Machine Vision Blood Loss Estimation with Bias Error Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical practices lack effective methods for accurately communicating estimated blood loss parameters to users in real-time, which can lead to inadequate patient management and decision-making during surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing machine vision to analyze images of fluid receivers, estimating blood component amounts and associated bias errors, and providing aggregate data to users through a digital interface, enabling more informed decisions by accounting for error metrics and patient-specific factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual blood loss estimation methods are used, then the complexity of the system is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of blood loss parameters are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual estimation (mechanical/human system) with an automated image processing system that uses color analysis and machine vision algorithms to detect and quantify blood components in fluid receivers, thereby improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes images of fluid receivers, analyzes color parameters to estimate blood loss, and provides both point estimates and error metrics, serving as a bridge between simple image capture and clinically actionable blood loss data
2Productivity
If real-time blood loss tracking is implemented, then the productivity of patient management is improved, but the loss of information increases due to lack of error metrics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing real-time blood loss estimates along with associated error metrics (confidence intervals, standard deviations) that feed back to clinicians, enabling them to assess the reliability of measurements and make more informed decisions about patient management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary error analysis and confidence interval calculation as part of the blood loss estimation process itself, rather than as a separate subsequent step, ensuring that error metrics are available simultaneously with the primary measurement for immediate clinical use
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for communicating estimated blood loss parameters of a patient to a user, the method comprising: receiving data representative of an image, of a fluid receiver; automatically detecting a region within the image associated with a volume of fluid received at the fluid receiver, the volume of fluid including a blood component; calculating an estimated amount of the blood component present in the volume of fluid based upon a color parameter represented in the region, and determining a bias error associated with the estimated amount of the blood component; updating an analysis of an aggregate amount of the blood component and an aggregate bias error associated with blood loss of the patient, based upon the estimated amount of the blood component and the bias error; and providing information from the analysis of the aggregate amount of the blood component and the aggregate bias error, to the user.