Anatomical Image Feature Integration for Region-Specific Lung Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to acquire suitable features for each region of an anatomical part, such as the lungs, during medical imaging.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that extracts a predetermined region from an examination image, acquires first and second feature amounts related to movement, divides the region, and integrates these feature amounts based on the division result.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single method is used to acquire features for the entire anatomical part, then the process is simple, but the features are not suitable for each specific region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeature suitability for each regionVSAvoidfeature acquisition process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anatomical part is divided into multiple regions based on movement characteristics. The extraction unit extracts a predetermined region from the examination image, and the division unit divides this region into sub-regions (e.g., lung regions). Different feature acquisition methods are then applied to each sub-region, enabling region-specific feature extraction that captures local movement characteristics while maintaining overall system organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different feature acquisition methods are assigned to different regions based on their specific characteristics. The first feature amount acquisition unit and second feature amount acquisition unit acquire different types of movement features for different regions. This allows each region to be analyzed using the most appropriate method for its specific movement patterns, improving feature suitability while maintaining process manageability through structured regional classification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If multiple feature amounts are acquired and integrated, then comprehensive regional features are obtained, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement feature completenessVSAvoidfeature integration process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple feature amounts (first feature amount and second feature amount) are acquired for each region using different acquisition methods. The integration unit then merges these multiple feature amounts into a comprehensive set of regional features. This combining approach ensures that all relevant movement information is captured while the structured integration process manages the complexity through systematic consolidation of features from different sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12347118B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory storage medium for processing image features of anatomical parts from examination images of a subject

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus comprising: an extraction unit configured to extract a predetermined region of an anatomical part from an examination image of a subject; a first feature amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a first feature amount of the predetermined region related to a movement of the anatomical part; a second feature amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a second feature amount of the predetermined region related to the movement; a division unit configured to divide the predetermined region; and an integration unit configured to integrate the first feature amount and the second feature amount based on a result of division by the division unit.