Patient Couch Body Statics Measurement for Imaging Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging methods lack holistic body statics data, leading to uncertain and inaccurate diagnoses, as they do not account for variations in body position and muscle tensions, which can result in misinterpretation of images and unnecessary treatments.
Innovation Solution
A patient couch equipped with a capturing device using 3D scanners, pressure sensors, and adjustable fixation elements to measure the three-dimensional position of the skeleton and support load in a lying position, providing comprehensive body statics data that can be integrated with imaging methods for precise diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If medical imaging methods are used without body statics measurement, then imaging procedures can be performed quickly and simply, but the diagnostic accuracy and reliability are reduced due to missing information about body position and muscle tensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the body statics measurement system with the medical imaging couch, integrating pressure sensors, 3D scanners, and fixation elements into the existing imaging apparatus. This merging allows simultaneous acquisition of both imaging data and body statics data without requiring separate measurement devices, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient couch is designed to serve multiple functions: it supports the patient during imaging procedures, measures body statics through integrated sensors and scanners, and provides fixation elements for position stabilization. This multi-functionality allows the same device to perform both imaging support and comprehensive body measurement, improving diagnostic reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive body statics measurement is implemented, then holistic body data can be captured for accurate diagnosis, but the measurement procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous data acquisition during the entire imaging procedure. Pressure sensors continuously monitor weight distribution, 3D scanners capture body surface geometry, and fixation elements maintain consistent positioning throughout the examination. This continuous measurement approach ensures complete body statics data is captured without requiring separate measurement sessions, reducing total time investment while improving data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and measurement setup before the actual imaging procedure begins. Fixation elements are pre-positioned to establish reference points, and the couch is configured to automatically capture baseline body statics data. This preliminary action ensures that comprehensive measurements are integrated into the workflow without significantly extending the core imaging time.
3Productivity
If manual measurement methods are used for body statics, then measurement can be performed with simple equipment, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with automated electronic systems. Pressure sensors automatically detect weight distribution on the couch surface, 3D scanners optically capture body surface geometry without physical contact, and computer systems process the data to calculate body statics parameters. This substitution eliminates manual measurement errors and significantly improves measurement efficiency while maintaining high precision through automated data acquisition and processing.
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
Enables targeted therapy by quantifying changes in body statics and assessing treatment success, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures by providing accurate, holistic body data.
Implementation Method 1
the couch is equipped with pressure sensors for measuring the local supported weights of the various supported body sites
Implementation Method 2
a capturing device using 3D scanners, pressure sensors, and adjustable fixation elements to measure the three-dimensional position of the skeleton
Data Source
AI summary
The patient couch serves for carrying out radiological medical imaging examinations by X-ray, tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and other imaging methods. The person rests thereon in lying position for the creation of tomographic and other images. The patient couch is equipped with a capturing device, for measuring the patient's body or certain sites of the patient's body by optical, laser-optical, mechanical or electromechanical methods and/or devices. The couch has footrests for positioning the soles of the feet as when standing on vertical supporting faces with natural spreading of the feet, as well as portions for capturing at least the positions of the knee joints, the hip joint, the pelvic bone, the shoulders and the head. Further, the couch is equipped with pressure sensors for measuring the local supported weights of the various supported body sites, for reproducibly capturing the position of the skeleton with regard to its center axis as well as any rotations of shoulder and/or hip.