3D CT Feature Projection for Storage-Efficient Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The storage space shortage and increased time required for diagnosis arise when multiple types of images, such as CT and material discrimination images, are acquired for the same subject, necessitating improved image processing and display methods.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that projects and combines three-dimensional CT and material discrimination images onto two-dimensional development images, allowing for efficient storage and rapid diagnosis by displaying a single projection image that integrates feature amounts and analysis information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple types of images (CT and material discrimination images) are acquired for the same subject, then material discrimination capability is improved, but storage space is consumed and diagnosis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple types of images (CT image and material discrimination image) into a single integrated image by projecting feature amounts onto the CT image. This combining approach maintains material discrimination capability while reducing storage requirements by eliminating the need to store separate images for each modality.
2Loss of information
If multiple types of images are displayed side by side for diagnosis, then comprehensive analysis is enabled, but diagnosis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple images into a single integrated display by projecting material discrimination feature amounts onto the CT image structure. This allows radiologists to perform comprehensive analysis of both anatomical structure and material composition simultaneously on one image, eliminating the need to switch between multiple images and significantly reducing diagnosis time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of information (material discrimination feature amounts) onto the existing CT image by projecting the feature amounts as overlay data. This dimensional addition allows multiple types of information to coexist in a single visual field without requiring separate image displays, maintaining comprehensive analysis capability while streamlining the diagnostic workflow.
3Shape
If three-dimensional images are processed and displayed, then spatial information is preserved, but data complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential feature amounts (material discrimination data) from the three-dimensional volume and projects them onto a two-dimensional display plane. This extraction process preserves the spatial distribution information while simplifying the data structure by representing three-dimensional material distribution through projected feature amounts on the CT image, reducing computational and display complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can solve a problem of a storage space shortage and a problem of an increase in time required for diagnosis in a case where a plurality of types of images are acquired for the same subject. An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor configured to: read a first image indicating a three-dimensional form of a subject and a second image indicating a three-dimensional distribution of feature amounts of the subject; extract a diagnosis target from the first image; two-dimensionally develop the diagnosis target based on the first image to create a first development image; project the distribution of the feature amounts included in the diagnosis target onto the first development image based on the second image to create a projection image; and display the projection image on a display device.