Wireless Localization of Radiology Components and Patients
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In large radiology departments with multiple image recording scanners, locating optional and exchangeable components and patients is inefficient due to dependence on organizational memory and manual searches, which can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for patients with mobility issues or unfamiliar environments.
Innovation Solution
Equipping components and patients with wireless transmit devices that emit localization signals, allowing receive devices in the environment to determine their position information, using a Universally Unique Identifier for identification, and employing Bluetooth Low Energy technology for efficient communication and triangulation for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual search and organizational memory are used to locate components and patients, then the system complexity remains low, but the time consumption and efficiency deteriorate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Components and patients are equipped with transmit devices that automatically emit localization signals without requiring manual intervention. The system self-updates position information by receiving these signals, eliminating the need for manual searching and registration while maintaining low operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical search process is replaced with an automated electronic localization system using wireless transmit devices and receive devices. This substitution transforms the locating process from a manual, time-consuming task to an automated, efficient electronic system.
2Loss of time
If transmit devices are equipped on all components and patients for automatic localization, then the locating speed and accuracy improve, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmit devices are designed as simple, low-cost units that can be easily attached to components or patients and removed after use. This approach minimizes the complexity and cost burden while enabling automatic localization, as the devices are inexpensive enough to be used temporarily without long-term commitment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmit devices use universal identification standards (UUID) and wireless communication protocols that can be applied to any component or patient, making the system versatile and scalable. This universality reduces overall system complexity by using standardized approaches rather than custom solutions for each component.
3Measurement precision
If receive devices are distributed throughout the environment for accurate positioning, then the measurement precision of position information improves, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The localization environment is divided into multiple zones with receive devices strategically positioned in each zone. This segmentation allows accurate position determination by identifying which zone's receive device detects the transmit signal, reducing the need for dense receive device coverage while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A computer system acts as an intermediary that receives localization signals from transmit devices, determines position information based on signal reception, and provides this information through user interfaces. This intermediary approach simplifies the infrastructure by centralizing the complex processing functions rather than requiring each receive device to be highly sophisticated.
4Loss of information
If a computer system processes localization signals from multiple transmit devices, then the information accuracy and tracking capability improve, but the data processing complexity and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Transmit devices emit localization signals periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while still providing sufficient position information updates. The computer system processes these periodic signals to maintain accurate position information, balancing energy efficiency with information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer system automatically receives, processes, and updates position information from transmit devices without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach improves information accuracy by continuously tracking positions while minimizing the energy required for data management through automated processes.
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 quick and easy localization of components and patients within the environment, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of unauthorized removal or loss, while allowing for navigation and monitoring of their positions through web-based or mobile applications.
Implementation Method 1
the components and/or persons are provided with a wireless transmit device and the environment is provided with wireless receive devices, wherein for each transmit device, via at least one localization signal received by at least one receive device
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and system for localizing optional and/or exchangeable components of at least one image recording scanner and/or for localizing persons assigned to the image recording scanner in a spatial environment around the location of the image recording scanner, the components and/or persons are each provided with a wireless transmit device and the environment is provided with wireless receive devices. For each transmit device, using at least one localization signal received by at least one receive device in which the transmitting transmit device is identified, an item of position information of the transmit device, and thus of the component or person assigned to the transmit device, is determined and is provided in a computer for recall purposes.