MRI Scanning Table Double-Layer Pallet Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical imaging equipment, such as MRI scanners, face challenges in achieving long-distance back and forth movement of scanning tables to facilitate whole-body scans without excessive length, which can compromise image reconstruction and patient positioning stability.

Innovation Solution

A double-layer pallet structure with a driving device that includes an opening belt and an endless belt, allowing the upper pallet to move synchronously with the lower pallet, enabling long-distance back and forth movement while maintaining stability and precision, and avoiding interference with the imaging device's magnetic field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the scanning table is made longer to enable whole-body scanning, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the patient positioning stability and image reconstruction quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning table lengthVSAvoidimage reconstruction quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning table is divided into two separate layers: an upper pallet for patient positioning and a lower pallet for driving and support functions. This segmentation allows the upper pallet to remain relatively short for stable patient positioning while the lower pallet provides the necessary driving mechanisms, effectively resolving the contradiction between scanning coverage and positioning stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If the scanning table is made longer to enable whole-body scanning, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning table lengthVSAvoidscanning table structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving functions are merged into the lower pallet, which includes the driving device, opening belt, and endless belt. The upper pallet is dedicated solely to patient support and positioning. This functional merging and separation reduces overall structural complexity while enabling whole-body scanning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The upper pallet is positioned on top of the lower pallet, creating a nested structure where the upper layer utilizes the support framework of the lower layer. This nesting approach allows the scanning table to achieve extended scanning coverage without proportionally increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If a single-layer pallet structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to achieve long-distance back and forth movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepallet structure complexityVSAvoidscanning table movement capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The pallet is segmented into upper and lower layers with distinct functional responsibilities. The lower pallet contains the driving mechanisms for long-distance movement, while the upper pallet focuses on patient positioning. This segmentation enables effective long-distance back and forth movement without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the scanning table structure is simplified, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the stability and precision of movement deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning table manufacturing easeVSAvoidmovement stability and precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning table is segmented into functionally independent upper and lower pallets. The lower pallet with standardized driving components (driving device, opening belt, endless belt) can be manufactured and tested separately, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining movement stability and precision through dedicated structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11246544B2Scanning table and medical imaging equipment including scanning table

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYST CO LTD

AI summary

A scanning table includes an upper pallet, a lower pallet, a support device, a driving device, an opening belt and an endless belt. The opening belt is fixedly coupled with the lower pallet. The endless belt is fixedly coupled with the upper pallet. A front end of the opening belt is provided with a first driving wheel coupled to the driving device. The lower pallet is driven by the first driving wheel to move in a front-back direction relative to the support device. The endless belt is sleeved on the lower pallet. When the lower pallet moves in the front-back direction relative to the support device, the endless belt moves synchronously with the lower pallet to drive the upper pallet to move in the same direction back and forth relative to the lower pallet.