Medical Information Processing System for Breast Imaging Correlation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast cancer screening methods face challenges in accurately correlating regions of interest between two-dimensional mammographic images and three-dimensional Tomosynthesis images, making it difficult for ultrasound examiners to identify corresponding positions for imaging, which can lead to inefficient diagnosis and potential overlap with mammary gland tissue.
Innovation Solution
A medical information processing system that includes setting circuitry to define a region of interest in three-dimensional Tomosynthesis images and generates reference information associating positional information with a schematic diagram of the breast, enabling better correlation between mammographic and ultrasound images for improved diagnostic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiologic interpretation is performed using multiple medical image diagnostic devices (mammography and ultrasound), then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the complexity of correlating regions of interest between different imaging modalities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a schematic diagram of the breast as an intermediary visual reference that mediates between Tomosynthesis images and ultrasound images. This schematic diagram serves as a common coordinate system that allows examiners to correlate regions of interest across different imaging modalities without directly comparing complex 3D and 2D medical images, thereby reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
2Measurement precision
If Tomosynthesis imaging is used to generate three-dimensional images, then imaging precision is improved, but the difficulty of identifying corresponding positions for ultrasound imaging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of the breast anatomy through a schematic diagram that preserves the spatial relationships and positional information from the complex 3D Tomosynthesis images. This schematic copy allows ultrasound examiners to easily identify corresponding positions without needing to interpret the full complexity of three-dimensional Tomosynthesis data, thus reducing the difficulty of position identification while maintaining imaging precision
3Productivity
If regional information is displayed on a display device referred to during ultrasound scanning, then workflow efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display device is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays both the schematic diagram with positional information and the actual ultrasound images. By making the display device universal and multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate dedicated display hardware, thus improving workflow efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity
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
The system enhances the workflow by allowing ultrasound examiners to easily perform scans using positional information from Tomosynthesis images, increasing reproducibility and reducing overlap with mammary gland tissue, thus improving breast cancer screening accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a three-dimensional image that is generated by emitting X-rays from the X-ray tube (15a) to a breast (B) of a subject and imaging the breast from different directions
Data Source
AI summary
A medical information processing system includes setting circuitry, generating circuitry and output control circuitry. The setting circuitry is configured to set a region of interest in a three-dimensional image that is generated by emitting X-rays to a breast of a subject and imaging the breast from different directions. The generating circuitry is configured to generate reference information in which positional information about the region of interest is associated with a schematic diagram of the breast. The output control circuitry is configured to cause output circuitry to output the reference information.