Visual Feedback Positioning for Medical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient positioning systems in radiation therapy and diagnosis require remote display screens for feedback information, which can be cumbersome for medical personnel to use and pose risks due to space constraints around rotating machinery.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system that projects 2D or 3D patterns onto a patient's surface, using detectors and pattern analyzing circuits to generate surface representations and correction signals, which are then projected directly onto the patient or couch to provide visual feedback for repositioning, eliminating the need for remote displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a remote display screen is used to show feedback information, then the display can be arranged at a safe distance from the radiation system, but it becomes cumbersome for medical personnel to reposition the patient while looking at the remote display
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback information is projected from a two-dimensional remote display onto a three-dimensional surface (the patient's body or the treatment couch), allowing medical personnel to view the information directly at the point of operation without needing to look at a remote screen
Solution Approach 2:
A light projector acts as an intermediary device that transfers the feedback information from the control system to the treatment area, displaying visual cues directly on the patient or couch surface to guide repositioning actions
2Reliability
If a remote display screen is arranged away from the radiation system, then there is sufficient space for the gantry to rotate safely, but the display becomes difficult to access and use during patient repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback display is transformed from a fixed two-dimensional remote screen into a projected image that can be displayed on the three-dimensional surface of the patient or treatment couch, bringing the information directly to the point where it is needed during repositioning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment area itself (patient body or couch surface) serves as the display medium, eliminating the need for separate remote display equipment and making the feedback information inherently accessible at the point of operation
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
Enables accurate and efficient patient positioning by providing direct visual feedback to medical personnel, improving safety and reducing the risk of collisions with rotating machinery, while allowing for precise alignment according to reference positions.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern projector configured to project a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) pattern onto a surface of an object, such as patient
Implementation Method 2
At least one detector or camera responsive to the projected 2D/3D pattern generates a detection signal representative of the detected 2D/3D pattern on the object surface
Implementation Method 3
The correction signal is further employed to generate information representing the position and/or posture discrepancy. The information is projected by a light projector onto the object surface or onto another surface of the couch
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A positioning system comprises a pattern projector (70) for projecting a 2D/3D pattern (45) onto an object surface. The 2D/3D pattern (45) is detected by a detector (80, 85), which generates a detection signal that is employed by a pattern analyzing circuit (110) for generating a surface representation of the object surface. A correction analyzing circuit (130) generates a correction signal representative of a discrepancy in position and/or posture of the surface representation relative a stored reference surface representation. The correction signal is employed to generate information (55, 56) that is projected by a light projector (70, 75) onto the object surface. The projected information (55, 56) is indicative of the determined discrepancy in object position and/or posture.