Patent Publication Number: US-2022233155-A1

Title: Radiolucent mat and image receptor assembly including same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Bone surveys of infants and other infant imaging procedures can be carried out by placing the infant directly on an image receptor. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some aspects of the present description, a radiolucent mat is provided. The radiolucent mat includes a strap system configured to secure the radiolucent mat to an image receptor, and a body portion extending along orthogonal length and width directions of the body portion and including a top major surface configured to face away from the image receptor. The top major surface can include one or more first visual indicia delineating a region of the top major surface corresponding to an active region of the image receptor. The strap system includes a first strap extending from a first side of the body portion; a first connector for receiving the first strap disposed adjacent a second side of the body portion opposite the first side, where the first and second sides extend along the length direction and are spaced apart along the width direction; a second strap extending from one of the first and second sides of the body portion; a second connector for receiving the second strap disposed adjacent the other of the first and second sides, where the first and second straps extend from respective first and second locations of the body portion spaced apart along the length direction by greater than 0.3 times a length of the body portion along the length direction; a third strap extending from a third side of the body portion; a third connector for receiving the third strap disposed adjacent a fourth side of the body portion opposite the third side, where the third and fourth sides extend along the width direction and are spaced apart along the length direction; and a fourth strap extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion; and a fourth connector for receiving the fourth strap disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides, where the third and fourth straps extend from respective third and fourth locations of the body portion spaced apart along the width direction by greater than 0.3 times a width of the body portion along the width direction. 
     In some aspects of the present description, a radiolucent mat is provided. The radiolucent mat includes a strap system configured to secure the radiolucent mat to an image receptor and a body portion extending along orthogonal length and width directions of the body portion and including a top major surface configured to face away from the image receptor. The top major surface includes one or more first visual indicia delineating a region of the top major surface corresponding to an active region of the image receptor. The strap system includes a first strap extending from a first location of a first side of the body portion, where the first location is substantially centered on the first side along the length direction; a first connector for receiving the first strap disposed adjacent a second side of the body portion opposite the first side, where the first and second sides extend along the length direction and are spaced apart along the width direction; a second strap extending from a third side of the body portion; a second connector for receiving the second strap disposed adjacent a fourth side of the body portion opposite the third side, where the third and fourth sides extend along the width direction and are spaced apart along the length direction; a third strap extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion; and a third connector for receiving the third strap disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides, where the second and third straps extending from respective second and third locations of the body portion spaced apart along the width direction by greater than 0.3 times a width of the body portion along the width direction. 
     In some aspects of the present description, an image receptor assembly is provided. The image receptor assembly includes a radiolucent mat comprising a body portion extending along orthogonal length and width directions of the body portion, and a radiography image receptor having an active region. The body portion is disposed on the image receptor such that the body portion and the image receptor are substantially coextensive with one another along the length and width directions. The radiolucent mat includes a strap system securing the radiolucent mat to the image receptor and preventing the radiolucent mat from moving relative to the image receptor along each of the length and width directions. The body portion includes a top major surface facing away from the image receptor. The top major surface can include one or more visual indicia delineating a region of the top major surface corresponding to the active region of the image receptor. The region of the top major surface may be smaller than the active region of the image receptor. 
     These and other aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description. In no event, however, should this brief summary be construed to limit the claimable subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-2  are schematic top views of radiolucent mats, according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are schematic bottom views of radiolucent mats, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic top view of visual indicia, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view a radiolucent mat, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image receptor assembly, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic top plan view of a body portion of a radiolucent mat disposed on an image receptor, according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 10-12  are schematic bottom views of image receptor assemblies, according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present description. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Bone surveys of infants, and other infant imaging procedures on a tabletop (e.g., placing the infant directly on a radiography image receptor disposed on a tabletop), to perform and capture radiographs (x-ray images) are a common occurrence in many radiography settings. However, the image receptor (e.g., a digital radiography digital image receptor, or a computed radiography photostimulable phosphor plate, or a film radiography image receptor) typically has a firm, hard surface. When an infant is placed on top of a firm, hard surface such as a that of an image receptor, the infant will often begin to cry, scream, and struggle during the imaging process. The discomfort and lack of cooperation from the infant laying on this hard surface will typically increase as the imaging process on the hard surface progresses. Bone surveys on infants often are a lengthy process that can involve a couple dozen or more imaging positions and consequent radiographs. Unanticipated movement by the baby during the imaging procedures, as well as a lack of cooperation from the infant, can result in many unnecessary repeats that could otherwise have been prevented had the infant been laying on a (e.g., slightly) cushioned surface. Thus, bone surveys and other infant imaging procedures often take longer to complete when the infant is uncomfortable due to laying on a hard image receptor surface. Furthermore, when infants are laying on a hard imaging receptor the process of restraining and restricting the movements of the uncooperative infant can result in the baby injuring itself while struggling against the radiographer. However, placing a conventional table pad (e.g., commercially available table pads commonly used for adults) on the image receptor typically results in other problems. For example, it can be difficult to determine where the infant should be placed on the pad relative to an active region of the image receptor. This problem can be exasperated by movement of the pad relative to the image receptor during the imaging process. As another example, a conventional table pad can result in reduced spatial resolution of the resulting image due to the magnification arising from the increase in object to image distance (OID) resulting from the thickness of the table pad. 
