Breast Imaging Cross-Section Alignment Across X-Ray and Ultrasound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging technologies face challenges in associating examination images, such as radiation and ultrasound images of a breast, due to differences in imaging principles and display contents, making it difficult to compare and associate regions of interest with schematic views.
Innovation Solution
A medical support device and system that acquires and displays radiation and ultrasound images in a compressed state, superimposes virtual cross-sections on schema images, and highlights blind areas, enabling accurate alignment and association of these images with schematic views.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of examination images (radiation and ultrasound) are acquired and displayed together with schema images, then the ability to compare and associate regions of interest is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of examination images (radiation images and ultrasound images) with schema images into a single integrated display interface. The display unit presents all these different image types together, allowing clinicians to compare regions of interest across different imaging modalities and associate findings more effectively, thereby resolving the contradiction by merging multiple functions into one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The medical image capturing system is designed with multi-functionality to handle and display various types of examination images (both radiation and ultrasound) along with schema images. The system can process different imaging modalities through a single unified platform, making it versatile and adaptable to different examination needs while maintaining a consistent user interface, thus improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If virtual cross-sections are superimposed on schema images to indicate positions, then the precision of position association is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual cross-sections as intermediary visual elements that are superimposed on schema images. These cross-sections serve as mediators that connect and associate positions across different image types (radiation, ultrasound, and schema). By using these visual intermediaries, the system improves position association precision while maintaining ease of detection through clear visual representation rather than complex measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit uses visual differentiation through color and display characteristics to represent different types of images and their corresponding regions. By applying distinct visual properties to different image types and their associated regions, the system makes it easier to detect and measure positions across multiple modalities, reducing the difficulty while maintaining high precision in position association.
3Reliability
If blind areas in ultrasound images are highlighted with different display characteristics, then the reliability of examination is improved, but the loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different display characteristics (such as color coding or visual highlighting) to indicate blind areas in ultrasound images. This visual differentiation improves examination reliability by clearly marking regions where imaging is limited or unavailable, allowing clinicians to interpret results with appropriate caution. The information is not lost but rather visually distinguished to prevent misinterpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the limitation of blind areas in ultrasound imaging into a beneficial feature by visually highlighting these regions. Instead of treating blind areas as problematic gaps that hide information, the system uses different display characteristics to actively indicate their presence, transforming this limitation into a reliability-enhancing feature that prevents misinterpretation while preserving all available information.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical support device includes a processor configured to: acquire an examination image including a radiation image obtained by performing radiographic imaging of a breast in a state of being compressed by a compression member and a plurality of ultrasound images captured in a state in which the breast is compressed by the compression member, and that displays a position of a virtual cross section on each of the ultrasound image and the radiation image, and a schema image including a first schema image as an image that shows a first schema as a schematic view showing the breast in the radiographic imaging and that displays a position of the virtual cross section based on the ultrasound image; and execute display control of displaying a display image including the examination image and the schema image.