Touchscreen Control of MRI Patient Table Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) systems require manual adjustment of the examination object to the isocenter, which is cumbersome, increases operating costs, and complicates hygiene due to the use of adjusting wheels.

Innovation Solution

An examination system with a touch-sensitive screen that controls an object transport unit, eliminating the need for adjusting wheels by using virtual operating elements to manually guide the object into and out of the examination region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an adjusting wheel is used to control the object transport unit, then the object can be manually positioned into the examination region, but the device complexity increases and hygiene becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual positioning of objectVSAvoidadjusting wheel mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical adjusting wheel system with a touch-sensitive screen interface that controls the object transport unit. Users interact with virtual operating elements on the touchscreen to position the object, eliminating the need for physical adjusting wheels and their associated mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the operating element through the touch-sensitive screen interface. Instead of requiring a physical adjusting wheel, the system provides a graphical representation that responds to touch inputs, achieving the same functional outcome with reduced physical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If an adjusting wheel is used to control the object transport unit, then the object can be manually positioned, but cleaning and hygiene become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual positioning of objectVSAvoidhygiene and cleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the physical adjusting wheel that would require cleaning by substituting it with a touch-sensitive screen interface. This removes the mechanical component that creates hygiene challenges while maintaining the manual positioning function through virtual control elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If an adjusting wheel is used to control the object transport unit, then the object can be positioned, but production and operating costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual positioning of objectVSAvoidproduction and operating costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a virtual operating element on the touch-sensitive screen instead of a physical adjusting wheel. This virtual interface can be implemented through software on existing hardware, reducing manufacturing costs associated with producing and maintaining physical mechanical components while maintaining the positioning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12551171B2Controlling an object transport unit of an examination system by means of a touch-sensitive screen

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

An examination system is provided having an object transport unit for transporting an object to be examined into an examination region. A touch-sensitive screen is used that is configured to control a function and/or for visualizing a state of the examination unit, which may comprise a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system. The touch-sensitive screen has a virtual operating element, which is able to be brought into a movement, a deflection, or a target position. Dependent thereon, the object transport unit is moved toward or away from the examination region.