Radiolucent Leg Support Cradle for X-Ray Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging procedures face challenges in achieving ideal anatomical posture, particularly for lower extremities like the hip joint, due to patient discomfort and mobility issues, which can lead to suboptimal image quality and increased radiation exposure for both patients and medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
A portable, adjustable support stand with a base, riser, arm, and cradle is designed to hold a patient's lower extremity in a desired anatomical position, allowing for precise control of height, orientation, and movement, thereby facilitating high-quality medical imaging without the need for manual support by medical personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual support by medical personnel is used to position patient extremities, then anatomical posture can be achieved, but radiation exposure increases for both patients and personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand acts as an intermediary device between the patient and the imaging equipment. It provides mechanical support for positioning the lower extremity without requiring medical personnel to manually hold the limb during imaging, thereby eliminating their radiation exposure while maintaining proper anatomical positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The support stand enables the imaging system to position and maintain the extremity without continuous human intervention. Once positioned, the adjustable support structure maintains the anatomical posture independently during the imaging procedure, allowing the process to serve itself without additional radiation exposure to personnel.
2Measurement precision
If manual support is used for imaging procedures, then anatomical positioning can be maintained, but procedure time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand is pre-configured with adjustable components that can be set to the required anatomical position before the imaging procedure begins. The extremity is positioned on the support structure in advance, eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment during the imaging process and streamlining the overall procedure.
3Measurement precision
If adjustable support structures are implemented, then positioning precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support stand is divided into distinct functional segments: a base for stability, an adjustable support structure for height and angle control, and a positioning mechanism for precise extremity placement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system manageability.
Data Source
AI summary
A riser extends up from a base. The base defines a lower portion of the support tool and includes at least one leg extending away from the riser laterally to provide stability to the support tool. An arm also extends away from the riser at a location above the base, with the arm inboard of lateral edges of a footprint of the base. The arm supports a cradle on a portion of the arm spaced from the riser. This cradle includes a saddle open from above which can receive and support bodily extremities such as a leg or arm of a patient. The cradle is preferably formed of radiolucent material to be substantially invisible within medical images of the extremity. Tilt and pivot mechanisms allow the cradle to be pivoted about a vertical axis and tilted about a horizontal axis for optimal positioning of the extremity of the patient.