Implant Memory for Adaptive Medical Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging methods for implants in the human body often result in insufficient image quality due to lack of information about the implant's characteristics, requiring additional images and increased radiation dose, as patients may not know the implant details, and existing communication systems do not address imaging difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The method involves recording information related to the implant's characteristics, such as radiopacity level, within a memory embedded in the implant, allowing an external reader to adapt imaging parameters of the imaging device before imaging, ensuring optimal image quality with minimal additional intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging is performed without prior knowledge of implant characteristics, then the imaging process can start immediately, but image quality is insufficient and additional images are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The implant includes a memory device that stores characteristic information about the implant before imaging occurs. The reader reads this information in advance, allowing the imaging system to be pre-configured with appropriate parameters, thereby achieving high-quality imaging on the first attempt without requiring multiple imaging attempts or patient recall of implant details
Solution Approach 2:
A reader device acts as an intermediary between the implant's memory and the imaging system. The reader extracts characteristic information from the implant's memory and transmits it to the imaging system, enabling the imaging system to adapt its parameters based on the specific implant being imaged, thus resolving the contradiction between immediate imaging and optimal image quality
2Measurement precision
If multiple images are taken to ensure quality, then satisfactory image quality can be obtained, but radiation dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
By reading the implant's characteristic information from its memory in advance and using it to pre-configure imaging parameters, the system achieves optimal image quality in a single imaging attempt, thereby eliminating the need for additional images and reducing the cumulative radiation dose to the patient
3Adaptability or versatility
If patient recalls implant characteristics, then imaging parameters can be adapted, but patient burden increases and information may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The implant itself serves as the source of its own characteristic information through an embedded memory device. The reader automatically reads this information from the implant's memory without requiring the patient to recall or provide any information, thereby eliminating patient burden while ensuring complete and accurate implant characteristic data is available for imaging parameter adaptation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
This invention relates to a method of imaging an implant (1) placed into a human body (4), comprising: reading, with a reader (5) external to said body (4), information (11) related to said implant (1) and recorded in a memory (20) embedded in said implant (1), adapting, according to said read information (11), at least one imaging parameter (12) of an imaging device (6, 7, 8, 9) external to said body (4), imaging, by said imaging device (6, 7, 8, 9) with said adapted imaging parameter(s) (12), said implant (1).