     According to some embodiments of the present description, a radiolucent mat is provided that is suitable for infant imaging procedures without many of the problems associated with placing the infant on a hard surface of an image receptor or on a conventional table mat disposed on an image receptor. In some embodiments, the radiolucent mat includes a strap system for secure the radiolucent mat to an image receptor and may also include one or more indica delineating a region of a top major surface of a body portion of the radiolucent mat that corresponds to an active region of the image receptor. The body portion can be aligned with the image receptor. For example, the body portion and the image receptor can be substantially coextensive (e.g., at least 80 or 90 percent by area of the body portion can be coextensive with at least 80 or 90 percent by area of the image receptor, or the body portion can be coextensive with the image receptor except that the image receptor may include optional handle(s) not covered by the body portion) with one another such that (e.g., at least 3 or all 4 of the) edges of the mat are aligned with corresponding edges of the image receptor along the length and width directions of the body portion. The strap system can secure the mat to the image receptor to prevent the mat from moving relative to the image receptor along each of length and width directions of the body portion. The strap system may include at least three straps arranged (e.g., suitably spaced apart) to stably secure the mat to the image receptor. The radiographer performing x-rays on the patient will then know that the image receptor is directly underneath the mat and that the edges of the mat correspond to the edges of the image receptor. The one or more indica can reliably indicate the region of the mat corresponding to the active region of the image receptor. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the thickness of the body portion of the mat can be thinner than that of conventional table pads used in imaging in order to reduce the increase in OID resulting from the thickness. The region of the mat delineated by the one or more indicia can be smaller than the corresponding active region of the image receptor to account for typical divergence of radiation from a radiation source (e.g., x-ray tube) through the thickness of the body portion. 
       FIGS. 1-2  are schematic top views of radiolucent mats  100  and  100 ′, according to some embodiments.  FIGS. 3-4  are schematic bottom views of the respective radiolucent mats  100  and  100 ′, according to some embodiments.  FIG. 5  is a schematic bottom view of a radiolucent mat  100 ″, according to some embodiments. The radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ includes a body portion  101  and a strap system  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″ configured to secure the radiolucent mat to an image receptor (see, e.g., image receptor  250  schematically illustrated in  FIG. 8 ). The radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ includes a body portion having dimensions of W 1  by L 1  which can correspond to the width and length of a conventional image receptor. For example, W 1  can be about 13 to 19 inches and L 1  can be about 17 to 20 inches (e.g., for a conventional full-sized image receptor). As another example, W 1  can be about 9 to 13 inches or about 10 to 12 inches, and L 1  can be about 10 to 17 inches or about 12 to 14 inches (e.g., for a portable image receptor that can be used for mobile imaging of infants and/or can fit into a crib). In some embodiments, the radiolucent mat has a body portion dimensioned to be substantially coextensive with an image receptor having an active area of about 14 to 17 inches by about 17 inches or having an active area of about 9 to 11 inches by about 12 to 14 inches. 
     In some embodiments, a radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ includes a strap system  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″ configured to secure the radiolucent mat to an image receptor, and a body portion  101  extending along orthogonal length (y-direction) and width (x-direction) directions of the body portion  101 . The body portion  101  includes a top major surface  151  configured to face away from the image receptor and an opposite bottom major surface  152 . 
