Sloped Casing Geometry for Radiographic Image Capture Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable radiographic image capture devices face challenges in maintaining volume and handling characteristics due to the need for impact absorption, which reduces the space available for the radiation detector and control board, making them less flexible and more difficult to use, especially when tucking under patients.
Innovation Solution
A portable radiographic image capture device with a casing that has sloped end sections, allowing for a thinner thickness at the edges, enabling the radiation detector and control board to be positioned within the angled region, thus maintaining volume and improving handling by reducing discomfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an impact absorbing member is provided at the side faces of the cassette, then protection against careless dropping is improved, but the space available for housing the radiation detector and control board is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional rectangular prism shape to a tapered parallelepiped shape with sloped end sections. This dimensional change in the casing geometry allows the radiation detector and control board to be positioned in the sloped region, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space while maintaining the required impact absorption volume at the side faces.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing is designed with non-uniform thickness: the end sections have sloped surfaces with gradually decreasing thickness, while the side faces maintain sufficient thickness for impact absorption. This local differentiation allows each region of the casing to serve its specific function optimally.
2Reliability
If the thickness of the shock absorbing member decreases away from the side faces, then impact protection is achieved, but the device becomes more difficult to tuck under a patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the casing thickness distribution by creating sloped end sections that taper from the side faces toward the center. This asymmetric design provides a thinner edge profile that facilitates easy insertion under patients while maintaining adequate thickness at the side faces for impact protection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cassettes are made to conform to JIS Z4905 standard sizes, then compatibility with standard imaging tables is improved, but the ability to accommodate impact absorption features is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from a rectangular prism to a tapered parallelepiped with sloped ends, the patent maintains the standard external dimensions required by JIS Z4905 for compatibility with imaging tables, while the three-dimensional sloped geometry provides additional space for impact absorption features without increasing the footprint dimensions.
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 allows for efficient image capture while minimizing volume reduction and enhancing handling characteristics, ensuring the device can be easily tucked under patients and picked up without causing discomfort, while adhering to standard sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation detector for capturing a radiographic image representing irradiated radiation and outputting an electrical signal representing the captured radiographic image
Data Source
AI summary
A portable radiographic image capture device including a radiation detector for capturing a radiographic image representing irradiated radiation and outputting an electrical signal representing the captured radiographic image; a control board that controls the image capture operation of the radiation detector; and a casing formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, housing the radiation detector and the control board such that they are superimposed on each other. The casing has a flat image capture region for capturing a radiographic image with the radiation detector, is sloped such that the thickness at an end section at least one edge of the casing gradually decreases, and is capable of disposing at least a portion of at least one of the radiation detector and/or the control board inside the angled sloping region of the casing.