3D Medical Image Compression Using 2D Slice Video Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

3D medical images contain a large amount of data, leading to large file sizes, and existing compression methods risk excessive loss of useful data during compression.

Innovation Solution

Convert 3D medical images into a sequence of 2D images, perform bit-depth conversion to reduce data volume, and encode the sequence using video encoding techniques like VVC, HEVC, or AVC to minimize redundancy, followed by inverse conversion for reconstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If compression is applied to 3D medical images to reduce file size, then data volume is reduced, but useful data is excessively lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata volumeVSAvoiduseful data loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the 3D medical image into multiple 2D slices along different planes (axial, coronal, sagittal), allowing selective compression of each slice while preserving the complete 3D structure. This segmentation enables compression without excessive data loss by maintaining the integrity of individual slices while reducing overall data volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the 3D medical image into a sequence of 2D images, changing the dimensional representation from three-dimensional volumetric data to two-dimensional slices. This dimensional transformation allows the application of video encoding techniques that efficiently compress temporal and spatial redundancy while preserving the essential 3D information through the sequence of slices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If video encoding is used to compress 3D medical images, then redundancy is minimized and compression efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the processing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universal video encoding techniques (such as H.264, H.265, or VVC) to compress 3D medical images by treating them as sequences of 2D frames. These video encoding standards are widely used and well-optimized, providing high compression efficiency while avoiding the need to develop new complex compression algorithms specifically for medical imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary conversion step that transforms the 3D medical image into a sequence of 2D images before applying video encoding. This intermediary representation serves as a bridge, allowing existing video compression technology to be applied to medical imaging data, thereby achieving efficient compression without requiring a completely new complex processing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12579697B2Method and system for compressing and reconstructing 3D medical images

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

AI summary

A method for compressing three-dimensional (3D) medical image. The method includes obtaining image data of a 3D medical image, performing a data conversion operation to convert the image data of the 3D medical image into video data of a sequence of frames each corresponding to a respective 2D image, and performing a video encoding operation to encode the video data of the sequence of frames to obtain encoded content data. The encoded content data can be used for reconstructing the 3D medical image.