Breast Imaging Positioning Paddle for Multimodal 3D Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast cancer screening and diagnosis methods require patients to change positions between different imaging modalities, making it difficult to accurately identify and characterize regions of interest across multiple imaging modalities.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modality cancer screening and diagnosis system that uses a positioning paddle to immobilize the patient in an upright position, allowing for three-dimensional imaging with both tomosynthesis and ultrasound without repositioning, and incorporates a tracking system to align and fuse images from both modalities in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the patient changes position between different imaging modalities, then the imaging can be performed with standard protocols, but it becomes difficult to accurately identify and characterize regions of interest across multiple imaging modalities
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a reference position for the patient's breast using a positioning paddle with markers before imaging begins. This preliminary positioning action creates a stable spatial reference that is maintained throughout all imaging modalities, ensuring that regions of interest can be accurately identified and characterized across different imaging types without requiring the patient to remain in the exact same position.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning paddle acts as an intermediary device between the patient and the imaging systems. It provides a common reference framework that mediates the spatial relationship between different imaging modalities (mammography, tomosynthesis, ultrasound), allowing accurate registration across modalities while accommodating the necessary movements and repositioning that occur during the imaging process.
2Measurement precision
If the patient remains in a fixed position during imaging, then spatial registration between modalities is improved, but patient comfort and ability to access different imaging positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic positioning approach where the patient's breast position is continuously monitored and adjusted relative to the positioning paddle during imaging. The paddle remains as a stable reference while allowing controlled movement and repositioning, maintaining spatial registration accuracy without constraining the patient to a single fixed position throughout the entire imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the reference frame parameters dynamically. Instead of requiring the patient to remain in a fixed position, the system adjusts the positional parameters of the imaging systems relative to the positioning paddle, allowing the patient to be repositioned for different imaging modalities while maintaining accurate spatial registration through parameter transformation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imaging modalities are used for breast cancer diagnosis, then diagnostic comprehensive is improved, but the complexity of coordinating different imaging systems and protocols increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning paddle is designed as a universal reference device that is compatible with multiple imaging modalities including mammography, tomosynthesis, and ultrasound. It serves multiple functions: positioning reference, spatial registration marker, and coordination hub for different imaging systems, thereby reducing the overall complexity of coordinating multiple modalities through a single standardized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the imaging process into distinct phases with the positioning paddle serving as a reference point for each modality. By segmenting the coordination task into separate positioning and registration steps rather than requiring simultaneous coordination of all systems, the complexity of integrating multiple imaging modalities is reduced.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and comfortable breast cancer screening and diagnosis by maintaining patient positioning, facilitating precise alignment and fusion of x-ray and ultrasound images, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A positioning paddle suitable for use with two different and distinct imaging modalities includes a material, positioned between a pair of opposing arms, wherein the material is sufficiently sheer to be transparent to x-rays
Implementation Method 2
the tomosynthesis system acquires a series of x-ray projection images, each projection image obtained at a different angular displacement as the x-ray source traverses along a path over the breast
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasound probe focuses the sound waves, typically producing an arc-shaped sound wave which travels into the body and is partially reflected from the layers between different tissues in the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-modality cancer screening and diagnosis system is provided that allows cancer screening and diagnosis of a patient using at least two different and sequential three-dimensional imaging techniques without patient repositioning. The system includes a first three-dimensional image acquisition device, a second three-dimensional image acquisition device having a probe with a transmitter mounted thereon, and a positioning paddle for positioning and immobilizing an object to be imaged during the cancer screening and diagnosis procedure. The positioning paddle is designed to facilitate visualization of the breast in both three-dimensional modalities without movement of the patient, and preferably is designed to position the patient with comfort during a diagnosis procedure which uses both imaging modalities.