Vascular Model Porous Diffusion for Contrast Agent Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular simulators fail to accurately replicate the flow of contrast agents in X-ray images, leading to incomplete or inaccurate representations of hemodynamics and vascular conditions, and existing technologies do not effectively consider the use of contrast agents in simulating procedures.
Innovation Solution
A vascular model with a porous diffusion portion that disperses contrast agents in a manner mimicking actual blood flow, featuring an elastic-filled porous body that opens and closes with pressure changes to simulate the spreading and disappearance of contrast agent, preventing backflow, and can be integrated with an organ simulator to enhance realism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a contrast agent is diluted in the reservoir space inside the heart model, then the contrast agent can be distributed in the simulated human body, but the course of dense-staining of the myocardium which can be observed in X-ray images of the actual human body cannot be reproduced and dilution is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous diffusion portion made of radiolucent porous material that enables controlled diffusion of contrast agent from the flow path to the surrounding myocardium tissue. This porous structure allows the contrast agent to naturally disperse through capillary action and diffusion without requiring manual dilution, thereby reproducing the dense-staining effect observed in actual human body X-ray images while eliminating time-consuming dilution procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion portion acts as an intermediary component between the fluid flow path and the myocardium tissue. It mediates the transfer of contrast agent from the bloodstream to the surrounding tissue in a controlled manner, enabling realistic simulation of contrast agent distribution and dense-staining effects without direct injection or manual dilution into the reservoir space
2Measurement precision
If a highly concentrated contrast agent is directed to a flow path without being diluted, then the flow path can be clearly visualized, but the contrast agent may flow into the flow path without being diluted, resulting in images which do not reflect actual conditions depending on observation angles
Solution Approach 1:
The porous diffusion portion provides controlled diffusion of contrast agent from the flow path to surrounding tissues. This ensures that highly concentrated contrast agent remains confined to the flow path while still enabling clear visualization, and prevents unrealistic spreading that would occur with manual dilution, thereby maintaining image accuracy across different observation angles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different regions: the flow path maintains high contrast agent concentration for clear visualization, while the surrounding myocardium tissue receives diffused contrast agent through the porous diffusion portion. This local differentiation ensures accurate representation of actual conditions in the flow path while preventing unrealistic diffusion that would affect observation angle independence
3Manufacturing precision
If a porous body is used for diffusion, then contrast agent can be diffused and excreted finely, but the porous body may allow backflow of fluid from outside the vascular model into the fluid flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic body that dynamically responds to pressure changes within the flow path. When pressure is high (during contrast agent injection), the elastic body expands to open the porous structure for diffusion. When pressure drops, the elastic body contracts to close the pores, preventing backflow. This dynamic adaptation maintains both diffusion precision and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body provides pressure-based feedback control of the porous diffusion portion. The elastic material automatically senses pressure changes within the flow path and adjusts the degree of pore opening accordingly, creating a self-regulating system that prevents backflow while maintaining diffusion functionality
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 vascular model provides X-ray images that closely simulate actual human body conditions, improving the accuracy of hemodynamic assessments and procedural simulations by finely diffusing and excreting contrast agents, thus enhancing the realism and effectiveness of medical training and examination.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusion portion formed with a porous body and disposed so as to face the fluid flow path, the diffusion portion being for excreting a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path from pores of the porous body to the outside in a diffused manner
Implementation Method 2
the pores of the porous body in the diffusion portion are filled with an elastic body. Each of the pores of the porous body can be blocked while the pressure inside the fluid flow path is low, and each of the pores of the porous body can be opened when the pressure inside the fluid flow path is increased
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vascular model including: a flow path forming portion for forming a fluid flow path extending in an extension direction of the vascular model; and a diffusion portion formed with a porous body and disposed so as to face the fluid flow path, the diffusion portion being for excreting a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path from pores of the porous body to the outside in a diffused manner.