Modular Cooling Assembly for PET Imaging Gantry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PET and PET-CT imaging systems face challenges in installation, maintenance, and protection of their components, which affect imaging accuracy, service life, and radiation dose exposure.
Innovation Solution
The proposed imaging system includes a gantry assembly, a detector assembly, and a cooling assembly with a sliding device, which facilitates the mounting and cooling of heat-generating components, and incorporates a ring assembly to block undesired radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling assembly is integrated into the gantry assembly with fixed mounting, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the installation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling assembly is designed as a separate, modular unit that can be independently installed and removed from the gantry assembly. This segmentation allows the cooling system to be optimized for thermal performance while maintaining ease of installation and maintenance through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling assembly incorporates movable components including a sliding device with guide rails and positioning mechanisms that enable dynamic adjustment and removal of the cooling unit. This dynamic design facilitates easy installation and maintenance while preserving cooling efficiency through precise positioning capabilities.
2Reliability
If the detector assembly is permanently fixed on the main gantry, then the imaging stability is improved, but the maintenance accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The detector assembly is designed as a separable module that can be detached from the main gantry through the sliding device mechanism. This segmentation enables the detector to maintain stable imaging performance during operation while allowing easy access for maintenance and replacement by removing it from the gantry.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding device provides dynamic positioning capabilities for the detector assembly, allowing it to be securely fixed during imaging for stability, and easily moved or removed for maintenance. The guide rails and positioning mechanisms enable smooth transitions between operational and maintenance states.
3Temperature
If the heat generating component is positioned closer to the detector assembly, then the thermal coupling is improved, but the radiation exposure to the subject increases
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated cooling channel or thermal management structure is introduced as an intermediary between the heat-generating component and the detector assembly. This intermediary structure efficiently conducts heat away from the detector while maintaining the necessary spatial separation to minimize radiation exposure to the subject.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is locally optimized in the region between the heat-generating component and detector assembly, with enhanced thermal conduction pathways and cooling fluid channels positioned precisely where heat management is critical, while maintaining overall system geometry that minimizes radiation dose.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple scanning channels are connected in sequence, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the heat generation and cooling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple scanning channels share a common cooling system architecture with unified cooling fluid pathways and centralized thermal management components. This merging approach extends imaging coverage across multiple channels while avoiding the complexity of independent cooling systems for each channel, as the cooling assembly serves all channels through shared infrastructure.
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 configuration improves the installation and maintenance efficiency of PET and PET-CT systems, enhances imaging accuracy, extends the service life of components, and reduces radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling assembly configured to cool the heat generating component
Implementation Method 2
the common plane may include a first thermal insulation layer
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system for PET imaging. The system may include a first device and a second device. The first device may include a first scanning channel. The second device may include a second scanning channel connected to the first scanning channel, a heat generating component, and a cooling assembly configured to cool the heat generating component, wherein the cooling assembly may include an inlet chamber and a return chamber, the heat generating component may be closer to a first side of the second device than at least one of the inlet chamber or the return chamber, and the first side of the second device may face the first device.