Contrast Medium Simulator for Medical Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing simulators do not maintain a target pixel value over a target duration during contrast medium injection, as they fail to adjust the injection protocol accordingly based on predicted versus actual duration.

Innovation Solution

A simulator that includes a chemical liquid information acquisition section, a target value acquisition section, a protocol acquisition section, and a prediction section to simulate and adjust the contrast medium injection protocol to maintain a target pixel value over a specified duration by comparing predicted and target durations, adjusting the amount of contrast medium injected accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the injection protocol is adjusted to maintain target pixel value over target duration, then the imaging accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepixel value prediction accuracyVSAvoidsimulator structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue is divided into multiple compartments along the blood flow direction, with each compartment having its own pixel value prediction. This segmentation allows the simulator to handle complex physiological processes through modular calculation units, improving prediction accuracy without requiring a completely complex system redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The simulator performs preliminary prediction of time-dependent pixel value changes before actual imaging. By predicting the contrast medium distribution in advance and comparing it with target values, the system can adjust injection protocols proactively, improving imaging accuracy without adding complex real-time control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If re-simulation is performed to match target duration, then the injection protocol precision is improved, but the calculation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection protocol precisionVSAvoidcalculation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The simulator implements a feedback mechanism where predicted pixel values and durations are compared with target values. When discrepancies are found, the system automatically adjusts injection parameters and performs re-simulation. This iterative feedback process refines injection protocol precision while managing calculation time through efficient comparison and adjustment logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Duration of action of moving object

If the amount of contrast medium is adjusted to match target duration, then the duration control accuracy is improved, but the injection protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget duration controlVSAvoidinjection protocol

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The simulator adjusts injection parameters (amount of contrast medium, injection rate, injection timing) based on predicted versus target duration comparisons. By systematically varying these parameters in re-simulation cycles, the system achieves precise duration control while managing protocol complexity through structured parameter adjustment rather than complex system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11398165B2Simulator, injection device or imaging system provided with simulator, and simulation program

Publication Date: 2022.07.26 NEMOTO KYORINDO KK

AI summary

The simulator includes a chemical liquid information acquisition section configured to acquire an amount of contrast medium, a target value acquisition section configured to acquire a target duration for which a target pixel value is maintained, a protocol acquisition section configured to acquire a contrast medium injection protocol, and a prediction section for determining a predicted duration, the prediction section configured to simulate the time-dependent change in the pixel value in the tissue of the subject based on the injection protocol and the amount of the contrast medium, and the prediction section compares the predicted duration with the target duration to re-simulate, in a case where the predicted duration is shorter than the target duration, the time-dependent change in a condition where a greater amount of the contrast medium than the amount of the contrast medium used in the simulation is injected to redetermine the predicted duration, and in a case where the predicted duration is longer than the target duration, the time-dependent change in a condition where a smaller amount of the contrast medium than the amount of the contrast medium used in the simulation is injected to redetermine the predicted duration.