Porous Metal Layer Marking for Medical Instrument Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments lack markings that simultaneously provide radiopaque and ultrasound-echogenic properties, and their production is complex and inflexible, often resulting in stability issues due to mechanically attached metal parts or soft plastic coatings.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument featuring a porous metal layer, preferably made of gold, applied to a metal or alloy surface, which includes non-metallic particles like glass, offering both radiopaque and ultrasound-echogenic properties, and a method for coating using a composition that converts into a porous metal layer through heating, allowing for flexible application on various materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanically attached metal parts or soft plastic coatings are used for markings, then radiopaque or ultrasound-echogenic properties are achieved, but stability problems occur and production becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple marking functions (radiopaque and ultrasound-echogenic properties) into a single porous metal layer coating applied directly to the instrument surface. This eliminates the need for separate mechanically attached metal parts or soft plastic coatings, thereby improving stability while simplifying production.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous metal layer is formed as a composite structure containing metallic particles (for radiopacity) and non-metallic particles (for ultrasound echogenicity) embedded in a matrix material. This composite approach achieves both imaging properties simultaneously in a single stable coating layer.
2Loss of information
If different types of markings with radiopaque or ultrasound-echogenic properties are used, then imaging contrast is achieved, but the production is complex and not flexible
Solution Approach 1:
The porous metal layer coating serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides radiopaque properties through metallic particles, ultrasound-echogenic properties through non-metallic particles, and maintains structural stability. This multi-functional coating can be applied to various medical instruments with different base materials, enhancing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating composition can be tailored with specific ratios of metallic and non-metallic particles depending on the required imaging modality (x-ray or ultrasound), allowing optimization for different applications while using the same basic coating process.
3Loss of information
If a porous metal layer with both metallic and non-metallic particles is applied, then both radiopaque and ultrasound-echogenic properties are achieved, but the manufacturing process requires heating
Solution Approach 1:
The coating process utilizes phase transition during heating to convert the applied composition into a sintered porous metal layer. The heating process causes sintering of metallic particles and bonding of the matrix material, creating a stable porous structure that traps non-metallic particles and achieves both imaging properties.
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 porous metal layer provides enhanced compatibility and biocompatibility, offering clear imaging contrast during surgical procedures while being easy to produce and apply, addressing the complexity and flexibility issues of previous marking methods.
Implementation Method 1
the metal layer has radiopaque and/or ultrasound-echogenic properties
Implementation Method 2
the metal layer has radiopaque and/or ultrasound-echogenic properties
Implementation Method 3
heating the region and the composition in order to convert the composition into a porous metal layer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a medical instrument which comprises a porous metal layer. Also described are methods for producing such a medical instrument. The porous metal layer can serve as a marking for use in imaging radiological methods such as, for example, x-ray or ultrasound images.