     In some embodiments, the strap system  120 ,  120 ′ includes a first strap  121  extending from a first side  102  of the body portion  101 ; a first connector  131  for receiving the first strap disposed adjacent a second side  104  of the body portion  101  opposite the first side  102 , where the first and second sides  102  and  104  extend along the length direction and are spaced apart along the width direction; a second strap  122  extending from one of the first and second sides of the body portion  101  (for strap system  120 , second strap  122  extends from the first side  102 ; and for strap system  120 ′, second strap  122  extends from the second side  104 ); a second connector  132  for receiving the second strap disposed adjacent the other of the first and second sides; a third strap  123  extending from a third side  106  of the body portion; a third connector  133  for receiving the third strap disposed adjacent a fourth side  108  of the body portion opposite the third side  106 , where the third and fourth sides  106  and  108  extend along the width direction and are spaced apart along the length direction; a fourth strap  124  extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion  101  (for strap system  120 , fourth strap  124  extends from the third side  106 ; and for strap system  120 ′, fourth strap  124  extends from the fourth side  108 ); and a fourth connector  134  for receiving the fourth strap disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides. 
     In some embodiments, the strap system  120 ,  120 ′ includes only 4 straps as schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . In other embodiments, a different number of straps (e.g., 3 as illustrated in  FIG. 5  or more than 4) may be used. The strap system generally includes at least one strap along the length direction (e.g., one strap substantially centered along the length direction or two or more straps spaced apart along the length direction) and at least one strap along the width direction (e.g., one strap substantially centered along the width direction or two or more straps spaced apart along the width direction). For example, the strap system may include a set of three or more straps arranged along the length direction, and a set of two or more straps arranged along the width direction. A total of at least three straps is generally preferred to prevent the mat from moving relative to the image receptor along each of length and width directions of the body portion. Including at least two straps along each of the length and width directions may be preferred in some embodiments to allow the mat to be more firmly and stably fixed to the image receptor than, for example, using a single strap along each of the length and width directions, while in other embodiments, a fewer number of straps may be preferred due to, for example, the geometry of the image receptor (see, e.g.,  FIG. 12 ). 
     In some embodiments, the strap system  120 ″ includes only one strap  121  along the length direction as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example. A single strap along the length direction may be desired for some image receptors where the image receptor includes a handle that might otherwise interfere with the placement of more than one strap along the length direction (see, e.g.,  FIG. 12 ). In some embodiments, the strap system  120 ″ includes a first strap  121  extending from a first location  141  of a first side  102  of the body portion; a first connector  131  for receiving the first strap  121  disposed adjacent a second side  104  of the body portion  101  opposite the first side  102 , where the first and second sides  102  and  104  extend along the length direction and are spaced apart along the width direction; a second strap  123  extending from a third side  106  of the body portion  101 ; a second connector  133  for receiving the second strap  123  disposed adjacent a fourth side  108  of the body portion  101  opposite the third side  106 , where the third and fourth sides  106  and  108  extend along the width direction and are spaced apart along the length direction; a third strap  124  extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion (e.g., from the third side  106  as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5  or from the fourth side  108  as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4 ); and a third connector  134  for receiving the third strap  124  disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides, where the second and third straps extend from respective second and third locations  143  and  144  of the body portion spaced apart along the width direction by greater than 0.3 times a width of the body portion along the width direction. In some embodiments, the first location  141  is substantially centered on the first side  102  along the length direction (e.g., closer to a center of the first side  102  along the length direction than to either of the third and fourth sides  106  and  108 ). Similarly, in some embodiments, the first connector is substantially centered on the second side  104  along the length direction. In some embodiments, a largest separation s 1  of the first location  141  from the third side  106  along the length direction is within 25%, or 20%, or 15%, or 10%, or 5% of a largest separation s 2  of the first location  141  from the fourth side  108  along the length direction. The radiolucent mat  100 ″ can optionally include straps  123  and  124  extending from opposite sides of the body portion  101  as schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , for example. The radiolucent mat  100 ″ can optionally include any of the indicia  112 ,  112 ′,  114  schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     Any suitable strap and connector system known in the art may be used. For example, a strap and buckle system may be used. In some embodiments, the strap system is configured such that once the body portion is disposed on an image receptor and edges of the body portion are aligned with corresponding edges of the image receptor, the radiographer can pull the respective straps underneath the image receptor and attach the strap to the connector on the opposite side of the body portion (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 10-12 ). Typically, the radiographer can then tighten the strap so that the mat will not slide back and forth on top of the image receptor while also ensuring that edges of the mat align with corresponding edges of the image receptor. 
