X-ray Shield With Moveable Support Bar For C-arm Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray shields for procedure tables often fail to effectively prevent collisions with C-arms during interventional procedures due to positioning issues, particularly when covered by sterile drapes or due to the physician's focus on the procedure, leading to potential radiation exposure and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray shield with a moveable second support bar attached to a horizontal support bar, allowing vertical and horizontal movement, which can be hingedly connected to return to a horizontal orientation under gravity, ensuring minimal resistance during C-arm collisions and easy repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed X-ray shield is positioned between the physician and patient, then radiation protection is improved, but the risk of collision with C-arm is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second support bar moveable rather than fixed. The second support bar can move vertically and horizontally to accommodate C-arm movements, transforming the shield from a static obstacle to a dynamic protective barrier that adapts to changing spatial conditions during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the second support bar to change its position parameters (vertical and horizontal coordinates) in response to C-arm movement. This enables the shield to maintain its radiation protection function while avoiding fixed collision points, as the bar's position parameters are no longer constant but can adjust within certain ranges.
2Ease of operation
If the C-arm moves freely during procedure, then operational flexibility is improved, but collision with fixed shield increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable second support bar creates a dynamic system where the shield can respond to C-arm movements. The bar's ability to move vertically and horizontally provides operational flexibility that matches the C-arm's movement freedom, allowing both to coexist without fixed collision constraints.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the shield structure is made rigid for stability, then positioning accuracy is improved, but collision resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the shield into multiple support bars (first and second support bars) with different mobility characteristics. The first support bar provides stable positioning when attached to the table, while the second support bar segments off to provide movement freedom for collision avoidance. This segmentation allows the shield to simultaneously achieve positioning stability and collision resistance through differentiated structural zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the second support bar moveable while keeping the first support bar relatively fixed. This creates a hierarchical dynamic system where the stable first bar provides positioning accuracy and the dynamic second bar provides collision resistance, allowing both stability and flexibility to coexist in different parts of the same structure.
4Reliability
If the shield is covered with sterile drapes, then sterility is improved, but visibility of shield position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by making the second support bar translucent or transparent. This allows the bar to be visually detected through the sterile drape that covers it, solving the visibility problem. The color/optical property change enables the shield position to be detected even when covered, maintaining both sterility and visibility simultaneously.
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 shield effectively mitigates collisions between C-arms and X-ray shields, reducing the risk of equipment damage and procedure interruptions while maintaining continuous operation by allowing the C-arm to move freely, even when the shield is not repositioned promptly.
Implementation Method 1
the second support bar is moveably attached to the horizontal support bar to enable movement of the second support bar in both horizontal and vertical directions
Data Source
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Figure 5a~5c
AI summary
The invention relates to an X-ray shield for a horizontal X-ray procedure table, comprising a horizontal support bar for attachment thereto a first depending X-ray opaque curtain and a second support bar, the second support bar being moveably attached to the horizontal support bar to enable movement of the second support bar in both horizontal and vertical directions.