Integrated Calibration Jig for Mammography Biopsy Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing calibration methods for mammography and biopsy apparatuses struggle to accurately align their three-dimensional coordinate systems due to separate pseudo biopsy needles and markers, leading to inaccuracies in positioning the biopsy needle.
Innovation Solution
A calibration jig is introduced, combining a pseudo biopsy needle with markers having a known positional relationship, allowing for precise alignment of the mammography and biopsy apparatuses by detecting and deriving the needle tip's coordinates using radiation images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate pseudo biopsy needle and marker are used for calibration, then the calibration process can be performed, but the alignment accuracy between coordinate systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pseudo biopsy needle and marker into a single integrated calibration jig. The marker is directly attached to the pseudo biopsy needle, forming one unified structure. This merging eliminates the misalignment issues between separate components and ensures that the marker's position accurately represents the needle tip position, thereby improving coordinate system alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated calibration jig serves as an intermediary object that bridges the mammography apparatus and biopsy apparatus coordinate systems. By incorporating both the marker (visible to mammography apparatus) and the pseudo needle (representing biopsy needle position) into one structure, it mediates the calibration process and enables accurate coordinate transformation between the two systems.
2Measurement precision
If manual alignment method is used during calibration, then the calibration can be performed, but the time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration jig is designed to be self-aligning through its integrated structure. The marker and pseudo needle are fixed relative to each other, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations. The system automatically captures images from multiple angles and computes position coordinates through image processing, reducing both calibration time and operational complexity while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with automated image-based measurement. Instead of physically adjusting and aligning components by hand, the system uses radiation imaging to automatically capture marker positions from multiple angles and computationally determine three-dimensional coordinates, significantly reducing calibration time and improving precision.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of coordinate system alignment, ensuring high precision in matching the three-dimensional coordinates of both apparatuses, thereby improving the accuracy of biopsy needle placement.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation irradiator, and a radiation detector that captures a radiation image using radiation emitted from the radiation irradiator
Data Source
AI summary
A calibration jig is attached to a biopsy apparatus used in combination with a mammography apparatus, and that is for performing calibration to match three-dimensional coordinate systems of the mammography apparatus and the biopsy apparatus, and the calibration jig includes a pseudo biopsy needle that is a pseudo needle of a biopsy needle that is actually used in the biopsy apparatus; and a marker that has a plurality of parts each of which a positional relationship with a needle tip of the pseudo biopsy needle is known.