Implantable Tissue Marker with Sealed Contrast Agent for MRI Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue markers appear as signal voids in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), making them difficult to identify in heterogeneous breast tissue and potentially distorting images, and may interfere with MR spectroscopy or produce artifacts.
Innovation Solution
An implantable tissue marker with a contrast agent sealed within a solid material container, designed to increase signal intensity in MRI, and optionally visible in other imaging modalities like CT or ultrasound, to enhance visibility without producing excessive artifacts or interference with MR spectroscopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional markers are used in MRI, then they are visible as signal voids, but they are difficult to distinguish from natural dark artifacts in heterogeneous breast tissue and produce excessive susceptibility artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic properties of the marker by using materials with specific magnetic susceptibilities (e.g., -0.0003 to -0.003 for the container, and matching or slightly lower for the contrast agent) to reduce susceptibility artifacts while maintaining visibility as a signal void in MRI
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures including a container made of nonbiodegradable solid material with specific magnetic properties, and a contrast agent with matched or slightly lower magnetic susceptibility, creating a composite system that minimizes artifacts while maintaining detectability
2Measurement precision
If conventional markers produce signal voids in MRI, then they are detectable, but they cannot be easily distinguished from natural dark artifacts in heterogeneous breast tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized region around the marker with specific magnetic properties by carefully selecting materials with controlled magnetic susceptibilities, making the marker's signal void distinct from the surrounding heterogeneous breast tissue through localized magnetic field characteristics
3Duration of action of stationary object
If markers are made permanent for long-term monitoring, then they provide lasting visibility, but they may continuously produce susceptibility artifacts and interfere with MR spectroscopy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic susceptibility parameters of the marker materials to fall within specific ranges that reduce susceptibility artifacts and minimize interference with MR spectroscopy, allowing permanent implantation without continuous harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful magnetic susceptibility differences into a beneficial property by carefully selecting materials whose susceptibility differences create minimal artifacts while maintaining the marker's permanent visibility function
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 markers are more easily distinguishable from surrounding tissue, providing improved visualization in MRI and other imaging modalities, particularly beneficial for heterogeneous breast tissue imaging, and are permanent, allowing for long-term monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The contrast agent is selected to produce an increase in signal intensity in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging modality
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable tissue marker incorporates a contrast agent sealed within a chamber in a container formed from a solid material. The contrast agent is selected to produce a change, such as an increase, in signal intensity under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An additional contrast agent may also be sealed within the chamber to provide visibility under another imaging modality, such as computed tomographic (CT) imaging or ultrasound imaging.