MRI Marker With Letter-Shaped Cavity for Lateral Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging markers are not effectively visible in all MRI image slices, failing to provide clear lateral orientation, which is crucial for accurate image interpretation in magnetic resonance imaging.
Innovation Solution
An imaging marker system featuring a body portion with a cavity shaped like a letter (e.g., L or R) filled with a gadolinium-containing liquid that illuminates during MRI, ensuring visibility across multiple slices, with end caps to seal the liquid and maintain visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional markers are used in MRI imaging, then the marker can be applied during imaging, but the marker does not appear in all image slices and fails to provide clear lateral orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D marker representation to 3D letter-shaped cavities that extend through multiple MRI slices. The letter-shaped cavity (L or R) provides lateral orientation information across multiple slices, solving the problem of conventional markers not appearing in all slices or providing clear orientation indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gadolinium-containing liquid that illuminates during MRI imaging to make the marker visible. The gadolinium provides contrast enhancement, allowing the letter-shaped cavity to be clearly visualized in all MRI slices, thereby providing reliable lateral orientation information.
2Measurement precision
If conventional 2D markers are used, then the marker structure is simple, but the marker cannot provide clear lateral orientation in 3D MRI images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates 3D letter-shaped cavities (L or R) that extend through the body portion, providing lateral orientation information in the third dimension. This 3D structure allows the marker to be visible and interpretable across multiple MRI slices, improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through the use of end caps and cavity formation.
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 solution provides clear and consistent lateral orientation in MRI images, enhancing the accuracy of image interpretation by ensuring the marker is visible in all slices, thus aiding radiologists in determining the side of the patient's body.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid can contain gadolinium or other substance that illuminates during an MRI process or other imaging process
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging marker including a body portion having a cavity in the shape of a letter is described. The cavity can be filled with a liquid containing a substance that illuminates during an imaging process. The imaging marker can also include a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap can be configured to be placed on a first end of the body portion, and the second end cap can be configured to be placed on a second end of the body portion.