Ulcerative Colitis Remission Detection via Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing ulcerative colitis remission rely on biopsies following endoscopic diagnosis, which is invasive and not feasible for non-invasive determination.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device and method that classify the denseness of superficial blood vessels, intramucosal hemorrhage, and extramucosal hemorrhage from medical images using frequency characteristics and luminance values, allowing for the determination of ulcerative colitis remission without biopsy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If biopsy is performed to determine ulcerative colitis remission, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient invasiveness and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpatient invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical biopsy procedure with an optical imaging system that uses light sources and image sensors to capture and analyze mucosal images, thereby eliminating the need for tissue sampling while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces image processing algorithms and analysis systems as intermediaries between the endoscopic imaging and diagnostic determination, enabling non-invasive assessment of ulcerative colitis remission through computational analysis of mucosal features

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional endoscopic diagnosis with biopsy is used, then remission determination reliability is improved, but procedural complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremission determination reliabilityVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the diagnostic determination process with the routine endoscopic examination by integrating image capture and analysis capabilities into the existing endoscope system, allowing remission assessment to be performed as part of the standard procedure without requiring separate biopsy operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the endoscopic system to automatically perform diagnostic determination through integrated image processing and analysis algorithms, reducing the need for separate pathological examination procedures and manual assessment steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3960065B1Image processing device

Publication Date: 2025.06.11 FUJIFILM CORP

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AI summary

There are provided an image processing device that can perform at least one of the calculation of an index value related to a stage of ulcerative colitis, the determination of a stage of ulcerative colitis, or the determination of whether or not ulcerative colitis has remitted without performing a biopsy, and a method of operating the image processing device. A disease-related processing section (66) performs at least one of the calculation of an index value related to a stage of ulcerative colitis, the determination of the stage of the ulcerative colitis, or the determination of whether or not the ulcerative colitis has remitted, on the basis of the denseness of superficial blood vessels, intramucosal hemorrhage, and extramucosal hemorrhage obtained from a medical image.