Shape-Memory Implantable Marker for Isotropic Ultrasound Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable markers for intracorporeal tissue regions exhibit variable ultrasound reflectivity based on the direction of sonication, requiring significant experience for clear spatial recognition, especially in millimeter-scale dimensions.
Innovation Solution
An implantable marker with a three-dimensional shape featuring fixed strand eyelets, preferably made of shape-memory materials like Nitinol, which spontaneously assumes its impressed form after release from mechanical constraint, ensuring isotropic high ultrasound reflectivity and clear visibility regardless of ultrasound direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a ring-shaped marker is used, then the marker can be easily manufactured and implanted, but the ultrasound reflectivity varies significantly depending on the direction of sonication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical geometry by creating a marker with multiple helical windings that form a roughly spherical shape. This spherical configuration ensures that ultrasound waves reflect consistently regardless of the angle of incidence, eliminating the direction-dependent reflectivity problem of ring-shaped markers while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through helical coiling of the strand.
2Volume of moving object
If the marker dimensions are reduced to millimeter scale, then the marker becomes less invasive, but the spatial recognition and detection clarity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating fixed strand eyelets at specific locations on the marker surface. These eyelets are strategically positioned and formed with specific helical winding patterns that create localized high-reflectivity zones. This allows the overall marker to remain small while providing distinct, easily detectable spatial features that improve recognition precision.
3Ease of operation
If a shape-memory material is used, then the marker can be implanted in a compacted form and automatically expand to the desired shape, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the strand with the desired three-dimensional shape and helical windings before implantation. The shape-memory material is processed in advance to establish the target geometry, allowing the marker to automatically return to this pre-programmed shape after being compressed into a delivery catheter. This eliminates the need for complex real-time shaping mechanisms during implantation.
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 unambiguous and easy localization of the marker using ultrasound imaging by providing consistent and robust reflection signals from all directions, improving spatial recognition and stability within biological tissue.
Implementation Method 1
The implantable marker has at least one strand which is produced from biocompatible material and which has a three-dimensional shape impressed upon it in the course of a shaping process. The strand adopts this three-dimensional shape after cessation of an external mechanical constraint that forced the strand to adopt a compacted three-dimensional shape.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable marker for marking an intracorporeal tissue region of an animal or human, including at least one strand produced from biocompatible material and which has a three-dimensional shape impressed during a shaping process. The strand adopts the three-dimensional shape after cessation of an external mechanical constraint that forced the strand to adopt a compacted three-dimensional shape. The three-dimensional shape impressed upon the strand comprises at least two fixed strand eyelets with each eyelet being formed by at least one helical winding of the strand and having at least one of shape and relative spatial position being different in the compacted three-dimensional shape forced upon them by the external mechanical constraint and the three-dimensional shape adopted after cessation of the mechanical constraint.