Breast MRI Coil Assembly With Tiltable Support for Motion Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast imaging methods, such as mammography and existing MR imaging systems, are uncomfortable and inefficient, leading to missed breast cancer detections and increased pain, especially in women with dense breasts, while traditional MR imaging systems compress the breasts, causing discomfort and motion artifacts.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance breast coil assembly with a breast-specific medial support and tiltable flap providing medial and lateral support, allowing adjustable tilting and translational motion to stabilize the breast without compression, combined with multiple surface coils for improved imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional MR imaging systems compress the breasts, then the breast tissue is stabilized for imaging, but patient comfort deteriorates and motion artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical compression system with a magnetic field-based stabilization system. The MR imaging system uses magnetic fields to suspend and stabilize the breast tissue without physical compression, thereby maintaining tissue stability while eliminating the discomfort and pain caused by mechanical pressing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the imaging system and the breast tissue. Instead of direct mechanical contact that causes compression and discomfort, the magnetic field acts as a mediator to hold the tissue in place, providing stabilization without harmful mechanical forces.
2Measurement precision
If mammography is used for breast imaging, then breast cancer can be detected, but the process is painful and uncomfortable for patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system of mammography with a magnetic field-based suspension system. This allows patients to remain in a relaxed position during imaging without the painful squeezing, while still achieving high-quality images for cancer detection through the use of magnetic resonance imaging technology.
3Stability of the object's composition
If breast tissue is compressed for imaging, then the breast is held still, but motion artifacts increase and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical compression with magnetic field-based stabilization. The magnetic fields hold the breast tissue in place without applying compressive forces, thereby preventing motion artifacts while maintaining tissue stability. This results in higher image quality with better anatomical detail and fewer artifacts.
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
The assembly provides a more comfortable imaging experience, reduces motion artifacts, and enables higher quality MR images by stabilizing the breast effectively, facilitating faster and more accurate breast cancer detection.
Implementation Method 1
at least one breast-specific magnetic resonance imaging coil
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a magnetic resonance breast coil assembly (100, 200) comprising a breast specific medial support (104). The breast specific medial support comprises a first cupped surface (106) configured for providing medial support and vertical support to a breast (102). The magnetic resonance breast coil assembly further comprises a breast specific tiltable flap (108). The breast specific tiltable flap comprises a second cupped surface (110) configured for providing lateral support and vertical support to the breast. The breast specific tiltable flap has an adjustable tilt (608, 700) configured to at least partially stabilize the breast by tilting to hold the breast between the first cupped surface and the second cupped surface. The magnetic resonance breast coil assembly further comprises at least one breast specific magnetic resonance imaging coil (402, 404, 406, 408).