Low-Z Material Breast Tissue Expander for Radiation Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast tissue expanders with high-Z materials, such as neodymium magnets, interfere with radiation therapy and imaging, causing artifacts that lead to inaccurate dose distribution and contraindicate MRI, necessitating a radiation and MRI-compatible alternative.
Innovation Solution
A tissue expander with a port made from low-Z materials like aluminum or magnesium alloys, which reduces beam perturbation and allows for MRI and proton beam compatibility, using an inductance meter or ultrasound for port localization instead of a magnet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If high-Z materials (neodymium magnet, stainless-steel cup) are used in the expander port, then the port is easily detectable by hand-held magnets and provides structural integrity, but CT artifacts and beam perturbation occur that interfere with radiation therapy and imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from high-Z (neodymium, stainless steel) to low-Z (titanium, tantalum, tungsten, or their alloys) to reduce CT artifacts and beam perturbation while maintaining port detectability through alternative methods such as imaging techniques or tactile localization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the magnetic material (neodymium magnet) from the port structure to eliminate the source of CT artifacts and beam perturbation, while retaining the functional aspects of port localization through non-magnetic means
2Strength
If high-Z materials are used in the expander port, then structural strength and puncture resistance are improved, but MRI compatibility is lost due to magnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from ferromagnetic (stainless steel, neodymium) to non-ferromagnetic (titanium, tantalum, tungsten) to enable MRI compatibility while maintaining structural strength through material selection and design optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by using alloys (titanium alloys, tantalum alloys, tungsten alloys) that combine the desirable properties of strength, non-magnetism, and radiopacity without the harmful magnetic effects
3Force
If high-Z materials are used in the expander port, then radiation beam stopping power is increased, but accurate dose distribution modeling becomes impossible due to severe streaking artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the atomic number parameter from high-Z to low-Z materials to reduce CT artifact severity, enabling accurate HU-to-RSP conversion and precise dose distribution modeling for proton therapy while maintaining adequate beam stopping power through material selection
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 low-Z material expander minimizes CT artifacts, decreases beam perturbation, and enables accurate proton therapy planning, allowing for improved cancer detection and treatment while allowing MRI evaluations, with potential for reduced manufacturing costs and improved patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
This streak artifact (which is attributed to enhanced beam hardening and scatter as the x-ray field enters the high-Z component of the device)
Implementation Method 2
This streak artifact (which is attributed to enhanced beam hardening and scatter as the x-ray field enters the high-Z component of the device)
Implementation Method 3
using an inductance meter or ultrasound for port localization instead of a magnet
Implementation Method 4
using an inductance meter or ultrasound for port localization instead of a magnet
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system for expanding breast tissue using a breast tissue expander comprising a pouch for holding fluid and a port for injecting fluid into the pouch. wherein the port is comprised of a low-Z material. Examples of low-Z material include aluminum, magnesium, combinations thereof, and alloys thereof. Also disclosed is a system comprising a breast tissue expander and an inductance meter.