MRI-Safe Tissue Expander Port Using Thermal Mass
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue expanders interact with MRI machines, causing heating, dislodgement, and unwanted artifacts, making them contraindicated for use with MRI systems due to their metal components.
Innovation Solution
A tissue expander with an access port constructed from non-reactive materials, specifically designed to have a lower rate of temperature change than human tissue, allowing safe use with MRI machines, and utilizing an infrared sensor for precise needle insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a magnet and metal structure are included in the port to enable location via magnetic attraction, then the port can be located using a dangle-magnet, but the port interacts with MRI machines causing heating, dislodgement, and unwanted artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the magnet and metal components from the port structure, extracting the harmful elements that cause MRI interactions while preserving the port's core functionality for fluid injection and withdrawal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temperature-dependent color changes in the port materials to enable visual location of the port without requiring magnetic components, allowing the port to be identified through thermal imaging or color indication that responds to body temperature
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-reactive materials are used in the port structure to ensure MRI compatibility, then the port can be used safely with MRI machines, but the port may become harder to locate without magnetic components
Solution Approach 1:
The port incorporates materials that change color or exhibit visual properties in response to temperature variations, allowing the port to be located through thermal imaging or visual inspection without requiring magnetic components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic detection system with a thermal or optical detection system, using temperature-dependent visual properties instead of magnetic attraction to enable port location
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the port structure has high thermal mass to reduce temperature change rate, then heating from MRI is reduced, but the port may take longer to reach thermal equilibrium with surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal parameters of the port structure by selecting materials with specific thermal properties that balance heat absorption during MRI with reasonable thermal equilibrium time, optimizing both safety and functionality
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 enables safe MRI compatibility and precise port location, reducing patient discomfort and tissue expander dislodgement risks while maintaining effective tissue expansion.
Implementation Method 1
a structure of the access port is composed of a material that has a rate of temperature change lower than that of human tissue
Implementation Method 2
utilizing an infrared sensor for precise needle insertion
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements for use with tissue expanders are provided. A tissue expander includes: a selectively inflatable and deflatable shell that is configured to be implanted; and an access port for selectively inflating and deflating the shell, the access port comprising a sidewall, a base at a first end, and a membrane at a second end opposite the first end wherein the sidewall and the base of the access port are constructed of a material that is non-reactive with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine; and a structure of the access port is composed of a material that has a rate of temperature change lower than that of human tissue.