Non-metallic ultrasound-detectable markers
AssigneeMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsChristine U. Lee, James F. Greenleaf, James L. Herrick, Alan L. Miller, II, Michael J. Yaszemski, James W. Jakub, Matthew W. Urban, Benjamin G. Wood, Nathan J. Brinkman
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Abstract
Markers (e.g., treatment site markers, biopsy site markers) are composed of a non-metallic material having a composition and/or other features or characteristics such that the markers will generate twinkling artifacts when imaged with ultrasound. In this way, the composition of the markers enables their detection and localization using ultrasound. The markers are generally composed of non-metallic materials that enhance the twinkling artifact.
Claims20
An ultrasound-detectable marker, comprising:
- a body formed of a non-metallic material using an additive manufacturing process, wherein the body has formed therein a plurality of features that when imaged using Doppler ultrasound will generate a twinkling artifact, the plurality of features comprising physical deformations formed in the body by the additive manufacturing process and a surface texture formed in a surface of the body using the additive manufacturing process.
A method for localizing an ultrasound-detectable marker, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining Doppler ultrasound data from a region-of-interest (ROI) containing a marker that when insonated with ultrasound generates a twinkling artifact signature;
- (b) computing a spatiotemporal variation of the twinkling artifact signature in the Doppler ultrasound data;
- and
- (c) localizing the marker in the ROI based on the spatiotemporal variation of the twinkling artifact signature.
An ultrasound-detectable marker, comprising:
- a non-metallic material having formed therein a plurality of features that are sized and shaped that when imaged using Doppler ultrasound will generate a twinkling artifact;
- a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating partially applied to at least one surface of the non-metallic material;
- and
- wherein the PDMS coating is applied circumferentially around an outer surface of the non-metallic marker so as to form a PDMS ring on the outer surface of the non-metallic marker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.