Sensor-Based Biopsy Guide Bracket for Ultrasound Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical device positioning systems, such as those using ultrasound imaging, often result in improper placement due to the need for physicians to manually manipulate devices while referencing a screen, leading to difficulties and potential tissue damage, and existing guides with protuberances can cause discomfort and are unnecessary most of the time.
Innovation Solution
A medical device guide bracket with integrated sensors, such as Hall effect sensors and magnets, provides feedback on proper placement without surface protuberances, allowing for audible or visual cues and controlling device operations to ensure accurate positioning of medical devices like biopsy needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If surface protuberances are added to the ultrasound transducer to facilitate guide bracket positioning, then the guide bracket can be properly positioned, but user comfort deteriorates due to stress points on the handheld device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical surface protuberance system with a magnetic field-based sensing system. Hall effect sensors detect the position of magnets embedded in the guide bracket, eliminating the need for physical surface features while achieving the same positioning guidance function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the guide bracket and the ultrasound transducer. Instead of direct mechanical contact through protuberances, magnets and Hall effect sensors create an invisible magnetic field interface that provides positioning information without physical interference.
2Reliability
If a guide bracket is permanently attached to the ultrasound transducer, then proper positioning feedback is provided, but the device complexity increases and the guide is unnecessary for most procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the guide bracket attachment dynamic rather than static. The bracket can be attached or removed based on procedural needs, and the Hall effect sensors detect whether the bracket is properly attached and positioned, providing reliability only when needed while maintaining simplicity when the bracket is removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasound transducer is designed to function both with and without the guide bracket. The positioning system using Hall effect sensors and magnets provides universal compatibility, allowing the same transducer to perform guided procedures when the bracket is attached and standard procedures when it is removed.
3Device complexity
If a guide bracket is made removable from the ultrasound transducer, then device complexity is reduced, but the positioning feedback mechanism becomes less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements active feedback through Hall effect sensors that continuously monitor the position and attachment status of the guide bracket. When the bracket is properly attached, the sensors detect the magnetic fields and provide real-time feedback to confirm correct positioning, maintaining reliability despite the removable nature of the bracket.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical interlocking mechanisms with magnetic field-based detection. The Hall effect sensors detect the presence and position of magnets in the guide bracket without requiring physical engagement features, providing reliable feedback while keeping the attachment mechanism simple and removable.
4Loss of information
If physicians manually manipulate multiple instruments while looking at a screen, then imaging feedback is obtained, but the ease of operation deteriorates and improper placement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bracket with magnets and the Hall effect sensors create a self-aligning system. The magnetic fields provide automatic positioning guidance, reducing the need for the physician to manually adjust and visually verify the position of multiple instruments, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining imaging feedback.
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 sensor-based system ensures precise and comfortable medical device placement, reducing the risk of improper positioning and tissue damage while eliminating user discomfort associated with surface irregularities.
Implementation Method 1
A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a Hall effect sensor or sensors placed within a housing of a device used in medical procedures and a magnet or magnets correspondingly placed within the structure of a medical device guide bracket
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are shown which provide feedback with respect to the desired or proper placement of a medical device guide without introducing protuberances or other perturbations to the surface of devices used in medical procedures. Embodiments provide a biopsy needle guide bracket for use with an ultrasound transducer assembly, wherein the biopsy needle guide bracket and ultrasound transducer assembly are adapted to detect when the biopsy needle guide bracket is properly located on the ultrasound transducer assembly using one or more sensors. Embodiments may implement various sensor technology, such as Hall effect sensors, optical sensors, capacitive coupled sensors, inductive coupled sensors, and/or the like to provide feedback with respect to placement of a medical device guide.