Physiology-Guided Lung Imaging Timing for Pediatric Ventilation Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lung diagnostics are inadequate for early detection and accurate assessment of lung health, particularly in infants and young children, due to the limitations of existing pulmonary function tests and imaging modalities, which often require patients to remain still and breathe in a controlled manner, excluding vulnerable groups and providing inadequate regional lung function measurements.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device and method that acquires a time series of in vivo images by monitoring physiological parameters, such as breathing patterns and body movement, to determine optimal image acquisition times without restricting patient movement, using sensors to adjust positioning and orientation, and reducing X-ray exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional imaging modalities (X-ray, CT, MRI) are used to examine lung structure and function, then structural detail and functional information can be obtained, but radiation exposure increases and the requirement for patients to remain still and breathe controlled excludes infants and young children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical imaging systems (X-ray, CT, MRI) with an optical imaging system that uses visible light and cameras to capture lung function. This substitution eliminates ionizing radiation exposure while maintaining the ability to measure regional lung function through optical methods, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and radiation exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance or medium that enables optical imaging of lung function. This intermediary allows the system to capture functional information without requiring direct radiation exposure to the patient, facilitating both safe imaging and accurate measurement.
2Productivity
If conventional pulmonary function tests (spirometry) are used to measure expiratory volume, then global lung function can be assessed, but regional changes are averaged out and sensitivity to detect early disease is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lung into multiple regional zones and captures functional information for each region separately using optical imaging. Instead of measuring global expiratory volume as a single aggregate value, the system segments the lung into distinct regions and assesses each region's function independently, thereby maintaining both assessment efficiency and regional detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional global spirometric measurements to multi-dimensional regional mapping. By adding spatial dimensionality to functional assessment, the system can simultaneously provide overall lung function evaluation and detailed regional analysis, resolving the contradiction between assessment speed and regional detection sensitivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard pulmonary function tests are used for infants and young children, then adult protocols can be applied, but infants and children are excluded entirely due to inability to understand or perform breathing instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the imaging system to automatically capture and analyze lung function without requiring active patient participation or understanding of instructions. The system self-acquires functional data passively, making it suitable for infants and children who cannot cooperate with conventional tests, while maintaining versatility across all age groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spirometry system that requires active breathing maneuvers with an optical imaging system that passively captures lung function. This substitution eliminates the need for patient cooperation while maintaining measurement accuracy, thereby improving ease of operation across different age groups including infants and children.
4Measurement precision
If high-resolution CT imaging is used to provide excellent structural detail, then anatomical accuracy is improved, but cost increases and radiation exposure is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the radiation-based CT imaging system with an optical imaging system that uses visible light. This substitution maintains the ability to obtain detailed structural and functional information while completely eliminating ionizing radiation exposure, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and radiation quantity.
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 frequent, high-quality imaging of lung function across various patient groups, including infants and children, detecting subtle changes over time, and providing detailed regional lung ventilation data for improved pulmonary disease diagnosis and treatment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor for monitoring a physiological parameter associated with the region of the subject's body to be imaged
Implementation Method 2
at least one detector for detecting energy from the at least one energy source passing through the region of the subject's body located between the energy source and detector
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device for acquiring a time series of in vivo images of a region of a subject's body is provided. The imaging device includes a energy source, a detector for detecting energy from the energy source passing through the region of the subject's body located between the energy source and detector, a controller configured to operate the energy source and the detector to acquire a time series of in vivo images of the region of the subject's body, a sensor for monitoring a physiological parameter associated with the region of the subject's body to be imaged and a processor configured to determine timing of the image acquisition based at least on the monitored physiological parameter. A method for acquiring a time series of in vivo images of a region of a subject's body using the imaging device is also provided.