Mobile Patient Positioning Cart with Alignment Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiographic imaging systems face challenges in capturing long length images due to the smaller size of flat panel detectors, requiring multiple exposures and precise alignment of images, which is difficult with existing patient positioning stands that lack versatility and accuracy for manual operation with DR detectors.

Innovation Solution

A portable patient positioning stand with a vertically moveable shield and detector holder allows for manual positioning at different heights, using markers and lines for accurate alignment and overlap of images, enabling efficient stitching of multiple exposures into a single long length image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple exposures are taken with a flat panel detector to capture a long length image, then the desired extended field of view is achieved, but the alignment and stitching of multiple images becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage coverage areaVSAvoidimage alignment and stitching process

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment markers are positioned on the patient positioning shield before imaging begins. These markers establish predetermined reference points that guide the alignment of multiple detector images during the stitching process, eliminating the need for complex post-processing alignment procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Alignment markers serve as intermediary reference elements between the patient positioning shield and the detector images. These markers appear in multiple detector fields of view and provide a common reference framework that simplifies the stitching process by enabling automatic or manual alignment based on marker positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If traditional patient positioning stands are used for multiple exposure imaging, then basic positioning is possible, but accurate alignment of detector at different heights is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector positioning accuracyVSAvoidmanual positioning operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simplified approach using visual alignment markers. Instead of relying on precise mechanical adjustments of the detector at different heights, the system uses markers displayed on the patient positioning shield that provide visual guidance for aligning the detector, making manual positioning accurate and intuitive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Alignment markers are displayed with high visual contrast (effectively using color/brightness changes) to be clearly visible to the operator. This enables easy detection and alignment of the detector position relative to the patient positioning shield, simplifying the manual positioning operation while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If expensive flat panel detectors are used for direct x-ray capture, then image quality improves, but the cost and mechanical complexity increase, making overlap positioning infeasible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture qualityVSAvoiddetector structure and positioning mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the imaging task into multiple separate detector positions rather than requiring a single large detector. By taking multiple exposures at different detector positions and stitching them together using alignment markers, the system achieves extended field of view imaging with standard-sized detectors, avoiding the need for expensive large-format detectors or complex overlapping mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 simplifies the process of capturing and aligning multiple images, improving accuracy and reducing complexity and cost, while allowing for use with various detector sizes and orientations, enhancing image quality and usability across different imaging scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

a source of radiation may be vertically positioned to provide radiation for images at the multiple image areas within the total image area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9016940B2Mobile patient positioning cart for multiple exposure imaging exams

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 FUJIFILM MEDICAL SYSTEMS U S A INC

AI summary

A mobile patient positioning stand has a vertical rail allowing a shield structure to be moved up and down to different heights based on the height of anatomy of the patient desired to be imaged. The structure may be moved to position a shield of the structure at a height so that anatomy of a patient to be imaged is located within multiple image areas identified by markers on the shield. Then, an image detector holder and detector may be moved up and down to different heights behind the shield, based on the height of the markers. A source of radiation provides images at the multiple image areas. The multiple image areas may be connected by aligning stitching markers that may be on the shield, and are in the images. The aligning may be done by an automated computer software process that recognized patient anatomy and/or the stitching markers.