Deformation Visualization Using Color Overlay Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visualization techniques for deformations in adaptive radiation therapy do not provide clear information about local properties of changes in patient anatomy, limiting the ability of physicians to observe deformation degrees accurately.
Innovation Solution
The method involves scanning an object twice to produce images, tabulating deformations, converting them into a scalar property, quantizing the range into discrete intervals, assigning unique colors to each interval, and displaying the color overlay along with the images to visually represent deformations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional side-by-side or blended overlay visualization techniques are used to compare registered and reference images, then image comparison capability is maintained, but local deformation properties and degree of change cannot be observed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color mapping to represent different magnitudes of deformation. Each pixel in the deformation map is assigned a color based on its deformation magnitude, creating a color-coded visualization where different colors correspond to different deformation intensities. This allows physicians to immediately perceive the degree of deformation at various locations without losing local deformation information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the deformation information from a purely spatial representation to a chromatic dimension. By mapping deformation magnitudes to colors, the system adds a visual dimension (color intensity and hue) that encodes quantitative deformation data, enabling physicians to perceive magnitude differences that are not apparent in traditional grayscale or side-by-side comparisons.
2Reliability
If complete deformation map data is stored and processed, then accurate deformation information is preserved, but computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the representation parameter of deformation data from raw displacement vectors to magnitude-based scalar values that are then mapped to color codes. This parameter transformation simplifies the visualization process while preserving the essential deformation information, reducing computational complexity without sacrificing accuracy in representing deformation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified visual copy of the deformation map where the complex vector field information is reproduced in a more accessible color-coded format. This color overlay serves as an informative copy that maintains the critical deformation magnitude information while being more efficient to process and interpret than the full vector field representation.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented methods and apparati for graphically displaying deformations, said deformations defined by comparing a first image of an object (1) with a second image of the same or a different object (1). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of scanning an object (1) twice to produce first and second images; tabulating deformations and converting said tabulated deformations into a scalar property over a preselected range; quantizing the range into a set of discrete quantization intervals; assigning a unique color out of a discrete or quasi-continuous set of colors to each quantization interval to produce a color overlay; and simultaneously displaying the color overlay and a representation of at least one of the first and second images, whereby said deformations are readily viewable in color.