Download Introduction to Trends of Engineering System Evolution

Trend of Information Coordination:
New subtrend and its mechanism
I.S.Sigalovsky
Trend of Coordination, Medical imaging, Diagnostic imaging, Trends of
Engineering System Evolution, TESE
Introduction
The field of medical (diagnostic) imaging has gone through a number of
tremendous transformations in the last few decades. This is especially true for
ground-breaking brain imaging techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (fMRI) and others. Medical Imaging is inherently an extremely complex
multi-disciplinary field because it combines knowledge from physics, mechanical
engineering, electrical engineering, neuroscience, anatomy, signal and image
processing as well as other disciplines.
Because of their inherent complexity and multi-disciplinary nature, medical
imaging systems are state-of-the-art machines that are typically developed in top
academic institutions where TRIZ has not found its acceptance to date. Thus,
TRIZ and TRIZ-based approaches have not been used to analyze/develop/forecast
medical imaging systems. On the other hand, complexity of the field itself
precludes clear systematic vision of what is happening with the field of medical
imaging as a whole.
This paper has two goals. The first goal is to describe and illustrate a new
subtrend for the Trend of Coordination – coordination of information and describe
a step-by-step mechanism of this subtrend. The second goal of this paper is to
understand and predict the development of some medical imaging
systems/applications through the lens of the Trends of Engineering System
Evolution. This paper will primarily focus on application of TESE to MRI because
of the author’s decade-long experience developing this technique.
Methods
Trends of Engineering Systems Evolution (TESE) are empirically derived
directions of Engineering System development that describe the natural transitions
of Engineering Systems from one state to another. A number of trends (at least
eleven) have been described to date and they relate to one another through a
hierarchical structure [1,2,3,4]. This paper will focus on the Trend of Coordination
(Definition: As an Engineering System evolves, characteristics of the components
of the Engineering System become more coordinated with each other and with the
Supersystem). In particular, we will discuss a new subtrend and its mechanism –
coordination of information. We will illustrate this new subtrend using example of
medical imaging for surgery application.
Results
Case Study 1: Medical Imaging and Surgery (Trend of Increasing Coordination)
MRI has been playing an increasingly important role in surgery on humans,
and in brain surgery, in particular. Brain surgery is considered the most
challenging of operations because, to the naked eye, brain presents a jello-like
homogeneous substance. One wrong cut and the patient will loose his/her ability to
speak, move an arm or to see. At present, brain surgery is done on fully awake
patients (there is no pain sensation because brain does not have pain receptors)
who are asked to perform simple cognitive tasks, such as counting backward,
during surgery. Ability or inability to perform such tasks gives surgeons an
indication whether they are dissecting the intended part of the brain.
Fundamentally, however, this method is unreliable, limited and inefficient (Step 1
in Figure 1).
Step 4
Step 3
Step 2
Doctor is provided with
simultaneous and colocalized image of the
surgical zone
Step 1
Doctor is provided with
simultaneous but not colocalized image of the
surgical zone
Doctor is provided with
images of the surgical zone
prior to the operation
future
today
Doctor is not provided
with any images
Figure 1. Evolution of image-guided surgery
Let us analyze the development of MRI-guided surgery through the lens of
Trend of Increasing Coordination. Several decades ago, the chances of success for
brain surgery were greatly improved with the appearance of imaging techniques
such as X-Ray, CT-scan, PET and MRI. The doctor now had an ability to examine
the internal structure of the patient’s brain before performing the surgery (Step 2 in
Figure 1). This provided a tremendous advantage because brains of different
people are very different and this is especially true for clinical cases with structural
abnormalities (such as tumors).
The next step in the image-guided surgery was to bring real-time imaging
into the operating room (Step 3 in Figure 1). Now the doctor is not only able to
track structural changes he/she introduces to the patient’s brain by making
incisions, but also understand how surgical incisions impact functional abilities of
patient. Even though this technology is still in its embryonic state, it has been used
in selected cases in several hospitals.
