Contrast Injector Screen Scraping for Real-Time Error Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inaccurate or inappropriate contrast injector settings during medical imaging procedures can lead to irrecoverable errors, patient safety risks, and degraded image quality, particularly in contrast-enhanced scans, which are often irreversible due to the need for contrast agent washout and potential toxicity concerns.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for remotely assessing contrast injector settings using screen scraping of video or display frames, comparing them against standard operating procedures, patient information, and imaging protocols to provide timely alerts for inaccuracies, independent of injector vendor or model, and enabling remote expert assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring of contrast injector settings is used, then operator flexibility is maintained, but error detection reliability deteriorates due to human error and lack of real-time verification
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors contrast injector settings by capturing images of the injector display and processing them to detect settings errors, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while maintaining reliability. The system serves itself by automatically detecting and alerting operators to setting errors without requiring continuous human oversight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated image processing technology. A camera captures images of the injector display, and computer vision algorithms automatically analyze these images to detect setting errors, substituting the mechanical/manual process with an automated digital system.
2Reliability
If real-time automated monitoring is implemented, then error detection reliability improves, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where a single camera and image processing unit serve multiple purposes: capturing injector display images, analyzing settings parameters, comparing against protocol requirements, and generating alerts. This consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into one integrated solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary image processing system that acts as a mediator between the contrast injector and the operator. This intermediary layer automatically captures, analyzes, and interprets injector settings, reducing the direct complexity burden on the operator while maintaining reliable verification.
3Loss of time
If manual setting verification is used, then operator control is maintained, but time for error detection deteriorates leading to delayed alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing and analyzing injector settings in real-time before errors can manifest as patient safety issues. The automated monitoring detects setting errors immediately when they occur, providing timely alerts well before any potential harm could occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring injector settings in real-time and immediately alerting operators when errors are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that setting errors are communicated to operators promptly, enabling timely correction before patient harm occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use with a medical imaging device (2) operative in conjunction with a contrast injector (11) to perform a contrast enhanced medical imaging procedure. The apparatus includes: an alert output device (32), and at least one electronic processor (10, 20) operatively connected with the alert output device and programmed to: extract image frames from video or screen sharing (17) of a display (13, 24′); screen-scrape injector settings of the contrast injector from the image frames; and output an alert (30) via the alert output device if the screen-scraped injector settings satisfy an alert criterion.