Medical Instrument Microstructures for Phase Contrast Imaging Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical instruments used in phase contrast imaging have inadequate visibility in x-ray images, particularly in differential phase contrast and dark-field images, due to their material properties which rely on absorption rather than phase displacement, leading to suboptimal diagnostic capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The development of medical instruments with components that exhibit strong small angle scattering of x-rays, incorporating microstructures with predeterminable sizes between 0.01 μm and 100 μm, such as fibrous or porous materials, to enhance visibility in phase contrast and dark-field imaging, allowing for improved contrast and diagnostic precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional medical instruments are used in phase contrast imaging, then the imaging system can operate with standard materials, but the visibility of medical instruments in x-ray images is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the medical instrument by incorporating microstructures with specific size ranges (0.01-100 μm) that enhance small angle scattering. This transforms the instrument from having inadequate visibility to enhanced visibility in phase contrast imaging, while maintaining manufacturability through controlled microstructure integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining conventional medical instrument materials with microstructured scattering elements. This composite approach maintains the functional properties of the original instrument while adding phase contrast imaging visibility through the microstructure-induced scattering effect.
2Measurement precision
If medical instruments rely on absorption contrast for visibility, then conventional imaging materials can be used, but diagnostic precision is reduced in phase contrast imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the absorption-based visibility mechanism with a scattering-based mechanism. By incorporating microstructures that generate small angle scattering, the system replaces the conventional absorption contrast approach with a phase contrast approach, thereby improving diagnostic precision without relying on harmful absorption effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interaction parameter between x-rays and the medical instrument from absorption to scattering. The microstructures are designed to scatter x-rays at small angles, transforming the contrast mechanism and enabling superior diagnostic precision in phase contrast imaging while reducing dependency on absorption contrast.
3Reliability
If higher x-ray doses are used to improve visibility of medical instruments, then conventional materials become more visible, but patient radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scattering parameter of the medical instrument by incorporating microstructures with optimized size and distribution. This enhancement of the scattering effect allows for improved visibility at lower x-ray doses, thereby reducing patient radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an enhanced scattering signature through microstructures that copies and amplifies the phase contrast effect. This copied scattering pattern provides strong visibility without requiring increased x-ray dose, effectively decoupling visibility from radiation exposure.
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 enhanced small angle scattering increases the contrast of medical instruments in dark-field images, making them more visible and detectable with lower x-ray doses, offering better diagnostic possibilities and precise 2D/3D orientation in x-ray imaging.
Implementation Method 1
the medical instrument includes at least one component which exhibits a strong small angle scattering of x-rays
Implementation Method 2
The wave nature of particles such as x-ray quanta allows for the description of phenomena such as refraction and reflection with the aid of the complex refractive index n=1−δ+iβ. Here the imaginary part β describes the absorption, which forms the basis of current clinical x-ray imaging, such as forinstance computed tomography, angiography, radiography, fluoroscopy or mammography, and the real part δ describes the phase displacement which is observed during the differential phase contrast imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument is provided for use with a phase contrast imaging. The medical instrument includes at least one component, which has a strong small angle scattering of x-rays. Furthermore, a corresponding x-ray recording system with phase contrast imaging for recording an examination object may include such a medical instrument.