     In some embodiments, there is significant separation along the length direction between the first and second straps  121  and  122  and/or significant separation along the width direction between the third and fourth straps  123  and  124  (also referred to as second and third straps when strap  122  is omitted as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). Such separation can allow the strap system to stably secure the mat to the image receptor and prevent the mat from moving relative to the image receptor along each of the length and width directions. In some embodiments, the first and second straps  121  and  122  extend from respective first and second locations (see, e.g., locations  141  and  142  schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 ) of the body portion spaced apart (by distance L 0 ) along the length direction by greater than 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, or 0.75 times a length L 1  of the body portion along the length direction. In some embodiments, the third and fourth straps  123  and  124  extend from respective third and fourth locations (see, e.g., locations  143  and  144  schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 ) of the body portion spaced apart (by distance W 0 ) along the width direction by greater than 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, or 0.75 times a width W 1  of the body portion along the width direction. 
     Similarly, in some embodiments of radiolucent mat  100 , or  100 ′, or  100 ″ for the straps  123  and  124 , each strap extends from a location on a side close to an edge of an adjacent side. In some embodiments, each of a largest separation s 1  of the first location  141  from the third side  106  along the length direction and a largest separation s 2  of the second location  142  from the fourth side  108  along the length direction is less than 0.3, 0.25, 0.2, 0.15, or  0 . 1  times the length L 1  of the body portion  101 . In some embodiments, each of a largest separation s 3  of the third location  143  from the first side  102  along the width direction and a largest separation s 4  of the fourth location  144  from the second side  104  along the width direction is less than 0.3, 0.25, 0.2, 0.15, or 0.1 times the width W 1  of the body portion. 
     In some embodiments, the top major surface  151  includes one or more first visual indicia  110  delineating a region  171  of the top major surface  151  corresponding to an active region of the image receptor. The one or more first visual indicia  110  may be a rectangular box, for example, on the top major surface  151  outlining the region  171  or may be or include line segments delineating the sides of the rectangular region, for example. As described further elsewhere herein, the mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ can optionally further include indicia  112 ,  112 ′ and/or  114 . Any of the indicia  110 ,  112 ,  112 ′ and/or  114  may be printed, for example, or otherwise applied to a major surface of the body portion  101 . For example, the indica may be printed onto an outer cover of the body portion  101 . 
     A radiography image receptor  250  may have an active region  251  surrounded by a peripheral region that does not capture x-ray information (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 8-9 ). The active region  251  can have an orientation such that upper and lower regions of the active region  251  become respective upper and lower regions of the resulting image. In some embodiments, the radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ includes one or more second visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 2-4 ) disposed on the body portion  101  and including at least one indicum  112  disposed on the top major surface  151 , where the one or more second visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ indicates an orientation of the active region  251 . For example, the one or more second visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ can include one or more arrows to indicate the orientation. Each of the one or more second visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ is different than each of the one or more first visual indicia  110 . In some embodiments, the one or more second visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ includes at least one indicum  112 ′ disposed on a bottom major surface  152  of the body portion  101  opposite the top major surface  151 . By using the one or more visual indicia  112 ,  112 ′ the radiographer may align the upper region of the image receptor in relation to these symbols so that the resultant radiographs will show up on the imaging (e.g., computer) system anatomically correct from top to bottom without having to be flipped or vertically inverted on the imaging system. 
