Occipital Head Fixing Device for X-ray Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing x-ray imaging systems face challenges in accurately capturing facial images without deforming facial soft tissues, leading to reduced registration accuracy between x-ray and facial images, which complicates diagnostic data acquisition and surgical planning.

Innovation Solution

A head fixing apparatus that supports the occipital and temporal regions of the subject to maintain the head in a stable position during imaging, preventing backward, lateral, and forward movement, thereby minimizing tissue deformation and enhancing image registration accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a chin rest is used to hold the head in position during radiography, then the head can be stabilized, but facial soft tissues are compressed and deformed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead stabilityVSAvoidfacial soft tissue deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the chin rest component from the head positioning system entirely. Instead of supporting the chin, the system uses a head holder that contacts only the occipital region (back of the head), thereby extracting the harmful chin compression function while retaining head stabilization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the occipital-supporting head holder) that mediates between the need for head stabilization and the requirement to avoid facial tissue deformation. By positioning support at the occipital region rather than the chin, it achieves stabilization without direct contact with facial soft tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If facial soft tissues are compressed during imaging, then head position can be fixed, but registration accuracy between x-ray and facial images decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead position fixationVSAvoidimage registration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the chin rest component that causes tissue compression, replacing it with occipital support that does not contact facial soft tissues. This eliminates the source of deformation while maintaining positioning stability, thereby preserving the accuracy of facial contour representation in images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures that the head is positioned and fixed in a natural state without compression, allowing the facial appearance image to accurately copy the true facial contours. This enables precise registration between x-ray images and facial images by preserving the integrity of facial soft tissue geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If additional image compensation processes are applied to correct facial deformation, then registration accuracy can be improved, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage registration accuracyVSAvoidimage processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by preventing facial soft tissue deformation at the source during image acquisition. By using occipital support instead of chin rest, the head is positioned in a natural state before imaging occurs, eliminating the need for subsequent compensation processes and reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of head positioning (which could cause deformation) into a benefit by using occipital support. This approach not only stabilizes the head but also naturally preserves facial tissue geometry, turning a positioning necessity into an advantage that eliminates compensation needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3028637B1Head fixing device for radiography imaging and x-ray imaging system having same

Publication Date: 2019.02.20 UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY COOPERATION GROUP OF KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY

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AI summary

Disclosed are a head fixing device, which is applied to an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector for photographing an image of a head and supports a head of an examinee such that the head of the examinee is maintained at a photographing position in an aligned state, and an X-ray imaging system using the same. Here, the head fixing device supports the occipital region and the temporal region of the examinee, thereby aligning the head of the examinee in the photographing position and maintaining the position of the head. The head fixing device comprises: an occipital region support (occipital support portion) for supporting the back of the head to block movement toward the rear side of the head, and a temporal region support (temporal support portion) for blocking left/right movement of the head, wherein the temporal region support may be provided in the occipital region support or may be separated from the occipital region support. In general radiographic inspection and dental radiographic inspection, the present invention can effectively fix the position of the head and ensure a stable position, thereby minimizing the probability of or preventing the generation of an error during radiography and obtaining an image having a high diagnostic value.