Tracking System and Method for Patient Transfer During Imaging and Treatment Procedures

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention provides a system and method for accurately tracking the position and orientation of a patient transfer device (like a patient table, stretcher, or support) as patients are moved between or within medical imaging and treatment machines (such as MRI, CT, or X-ray). The system uses sensors (e.g., cameras, lasers, gyroscopes) mounted on the transfer device, which detect encoded patterns printed or embedded on reference surfaces (such as the imaging table). These sensor readings are transmitted to a processor that calculates the device’s exact coordinates and orientation, enabling continuous, precise tracking even when the transfer device moves freely and independently from the imaging or treatment system.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Safely and efficiently transferring patients between different medical imaging modalities (e.g., from MRI to CT) while maintaining accurate tracking of their position and orientation.
• Enabling image-guided therapies where it is critical to know the patient's exact location relative to the scanner at all times (e.g., radiation therapy, neurosurgery, cardiac interventions).
• Improving workflow and reducing setup time in hospitals by providing real-time, robust positional feedback, minimizing time-consuming manual re-calibration or repositioning.
• Integration with robotic imaging or treatment systems to support automated or semi-automated patient handling.
• Reducing personnel requirements and supporting safer transfers for immobile or critical patients.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides precise and robust tracking of patient position and orientation even when the transfer apparatus moves independently of inbuilt modality tracking systems.
• Works across multiple imaging and treatment modalities (MRI, CT, X-ray, etc.), supporting multimodal workflows.
• Reduces setup and transfer time, increasing throughput and machine utilization in clinical environments.
• Minimizes manual errors in patient positioning and enhances safety by enabling accurate, repeatable tracking.
• Optimizes the workflow for clinicians, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than device alignment or manual tracking.
• Supports continuous, real-time tracking during patient movement, not just when stationary.
• System can be retrofitted or adapted to various transfer devices or hospital beds, increasing versatility and cost-effectiveness.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

In typical practice today, clinicians in the fields of interventional radiology, radiation therapy, neurology, cardiology, and other spaces often utilize multiple techniques to prepare, image, and treat patients for complex, image-guided procedures. Such procedures may utilize one of x-ray imaging, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy, angiography, among others, or combinations thereof to combine the strengths of each modality while minimizing undesirable tradeoffs. An objective problem exists of how to track the position and/or orientation of a patient transfer apparatus or support while it is in use on diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, independent of the inbuilt or external tracking measures of the modality, which is especially needed in light of today's modern multimodal diagnostic and treatment procedures. The present invention is directed to system and methods for tracking the coordinates of a patient transfer apparatus with selected sensors, transmitters, processors, and reference surfaces having tracking features capable of being detected by the sensors.