Chest Motion Phantom With Hydraulic Breathing Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion phantoms for medical imaging systems primarily simulate rigid body motion in one or two directions, failing to replicate the complex, elastic movements of human organs, and lack a unified design suitable for both CT and MR imaging, as well as camera systems.
Innovation Solution
A phantom system comprising flexible fluid containers mimicking human chest motion, with tissue simulacra and a ribcage-like structure, hydraulically controlled to simulate realistic breathing motions, and an apparatus with linear actuators for generating additional motions, integrated with imaging systems to capture synchronized images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid body motion is simulated in one or two directions, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the motion realism and physiological accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is divided into multiple independent movable parts including lungs, heart, liver, and other organs, each capable of moving in different directions and patterns. This segmentation allows each organ to simulate its specific physiological motion characteristics while maintaining overall system operability
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom transitions from static rigid body motion to dynamic elastic deformation motion. The movable parts are designed to deform and move in complex patterns that mimic actual human physiological motion, including anterior-posterior, left-right, and feet-head directions simultaneously
2Reliability
If multiple different phantoms are built to analyze different types of motions, then the motion realism is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single phantom integrates multiple organ types (lungs, heart, liver, etc.) each capable of different motion patterns within one unified structure. This multi-functional design allows analysis of various physiological motions without requiring separate phantoms for each organ or motion type
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple motion simulation capabilities into one integrated phantom system. Different organs with different motion characteristics are merged into a single cohesive structure that can simulate complex physiological motion patterns simultaneously
3Shape
If mannequin-like motion phantoms are designed with realistic appearance, then the human-like appearance for camera detection is improved, but the measurement precision for CT or MR scans deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the phantom have different material properties optimized for their specific function. The exterior surface uses materials with realistic optical properties for camera detection, while the interior materials are optimized for appropriate HU values and T1/T2 relaxation times for CT and MR imaging accuracy
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 system provides a realistic simulation of human chest motion, creating complex artifacts in medical images and mimicking human appearance for cameras, enhancing calibration and testing of medical imaging systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first flexible fluid container hydraulically coupled to a second flexible fluid container which are caused to sequentially inflate and deflate by a pumping means hydraulically coupled to the first and second flexible fluid containers
Implementation Method 2
the phantom may comprise a resilient coupling configured to return the first and second flexible fluid containers to a default position during deflation
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a phantom (100) for simulating human chest motion in a medical imaging system (10). The phantom comprises a first flexible fluid container (102) hydraulically coupled to a second flexible fluid container (104), a set of tissue simulacrum (124-136), a ribcage-like structure (110) within which the first and second flexible fluid containers are arranged, and pumping means (140), hydraulically coupled to the first and second flexible fluid containers, configured to cause the flexible containers to sequentially inflate and deflate.