Blended Cine Loop Generation for Medical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical imaging cine loops often exhibit spatial and phase discontinuities due to irregular motion or patient movement, leading to artifacts that can distract clinicians and potentially result in improper diagnoses.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating and displaying blended cine loops by acquiring image data over multiple physiological cycles, associating phase information, identifying base and non-base image sequences, and blending them using weighting functions to reduce phase and spatial discontinuities, thereby minimizing artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cine loop is generated from a single base image sequence corresponding to an integral number of cycles, then the cine loop is simple and easy to generate, but spatial and phase discontinuities occur at the seam leading to visible artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple image sequences (base sequence and non-base sequences) into a single blended cine loop. The blending process merges the base image sequence with non-base image sequences that have corresponding phases, creating a composite sequence that reduces discontinuities at the seam while maintaining the simplicity of a single cine loop output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of image sequence composition by introducing a blending coefficient (alpha) that controls the contribution of non-base sequences. By adjusting this parameter and the corresponding weighting functions, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining the base sequence structure and incorporating additional sequences to reduce artifacts.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple non-base image sequences are blended with the base sequence, then spatial and phase discontinuities are reduced, but the complexity of image processing and computation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task into distinct phases: (1) identifying the base image sequence, (2) identifying non-base image sequences with corresponding phases, (3) calculating weighting functions, and (4) performing the blending operation. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and makes the overall complex process more manageable and efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively blending only the necessary portions of non-base sequences with the base sequence. Instead of processing all available images, the system identifies and processes only those non-base sequences that have corresponding phases and contribute to reducing discontinuities, thereby reducing unnecessary computational complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If image data is acquired over more than a single physiological cycle, then more data is available for blending to reduce artifacts, but the acquisition time and data volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and classification of image sequences into base and non-base categories during the acquisition phase. By pre-organizing the data structure and identifying the relevant sequences before the blending process, the system minimizes the time required for subsequent processing and reduces the effective acquisition time needed for artifact reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
An medical imaging system and method for generating and displaying a blended cine loop. The system and method include acquiring image data and identifying a base image sequence in the image data. The system and method include identifying at least one non-base image in the image data acquired from outside of the base image sequence and generating a blended image sequence from the base image sequence and the at least one non-base image. The system and method include displaying the blended image sequence as a blended cine loop on a display device.