Digital Radiography Detector Shock Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital radiography detectors are large, heavy, expensive, and fragile, making them unsuitable for retrofitting existing x-ray equipment, and they lack effective shock protection and wireless capabilities, which limits their use in portable imaging and standard exam rooms.
Innovation Solution
A compact and durable housing system for digital radiography detectors that includes a shock-absorbing elastomer assembly, a lightweight composite stiffener, and a wireless interface, allowing the detector to fit within standard cassette dimensions and providing protection against physical shocks and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large-area detector array is fabricated on a glass substrate, then the detector can capture radiographic images, but the detector becomes fragile to handle and expensive to fabricate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional glass substrate with a composite structure consisting of a rigid support frame and a flexible imaging plate. This composite approach maintains the detector array's functionality while eliminating the fragility of glass, allowing the detector to be handled and transported without breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible imaging plate instead of a rigid glass substrate. This flexible film structure allows the detector array to be bent and handled easily, solving the fragility problem while maintaining the ability to capture radiographic images effectively.
2Area of stationary object
If standard film cassette dimensions are used, then the detector fits existing equipment, but the detector array becomes large and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible imaging plate allows the detector to maintain standard cassette dimensions while significantly reducing weight. The thin film structure provides the necessary imaging area without the bulk and weight of traditional glass-based detectors, enabling portability while fitting existing equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the detector is made portable with wireless functionality, then the detector can be used in remote locations, but the detector requires additional components that increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the battery, wireless communication antenna, and detector array into a single unified portable unit. By merging these components, the system achieves wireless portability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the components work together in an integrated design rather than as separate additions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical connections (cables, physical interfaces) with wireless communication technology. This substitution enables portable operation without the complexity of mechanical interfaces, allowing the detector to communicate wirelessly while maintaining simplicity in the overall system design.
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
The solution enables the use of digital radiography detectors in both standard exam rooms and portable imaging environments, reducing the risk of damage and improving handling with its compact, durable design and wireless functionality, while maintaining efficient image conversion and transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorbing elastomer assembly located within the cavity for absorbing shock to the detector array/stiffener in directions perpendicular to and parallel to the detector array/stiffener
Data Source
AI summary
A digital radiography detector includes a housing having first and second spaced planar members and four side walls defining a cavity. A radiographic image detector assembly is mounted within the cavity for converting a radiographic image to an electronic radiographic image. The detector assembly includes a detector array mounted on a stiffener. A shock absorbing elastomer assembly is located within the cavity for absorbing shock to the detector array/stiffener in directions perpendicular to and parallel to the detector array/stiffener.