In the medical field patient positioning is an essential piece of information to optimize dosage in radiation therapy or increase image clarity in medical imaging.
MRI / CT / PET
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography are the chief techniques used to image the human body for clinical reasons by reconstructing two dimensional slices into a three dimensional image. Positron Emission Tomography is another method by which functional and chemical processes are mapped to create a three dimensional image. These machines typically consist of the circular imaging device, and the patient resides in the center on a 'couch' ( or bed / table). Position information of the couch is critical information when reconstruction of the image is performed, as one would imagine. An inclinometer is employed here to compensate for any off-axis location thus increasing image quality.
Radiation Therapy
After undergoing medical imaging, should a patient require radiotherapy, yet again an inclinometer is used for couch, or other positioning. The position information of the patient is stored during the imaging process, and then used in radiotherapy when the dose is given. A high-resolution inclinometer measurement minimizes damage to healthy tissue by ensuring dose position is correct with respect to the image taken earlier.
