3D Radiation Dose Simulation for Operating Room Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for indicating radiation exposure risks in medical operating rooms provide inadequate information on the spatial distribution of hazardous radiation doses, failing to accurately account for the presence of individuals and scattering effects, resulting in incomplete awareness of exposure risks for clinicians and staff.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a three-dimensional simulation of radiation dose distribution in a medical operating room environment, including models of individuals and objects, using voxels to map the environment and compute radiation exposure, and displays this information in real-time to help individuals adjust their positions and reduce exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single dosimeter is worn at chest level to measure radiation dose, then the measurement device is simple and convenient, but it does not provide an accurate picture of the true radiation dose received by different body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual three-dimensional model of the operating room environment that copies and simulates the physical space, including models of individuals and radiation scattering objects. This virtual model allows accurate estimation of radiation doses to different body parts without requiring multiple physical dosimeters, thus achieving measurement precision while avoiding device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from direct physical measurement to computational estimation by varying parameters such as radiation source characteristics, scattering object properties, and individual body models. This allows accurate dose estimation across multiple body parts using a single integrated system rather than multiple dosimeters.
2Measurement precision
If multiple dosimeters are worn at different body locations to obtain accurate radiation exposure picture, then measurement accuracy improves, but convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies of individuals in a three-dimensional model and estimates radiation doses computationally, eliminating the need for individuals to wear multiple physical dosimeters. This maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If radiation propagation is simulated in a static environment model, then computation is simpler, but the accuracy deteriorates by not accounting for moving individuals and staff who also scatter radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic simulation by repeatedly updating the three-dimensional model to track movements of individuals and objects in the operating room. The system detects changes in positions and recalculates radiation dose distributions, ensuring accurate estimation even as the environment changes during surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from motion detection and position tracking to continuously update the radiation simulation. By monitoring movements of individuals and adjusting the virtual model accordingly, the system maintains accurate dose estimation throughout the procedure despite changing conditions.
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 approach provides a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of radiation exposure risks, enabling individuals to identify and mitigate hazardous exposure areas, thereby reducing long-term health risks for clinicians and staff.
Implementation Method 1
computing, in at least a portion of said three-dimensional model, a simulation of radiation doses attributable to radiation emitted from the source of radiation and scattered by the environment
Implementation Method 2
compute radiation exposure
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating a spatial distribution of the hazardousness of radiation doses for individuals evolving in a medical operating room defining a three-dimensional environment surrounding at least one source of radiation. First a three-dimensional model of the environment is obtained. Then a simulation of radiation doses attributable to ionizing radiation emitted from the source and scattered by the environment is computed in the model. Then, an image indicating the spatial distribution of the hazardousness for an individual of the radiation doses is generated and displayed. The three-dimensional model comprises models of individuals when the individuals are present in the environment and the image is a three-dimensional image generated for at least a portion of the model including said models of individuals.