Medical Image Orientation Sensing for Accurate Patient Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical images often fail to provide sufficient patient orientation information, leading to misinterpretation and potential misdiagnosis due to incorrect assumptions about patient positioning during imaging.
Innovation Solution
Implementing interoceptive sensors, such as accelerometers, to determine and record patient orientation data alongside medical images, ensuring accurate interpretation by associating orientation information with the image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patient orientation information is not recorded with medical images, then the imaging process is simple and quick, but misdiagnosis occurs due to incorrect interpretation of patient positioning
Solution Approach 1:
An interoceptive sensor (accelerometer) is introduced as an intermediary device to automatically detect and record patient orientation during imaging. This mediator captures orientation data without requiring manual input from technicians, thereby improving diagnostic reliability while minimizing the increase in system complexity through automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting patient orientation through the accelerometer and embedding this information into the medical image metadata without requiring manual intervention. The imaging system itself generates and records the orientation data, eliminating the need for additional manual documentation steps.
2Loss of information
If manual documentation of patient orientation is required, then orientation information can be recorded, but time is lost and human error may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer-based system automatically detects and records patient orientation without requiring manual documentation. The sensor continuously monitors orientation data and embeds it directly into the imaging metadata, eliminating time-consuming manual entry while ensuring complete and accurate orientation information is captured.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of documenting orientation (writing or entering data) is replaced with an electronic sensor-based system. The accelerometer electronically detects orientation and automatically embeds the data into the image metadata, replacing the manual documentation process with an automated electronic system that is both faster and more accurate.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If patient orientation is not accurately determined, then the imaging process remains simple, but unnecessary repeat imaging occurs increasing radiation exposure and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer serves as an intermediary that automatically captures and records patient orientation data during imaging. This prevents misinterpretation of images due to incorrect positioning assumptions, thereby avoiding unnecessary repeat imaging and reducing radiation exposure while adding minimal complexity through automated sensor integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by embedding orientation information directly into the medical image metadata. This feedback mechanism ensures that interpreting physicians have immediate access to accurate positioning information, preventing misdiagnosis and unnecessary repeat imaging without requiring complex additional 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
Prevents misdiagnosis by ensuring correct patient positioning is documented and interpreted, reducing unnecessary imaging and associated costs and radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an interoceptive sensor, which is configured to obtain interoceptive sensor data indicative of an orientation associated with the system
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining subject orientation includes a medical imaging sensor configured to capture medical imagery of an imaging subject. The system also includes one or more interoceptive sensors, which are configured to obtain interoceptive sensor data indicative of an orientation associated with the system.