X-ray Transparent Shield for Medical Table Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision avoidance systems for medical X-ray devices, particularly those involving a rotating C-arm, are insufficient at high rotation speeds and may not effectively prevent collisions with patients or equipment, especially when unexpected patient movements occur.
Innovation Solution
A collision protection device with X-ray transparent protective elements, such as cylindrical or elliptical paraboloid surfaces, is installed around the patient examination table to mechanically shield the patient from moving device parts, allowing for easy and quick setup, and can be moved into shielding or parking positions, independent of C-arm rotational speed, with optional sensors for warning signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of the C-arm is increased to obtain functional information faster, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of collision with the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
A protective element is introduced as an intermediary between the patient and the C-arm. This element acts as a mechanical barrier that prevents direct contact while allowing the C-arm to rotate at high speeds without increasing collision risk to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is extracted from the C-arm system and implemented as a separate, standalone protective element. This allows the C-arm to operate independently at high speeds while the protective element provides continuous protection without interfering with the rotation mechanism.
2Reliability
If additional sensors are mounted on the X-ray detector and collimator to avoid injury, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the complex sensor-based system and implemented as a simple mechanical barrier. This eliminates the need for additional sensors on the X-ray detector and collimator, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective element is designed as a simple, inexpensive mechanical component compared to complex sensor systems. It provides reliable protection through its physical presence rather than through electronic detection and response mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective element is installed around the patient table, then the collision protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into a simple, standalone protective element rather than an integrated complex system. This element can be independently installed and removed without affecting the C-arm or other equipment, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining effective protection.
4Manufacturing precision
If the protective element is made X-ray transparent, then the image quality is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the protective element are optimized by selecting materials with specific X-ray transparency parameters. This allows the element to provide mechanical protection while being transparent to X-rays, achieving both image quality preservation and effective protection without requiring excessive manufacturing precision.
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 solution effectively prevents collisions at high C-arm rotation speeds by providing a robust mechanical barrier that shields the patient without interfering with X-ray image quality, reducing the need for complex sensor systems and ensuring patient safety without relying on rotational speed, while also allowing for easy installation and minimal maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the patient on the patient examination table is mechanically shielded, at least partially, by means of one or more protective elements and in this way protected against a collision with a moving device part
Implementation Method 2
the protective element or elements is or are embodied as X-ray transparent, with the result that no influencing of the quality of the recorded X-ray images occurs
Data Source
AI summary
The invention can be summarized as follows: A collision protection device for a patient examination table of a medical X-ray device is provided for the purpose of assuring simple and reliable avoidance of collisions between very fast moving device parts of a medical X-ray device and a patient, which collision protection device has a protective element made of an X-ray transparent material, wherein the collision protection device can be arranged relative to the patient examination table and brought into a position such that in said position the protective element mechanically shields at least a part of the lying surface of the patient examination table.