Adaptive Medical Scan Protocol for Real-Time Sequence Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical scan processes are inefficient and often require multiple sessions, leading to increased costs and patient inconvenience, and there is a high likelihood of unusable scan data due to incorrect or insufficient acquisition, necessitating additional scans and potential exposure to unnecessary risks.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a medical imaging system that performs initial image acquisition, analyzes scan data for quantitative indicators of pathology and image quality, and dynamically adjusts scan sequences in real-time to ensure comprehensive data capture during a single session, using a neural network algorithm to identify and classify voxels for potential pathologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple scan sessions are performed to ensure comprehensive data capture, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but patient exposure to radiation and contrast agents increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic reliabilityVSAvoidpatient exposure to radiation and contrast agents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of initial scan data to identify pathologies and determine whether additional scans are needed before the patient leaves the scanner. This preliminary assessment prevents unnecessary repeat scans by making go/no-go decisions in real-time based on quantitative indicators extracted from the initial data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback loops where scan data is continuously analyzed, and the results feed back into decisions about whether to proceed with additional scan sequences. The quantitative indicators and pathology detection results provide feedback that dynamically adjusts the scanning protocol, ensuring comprehensive data capture only when clinically necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive scan sequences are performed to capture all potential pathologies, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but scan time and patient inconvenience increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidscan time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning protocol transitions from a static, predetermined sequence to a dynamic protocol that adapts in real-time based on quantitative indicators extracted from initial scan data. The system dynamically determines which additional scan sequences are necessary, adjusting the protocol mid-session based on actual findings rather than following a fixed schedule.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters of the scanning process in real-time, including whether to proceed with additional sequences, what types of sequences to perform, and resource allocation for different body regions. These parameter changes are driven by quantitative indicators that signal the presence or absence of specific pathologies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If additional scan sequences are performed to verify pathology, then diagnostic confidence is improved, but resource consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic confidenceVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by performing only the specific additional scan sequences that are clinically indicated based on quantitative indicators, rather than performing all possible verification scans. This selective approach uses just enough additional scanning to achieve diagnostic confidence while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20260017784A1Medical scan protocol for in-scanner patient data acquisition analysis

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 CEREBRIU AS

AI summary

There is provided a method of performing a medical scan of a subject using a medical imaging system, the method comprising: a) initiating a medical scan session; b) performing, using the medical imaging system, a first image acquisition sequence during the medical scan session to obtain first image scan data; c) performing, using a computer system, image analysis on the first image scan data acquired during said first image acquisition sequence to identify one or more quantitative indicators of pathology and/or image quality; d) based on said identification of one or more quantitative indicators at step c), determining, using the computer system, whether any additional image acquisition sequences are required during said medical scan session; and, if so required: e) determining, using the computer system, a second image acquisition sequence based on the one or more quantitative indicators; and f) performing, using the medical imaging system, a second image acquisition sequence during the medical scan session to obtain second image scan data.