Color-Coded Perfusion Imaging With Time-Encoded Blood Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging systems fail to encode the passage of time by color, making it difficult to visualize dynamic events such as blood flow, perfusion, ischemia, and infarcts, and are computationally complex and susceptible to noise.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that aligns and sums multiple images taken at different times, assigning different colors to each image to create a color-coded image that encodes time, using a simple summation process without complex calculations, allowing visualization of blood flow dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pixel-by-pixel colorization algorithms are used to colorize medical images, then color coding and visualization capability is improved, but computation complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by applying different color codes to different temporal phases of blood flow images. Instead of complex pixel-by-pixel analysis, the system divides the time-series images into distinct phases (arterial, capillary, venous) and assigns specific colors to each phase, enabling simple yet effective color coding without high computation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of temporal phase information into color information. By mapping different time points in the blood flow sequence to specific colors (e.g., red for arterial phase, blue for venous phase), the system transforms temporal data into visual color codes, achieving effective visualization without complex computations
2Measurement precision
If complex algorithms are used to colorize and process medical images, then visualization quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining color codes for different temporal phases before processing the actual images. The color mapping scheme is established in advance (e.g., assigning specific colors to arterial, capillary, and venous phases), which allows for rapid processing without time-consuming calculations during image analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by applying standardized color codes to corresponding regions in different temporal images. Instead of performing complex algorithms on each image individually, the system copies the same color mapping rules across all time points, enabling fast and consistent processing while maintaining high visualization quality
3Loss of information
If image summation is used to visualize blood flow, then dynamic blood flow information is captured, but noise and computation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different color codes to different spatial regions based on their temporal phase characteristics. Each region is colored according to its specific phase (arterial, capillary, venous), creating localized color information that enhances blood flow visualization without introducing noise through complex summation algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system of generating a color-coded image demonstrating blood flow in a chosen area in a patient, specifically for diagnosing medical conditions like ischemia, strokes and infarcts. A plurality of images, preferably 3, are taken at different points in time that are a few seconds apart, and colorized by different colors, preferably a first image red, a second image blue and a third image green. These colorized images are then aligned and summated to create a multicolor image that time encodes perfusion of blood. Preferably, said method is performed after injection of a contrast agent.