Guiding System for Medical Imaging Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical imaging, proper patient positioning is challenging due to the need for extensive education and training, leading to positioning errors that result in repeated examinations and increased costs, as well as additional X-ray exposure for patients.
Innovation Solution
A guiding system comprising a patient position detecting device and a patient position prescribing device that adapts an initial target position to the current spatial information of the anatomy of interest, allowing for precise alignment without compromising clinical quality, using augmented reality and 3D virtual models for visual guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exhaustive education and training are provided for proper patient positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic detection of patient anatomy using imaging data and self-adjusts the target position by registering anatomical landmarks with a virtual patient model. This self-positioning capability eliminates the need for extensive operator training while maintaining high positioning accuracy, as the system performs the complex positioning task autonomously based on detected anatomical features
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning methods with an automated computer-based system that uses image processing and pattern recognition algorithms. The system automatically detects anatomical landmarks, calculates optimal positioning, and guides the imaging process, substituting the need for trained operators with an automated computational approach
2Device complexity
If manual positioning methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning errors increase leading to repeated examinations
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback by comparing the detected patient anatomy with the virtual patient model, displaying alignment status and guiding adjustments. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate positioning while maintaining relatively simple device complexity, as the feedback is generated automatically from the imaging data itself rather than requiring complex additional sensors or measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and analysis of patient anatomy before the actual imaging examination. By pre-identifying anatomical landmarks and calculating the optimal target position in advance, the system ensures high examination success rate on the first attempt, eliminating the need for repeated examinations while keeping the overall system complexity manageable
3Reliability
If the initial target position is strictly maintained, then clinical quality is preserved, but adaptability to patient variations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the target position based on detected patient anatomy while preserving clinically relevant positioning parameters. The virtual patient model is adaptively registered with the actual patient's anatomical landmarks, allowing the system to maintain clinical quality for critical imaging parameters while adapting to individual patient variations in anatomy, size, and positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different levels of adaptability to different aspects of positioning. Clinically critical parameters such as the position of the anatomy of interest relative to the imaging beam are strictly maintained to preserve clinical quality, while non-critical aspects such as overall patient orientation or positioning of non-involved body parts are adaptively adjusted to match the detected patient anatomy
4Adaptability or versatility
If complete registration of target position is performed, then adaptability to patient is improved, but positioning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial registration by selectively matching only the most critical anatomical landmarks with the virtual patient model. Rather than attempting to register every aspect of patient anatomy, the system identifies and registers key landmarks that are sufficient to achieve accurate positioning for the imaging examination. This partial action approach achieves adequate adaptability while significantly reducing the time required for positioning preparation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to positioning guidance for image acquisition. In order to facilitate positioning of a patient for medical image acquisition, a guiding system (14) is provided. The system comprises a patient detecting device (22) and a patient position prescribing device (24). The patient detecting device is configured to detect an anatomy of interest (36) of a patient for image acquisition and to detect current spatial information of the anatomy of interest. The patient position prescribing device is configured to provide an initial target position (40) for the detected anatomy of interest, wherein the initial target position is provided as a reference for the image acquisition. The patient position prescribing device is further configured to register the initial target position with the current spatial information, and to determine an adapted target position (42) by adapting the initial target position based inter alia on the current spatial information.