Radiopaque Concentric-Circle Blood Vessel Sizing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining blood vessel size during angiographic procedures are inaccurate and prone to errors, particularly due to limitations in diagnostic imaging techniques like CT and MRI, which can be unavailable during emergencies, leading to potential damage from oversized stents.
Innovation Solution
A blood vessel sizing device with radiopaque concentric-circle elements of known size is placed on the patient's skin, allowing clinicians to accurately measure vessel dimensions by comparing the images with the visible circles, and automated computer-readable instructions for determining true dimensions from radiological images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radiopaque concentric-circle elements are added to the sizing device, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses radiopaque concentric-circle elements that create a visual copy of a measurement scale on the radiological image. These elements are imaged along with the blood vessel, providing a reference pattern that can be directly compared to the vessel dimensions without requiring separate measurement equipment or complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiopaque concentric-circle elements appear as distinct radiopaque patterns on the radiological image, creating visual contrast that enables easy differentiation from surrounding tissues. This radiopacity property allows the measurement markers to be clearly visible in the same imaging modality used for blood vessel visualization.
2Measurement precision
If radiopaque concentric-circle elements are used for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but the device becomes more sensitive to positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear scale markings to concentric-circle patterns, adding radial dimensionality to the measurement reference. This circular geometry provides multiple reference points at known radii from the center, allowing measurement verification from different angular positions and reducing the impact of single-point positioning errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The sizing device combines radiopaque concentric-circle elements with a radiolucent or translucent base structure. This composite design allows the measurement markers to be clearly visible on radiological images while the base structure remains minimally interfering, enabling accurate positioning without the entire device appearing as a large radiopaque artifact.
3Measurement precision
If advanced imaging equipment like CT or MRI is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sizing device is designed to be universally compatible with multiple imaging modalities including fluoroscopy, angiography, X-ray, CT, and MRI. The radiopaque concentric-circle elements function as measurement references across all these different imaging technologies, eliminating the need for modality-specific measurement devices or post-processing tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides its own measurement scale directly in the field of view during imaging. The radiopaque concentric-circle elements serve as self-contained reference markers that do not require external calibration equipment, separate measurement devices, or complex post-processing algorithms to determine blood vessel dimensions.
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 provides a more accurate and reliable method for determining blood vessel size, reducing the risk of stent-related complications by minimizing errors and parallax distortion, and can be used in emergency situations without requiring advanced imaging equipment.
Implementation Method 1
A blood vessel sizing device having a rigid planar base structure with a front surface and a back surface. The blood vessel sizing device further has a plurality of radiopaque concentric-circle elements and a plurality of radiopaque symbols positioned on the front surface of the base structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Medical devices and methods for determining the size of blood vessels are disclosed. In one implementation, a blood vessel sizing device is configured for placement on an area of skin of a patient. The device includes a plurality of radiopaque concentric-circle elements. In one implementation, a blood vessel sizing method includes placing a marker having a plurality of concentric-circle elements on the skin of a patient, imaging a blood vessel of the patient and the device, and comparing the imaged blood vessel to the imaged circles to determine the blood vessel size, the concentric-circle elements allowing a determination of size without errors of parallax.