Work

The “LIME Wedge”: A Technical Report on a 3D-Printed Radiologic Reference Device for Differentiating Button Battery and Coin Ingestion

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Button battery ingestions are time-sensitive emergencies that require prompt identification and removal. Button batteries can be mistaken for coins, which can lead to dangerous delays in management. We designed the "LIME Wedge" radiologic reference device to hold four coins and one 20 mm button battery. We used a radiologic phantom to simulate button battery and coin ingestions on anterior and lateral chest X-ray (CXR) images. This series of images demonstrates how our tool can be used to help visually differentiate esophageal button batteries from coins. The LIME Wedge is an inexpensive, 3D-printed, radiologic tool that provides physicians with reference examples of various coins and a button battery in two radiologic planes. This radiologic tool is accessible for free download in the appendices.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.106545

Authors: Peyton J Ware, Carter Ware, Amanda H Bjornstad, Heather M Kuntz, Timothy P Young

Institutions: Loma Linda University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Loma Linda University Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Foreign Body Medical Cases

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7150959212