MRI Support Stand With Vibration Isolation for Stable Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MRI scanners are bulky and heavy, requiring specialized packaging for transportation and often necessitate modifications to medical facilities for installation, and they generate vibrations and noise that can impact image quality due to environmental and operational vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A support stand with a base and pillars equipped with vibration isolators that minimize the transmission of both MRI-generated and environmental vibrations, allowing for stable operation and transportation of MRI scanners while reducing the need for facility modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If MRI scanners are made bulky and heavy to house strong magnetic fields and imaging components, then the scanner can generate sufficient magnetic field strength for imaging, but the scanner requires specialized packaging for transportation and facility modifications for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The MRI scanner is divided into separable components: the scanner unit itself and the support stand with vibration isolators. This segmentation allows the scanner to be transported on the support stand without requiring permanent facility modifications, while still housing the necessary magnetic field generation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The support stand with vibration isolators serves as an intermediary between the MRI scanner and the facility floor. It provides the necessary support and isolation without requiring direct modification of the facility structure, thus easing installation while supporting the heavy scanner.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MRI scanners are made bulky to house all necessary imaging components, then the scanner can perform complete imaging functions, but the scanner generates appreciable vibration and noise that impacts image quality
Solution Approach 1:
Vibration isolators are introduced as intermediary elements between the MRI scanner and the support stand. These isolators specifically target and reduce the transmission of vibration and noise generated by the scanner's gradient coils and RF pulses, thereby reducing harmful factors while preserving imaging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration isolators convert the harmful vibrations generated by the scanner into isolated movements that do not transmit to the support stand or environment. The isolators absorb and dissipate the vibrational energy, transforming a harmful byproduct of imaging into a contained phenomenon that does not degrade image quality.
3Ease of operation
If MRI scanners are placed directly on facility floors, then installation is straightforward, but environmentally generated vibrations are transmitted to the scanner impacting image capture performance
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand with vibration isolators acts as an intermediary platform between the facility floor and the MRI scanner. It maintains the simplicity of installation by providing a self-contained support system while simultaneously filtering out environmentally generated vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted directly to the scanner and degrade image quality.
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
The support stand effectively isolates vibrations, enhancing image quality and simplifying the installation and transportation of MRI scanners by reducing the impact of environmental and operational vibrations on the imaging process.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration isolator mounted at the second end of respective pillars to support the lateral surface of the cylindrical housing
Data Source
AI summary
A support stand for supporting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner while in operation. A MRI scanner includes a cylindrical housing having a lateral surface extending parallel to a horizontal patient bore to encapsulate a main cylindrical magnet. The cylindrical housing defines a longitudinal footprint dimension and a lateral footprint dimension. The support stand includes a base and a plurality of pillars extending upright from the base. Each respective pillar includes a first end mounted to the base and an opposing second end. The support stand also includes a vibration isolator mounted at the second end of the respective pillars to support the lateral surface of the cylindrical housing. The respective vibration isolators minimize transmission of environment borne vibrations to the MRI scanner or minimize transmission of MRI scanner generated vibrations to the environment.