Capsule Guiding System Coordinate Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current capsule guiding systems for medical apparatuses within subjects, such as the digestive tract, face challenges in accurately and intuitively guiding capsule-shaped medical devices using magnetic forces, as they lack synchronization between the operation interface and the displayed coordinate systems, leading to potential misalignment and operator discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A capsule guiding system that includes a magnetic guiding unit, a displaying unit for overlapped subject and capsule images, an operation unit for inputting coordinate information, and a control unit for coordinate transformation, ensuring consistency between the display screen and operation input coordinates to accurately guide the capsule-shaped medical apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a capsule guiding system uses magnetic force to guide the capsule-shaped medical apparatus inside the subject, then the capsule can be guided to a desired position, but the operator experiences discomfort due to misalignment between the operation interface coordinate system and the displayed coordinate system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the actual coordinate system through graphical user interface elements. The first graphical element represents the first coordinate system (operation interface) and the second graphical element represents the second coordinate system (display). By visually copying and displaying both coordinate systems with their respective origins and axes, the operator can see the relationship between them, eliminating confusion and discomfort while maintaining guiding accuracy.
2Device complexity
If the capsule guiding system displays only schematic images, then the interface is simple, but the operator cannot accurately understand the actual position and orientation of the capsule inside the subject
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a visual dimension to coordinate information by displaying graphical elements that represent the coordinate systems. Instead of merely showing numerical coordinates, the system creates a two-dimensional visual representation (graphical user interface with lines, markers, and axes) that maps the three-dimensional spatial relationships. This dimensional transformation allows operators to intuitively grasp capsule position and orientation while keeping the interface relatively simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the coordinate systems of the display screen and operation input are not synchronized, then the system can operate independently, but the operator cannot accurately control the capsule movement direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback by displaying both coordinate systems and their relative relationship on the graphical user interface. The system continuously updates the graphical representation to reflect the current state of the capsule and the coordinate system alignment. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to see how their input in one coordinate system translates to movement in the other coordinate system, enabling precise control while maintaining system independence.
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 system enhances the accuracy and intuitiveness of capsule guidance, reducing operator discomfort by aligning the displayed and actual positions of the capsule within the subject, thereby improving the magnetic guiding process.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic guiding unit for guiding a capsule-shaped medical apparatus introduced inside a subject by magnetic force
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule guiding system includes a magnetic guiding unit, a displaying unit, an operation unit, and a control unit. The magnetic guiding unit guides, using magnetic force, a capsule-shaped medical apparatus introduced inside a subject. The displaying unit displays an image of the subject and an image of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus as an overlapped image, and changes relative position and relative direction between the two images as the capsule-shaped medical apparatus is guided by the magnetic guiding unit. The operation unit inputs coordinate information which specifies movement direction of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus. The control unit adjusts coordinate system of the displaying unit and coordinate system of the operation unit to be consistent with each other, transforms the coordinate information input from the operation unit into the coordinate system of the magnetic guiding unit, and controls the guiding of the capsule-shaped medical apparatus based on the transformed coordinate information.