Longitudinal-Positioning Indicator for Radiographic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiographic imaging marking grids only provide lateral-positioning coordinates, leading to inaccurate location determination due to potential translation or rotation of the patient's body during CT scanning, necessitating a solution for precise longitudinal-positioning indication.
Innovation Solution
A longitudinal-positioning indicator with a substrate having a set of radiopaque guidelines configured to indicate a position along its length, which can be applied to existing marking grids or directly to the patient's skin, providing orthogonal coordinates for accurate needle insertion by correlating with radiographic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional marking grids with only lateral-positioning guidelines are used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of longitudinal position is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The marking grid is divided into two functional components: lateral-positioning guidelines for horizontal location and longitudinal-positioning guidelines for depth indication. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one dimension, improving measurement precision while keeping individual components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds longitudinal-positioning guidelines that extend in the depth direction (z-axis) perpendicular to the traditional lateral guidelines. This dimensional addition enables three-dimensional positioning capability, transforming the system from two-dimensional to three-dimensional spatial reference without requiring complex multi-layer structures.
2Reliability
If patient's table position is used for longitudinal positioning, then the device complexity remains simple, but the reliability of location determination deteriorates due to potential translation or rotation of the patient's body
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal-positioning guidelines are directly applied to the patient's body or skin surface, allowing the patient themselves to serve as the reference frame. This eliminates dependency on the table position, which may change due to translation or rotation, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex table-position tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal-positioning guidelines are applied to the patient before the scanning procedure begins. This preliminary action establishes a fixed reference frame on the patient's body that remains valid throughout the procedure, preventing errors from subsequent patient movement or table repositioning.
3Loss of information
If only lateral-positioning guidelines are provided, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the loss of information regarding longitudinal position occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning information is segmented into two independent sets of guidelines: lateral-positioning guidelines for horizontal coordinates and longitudinal-positioning guidelines for depth coordinates. This segmentation preserves complete three-dimensional position information while allowing each set to be manufactured using simple, established techniques.
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
Enables precise determination of both lateral and longitudinal positioning coordinates from a single radiographic image, enhancing the accuracy of biopsy needle placement without relying on the patient's table position, thus improving the reliability of radiographic imaging procedures.
Implementation Method 1
marking grids with substantially radiopaque guidelines can be adhered to a patient so that the marking grids appear on the radiographic image
Data Source
AI summary
A longitudinal-positioning indicator, improved marking grid, and a method of use. The longitudinal-positioning indicator includes a substrate that has a first side on which a set of longitudinal-positioning guidelines are disposed, the set of longitudinal-positioning guidelines configured to indicate a position along a length of the longitudinal-positioning guidelines based on a cross-section of the longitudinal-positioning indicator taken substantially orthogonally to the set of longitudinal-positioning guidelines. The substrate also has a second side that is at least partially coated with an adhesive.