MRI Subject Table Positioning With Passive Magnetic Field Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MRI systems face challenges in accurately positioning a manually driven subject table relative to the magnetic field, leading to potential misalignment and inefficiencies in patient positioning and imaging processes.

Innovation Solution

A manually driven subject table equipped with a passive sensor that detects the strength and direction of a magnetic field in real-time, coupled with a controller that augments user inputs to actuators based on this data, ensuring precise positioning and orientation relative to the magnetic field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a manually driven subject table is used in MRI systems, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to inability to compensate for magnetic field variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operationVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that detect the subject table's position and orientation relative to the magnetic field, providing real-time feedback to a controller. The controller processes this feedback and adjusts actuator commands to compensate for magnetic field variations, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while preserving manual operability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical manual control with a hybrid system that integrates electronic sensors, controllers, and actuators. This substitution introduces intelligent control mechanisms that can detect and respond to magnetic field conditions, improving positioning precision without eliminating manual operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If magnetic field sensing and augmentation systems are added to subject tables, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data, determines subject table position and orientation, generates augmentation commands, and communicates with the user interface. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves high positioning accuracy while minimizing the number of separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a field map as an intermediary data structure that pre-stores the relationship between magnetic field characteristics and subject table positions. This field map serves as a lookup reference that simplifies real-time position determination, reducing computational complexity while maintaining positioning precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If real-time magnetic field detection is implemented, then positioning speed is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous sensing and processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous sensing and processing, the system implements periodic updates at key moments: when the subject table is moved, when position changes are detected, or at predetermined intervals. This periodic operation maintains positioning speed for critical adjustments while reducing overall energy consumption during stable periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enhances the accuracy and efficiency of subject table positioning, facilitating optimal alignment with magnetic resonance imaging systems, thereby improving patient positioning and imaging quality.

Implementation Method 1

a passive sensor configured to detect in real-time a strength or a direction of a magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS12596161B2Methods and systems for adjusting subject table behaviors

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

Various methods and systems are provided for adjusting behavior of a manually driven subject table based on a strength and/or a direction of a magnetic field as detected by a passive sensor of the manually driven subject table. In some embodiments, a medical imaging system comprises a manually driven subject table having a passive sensor configured to detect in real-time a strength or a direction of a magnetic field, and a controller communicably coupled to the passive sensor and configured with instructions stored on non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to augment transmission of a user input to one or more actuators of the manually driven subject table based on the strength or the direction of the magnetic field as detected by the passive sensor.