     In some embodiments, the mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ further includes one or more third visual indicia  114  disposed on the top major surface  151  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), where each third visual indicium  114  is different than each first and second visual indicium, and where at least the one or more third visual indicia distinguishes the top and bottom major surfaces  151  and  152 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic top view of visual indicia  116   a ,  116   b , and  116   c . The visual indicia  112  or  114 , for example, may include any one, two, or all three of visual indicia  116   a ,  116   b , and  116   c  (e.g., arranged in a row adjacent to the illustrated indicia  112  and  114  in  FIG. 2 ). The visual indicia  116   a ,  116   b , and  116   c  may indicate a proper orientation of an infant or body part(s) of an infant, for example, relative to an upper region of the image receptor. For example, the visual indicium  116   a  may indicate the (e.g., upper) region of the image receptor where the baby&#39;s head should face. The visual indicium  116   b  may indicate the (e.g., upper) region of the image receptor (e.g., the fingers of the illustrate hand can point generally in the direction of the upper region) where the baby&#39;s hand(s) should face. The visual indicium  116 c may indicate the (e.g., upper) region of the image receptor (e.g., the toes of the illustrate foot can point generally in the direction of the upper region) where the baby&#39;s foot or feet should face. In some embodiments, the visual indica  112  and  114  of  FIG. 2 , for example, includes each of an up arrow (e.g.,  112 ), a face (e.g.,  114 ,  116   a ), a hand (e.g.,  116   b ), and a foot (e.g.,  116   c ). 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view a radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ according to some embodiments. The illustrated cross-section is in an x′-z plane which may correspond to the x-z or the y-z plane. A strap  220  and a connector  230  are schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The strap  220  may correspond to any of straps  121 - 124  and the connector  230  may correspond to any corresponding connector  131 - 134 . In some embodiments, the body portion  101  includes a cushioning material  161  disposed inside a cover  165 . The first through fourth straps  121 - 124  and the first through fourth connectors  131 - 134  can be attached to the cover  165  via stitching (sewing) and/or bonding (e.g., via an adhesive). The cushioning material  161  may be or include a polymeric foam  162 , for example. The cover  165  can be or include a polymeric fabric  166 , for example. 
     The radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ may be sufficiently radiolucent (transparent to x-rays, for example) so as to not significantly interfere with the imaging. The materials for the cushioning material  161  and the cover  165  can be selected from radiolucent materials known in the art. Certain types of plastics (e.g., unfilled polymers), for example, are generally radiolucent. In some embodiments, the cover  165  and/or the cushioning material  161  includes polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, nylon, vinyl, polycarbonate, polyketone, or a combination thereof. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image receptor assembly  200 , according to some embodiments. The image receptor assembly  200  includes a radiolucent mat  300  which may correspond to any of radiolucent mats  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ and which includes a body portion  101  extending along orthogonal length (e.g., y′-direction) and width (e.g., x′-direction) directions of the body portion  101 . The image receptor assembly  200  includes a radiography image receptor  250  having an active region  251 . The body portion  101  can be disposed on the image receptor  250  such that the body portion  101  and the image receptor  250  are substantially coextensive with one another along the length and width directions (see, e.g.,  FIG. 9 ). The mat  300  includes a strap system (e.g., corresponding to any of  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″) securing the mat to the image receptor  250  and preventing the mat from moving relative to the image receptor along each of the length and width directions. The body portion  101  includes a top major surface  151  facing away from the image receptor  250  where the top major surface  151  includes one or more visual indicia  110  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1-2 ) delineating a region  171  of the top major surface corresponding to the active region  251  of the image receptor  250 . The image receptor  250  can be or include any image receptor known in the art. For example, the image receptor  250  can be or include a digital radiography digital image receptor, or a computed radiography photostimulable phosphor plate, or a film radiography image receptor. The strap  220  schematically illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be tightened around the image receptor  250  and received in the connector  230  to secure the mat  300  in place. 
       FIG. 8  also schematically illustrates a radiation source  307 , which may be or include an x-ray tube, a source to image distance SID (which is about 100 cm or 40 inches in many systems), and a typical object to image distance OID (e.g., distance between a bone being imaged and the active region  251 ). In some embodiments, the region  171  of the top major surface  151  is smaller than the active region  251  of the image receptor  250 . The region  171  may be smaller than the active region  251  to account for the divergence of radiation  308  emitted from the radiation source  307 . 
