Removable Planar Table Top for MRI Patient Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic MRI tables with thick, flat overlays for radiotherapy planning increase the distance between the patient and RF coils, leading to insufficient MR image quality and usability issues with coil bridges, particularly in radiotherapy planning where precise positioning and minimal deformation are critical.
Innovation Solution
A patient table assembly with a thin, planar table top mounted contiguously to a curved base plate, featuring a central foam core covered with fibreglass layers for strength, and a removable design for easy configuration between radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging, along with a notched indexing system and adjustable coil bridge to optimize coil placement and patient positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a thick flat overlay is added to the diagnostic MRI table for radiotherapy planning, then the table provides a planar support surface for accurate positioning, but the distance between the patient and RF coils increases leading to insufficient MR image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The table top is made removable and interchangeable between curved and planar configurations, allowing dynamic adaptation between diagnostic imaging (curved) and radiotherapy planning (planar) modes. This enables optimization of MR image quality for each specific application by selecting the appropriate table top configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The table assembly is segmented into separate components: a curved base plate and a removable planar table top. This segmentation allows the planar top to be detached when not needed, reducing the overall thickness and improving RF coil proximity for diagnostic imaging, while providing a planar surface when required for radiotherapy planning positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If a thick flat overlay is used on the diagnostic MRI table, then radiotherapy planning positioning is improved, but the overall thickness increases reducing space in the bore and affecting coil bridge usability
Solution Approach 1:
The interchangeable table top design allows dynamic adjustment of the table configuration. When the planar table top is removed, the bore space is maximized for coil placement and patient positioning. When needed for radiotherapy planning, the planar top is installed to provide accurate positioning, temporarily reducing bore space only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the thickness problem by adding/removing a component in the vertical dimension rather than permanently increasing table thickness. This dimensional approach allows the table to transition between thin (for bore space) and planar (for positioning accuracy) configurations.
3Reliability
If a thin planar table top is used to reduce distance to RF coils, then MR image quality improves, but the mechanical strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The table top uses a composite construction with a foam core providing lightweight structure and fibreglass cover layers providing mechanical strength and rigidity. This composite material approach enables the table top to be thin enough to improve RF coil proximity and MR image quality while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength to support patient weight and positioning equipment.
4Reliability
If the table top is made thin to improve coil proximity, then MR image quality enhances, but the distance between support face and table top reduces limiting space for equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The coil bridge and RF coils are positioned in the vertical space between the curved base plate and the planar table top. This nested arrangement allows equipment to be accommodated within the limited vertical clearance created by the thin table top configuration, maintaining both improved MR image quality and equipment functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient table comprises: a curved base plate, a support face arranged over the curved base plate's concave side, a planar table top removable placed over the support face surface and the planar table top having a flat support surface opposite form the support face; the planar table top being contiguous to the support face. In particular in the patient table assembly with longitudinal sides (a) longitudinal groove(s) are provided along one or both the longitudinal sides in the flat support surface and at the longitudinal groove(s) indentations, in particular notches, are provided in the flat support surface and transverse to the groove(s).