Automatic 3D Anatomical Demarcation with Skeleton-Axis Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for identifying segments of anatomical structures, such as the left atrium, are time-consuming and prone to human error, hindering efficient and accurate automated identification necessary for medical treatments like cardiac disorders.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a skeleton axis and positional information to automatically demarcate segments of anatomical structures by generating a 3D model, overlaying identification enhancers like color, hatching, or shading to visually distinguish segments, utilizing imaging systems like MRI or CT scans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual identification of anatomical structure segments is performed by medical professionals, then accuracy can be maintained, but time consumption increases significantly and human error is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation accuracyVSAvoididentification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a 3D model copy of the anatomical structure from imaging data, allowing automated analysis and segmentation without requiring manual manipulation of the original complex images. This digital replica enables rapid processing while maintaining accuracy through computational algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of visual inspection and manual segmentation by medical professionals with an automated computational system that uses algorithms to identify and segment anatomical structures, eliminating human labor while maintaining or improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated tools are used to identify anatomical structure segments, then time efficiency improves, but accuracy deteriorates due to individual variations in anatomical structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification speedVSAvoidsegmentation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts segmentation parameters and thresholds based on the specific characteristics of each patient's anatomical structure, allowing the automated algorithm to adapt to individual variations rather than applying fixed criteria, thereby maintaining accuracy across diverse anatomical presentations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The automated system performs self-adjustment and self-optimization by analyzing the unique features of each anatomical structure and automatically tuning its segmentation parameters, eliminating the need for manual calibration while maintaining high accuracy across different patients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If special 3D editing software is used for manual segmentation, then segmentation capability is enhanced, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesegmentation capabilityVSAvoidsoftware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates only the essential segmentation functionality from complex 3D editing software, creating a dedicated automated system that performs segmentation as a standalone function without requiring the full suite of complex editing tools, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining segmentation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3843039B1Automatic demarcation of anatomical structures
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD
  • EP3843039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843039B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3843039B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and programs are disclosed herein for automatically demarcating segments of an anatomical structure and include providing a processor having a memory, receiving and storing three-dimensional (3D) model data of an anatomical structure of a patient in the memory, generating positional information to orient 3D model data of the anatomical structure, identifying at least one segment of the 3D model data of the anatomical structure based on the positional information, demarcating the at least one identified segment of the 3D model data of the anatomical structure with an identification enhancer that visually distinguishes the at least one identified segment, and providing, for display, the 3D model data of the anatomical structure with the at least one demarcated segment.