Portable C-Arm Imaging With Rotating Sensor for Wider 3D Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile three-dimensional imaging systems face limitations in freedom of movement, hindering their use in non-radiology departments due to the difficulty in precisely positioning the imaging equipment, especially in environments like operating rooms with limited space and personnel.
Innovation Solution
A portable medical imaging system with a movable C-arm and omni-directional wheels, allowing 360-degree rotation and precise positioning through a control system that includes a gantry mount, C-arms, and imaging sensors, enabling flexible imaging from various angles and directions without requiring patient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile three-dimensional imaging systems are used in non-radiology departments, then imaging flexibility and accessibility are improved, but positioning precision deteriorates due to limited space and personnel in environments like operating rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated robotic system that uses sensors (cameras, encoders) and control algorithms to achieve precise positioning. The robotic arm incorporates feedback mechanisms and image-guided navigation to compensate for the constrained operating room environment, enabling accurate placement of the imaging system without requiring manual adjustment by personnel.
2Ease of operation
If the imaging system is made portable with movable components, then freedom of movement is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms including encoders on the robotic arm joints, camera-based tracking systems, and real-time imaging feedback. These feedback systems continuously monitor the position and orientation of the movable imaging components and adjust them automatically to achieve the desired positioning precision, compensating for the inherent instability of mobile systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal positioning system that can adapt to various imaging modalities and operating room configurations. The robotic arm and control system are designed to work with different imaging devices and can be programmed with pre-defined positioning protocols for different surgical procedures, maintaining precision across multiple applications despite the mobile nature of the system.
3Volume of moving object
If the imaging system is made compact for portability, then device size is reduced, but field-of-view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning and multi-angle imaging capabilities. The compact robotic system can move to multiple positions and orientations around the patient, capturing images from different angles and synthesizing them into a comprehensive three-dimensional view. This dynamic approach allows a compact device to achieve the functional equivalent of a larger field-of-view through sequential multi-position imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable medical imaging system and method, of which the system includes a movable station having a movable C-arm, an imaging signal transmitter attached to the movable C-arm, and an imaging sensor positioned generally opposite to the imaging signal transmitter and attached to the movable c-arm. The imaging sensor is configured to rotate relative to a point approximately on a center axis of the movable C-arm independently of the imaging signal transmitter, so as to change an angle of incidence for a signal transmitted from the imaging signal transmitter to the imaging sensor, and provide a field-of-view that is larger than the field-of-view of the imaging sensor at a single position.