Breast Image Positional Alignment for Mammography and Ultrasound Comparison
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increased complexity and data load in mammary gland image diagnosis using both three-dimensional mammography and ultrasonic images require efficient methods to compare and interpret these images accurately, as technicians often need to refer to both modalities, which can be challenging due to differences in image data types and large data volumes.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing system that includes detection units for identifying chest wall and nipple positions in both three-dimensional mammography and ultrasonic images, generating sectional images, and displaying these images with positional markers to facilitate comparison and reduce interpretation load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both three-dimensional mammography and ultrasonic images are used for mammary gland image diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but data volume and interpretation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three-dimensional mammography images and ultrasonic images into a single integrated display system. The image display unit simultaneously presents both image types with corresponding positional markers, allowing technicians to compare and interpret both modalities without switching between separate systems, thereby reducing interpretation complexity while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces positional markers as an intermediary element that bridges the two different image modalities. These markers provide corresponding positional information in both mammography and ultrasonic images, serving as a reference system that facilitates easier comparison and interpretation of the combined image data
2Loss of information
If both three-dimensional mammography and ultrasonic images are displayed, then diagnostic information completeness is improved, but data processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display system into distinct functional components: a mammography image display unit for displaying mammography images with first positional markers, and an ultrasonic image display unit for displaying ultrasonic images with second positional markers. This segmentation allows independent processing and optimization of each image type while maintaining their integrated diagnostic value
3Reliability
If technicians refer to both mammography and ultrasonic images separately, then diagnostic thoroughness is improved, but interpretation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display of mammography and ultrasonic images into a unified interface with corresponding positional markers. This allows technicians to view and compare both image modalities simultaneously in a single viewing session, eliminating the need to switch between separate systems and significantly reducing interpretation time while maintaining diagnostic thoroughness
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detection unit, a generating unit, and an associating unit. The detection unit analyzes a first piece and a second piece of image data of a breast, and detects the positions of a chest wall and a nipple in each of the pieces of image data, wherein the first piece of image data is three-dimensional medical image data and the second piece of image data is medical image data of a different type from the first piece of image data. The generating unit generates a first sectional image and a second sectional image based on the first piece and second piece of image data, respectively. The associating unit associates the positional relation of the breast in the pieces of image data so that the positions of the chest wall and the nipple match between the pieces of image data.