Brain Image Registration via Common Space Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current brain imaging techniques face challenges in performing accurate direct comparisons across multiple brains due to complexity and diversity, limited comparability of MRI images across subjects and time points, and variability in scanner hardware, processing techniques, and environmental factors, making it difficult to identify corresponding locations or sample points for reliable parameter measurement and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that transform reference points from one brain image into a common space and test points from another brain image into the same space, calculating displacements and determining correspondence between them to establish accurate and consistent sample points across multiple brain data sets, allowing for precise comparison of parameters and diagnosis of brain disorders or injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional MRI techniques are used to image multiple brains, then brain imaging can be performed, but accurate direct comparison between multiple brains is limited due to complexity and diversity of human brains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common reference space as an intermediary coordinate system that mediates between individual brain images. By transforming all brain images into this common space using registration techniques, the system enables direct comparison while accounting for individual brain complexity and diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms brain images by changing their coordinate parameters to a common reference frame. This involves applying transformation matrices that adjust position, orientation, and scale parameters to align individual brains with the common space, enabling standardized comparison.
2Reliability
If brain images from different scanners and time points are compared, then more data can be analyzed, but reliability is reduced due to variability in scanner hardware, processing techniques, and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an equipotential reference space where all brain images are transformed to the same coordinate potential. This common space serves as a standardized baseline that equalizes the conditions for comparison, eliminating variability introduced by different scanners, processing techniques, and environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary image registration and transformation into common space before conducting comparisons. This preparatory step standardizes all images in advance, ensuring that subsequent analyses are performed on uniformly processed data, thereby improving reliability.
3Measurement precision
If direct comparison of multiple brains is attempted without transformation to common space, then processing is simpler, but ability to identify corresponding locations and sample points is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal common reference space that serves multiple functions: it provides a standardized coordinate system for all brains, enables identification of corresponding anatomical locations, and facilitates consistent sample point selection across multiple subjects. This single reference space handles all comparison needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of each brain image in the common reference space, transforming individual brain coordinates into the standardized coordinate system. These copied and transformed images maintain their original information while being expressible in a universal coordinate framework that enables direct location correspondence.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables consistent and accurate measurement of brain parameters across subjects, improving the reliability of brain comparisons and enabling informed decisions on treatment and care by identifying corresponding points and deviations in brain health or disorders.
Implementation Method 1
conventional MRI techniques apply an external static magnetic field (B0) which, when a subject is placed within this field, causes the protons in the body to align with that field
Implementation Method 2
A pulsed radiofrequency field (B1) excites the protons, shifting the protons out of alignment with B0. This shift out of alignment produces a detectable magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods (300), computer program products, and computer readable media for processing images of brains are described. Techniques are described for transforming, into a common space, reference points obtained from at least one image of a reference brain in a first space (302), transforming, into the common space, test points obtained from at least one image of a test brain in a second space (304), determining a position of each of the transformed reference points and each of the transformed test points in the common space (306), calculating a displacement of each of the transformed test points relative to each of the transformed reference points based on the determined positions (308), determining a correspondence between one of the transformed test points and a given transformed reference point based on the calculated displacements (310), and determining a corresponding test point in the second space to a reference point in the first space based on the determined correspondence (312).