Medical Stent Loading via Image-Guided Groove Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for loading medicaments and/or polymers onto medicament eluting stents with micron-scale grooves or holes are inefficient due to low loading speed and accuracy, as they typically only capture one image of the storage features at a time and rely on calculating central positions without precise alignment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple image captures of the grooves or holes, digital image processing to determine central positions, and adjusting the loading device's position to align with these centers for efficient and accurate loading, using image conversion, pre-processing, and binary processing to refine the pattern recognition and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If only one image of the storage grooves or holes is captured at a time, then the image processing is simple, but the loading speed and efficiency are low
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple images of the storage grooves or holes are captured in advance before the loading process. This preliminary capture of multiple images allows for comprehensive analysis and precise positioning of all grooves or holes, enabling faster and more accurate loading operations without requiring repeated imaging during the actual loading process.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple copies (images) of the groove or hole patterns are obtained through repeated imaging. These multiple images are then processed to create a comprehensive map of all storage features, allowing the loading device to precisely locate and fill each groove or hole without needing to repeatedly image during loading, thus improving loading speed while maintaining processing accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the central position is calculated from a single image, then the processing is quick, but the positioning accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple images capturing the same groove or hole are merged or combined during processing. By integrating information from multiple images, the system can more accurately determine the central position and dimensions of each storage feature, improving positioning precision while the automated processing maintains efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple images to provide feedback on the actual positions and dimensions of grooves or holes. This feedback mechanism allows for more accurate calculation of central positions by comparing and validating data across multiple images, ensuring high positioning accuracy without excessive time loss through efficient algorithms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the loading device position is not precisely adjusted, then the operation is simple, but the loading accuracy is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated image-guided positioning system. The loading device's position is automatically adjusted based on image processing data that identifies groove or hole locations, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment operations while achieving high loading accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Image processing data serves as an intermediary between the loading device and the grooves or holes. The processed image information provides precise location coordinates that guide the loading device's positioning, acting as a mediator that translates visual data into accurate mechanical positioning without requiring direct manual measurement or alignment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application discloses a method and a device for loading a medical appliance with a medicament and/or polymer. The method comprises: capturing images of a plurality of grooves or holes of the medical appliance using an image capturing device; performing digital image processing on the image of each of the grooves or holes to obtain a pattern of each of the grooves or holes; calculating a central position of the pattern of each of the grooves or holes, and determining a loading position of each of the grooves or holes based on the central position; and adjusting a relative position between a loading device and the medical appliance to align an outlet of the loading device with the loading position of the medical appliance, and loading each of the grooves or holes with the medicament and/or polymer. The method and device can load the medical appliance with the medicament and/or polymer fast and efficiently.