Roller-Guided Floating Cradle Patient Table for Compact CT Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional CT patient tables are bulky, complex, and inflexible, limiting room size requirements, complicating installation and maintenance, and preventing integration with other imaging devices due to long beam structures, which affects image quality and increases cost.
Innovation Solution
A patient table with a floating cradle that moves bi-directionally relative to a fixed base, supported by rollers, allowing it to extend beyond the fixed structure and accommodate multiple imaging modalities without increasing bulk, thus reducing room size requirements and enabling easier installation and integration with various imaging systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long stationary beam structures are used in traditional CT patient tables, then the cradle can be guided during movement, but the room size requirements increase and installation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patient table is divided into separate functional modules: a base unit and a cradle unit that can move independently. The cradle is guided only during its scanning motion rather than requiring continuous guidance along the entire beam length, reducing the stationary structure length while maintaining guidance functionality where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle transitions from a statically guided structure to a dynamically guided system where guidance is activated only during scanning operations. The cradle can move freely along the beam structure during positioning, then engages guidance mechanisms only when entering the scanning zone, reducing overall structural length requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If long beam structures are used to support the cradle, then the cradle movement is stable, but the table becomes bulky and transportation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patient table is segmented into a compact base unit and a separate cradle unit. The base contains essential support and control systems, while the cradle is a lighter, more compact design that moves along a reduced-length beam structure. This segmentation reduces overall structural complexity and bulk while maintaining stability through modular connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam structure uses thin-walled, optimized cross-sections that provide sufficient structural stiffness and cradle support stability while minimizing material usage and overall structural bulk. The thin-film approach reduces weight and complexity without compromising the stability required for precise cradle positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cradle scan range is extended to accommodate multiple imaging modalities, then versatility increases, but the table length increases by 80 percent and image quality deteriorates due to increased deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle employs dynamic positioning systems with active deflection compensation. When extending the scan range for multi-modality imaging, the system actively adjusts cradle position and orientation in real-time to compensate for increased deflection, maintaining image quality while achieving extended versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters dynamically based on the imaging modality being used. For extended scan ranges required by different modalities, the system adjusts beam stiffness, cradle support points, and positioning parameters to maintain precision and image quality despite the increased table length and deflection.
4Adaptability or versatility
If floor mounted linear motion guide rails are added to enable multi-modality imaging, then imaging versatility improves, but the table becomes even more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patient table beam structure is designed as a universal platform that can support multiple imaging modalities without requiring additional floor-mounted guide rails. The beam structure incorporates integrated guidance and support features that work across CT, fluoroscopy, and other modalities, achieving multi-functionality while reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Data Source
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AI summary
A patient table (46) for a computed tomography (CT) imaging system (10) is provided. The patient table (46) includes a base (52). The patient table (46) also includes a floating cradle (50) configured to support a subject (22) to be imaged and to move bi-directionally relative to the base (52). The patient table (46) further includes a fixed structure (78) coupled to the base (52). The patient table (46) further includes a plurality of rollers (84) mounted to the fixed structure (78). The plurality of rollers (84) is configured both to guide and to support the floating cradle (50). The floating cradle (50) is configured to guide itself when extend beyond the fixed structure (78).