Automated Positioning Lamp Control for Medical Imaging Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional medical systems require manual operation of positioning lamps during medical procedures, which is inefficient and exposes users to unnecessary radiation, as they need to manually position patients and move between shielded and control rooms.

Innovation Solution

A medical system that determines the working phase and position of a target portion of an object using imaging sensors, automatically controlling the positioning lamp based on the phase and position to improve efficiency and reduce radiation exposure for users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation of positioning lamps is used during medical procedures, then users can directly control lamp operation, but operational efficiency is low and users are exposed to unnecessary radiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual control capabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning lamp control system automatically detects patient position through imaging sensors and adjusts lamp illumination without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using workflow phase information and position data to autonomously control lamp operations, eliminating the need for users to manually operate the positioning lamps while maintaining or improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control of positioning lamps with an automated electronic control system. The mechanical action of users manually switching and adjusting lamps is substituted by an electronic control mechanism that uses imaging sensor data and workflow information to automatically regulate lamp illumination, thereby improving efficiency and reducing radiation exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual operation of positioning lamps is used, then users can adjust illumination as needed, but users are exposed to unnecessary radiation when moving between shielded and control rooms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination adjustment capabilityVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically manages positioning lamp illumination based on detected patient position and workflow phase, eliminating the need for users to physically move between rooms to adjust lamps. The system self-regulates illumination levels and timing, keeping users out of radiation zones while maintaining necessary illumination for procedural steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary control system that acts as a mediator between the positioning lamps and users. This intermediary automatically adjusts lamp illumination based on imaging sensor data and workflow information, allowing users to control illumination remotely without being exposed to radiation by physically moving between shielded and control rooms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If automated control of positioning lamp is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved and radiation exposure is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is integrated into the existing medical imaging system, allowing the imaging system to serve multiple functions: both imaging/detection and positioning lamp control. By making the control system universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated control hardware, thereby improving operational efficiency while limiting the increase in overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the positioning lamp control functionality with the existing medical imaging and workflow management system. By combining these functions into a unified control architecture that uses shared sensors and processing resources, the system achieves automated lamp control and improved efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity, as the control logic leverages existing system components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11839777B2Medical systems including a positioning lamp and a projection device and control methods of the medical systems

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a medical system. The medical system may determine a working phase of the medical system. The working phase of the medical system may include a positioning phase, a scanning phase, and/or a scanning completion phase. The medical system may determine a position of a target portion of an object in the medical system based on one or more images associated with the object captured by an imaging sensor. The medical system may further control an operation of a positioning lamp of the medical system based on the working phase of the medical system and the position of the target portion of the object in the medical system.