Projected Liver Positioning for Accurate MRI Coil Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of receive coil units in MRI apparatuses narrows the allowable range for misregistration, making it difficult to attach the coil accurately over the liver, especially in subjects with varying body types, often requiring radiography for proper positioning.
Innovation Solution
A projection control device that uses optical imaging and a processor to estimate the liver's position based on optical images, projecting a marker to guide the attachment of the receive coil unit without radiography, utilizing evaluation values and reference information to determine the liver's position accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the receive coil unit is miniaturized, then the portability and ease of attachment are improved, but the allowable range for misregistration is narrowed, making accurate positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by estimating the liver position and projecting guidance markers onto the subject's body surface before the receive coil unit is attached. This allows the operator to position the coil accurately based on the projected markers, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise positioning despite the coil's small size through preparatory guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection markers serve as an intermediary between the estimated liver position and the receive coil unit attachment. The markers translate the internal organ position information into visible external guidance, allowing accurate coil placement without requiring the coil itself to be large or the positioning process to be complex.
2Manufacturing precision
If radiography is performed to understand the liver position in advance, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the subject is exposed to radiation and the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the radiography-based positioning method with an optical imaging and projection-based method. Instead of using ionizing radiation to visualize the liver position, the system uses optical cameras to capture body surface images, estimates liver position based on body measurements, and projects visual markers for guidance. This substitution eliminates radiation exposure while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses inexpensive optical imaging and projection technology instead of expensive and potentially harmful radiography equipment. The optical markers are temporary and disposable guidance elements that serve their purpose during coil attachment and can be discarded, replacing the need for persistent radiographic imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A projection control device includes a processor, in which the processor is configured to acquire an optical image of a subject, estimate a position of a liver of the subject based on the optical image, and control a projection apparatus to project a marker representing the estimated position of the liver onto the subject, as a marker representing a position at which a receive coil unit of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is attached.