Fiber Bragg Grating Garment for Respiratory Motion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging and radiotherapy techniques face challenges in compensating for body deformation due to respiratory motion, leading to image degradation and reduced treatment accuracy, as existing methods either measure motion inaccurately or interfere with the imaging or therapy field.
Innovation Solution
A system using fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) embedded in wearable garments to detect body deformation, providing peak wavelength data that corrects image acquisition and redirects external beam treatment to maintain focus on the target region, thereby compensating for body deformation during imaging and therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If breath hold CT scans are used to reduce respiratory motion, then image quality improves, but radiation dose increases and scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time respiratory motion detection via FBGs to provide feedback control during the CT scan. The detected respiratory phase information is fed back to the imaging system to dynamically adjust acquisition timing, enabling breath-hold imaging without requiring actual breath-holding by the patient, thus reducing radiation dose while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary respiratory motion assessment using the FBG sensors before and during the scan. By detecting respiratory phase in advance and in real-time, the system can time the image acquisition to occur during optimal respiratory phases (e.g., end-exhalation), achieving breath-hold quality images without actual breath-holding
2Measurement precision
If breath hold CT scans are used to reduce respiratory motion, then image quality improves, but scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time feedback from FBG respiratory monitoring enables dynamic gating of the CT acquisition. The system can rapidly switch between respiratory phases and only acquire images during optimal moments, significantly reducing the effective scan time compared to traditional breath-hold methods while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the periodic nature of respiration by synchronizing image acquisition with specific phases of the respiratory cycle. By repeatedly capturing images at consistent respiratory phases across multiple breathing cycles, the system achieves stable images faster than waiting for a single breath-hold event
3Manufacturing precision
If external beam radiotherapy with intensity modulation is used to deliver maximum dose to tumor, then treatment accuracy improves, but respiratory motion compensation becomes critical and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The FBG-based respiratory monitoring system provides real-time feedback on tumor position changes due to respiration. This feedback is integrated with the radiotherapy delivery system to dynamically adjust beam positioning and intensity modulation parameters, enabling accurate dose delivery to moving targets without requiring complex active compensation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanical or active compensation systems to counteract respiratory motion, the patent substitutes these with optical sensing via FBGs to detect motion and software-based dynamic adjustment of therapy parameters. This replaces complex mechanical compensation with simpler sensing and computational approaches
4Measurement precision
If optical techniques with markers or reflectors are used to detect respiratory motion, then motion detection capability improves, but light reflections are modified by patient clothing or covers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by placing FBG sensors directly on the patient's skin through a contact patch, eliminating the need for external markers or reflectors that could be blocked by clothing. The FBGs act as direct intermediaries between the respiratory motion and the detection system, providing reliable signals不受 clothing interference
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces optical reflection-based detection with direct mechanical coupling through the FBG sensors that measure strain and deformation directly on the skin surface. This substitution eliminates the dependency on light reflection paths and makes the measurement independent of clothing or body coverage
5Measurement precision
If wearable belt with electrical strain sensors is used to measure respiratory motion, then motion measurement capability improves, but the device cannot be in the field of view during imaging or therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical strain sensors with optical FBG sensors that have no electrical signal output. The FBGs encode motion information in optical wavelength shifts, eliminating electrical interference with imaging and therapy fields. The sensors remain mechanically coupled to the patient for accurate measurement while being invisible to imaging systems
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 effectively compensates for body deformation, improving image quality and treatment accuracy by accurately tracking respiratory motion and adjusting imaging and therapy protocols in real-time, reducing radiation dose and artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
Through the FBGs, the system detects effective shifts of the Bragg wavelengths of the FBGs caused by body deformation during image acquisition
Data Source
AI summary
A garment for real time detection of body deformation during an image scan includes a front portion, made of a compression material and having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The garment includes a plurality of light emitters, each light emitter configured to pulse light waves through a corresponding FBGs and a plurality of light sensors, each light sensor attached to a corresponding FBG and configured to receive pulsed light waves. A processor obtains data through a data acquisition module configured to receive from the light sensors peak wavelengths reflected by the FBG Based on the effective shifts of the Bragg wavelengths of the FBGs aligned along the cartesian coordinate system, the processor may correct acquired image data or re-direct an external beam treatment to compensate for body deformation during an image scan.