Deformable MRI Phantom for 4D Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MRI quality assurance phantoms fail to accurately simulate deformable anatomical structures for 4D motion tracking in radiation therapy, leading to errors in tumor targeting and increased risk to healthy tissue due to poor soft tissue visualization and inability to compensate for physiological motion.
Innovation Solution
A deformable phantom with a housing made of MRI-invisible material and a sealed reservoir filled with MRI signal-producing material, featuring a piston and sleeve assembly that allows for linear and rotational motion, simulating physiological motion and deformation profiles for next-generation MR imaging systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rigid structure motion phantoms are used for motion management, then motion tracking can be performed, but the phantoms fail to simulate deformable anatomical structures leading to errors in tumor targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deformable structure made of elastomeric material that can dynamically change shape and volume in response to applied forces, allowing the phantom to simulate physiological deformation and motion. This dynamic capability enables accurate representation of deformable anatomical structures during respiratory cycles, thereby improving tumor targeting precision while maintaining adaptability to various motion patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in physical parameters of the elastomeric material, including its elastic modulus, viscosity, and density, to replicate the mechanical properties of real anatomical structures. By adjusting these parameters, the phantom can simulate different tissue types and deformation characteristics, enhancing both measurement precision and adaptability to diverse physiological conditions.
2Measurement precision
If CT and CBCT imaging are used for motion compensation, then motion can be tracked, but soft tissue visualization is poor leading to larger positioning margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy of the anatomical structure using elastomeric material that replicates the soft tissue characteristics and deformation behavior. This copy can be directly visualized using MRI techniques, providing superior soft tissue contrast compared to CT/CBCT. The deformable phantom serves as an accurate surrogate for real anatomical structures, enabling precise motion compensation without the harmful positioning margin errors associated with poor soft tissue visualization.
3Measurement precision
If breath hold and gating techniques are employed to estimate tumor position, then tumor localization can be achieved, but treatment time increases and position uncertainty remains
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable phantom is designed to passively respond to physiological motion forces without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. The elastomeric structure naturally deforms and moves in response to applied forces, automatically simulating respiratory motion patterns. This self-service capability allows the phantom to provide continuous motion information throughout the treatment process, eliminating the need for time-consuming breath hold and gating techniques while maintaining accurate tumor position localization.
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 deformable phantom effectively simulates realistic 4D motion and deformation, enhancing the precision of tumor targeting and reducing treatment margins, thereby improving cancer treatment outcomes by providing accurate real-time physiological motion tracking and dose distribution analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable imaging phantom for 4D motion tracking... Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a well-established diagnostic imaging modality
Data Source
AI summary
A deformable phantom, according to the present invention, has a housing made of a MRI invisible material enclosing a sealed reservoir filled with a MRI signal producing material, a piston slidably mounted within a sleeve and extending into the sealed reservoir, wherein the sleeve is slidably mounted to the housing and extends into the sealed reservoir, and a deformable structure within the sealed reservoir. The piston and sleeve move opposite to one another to conserve a constant fluid volume within the sealed reservoir as the piston moves in and out of the sealed reservoir to cause motion and/or deformation of the deformable structure.