Radiopaque Marker Jig Layout for Accurate Multimodal Pose Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical imaging technologies face challenges in accurately determining the pose and position of imaging devices relative to a patient's anatomy, particularly during minimally invasive procedures, leading to difficulties in identifying and navigating internal structures like airways and blood vessels.

Innovation Solution

A device with radiopaque markers attached to a support structure is used to generate unique patterns in medical imaging, allowing for the estimation of mutual geometric constraints between different imaging modalities, enabling accurate pose estimation and generation of augmented images that highlight areas of interest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If radiopaque markers are positioned in a unique pattern on the support structure, then pose estimation accuracy between different imaging modalities is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepose estimation accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiopaque markers serve as an intermediary object that bridges multiple imaging modalities. By positioning markers in a unique pattern on the support structure, the same physical object can be captured by different imaging systems (e.g., fluoroscopy, CT), enabling accurate pose estimation through image matching without requiring direct complex calibration between modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The radiopaque markers utilize their distinctive radiographic appearance (effectively a form of visual signature) to enable identification and matching across different imaging modalities. The unique spatial pattern of these markers creates a recognizable signature that can be detected and matched, similar to how color changes enable object identification in visual systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple imaging modalities are used to capture images of the support structure, then navigation accuracy during procedures is improved, but the time required for image acquisition and processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidimage acquisition and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure with radiopaque markers is positioned and imaged by multiple modalities in advance, before the actual surgical procedure begins. This preliminary multi-modal imaging establishes the geometric constraints and pose relationships ahead of time, so that during the procedure, pre-processed images can be rapidly retrieved and used for navigation without requiring real-time multi-modal acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the support structure is positioned in various locations on the patient's body, then the versatility of the imaging system is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the correct position increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging system versatilityVSAvoidposition detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The radiopaque markers are arranged in an asymmetric, unique pattern on the support structure rather than a symmetric or repeating pattern. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that each position and orientation of the support structure produces a distinct marker configuration in the images, making it easy to detect and measure the correct position without ambiguity, even when the structure is placed in various locations on the patient's body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Enhances the accuracy of medical imaging by providing clear, augmented images that accurately depict internal structures, reducing the need for repeated setup processes and improving navigation during procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of radiopaque markers attached to the support structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-Ray absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12475999B2Jigs for use in medical imaging and methods for using thereof

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 BODY VISION MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

A device for use during a medical imaging process, the device including a support structure and a plurality of radiopaque markers, the support structure configured to be positioned in proximity to at least a portion of a body of a patient during the medical imaging process, the plurality of radiopaque markers attached to the support structure, the plurality of radiopaque markers being positioned in a pattern such that an image capturing a given portion of the pattern is unique from an image capturing any other given portion of the pattern.