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) with a mattress (2) for an examination table (18) of a magnetic resonance apparatus (6) and a cable duct (3) which is arranged along a side of the mattress (2), wherein the cable duct (3) comprises an outer wall (4) which at least partly surrounds a cable reception volume (5) in which cables of the magnetic resonance apparatus (6) may be arranged, the outer wall (4) has a longitudinal slit (7) between two slit-confining outer wall areas (19), wherein the slit extends parallel to the side of the mattress (2) along at least part of the length of the cable duct (3), and the longitudinal slit (7) is configured for allowing a cable to be inserted into or removed from the cable reception volume (5) via the longitudinal slit (7). In this way, a possibility for efficient cable management which also promotes the comfort of the patient is provided.