Mammographic System Stereoscopic Needle Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiographic image capturing systems for bioptic methods face challenges in accurately sampling tissues due to variations in interpreting tomosynthetic images, which can lead to unreliable positioning of bioptic needles relative to the target region, and require complex processing sequences.

Innovation Solution

A radiographic image capturing system that displays stereoscopic images, indicates feature points of the bioptic needle and region, calculates and announces three-dimensional coordinate positions, and adjusts the needle's position based on calculated directions and distances to ensure accurate targeting of the bioptic region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If tomosynthetic images are used to determine the positional relationship between the bioptic needle and the bioptic region, then the bioptic method can be performed, but the accuracy of positioning varies depending on the technician's experience and reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bioptic method operationVSAvoidreliability of tissue sampling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual interpretation process (mechanical system) with an automated image processing system. The system automatically calculates three-dimensional coordinate positions of the bioptic needle and bioptic region from tomosynthetic images, eliminating the need for manual measurement and interpretation by technicians, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable positioning regardless of operator experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically processing the tomosynthetic images to extract positional information. The image processing unit automatically identifies the bioptic needle and bioptic region, calculates their three-dimensional coordinates, and determines the positional relationship without requiring external manual intervention, thereby improving reliability and consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If three-dimensional image generation is used to display the probe position in the patient, then the exact position can be recognized, but the processing sequence becomes complex and the control system becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of probe position recognitionVSAvoidcomplexity of control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary positional information from the tomosynthetic images rather than generating a complete three-dimensional image. The image processing unit selectively extracts the bioptic needle and bioptic region, calculates their three-dimensional coordinates, and determines the positional relationship. This approach achieves the required precision while avoiding the complexity of full three-dimensional image generation and reconstruction algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If manual interpretation of tomosynthetic images is performed to determine the positional relationship, then the bioptic method can be conducted, but the measurement precision varies with technician experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of performing bioptic methodVSAvoidprecision of positional relationship determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual measurement and interpretation (mechanical system) with automated image processing. The image processing unit automatically identifies the bioptic needle and bioptic region in tomosynthetic images, calculates their three-dimensional coordinate positions, and determines the positional relationship with consistent precision, eliminating the variability introduced by different technician experiences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This approach allows for reliable and efficient sampling of tissues by simplifying the calculation process and eliminating the need for complex three-dimensional image generation, improving accuracy and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

applying a radiation to an object to be examined thereby to acquire a stereoscopic image of the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS8825135B2Radiographic image capturing system and bioptic method using radiographic image capturing system

Publication Date: 2014.09.02 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A mammographic system which carries out a bioptic method for inserting a bioptic needle into a breast to sample a tissue from a bioptic region includes a display unit for displaying second stereoscopic images acquired by applying a radiation to the breast while the bioptic needle is being inserted in the breast, an indicating unit for indicating a pointed end of the bioptic needle and the bioptic region in each of the second stereoscopic images, a bioptic needle position calculator for calculating a three-dimensional coordinate position of the pointed end of the bioptic needle which is indicated, a bioptic region position calculator for calculating a three-dimensional coordinate position of the bioptic region which is indicated, and an angle calculator for calculating a direction of the calculated bioptic region with respect to the calculated pointed end of the bioptic needle and displaying the calculated direction on the display unit.