Pivotable Gantry for Ergonomic Upright Cone Beam Breast CT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cone beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) systems pose ergonomic challenges for patients who find it difficult to assume a prone position, particularly for those who are elderly, obese, pregnant, disabled, or suffering from paralysis or amputation, leading to difficulties in positioning the breast for imaging.
Innovation Solution
The development of a CBBCT system that allows for upright patient positioning, using a saddle for support during scanning, a pivotable gantry that moves away from a vertical orientation, and a patient step for easy access, along with adjustable components to accommodate various patient heights and dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional prone positioning is used for CBBCT imaging, then breast imaging can be performed, but patients experience physical discomfort and difficulty in positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional prone positioning approach by enabling upright positioning of patients during CBBCT imaging. The gantry is designed to rotate and position itself to accommodate upright patients, fundamentally reversing the traditional imaging geometry to eliminate the physical discomfort associated with prone positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantry subsystem is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing it to rotate and adjust its orientation to accommodate patients in various positions including upright. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to transition from fixed prone positioning to flexible upright positioning, improving patient comfort while maintaining imaging quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed vertical gantry orientation is used, then imaging geometry is simplified, but patient accessibility and ergonomics are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gantry subsystem incorporates dynamic rotation and positioning mechanisms that allow it to adjust its orientation to accommodate patients in upright positions. This dynamic capability provides adaptability to different patient positions while the modular design helps manage the complexity of the positioning mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantry is divided into modular subsystems that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the complex positioning function to be broken down into manageable components, each responsible for specific degrees of freedom, thereby reducing the overall complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Measurement precision
If compression positioning is used for breast imaging, then breast can be positioned for imaging, but patient comfort and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of compressing the patient's breast to achieve positioning, the system inverts the approach by using gravity-assisted positioning in an upright configuration. The breast is allowed to hang naturally under gravity, eliminating the need for compression mechanisms and significantly improving patient comfort and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Gravity serves as an intermediary force that naturally positions the breast for imaging without requiring mechanical compression. This intermediary natural force replaces the need for complex compression mechanisms, simplifying the positioning process while improving patient experience.
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 comfortable and effective breast imaging for a wider range of patients, reducing physical discomfort and improving imaging quality by allowing for ergonomic adjustments and patient stability during the scanning process.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source (102) mounted on an upper surface (104) of a rotating gantry (106)... the x-ray source (102) is configured to emit a beam of x-rays (110)
Data Source
AI summary
A cone beam breast computed tomography scanning system includes a vertical plane gantry subsystem pivotally connected to a foundation element for ergonomic patient positioning.