MRI Table Deflection Compensation via Weight and Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatuses face challenges in moving a table-top with a subject due to deflection issues caused by the subject's weight, leading to rattling and discomfort, especially when transitioning between the table and the gantry, as existing solutions do not effectively account for the varying deflection states and gaps between the table and gantry.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that includes a processor to acquire subject position and weight information, calculate deflection, and generate path information for smooth movement of the table-top from the table to the gantry, adjusting the table's height to prevent rattling by considering the deflection states and ensuring the moving mechanism aligns with the gantry rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cantilevered table-top is used in MRI apparatus, then the table-top can be made without magnetic materials or carbon fibers, but the strength and stability are insufficient causing deflection and rattling
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary between the table-top and the gantry. This support member provides the necessary structural strength and stability to prevent table-top deflection and rattling, while allowing the table-top itself to be constructed from MRI-compatible materials without magnetic materials or carbon fibers.
2Ease of operation
If the table is disposed with a gap between the table and gantry, then the table can be positioned outside the gantry, but gaps are generated between the table-top and gantry causing instability during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is preliminarily positioned on the gantry before the table-top movement. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the table-top is moved from the table into the gantry, the support member is already in place to receive and stabilize the table-top, preventing gaps and instability during the transition.
3Device complexity
If the table-top is moved directly from the table to the gantry without considering deflection, then the movement process is simple, but deflection caused by subject weight leads to rattling and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to detect the deflection state of the table-top during movement. Based on this feedback, the movement control is adjusted in real-time to compensate for deflection caused by subject weight, thereby preventing rattling and discomfort while maintaining a relatively simple movement control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a table apparatus and a processor. The table apparatus includes a table-top on which a subject is placed. The processor acquires subject position information indicating a position of the subject on the table-top. The processor acquires weight information indicating a weight of the subject. The processor calculates an amount of deflection occurred in the table-top based on the subject position information and the weight information. The processor generates, based on the amount of deflection of the table-top, first path information indicating a path along which the table-top is moved from the table apparatus to a gantry where imaging of the subject is performed. The processor operates a moving mechanism capable of moving the table-top from the table apparatus to the gantry to move the table-top from the table apparatus to the gantry along the path indicated by the first path information.