Radiolucent Spacer Imaging Marker for Radiation Dose Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging markers for radiation treatment planning and simulation cause 'dose perturbation' or radiation 'hot spots' due to their radiopaque portions being absorbed by treatment planning software, leading to incorrect radiation dose calculations, as they are not distinguishable from the patient's tissue in x-ray images.
Innovation Solution
An imaging marker with a radiolucent spacer between the adhesive and the radiopaque marker, which spaces the marker at least 1 millimeter away from the skin, preventing software from including it as part of the patient's body and ensuring accurate radiation dose calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the radiopaque marker is placed directly on the skin surface, then the marker is clearly visible in imaging scans, but the treatment planning software incorrectly includes the marker as part of the patient's body, causing dose perturbation
Solution Approach 1:
A radiolucent spacer material is introduced between the radiopaque marker and the patient's skin. This intermediary layer allows the marker to remain visible in imaging scans while preventing the treatment planning software from incorrectly including it as part of the patient's body, thereby eliminating dose perturbation and ensuring accurate radiation dose calculations.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the marker is made radiopaque for clear imaging, then the marker is easily detected in scans, but it creates radiation hot spots and requires manual contouring
Solution Approach 1:
The marker system is segmented into two distinct components: a radiopaque marker portion for detection in scans and a radiolucent spacer portion that prevents interference with dose calculations. This segmentation allows the marker to be automatically detected by imaging software without requiring manual contouring to remove it from the treatment plan.
3Manufacturing precision
If the marker is placed close to the skin, then it accurately marks the treatment area, but it causes dose perturbation that requires additional manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The radiolucent spacer acts as a mediator that maintains the marker's close proximity to the skin for accurate treatment area marking while preventing the marker from causing dose perturbation. This eliminates the need for manual contouring and associated time losses.
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
Prevents the need for manual contouring of the marker, reducing the time and expense associated with radiation treatment planning and simulation by avoiding 'dose perturbation' and ensuring accurate radiation delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the marker is formed by at least one radiopaque portion that is substantially radiopaque at a level of radiation used by the imager
Implementation Method 2
the spacer is substantially radiolucent at the level of radiation used by the imager in connection with the radiation treatment planning and/or simulation
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging marker is radiopaque at the level of radiation used during a radiation treatment planning and/or simulation. An adhesive layer is configured to releasably attach the imaging marker to a surface of a patient's skin. A radiolucent spacer is located between the adhesive layer and the radiopaque marker, and is radiolucent at the level of radiation used during the radiation treatment planning and/or simulation. The radiolucent spacer defines a thickness between the adhesive and substantially the entirety of the underside of the radiopaque marker of at least about 1 millimeter, and therefore spaces substantially the entirety of the underside of the radiopaque marker at least about 1 millimeter away from the skin.