Integrated MRI Head Coil and Stereotactic Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current interventional procedures, such as stereotactic brain surgery, require lengthy preparation times due to separate head support apparatus and targeting frames with unknown spatial relationships, necessitating time-consuming registration procedures for guiding instruments accurately.

Innovation Solution

A preparing apparatus comprising a radiofrequency head coil with integrated stereotactic fiducial markers for generating magnetic resonance images, an instrument guide device, and an attaching element that establishes a known spatial relationship between the device and the coil, allowing direct attachment and eliminating the need for registration procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate head support apparatus and targeting frame are used, then instrument guidance accuracy is improved, but preparation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument guidance accuracyVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the head support apparatus and targeting frame into a single integrated unit. The targeting frame is directly coupled to the head support apparatus, eliminating the need for separate registration procedures. This integration maintains instrument guidance accuracy while significantly reducing preparation time by removing the time-consuming step of registering separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If separate head support apparatus and targeting frame are used, then instrument guidance accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument guidance accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the head support apparatus and targeting frame into one integrated device, reducing the number of separate components that need to be assembled and registered. This simplification decreases device complexity while maintaining the functional capabilities needed for accurate instrument guidance through the integrated coordinate system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of time

If integrated stereotactic fiducial is used, then registration procedure is eliminated, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregistration procedure timeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stereotactic fiducial is integrated directly into the head support apparatus during manufacturing, creating a single unified component. This integration eliminates the need for separate registration procedures as the fiducial is already in its final position, but requires more complex manufacturing processes to produce the integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution significantly reduces preparation time by establishing a known spatial relationship between the instrument guide device and the subject coil, enabling easier access and more accurate instrument guidance without additional registration, thus streamlining the interventional procedure.

Implementation Method 1

a subject coil being a radiofrequency (RF) head coil for acquiring magnetic resonance signals for generating a magnetic resonance image of the subject

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2558876B1Instrument guiding during magnetic resonance imaging
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP2558876B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2558876B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2558876B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a preparing apparatus for preparing an influencing procedure for influencing a subject. The preparing apparatus (1) comprises a subject coil (3) for generating a magnetic resonance image of he subject (7), an instrument guide device (5) for guiding an instrument (6) for influencing the subject (7),a marker (9) being visible in the magnetic resonance image,and an attaching element for attaching the instrument guide device (5) to the subject coil (3) in a known spatial relationship. Since the spatial relationship between the instrument guide device (5) and the subject coil (3) is known, if they are attached to each other, a time consuming registration procedure for registering an influence trajectory, which has been planned based on the magnetic resonance image, and the instrument guide device (5) can be avoided.