     The body portion  101  has an average thickness t. In some embodiments, in order to provide adequate cushioning to an infant, for example, the average thickness t may be at least 0.2, 0.25, or 0.3 inches. In some embodiments, in order to minimize the increase in the object to image distance OID due to the mat, for example, the average thickness t may be less than or equal to 0.8, 0.7, or 0.6 inches. For example. the average thickness t may be in a range of 0.2 inches to 0.8 inches, or 0.25 inches to 0.7 inches, or 0.3 inches to 0.6 inches. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic top plan view of the body portion  101  of the radiolucent mat disposed on the image receptor  250 , according to some embodiments. A boundary  252  of the active region  251  is indicated. The one or more indicia  110  delineates the region  171  of the top major surface  151 . In some embodiments, the body portion  101  has an average thickness tin a thickness direction (z-direction) orthogonal to the length (y-direction) and width (x-direction) directions, and the region  171  of the top major surface  151  has at least one boundary offset from a corresponding boundary of the active region of the image receptor toward an interior of the region of the top major surface by a distance d in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 times the average thickness t. In some embodiments, the body portion  101  has an average thickness tin the thickness direction orthogonal to the length and width directions, where the active region  251  of the image receptor  250  and the region  171  of the of the top major surface  151  are respective first and second rectangular regions as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Each of the first and second rectangular regions has four sides, where each side of the second rectangular region (e.g., region  171 ) is offset from a corresponding side of the first rectangular region (e.g., region  251 ) toward an interior of the first rectangular region by a distance d in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 times the average thickness t. 
     In some embodiments, the image receptor  250  includes an optional handle  333 . In some embodiments, the handle  333  obstructs the placement of straps along the length direction and a single strap is used along the length direction (see, e.g.,  FIG. 12 ). In other embodiments, two (or more) straps are used along the length direction even when the handle  333  is included (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 10-11 ). 
       FIG. 10-12  are schematic bottom views of image receptor assembly  200 ,  200 ′, and  200 ″, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, as described further elsewhere herein, the radiolucent mat  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ can include a strap system including a first strap  121  extending from a first side  102  of the body portion  101 ; a first connector  131  receiving the first strap  121  and disposed adjacent a second side  104  of the body portion opposite the first side  102 , where the image receptor  250  is disposed between the body portion  101  and the first strap  121 , and where the first and second sides extend along the length direction (y-direction) and are spaced apart along the width direction (x-direction); a second strap  122  extending from one of the first and second sides of the body portion; a second connector  132  receiving the second strap  122  and disposed adjacent the other of the first and second sides, where the image receptor  250  is disposed between the body portion  101  and the second strap  122 , and where the first and second straps  121  and  122  extend from respective first and second locations of the body portion spaced apart along the length direction by greater than 0.3 times a length of the body portion of along the length direction; a third strap  123  extending from a third side  106  of the body portion  101 ; a third connector  133  receiving the third strap  123  and disposed adjacent a fourth side  108  of the body portion opposite the third side  106 , where the image receptor  250  is disposed between the body portion  101  and the third strap  123 , and where the third and fourth sides extend along the width direction and is spaced apart along the width direction; a fourth strap  124  extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion; and a fourth connector  134  receiving the fourth strap  124  and disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides, where the image receptor  250  is disposed between the body portion  101  and the fourth strap  124 , and where the third and fourth straps  123  and  124  extend from respective third and fourth locations of the body portion spaced apart along the width direction by greater than 0.3 times a width of the body portion along the width direction. 
     In some embodiments, as described further elsewhere herein, the radiolucent mat  100 ″ can include a strap system  120 ″ including a first strap  121  extending from a first location  141  of a first side  102  of the body portion, where the first location  141  is substantially centered on the first side  102  along the length direction; a first connector  131  receiving the first strap  121  and disposed adjacent a second side  104  of the body portion  101  opposite the first side  102 , where the first and second sides  102  and  104  extend along the length direction and are spaced apart along the width direction; a second strap  123  extending from a third side  106  of the body portion  101 ; a second connector  133  receiving the second strap  123  and disposed adjacent a fourth side  108  of the body portion  101  opposite the third side  106 , where the third and fourth sides  106  and  108  extend along the width direction and are spaced apart along the length direction; a third strap  124  extending from one of the third and fourth sides of the body portion (e.g., from the third side  106  as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5  or from the fourth side  108  as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4 ); and a third connector  134  receiving the third strap  124  and disposed adjacent the other of the third and fourth sides, where the second and third straps extend from respective second and third locations  143  and  144  of the body portion spaced apart along the width direction by greater than 0.3 times a width of the body portion along the width direction. 
     Descriptions for elements in figures should be understood to apply equally to corresponding elements in other figures, unless indicated otherwise. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations, or variations, or combinations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.