Spring Roller Mechanism for Cantilevered Patient Support Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrations during patient movement in PET and CT scans create artifacts in medical imaging, degrading image quality due to changes in the vertical position of the patient anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a spring and roller mechanism to maintain constant contact with the patient support surface, providing an upward spring bias and frictional resistance to stabilize the patient support surface, converting a cantilevered system into a simply supported one to minimize vibrations and maintain constant deflection during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cantilevered patient support surface is used, then the patient can be moved within the gantry for imaging, but vibrations occur during movement that create artifacts in the images
Solution Approach 1:
A roller is introduced as an intermediary element between the patient support surface and the imaging system. The roller maintains constant contact with the support surface through spring bias and frictional resistance, serving as a mediator that stabilizes the system and eliminates vibrations during patient movement without restricting the movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining constant upward spring bias on the patient support surface. This pre-applied force creates a frictional resistance at the roller arm that prevents vibrations before they can occur during patient movement, ensuring stable imaging conditions
2Measurement precision
If the patient support surface is stabilized to eliminate vibrations, then image quality improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The roller acts as a simple intermediary component that maintains constant contact with the patient support surface. By using a single roller with spring bias and frictional resistance, the system achieves vibration elimination and improved image quality without requiring complex stabilization mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the support system by introducing spring bias and frictional resistance. These parameter changes enable the roller to maintain constant contact with the patient support surface, providing stabilization while keeping the overall system structure relatively simple
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
This approach results in high-quality imaging by eliminating stair-step artifacts and maintaining the patient's vertical position stability, reducing undesirable scan image errors and improving diagnostic imaging performance.
Implementation Method 1
The spring creates an upwards spring bias on the patient support surface
Implementation Method 2
A frictional resistance at the roller arm and an upward directed spring bias enables the roller to maintain constant contact with the patient support surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for reducing vibration of a cantilevered patient support surface are provided herein. A system includes a spring and roller coupled with the spring. The spring creates an upwards spring bias on the patient support surface. The roller is coupled with the spring via a roller lever arm. A frictional resistance at the roller arm and an upward directed spring bias enables the roller to maintain constant contact with the patient support surface.