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Our Objective
Our Objective
"We strive to make a comfortable patient support system to interface with existing Radiotherapy Linear Accelerator and Computerized Tomography Scanner machines"
We strive to deliver a comfortable patient support system for the UCSD Health Radiology Dept. We face challenges in developing a novel design that will address areas of patient discomfort, and replace the traditional use of multiple foam positioners, or an unsuitable thin foam support pad to make patients as comfortable as is allowable. Our device will be one contiguous system designed for end of life patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy and CT imaging. We strive to make their treatment experience as comfortable, approachable, and stress free as possible, as this can make an important difference in their visits to UCSD Health Radiology and in their quality of life overall. The treatment environment and patient population demands sensitivity, comfort, and ease of use be made of paramount importance. Our Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering team has undertaken the task of delivering a comfortable and vastly improved Patient Support System for Adaptive Palliative Radiotherapy and Computerized Tomography.
Meet The Environment We'll be Working In...
Two different brands of treatment table that our device will interface with
*Note constraining geometry of the Diacor CT Scanner Table
...And See How Radiologists Have Met This Challenge in the Past
Traditional positioners are uncomfortable for the patients having palliative treatment
At left, a typical assortment of foam positioning pillows that would be laid out to support patients. Below, a traditional set of restraints to ensure radiotherapy is dosed in the correct locations on the body. These are unsuitable for patients undergoing palliative treatment because they have higher tolerances for where the radiation is dosed, and strict restraints are not needed. If instead a device that made patients so comfortable, they did not feel the need to move was used, then a device could be focused on comfort, and drawn away from traditional restraint devices. This is the sphere in which the Patient Support System for Adaptive Palliative Radiotherapy and Computerized Tomography intends to operate.
A Breakdown of the Radiotherapy Environment
Our device is the interface between the linear accelerator and the patient, resting on the existing patient table. Our device is tested and qualified to be radio-translucent, and safe for use in radiotherapy, in order to maintain treatment quality. It must retain a slim profile to remain unobtrusive for patients during mounting and dis-mounting, as well as to meet difficult geometric constraints from the CT scanner tunnel.
The blue zip-up urethane cover containing the airbladders and foam is velcroed into the encapsulation device seen here in black. Head, knee, and foot support devices will be placed on the surface of our device, seen here featured in grey and royal blue, respectively. 3D-printed SideLoks (seen here in green) designed in-house will ensure compatibility with the Diacor and Varian treatment tables.
Level 5 DSMT certified due to its zipper urethane mattress cover.
What We Propose
Combining hypoallergenic memory and polyurethane foams, we aim to deliver a more comfortable patient experience. We have also integrated air bladders to provide adjustable support for individual patients, and to provide firm support in common areas of high pressure generation. Our design also allows for existing support accessories (knee bolster and gel head donut) to be integrated on the surface. A light carbon fiber encapsulation device will ensure the device is robust and can be manipulated into position by one person. The whole device will be
The final product in use with the sponsor Dr. Pawlicki!
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