Technologies

Imaging of the neck, or cervical spine, via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) can give insight into cerebral spinal fluid flow patterns, nerve compression, spinal instability and intervertebral disk damage. Diagnosis of these and other conditions often requires that images of the patient’s spine be taken while the spine is rotated about its axis or while the spine undergoes flexion/extension; however, current cervical rotation devices are difficult to rotate, time-consuming, cumbersome and/or difficult to construct using medical-imaging-compliant materials, such as plastic. UW-Madison researchers have developed an improved cervical spine positioning device for use in medical imaging. This device consists of concentric rings mounted between side supports. Bearing surfaces between the inner and outer rings facilitate isocentric rotation, while the two pivot swivel joints on either side of the rings enable flexion/extension motion. The device utilizes friction-induced stopping mechanisms to allow the user to accurately position the patient’s neck and easily reproduce positioning for multiple scans.