Radiolucent Attachment With Interchangeable Inserts for Surgical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support apparatuses, such as surgical tables, are limited in their radiolucency, allowing only small portions of the body to be imaged during medical procedures, and lack compatibility with other components, especially for head/upper body sections, which are typically radiopaque.
Innovation Solution
A radiolucent attachment with a radiolucent coupling portion and a recess for interchangeable inserts, allowing for improved medical imaging of large body parts, including the head and upper body, by coupling to existing radiolucent sections of patient support apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If back sections of surgical or OR tables are used to support head/upper body sections, then structural support is provided, but radiolucency is limited because back sections are typically radiopaque
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment is divided into a supporting surface portion and a coupling portion, allowing the radiolucent supporting surface to be separated from the radiopaque back section of the surgical table. The coupling portion interfaces with the radiopaque structure while the supporting surface remains radiolucent for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiolucent attachment acts as an intermediary component between the radiopaque back section of the surgical table and the patient's head/upper body. It transmits structural support while maintaining radiolucency for imaging purposes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed supporting surfaces are used in patient support apparatus, then structural stability is maintained, but versatility for different surgical positions and imaging requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting surface is designed with a universal recess configuration that can accommodate multiple types of radiolucent inserts for different surgical positions and imaging requirements. This allows a single attachment structure to serve multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment transitions from a fixed supporting surface to a dynamic system with interchangeable inserts. Different inserts can be removed and replaced based on the specific surgical procedure and imaging needs, allowing the structure to adapt to varying requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If radiolucent inserts are made removable and interchangeable, then adaptability for various surgical positions is improved, but the complexity of the attachment structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal recess design accommodates multiple different radiolucent inserts for various surgical positions. The standardized interface simplifies the overall system despite the variety of interchangeable components.
4Area of stationary object
If patient support apparatus allows imaging of only small body portions, then radiopaque sections provide structural support, but comprehensive medical imaging during surgery is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support apparatus is segmented into radiopaque structural sections and radiolucent imaging sections. The radiolucent attachment with interchangeable inserts provides extended radiolucent coverage for comprehensive imaging of large body portions during surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiolucent attachment for a patient support apparatus includes: a supporting surface for supporting a portion of a patient, the supporting surface having a recess configured to removably receive one of a plurality of radiolucent inserts; and a radiolucent coupling portion, configured to cooperate with a corresponding radiolucent coupling portion of a patient support apparatus or a patient support apparatus section, for coupling the attachment to the patient support apparatus. A patient support apparatus and a radiolucent coupling portion for a radiolucent attachment are also provided.