Brain Age Calculation from MRI Cortex Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current health examination technologies lack the ability to provide quantitative brain health information and brain disease prediction, relying on qualitative image analysis without standardized indices, failing to inform individuals about their brain health state or potential future diseases.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that measures brain cortex thickness in MRI images, calculates biological brain age as a mathematical index, and predicts brain diseases by applying measured thickness to a regression equation, incorporating health questionnaire and MRI data to provide personalized prevention guidelines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If qualitative image analysis is used for brain health assessment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and information quantity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual qualitative image analysis with an automated computer-based measurement system. The brain age calculation device automatically measures cortical thickness, calculates brain age, and provides quantitative assessment, substituting the mechanical/manual process with an automated computational system that achieves higher precision without requiring complex manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the assessment from qualitative to quantitative by introducing measurable parameters such as cortical thickness and calculated brain age. This parameter transformation enables precise, objective measurement of brain health status, converting subjective image evaluation into objective numerical data that can be systematically analyzed and compared.
2Loss of information
If standardized brain index calculation is implemented, then the information quantity and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal brain health assessment system that can evaluate multiple aspects of brain health through a single integrated approach. The device calculates brain age, measures cortical thickness, assesses atrophy rates, and provides disease risk prediction, making one system serve multiple assessment functions and comprehensive information provision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calculated brain age and quantitative metrics are compared with actual age and normal ranges to provide assessment results. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically generate meaningful health evaluations, disease risk predictions, and personalized recommendations based on the measured parameters.
3Reliability
If individual brain atrophy measurement is provided, then the reliability of health assessment is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically perform the complex tasks of measuring cortical thickness, calculating brain age, and generating health assessments without requiring manual intervention. The automated self-service capability maintains high reliability for individual assessment while eliminating the need for users to manually operate complex measurement tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-based intermediary system that automatically processes MRI images and generates quantitative assessments. This intermediary handles the complex calculations and data processing, allowing users to simply provide their MRI scans while receiving comprehensive, reliable individual health assessments through the automated system.
Data Source
AI summary
A biological brain age is calculated by measuring a brain cortex thickness of each region in a brain MRI image of a person to be examined, and comparing the measured brain cortex thickness with normal control group information. A device for calculating the biological brain includes an image information input unit to input an MRI brain image of a person to be examined, a brain age calculation control unit to control a biological brain age calculation operation of the person to be examined based on the MRI brain image, a brain thickness measuring unit to measure a brain cortex thickness of each region in the MRI brain image, and a brain age calculating unit to match the measured brain cortex thickness with a normal range of brain thickness of each age, and calculate a biological brain age of the person to be examined.