Patient Bed Pallet Orientation Tracking for Medical Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical imaging systems, such as PET and CT scanners, face issues with patient bed positioning errors due to structural imperfections in the floor, leading to artifacts in scan images and degraded image quality, as existing systems do not effectively monitor or correct for these errors in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A multi-axis motion sensor is integrated onto the patient bed pallet to detect and track small angular deviations in real-time, providing continuous monitoring and enabling corrections to maintain optimal patient bed orientation during scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a patient bed pallet is used to move patients through the scanner's field of view, then patient scanning capability is improved, but structural imperfections in the floor cause pallet orientation deviations that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs motion sensors to continuously monitor the actual orientation of the patient bed pallet during movement, and uses this feedback information to calculate and apply corrective transformations to the imaging data, compensating for the detected orientation deviations without requiring physical releveling of the pallet
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter space by introducing orientation correction parameters derived from sensor measurements, allowing the imaging system to adapt to varying pallet orientations through computational adjustments rather than mechanical corrections
2Productivity
If the patient bed pallet is moved continuously through the scanner, then scanning efficiency is improved, but the long moment of the pallet amplifies angular deviations from floor imperfections
Solution Approach 1:
Motion sensors placed at strategic locations on the pallet provide continuous feedback on its orientation during movement, enabling real-time detection of angular deviations that are then used to correct the imaging data and maintain reliable image quality throughout the continuous scanning process
Solution Approach 2:
The motion sensors act as intermediaries between the physical pallet movement and the imaging system, measuring orientation deviations and enabling computational correction that bridges the gap between mechanical imperfections and imaging requirements
3Measurement precision
If multi-axis motion sensors are added to the patient bed pallet to detect orientation deviations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensors serve multiple functions: they track the position of the pallet, measure its orientation in multiple axes, provide feedback for correction calculations, and enable compensation for both translational and rotational deviations, justifying the added complexity through their multi-functional role in maintaining 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
This solution ensures better image quality by detecting and correcting patient bed orientation deviations in real-time, preventing artifacts and maintaining optimal scanning performance, even in environments where structural integrity deteriorates over time.
Implementation Method 1
at least one multi-axis motion sensor provided on the patient bed pallet, wherein the multi-axis motion sensor monitors the movement of the patient bed pallet and detects any deviation in the patient bed pallet's orientation from a predetermined desired orientation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a medical imaging scanner system such as a PET scanner system having a patient bed pallet that is provided with at least one multi-axis motion sensor for monitoring the movement of the patient bed pallet and detecting any deviation in the orientation of the patient bed pallet from a predetermined desired orientation during the movement.