We predict that in the future, the labeled images of the brain structures and
functions will be displayed on the patient’s head itself (Step 4 in Figure 1). These
images will be taken in real time and show structural and functional changes
associated with incisions that the doctor is making on the patient’s brain.
Discussion
At present, the Trend of Coordination has been described using four
subtrends: coordination of shapes, rhythms, materials and actions [4]. We suggest
that another subtrend of coordination exists - coordination of information. Let us
look at the trend of image-guided surgery from the information stand-point.
Step 1. Doctor performs surgery without of any information form MRI.
Information available: (1) gross internal anatomy from anatomy textbook and
previous experience on other patients, and (2) gross external anatomy visible upon
dissection of the patient’s brain – No coordination.
Step 2. Doctor performs surgery after looking at the patient’s MRI scans
prior to surgery. Information available: (1) gross internal anatomy of patient from
MRI (or other imaging modality) prior to surgery, (2) gross external anatomy
visible upon dissection of the patient’s brain – coordination of information in
source (i.e., both types of information come from the same source – patient).
Step 3. Doctor performs surgery while looking at the patient’s MRI scans
taken in real time during the surgery. Information available: (1) gross internal
anatomy of patient from MRI (or other imaging modality) during surgery, (2)
gross external anatomy visible upon dissection of the patient’s brain – coordination
of information in source and time (both types of information come form the same
source, patient, and are available at the same time, surgery).
Step 4. Doctor performs surgery while looking at the patient’s MRI scans
taken in real time and superimposed on the patient’s brain. Information available:
(1) gross internal anatomy of patient from MRI (or other imaging modality) during
surgery and co-localized to the patient’s brain, (2) gross external anatomy visible
upon dissection of the patient’s brain – coordination of information in source, time
and space.
Of course, the subtrend of information coordination has to be demonstrated
using many other examples from all types of technical systems to confirm its right
to exist. A superficial analysis of technical systems that operate with information
confirms that this trend holds for multiple types systems. Take, for example, route
mapping process during traveling:
Step 1. Traveler uses maps of the city he/she bought in the store (Step 1 in
Figure 2).
Step 2. Traveler uses maps of the specific route that he/she printed on the
computer prior to traveling – coordination of information in source (Step 2 in
Figure 2).
Step 3. Traveler uses real-time maps of the specific route displayed on
his/hers GPS device in the car while traveling (exists today) – coordination of
information in source and time (Step 3 in Figure 2).
Step 4. Traveler uses real-time maps of the specific route displayed on the
route itself – coordination of information in source, time and space (Step 4 in
Figure 2). Notice that this phase in the development of information systems has
been appearing in multiple systems and has been referred to as “augmented reality”.
Step 4
Step 3
Step 2
Real-time map of a
specific route displayed
on the route itself
Step 1
Real-time map of a
specific route
Pre-printed map of a
specific route
future
today
Pre-printed general map
Figure 2. Subtrend of Information Coordination: route mapping for traveling
Conclusions
This paper presented a new subtrend for the Trend of Coordination –
coordination of information. It also suggested a mechanism by which information
systems evolve according to this trend: coordination in source of information,
coordination in time, and coordination in space (Figure 3). Here, we described how
the trend of information coordination works using two examples from very
different information systems: image-guided surgery and route mapping during
traveling.
NO
COORDINATION
COORDINATION
IN SOURCE
COORDINATION
IN TIME
COORDINATION
IN SPACE
Figure 3. Subtrend of Information Coordination: the mechanism
More extensive analysis is required to make a more definitive statement
about the existence of the trend of information coordination as well as the
mechanism by which it operates. This paper is the first step in this direction.
References
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Publishers. 1984. ISBN 0-677-21230-5
2. Fey V. and Rivin E. Innovation on demand. Cambridge University Press.
2005.
3. Salamatov Y. TRIZ: The right solution at the right time. 1999. Insytec B.V.
ISBN 90-804680-1-0
4. Lyubomirkiy A. Trends Guide. Unpublished. 2003.