Rigid Support Structure for 3D Imaging Device Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional imaging systems for capturing the entirety of a subject's surface, particularly in clinical settings, require frequent adjustments and lack consistent installation, leading to variability in image accuracy and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A structured support system with image capturing device groups arranged in predetermined geometric relationships, including a rigid support structure with arcuate members and vertical supports, ensures consistent placement and operation of cameras and projectors, allowing for accurate and standardized imaging without extensive setup or periodic adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If individual tripod structures are used to support image capturing devices, then the system can be assembled and disassembled, but accurate and consistent placement of imaging devices is difficult to maintain from installation to installation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual tripod structures are merged into a single integrated support structure that holds all image capturing devices. This unified structure ensures consistent geometric relationships between devices while maintaining ease of assembly as a single unit, resolving the contradiction between assembly flexibility and placement consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized mounting interface acts as an intermediary between the support structure and image capturing devices. This interface enables precise and consistent placement of devices while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, bridging the gap between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If periodic physical adjustment is performed to maintain device placement, then imaging accuracy can be maintained, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is pre-configured with precise geometric relationships between mounting points during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that once assembled, the system maintains imaging accuracy without requiring periodic physical adjustments, eliminating the trade-off between reliability and operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the support structure is made rigid to ensure consistent placement, then placement accuracy is improved, but access for subjects and operators is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into modular components that can be configured in different arrangements. This allows the structure to maintain rigid precision for device placement while providing flexible configurations that accommodate subject and operator access requirements, resolving the contradiction between placement accuracy and accessibility.
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 provides consistent and accurate three-dimensional imaging with reduced need for manual adjustments, improved image quality by minimizing stray reflections, and enhanced operational ease, including vibration isolation and protected cabling, while maintaining an open structure for subject and operator access.
Implementation Method 1
a projector that projects random infrared patterns onto the head
Implementation Method 2
Each group of first images captures a substantially different surface portion of the head disposed within the space
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus to capture three-dimensional images of a subject selected from the group consisting of an animate object, an inanimate object, a human, an animal, a biological mass or a portion of a subject comprises a plurality of image capturing device modules, each module comprises a plurality of image-capturing devices; and a rigid support structure supporting the plurality of image capturing device modules to define a space wherein said subject may be disposed. The rigid support structure supports all of the modules in predetermined relationship to each other and to the space. The rigid support structure further supports the modules in positions such that each module is positioned to capture a group of first images of a corresponding surface portion of the subject disposed within the space such that each group of first images captured by the corresponding module captures a substantially different surface portion of the subject disposed within the space.