Wearable Radiation Detector System for Mobile Medical Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging techniques that rely on internal tracers, such as PET and SPECT, require expensive and large-scale scanners for radiation detection, making them inconvenient and costly for routine use outside radiology clinics.
Innovation Solution
A wearable medical detecting system with integrated radiation detectors positioned proximate to the body portion, allowing for the detection of radiation emitted from within the body, which can be worn on various body parts and includes features like spacers to maintain detector distance and compressive elements to reduce skin signal interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If large-scale scanners are used for radiation detection, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the body into multiple detectable regions using multiple radiation detectors positioned at different locations. Each detector monitors a specific region, and the system reconstructs comprehensive images from these segmented measurements, enabling precise radiation detection without requiring a single large-scale scanner
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer as an intermediary that processes radiation detection signals from multiple detectors, applies attenuation correction based on transmission measurements, and reconstructs images. This computational intermediary enables precise detection using simpler, distributed detector components rather than a single complex scanner
2Measurement precision
If large-scale scanners are used for radiation detection, then detection precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection task across multiple small detectors distributed on or near the body, allowing the subject to move freely while being monitored. This segmented approach eliminates the need for large-scale scanner facilities and makes the system portable and convenient for routine use
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable radiation detectors and transmitters can be easily attached and removed by the subject themselves without requiring operation of complex scanner equipment. The system serves itself by automatically performing transmission measurements, correction calculations, and image reconstruction without operator intervention
3Measurement precision
If large-scale scanners are used for radiation detection, then detection precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple inexpensive, small-scale radiation detectors distributed across the body instead of a single expensive large-scale scanner. By segmenting the detection system into multiple affordable components, the overall cost is reduced while maintaining detection precision through computational reconstruction
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs relatively simple, inexpensive detectors and transmitters that can be easily manufactured and potentially disposed of or replaced. These affordable components eliminate the need for costly large-scale scanner infrastructure while achieving the required detection precision through multiple measurements and computational processing
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 convenient, cost-effective, and mobile detection of radiation signals from the body, allowing for diagnostic and treatment monitoring without the need for large-scale equipment, improving accessibility and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
One or more radiation detectors detect radiation emitted from within the body portion
Implementation Method 2
a cooler associated with the wearable structure, where the cooler cools the body portion
Implementation Method 3
a compressive feature associated with the wearable structure restricts blood flow to the subject's skin proximate to the one or more radiation detectors
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments related to methods and wearable medical detecting systems for detecting disease states and/or treatment states of a subject are described. In one embodiment, a wearable structure may include one or more radiation detectors use to detect a time varying radiation signal emitted from a labeled compound within a body portion of interest. The radiation signal may be analyzed to determine one or more signal characteristics that may be compared to one or more predetermined standard characteristics associated with known disease and/or treatment states to determine a current disease and/or treatment state of a subject.