Radiographic Imaging Off-Center Compression Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiographic image capturing apparatuses require patients to maintain uncomfortable positions for extended periods during stereographic image capturing and tissue sampling, as the radiation source may come into contact with the patient's head, necessitating awkward head positioning to avoid obstruction.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus positions the object to be examined off-center relative to the central axis, allowing the radiation source to be turned asymmetrically, preventing contact while maintaining a natural patient attitude, and includes an off-center position detector and collimator to ensure accurate irradiation and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the radiation source is positioned on the central axis and turned symmetrically for stereographic image capturing, then the image capturing function is achieved, but the radiation source may come into contact with the patient's head, requiring uncomfortable head positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the radiation source off the central axis of the image capturing base. Specifically, the radiation source is placed at a position where its rotational path during stereographic imaging does not intersect with the patient's head area, allowing symmetric radiation source movement while maintaining comfortable patient positioning. This asymmetric placement resolves the contradiction between reliable image capturing and patient comfort.
2Reliability
If the opening in the compression plate is made small to ensure reliable compression, then compression reliability is improved, but the examinable region for tissue sampling is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by transitioning from a two-dimensional constraint (opening size in the compression plate) to a three-dimensional solution. The biopsy needle is equipped with a guiding mechanism that allows it to access the biopsy region through the small opening from multiple angular directions. This enables the examinable region to extend beyond the physical boundaries of the opening by utilizing the third dimension (depth and angular access), thus maintaining compression reliability while expanding the effective examinable area.
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 enables comfortable patient positioning during radiographic image capturing and tissue sampling, enhances image capture efficiency by enlarging the examinable region, and allows for reliable stereographic image acquisition without requiring patients to assume uncomfortable attitudes.
Implementation Method 1
the radiation source applies radiation to the object to be examined and the opening that has been off-center
Implementation Method 2
radiation that has passed through the object to be examined is converted into a radiographic image
Data Source
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AI summary
In a radiographic image capturing apparatus (12), an object to be examined (22, 22r, 221) is compressed and secured between a compression plate (38) and an image capturing base (36), at a position off-center from a central position of the image capturing base (36) near a subject (20) in a direction along the subject (20). An opening (44) is defined in the compression plate (38) so as to confront the object to be examined (22, 22r, 221) in the off-center position. The radiation source (26) irradiates the object to be examined (22, 22r, 221) as well as the opening (44) with radiation (24) from a central angle of the radiation source (26), which is aligned with a vertical axis (98) of the image capturing base (36), and which passes through the central position from a predetermined angle that is angularly spaced from the central angle about the central position.