Thyroid Cartilage Motion Tracking via Magnetic Field Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological examination apparatuses struggle to quickly and accurately grasp the two-dimensional motion of the thyroid cartilage and lingual bone during swallowing, as they rely on indirect observations and require complex waveform comparisons.
Innovation Solution
A biological examination apparatus equipped with a processor that extracts up-down and front-back motion components from distance information using a model function fitting, generating two-dimensional trajectory data to visualize the swallowing dynamics non-invasively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clinical examinations such as VF or VE are used to directly observe throat motion, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring large apparatus and predetermined equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical X-ray fluoroscopic apparatus and endoscope with a magnetic field-based detection system. Magnetic coils detect thyroid cartilage motion through magnetic field changes, eliminating the need for large imaging equipment while achieving comparable measurement precision for swallowing evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic coils as an intermediary detection mechanism. Instead of directly observing throat motion with complex imaging equipment, the magnetic coils detect changes in magnetic field caused by thyroid cartilage movement, serving as a simplified mediator that provides accurate motion data without requiring large apparatus.
2Ease of operation
If screening examinations such as palpation or auscultation are used for daily examination, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulty in quantitative evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the examination device to automatically process and analyze swallowing motion data without requiring expert manual interpretation. The system self-evaluates the swallowing state by processing magnetic coil detection data, maintaining ease of operation while achieving objective quantitative measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective manual palpation and auscultation with automated magnetic field detection and digital signal processing. This substitution transforms qualitative screening examinations into quantitative measurements while keeping the device simple and easy to operate.
3Ease of operation
If distance information is displayed as one-dimensional time-series waveform, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to represent two-dimensional motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional time-series waveform display to two-dimensional trajectory graph display. The trajectory graph plots motion amplitude against motion direction, adding a spatial dimension to the visualization. This enables accurate representation of two-dimensional thyroid cartilage motion (up-down and front-back directions) while maintaining graphical simplicity and ease of interpretation.
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
Enables quick and accurate evaluation of dysphagia by providing a clear, two-dimensional representation of the thyroid cartilage and lingual bone motions during swallowing, reducing the need for comprehensive estimation and improving examination efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
by disposing a transmission coil and a reception coil so as to sandwich the thyroid cartilage, the biological examination apparatus measures, as distance information between the coils, displacement in a horizontal direction of a thyroid cartilage portion caused in association with a two-dimensional behavior of the up-down and front-back directions of the lingual bone at the time of swallowing
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a biological examination apparatus and a biological information analysis method capable of quickly grasping a two-dimensional motions of the up-down and front-back directions of the thyroid cartilage and the lingual bone accompanied by a swallowing sound as swallowing dynamics by a non-invasive examination. In the biological examination apparatus of the present invention, an up-down motion component associated with an up-down motion of the thyroid cartilage and a front-back motion component associated with a front-back motion of the thyroid cartilage are extracted from a fitting result obtained by fitting a model function modeling a swallowing motion to distance information based on detection data detected by a larynx portion displacement detector, and a two-dimensional trajectory data indicating behavior trajectories of an up-down direction and a front-back direction of the thyroid cartilage is generated based on the extracted up-down motion component and the extracted front-back motion component.