Contrastive Learning for Pseudo-Severity Label Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deep learning systems in the medical field face challenges due to the high cost and inefficiency of obtaining labeled data for training, particularly in medical diagnostics, where labeled data is expensive to curate and severity exists on a continuous distribution, making it difficult to reflect image severity accurately.

Innovation Solution

The system employs contrastive learning to generate pseudo-severity-based labels for unlabeled medical images using gradient measures from anomaly detection, allowing for the training of machine learning models without explicit labels, and uses these labels for diagnosis or as training data for other models, particularly in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If labeled data is used for training deep learning models, then model accuracy is improved, but data curation cost and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel accuracyVSAvoiddata curation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables unlabeled medical images to self-generate severity labels through anomaly detection mechanisms. The contrastive learning framework allows the model to automatically assess severity by comparing images against a learned healthy distribution, eliminating the need for manual radiologist labeling while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An anomaly detection module serves as an intermediary between unlabeled medical images and the classification model. This module generates pseudo-severity labels by measuring deviation from healthy patterns, acting as a bridge that transforms unlabeled data into labeled training data without direct human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If more labeled data is curated for training, then model reliability is improved, but expense and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel reliabilityVSAvoidlabeled data quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows the training process to be self-sufficient by generating its own labels from unlabeled data through contrastive learning and anomaly detection. This eliminates the external dependency on expensive radiologist-labeled datasets while maintaining model reliability through self-supervised learning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The approach changes the fundamental parameter of data labeling from manually-curated expert labels to algorithmically-generated anomaly scores. By transforming the labeling mechanism from human-expert-based to model-based anomaly detection, the system maintains reliability while eliminating the need for large quantities of expensive labeled data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If traditional supervised learning is used, then severity classification is achieved, but dependence on expensive labels makes the system sub-optimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseverity classification accuracyVSAvoidlabeling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex manual labeling processes with self-service anomaly detection. The contrastive learning framework enables the model to automatically generate severity labels by measuring deviation from healthy patterns, simplifying the overall system while maintaining classification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An anomaly detection intermediary replaces the complex radiologist labeling process. This module generates pseudo-severity labels through automated analysis of image deviations from healthy distributions, simplifying the workflow while preserving diagnostic precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If unlabeled data is used for training, then data availability increases, but model performance deteriorates without proper labeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining data availabilityVSAvoidmodel performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

An anomaly detection module acts as an intermediary that transforms unlabeled data into labeled training data. By measuring deviation from healthy patterns learned through contrastive learning, this intermediary enables the use of abundant unlabeled medical images while maintaining model performance through generated pseudo-labels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the labeling parameter from requiring expert-annotated severity labels to using algorithmically-generated anomaly scores. This parameter transformation enables utilization of large unlabeled datasets while maintaining performance through self-supervised contrastive learning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240170133A1Image-Based Severity Detection Method and System
Publication Date: 2024.05.23 GEORGIA TECH RES CORP
  • US20240170133A1 patent drawing
  • US20240170133A1 patent drawing
  • US20240170133A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An exemplary system and method for contrastive learning that can generate pseudo severity-based labels for unlabeled medical images using gradient measures from an anomaly detection operation. The severity labels can be then used for diagnosis of a disease or medical condition or as labels for as a training data set for training of another machine learning model. The training can be performed in combination with biomarker data.