Deviation Map Brain Imaging for Age-Matched Anomaly Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional artificial intelligence techniques for image classification and analysis of digital images are inefficient and labor-intensive, requiring processes like pixel annotations, and struggle to accurately diagnose age-related clinical conditions in pediatric patients due to rapid brain morphology changes.

Innovation Solution

A deep learning-based framework that utilizes an atlas map component to generate age-matched normal and abnormal patient image data, a deviation map component to determine deviations, and a neural network component to train on deviation map data for improved diagnosis of clinical conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional rule-based systems or unsupervised learning approaches are used for image analysis, then the system complexity is reduced, but the precision and reliability of detecting subtle anomalies in medical images deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and storing large amounts of normal medical images before actual anomaly detection. This pre-training phase creates a comprehensive baseline of normal variations, enabling the system to detect subtle anomalies without requiring complex anomaly-specific models during deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates synthetic copies of normal medical images through various transformations (flipping, rotating, color adjustments) to generate diverse training data. This copying approach allows the system to learn robust normal variations without requiring additional real patient data, improving detection precision while avoiding the complexity of collecting diverse real-world samples.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If supervised learning with labeled anomaly data is used, then the detection precision improves, but the time and resources required for data labeling and model training increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection precisionVSAvoiddata labeling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically learning from unlabeled normal images without requiring manual annotation. The unsupervised learning approach enables the system to autonomously identify normal variations and establish baseline patterns, eliminating the time-consuming data labeling process while maintaining high detection precision through contrastive learning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the essential features needed for anomaly detection by focusing on learning normal variations rather than attempting to classify all possible anomalies. This extraction approach removes the need for extensive labeled anomaly data, reducing labeling time while maintaining detection capability through the contrast between normal and abnormal images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the system is trained only on normal images, then the ease of operation and implementation is improved, but the ability to detect subtle anomalies deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation easeVSAvoidanomaly detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously comparing detected images against the learned normal patterns. The contrastive learning framework provides feedback signals that guide the model to identify deviations from normal variations, enabling simple implementation while maintaining high anomaly detection precision through iterative refinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines multiple techniques into a composite approach: unsupervised learning for normal pattern recognition, synthetic data generation for augmentation, and contrastive learning for anomaly detection. This composite methodology achieves high detection precision while maintaining ease of operation by integrating multiple simple components rather than requiring a single complex solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3698276B1Image analysis using deviation from normal data
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
  • EP3698276B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3698276B1 patent drawingFigure 2
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AI summary

Systems and techniques for facilitating image analysis using deviation from normal data are presented. In one example, a system generates atlas map data indicative of an atlas map that includes a first portion of patient image data from a plurality of reference patients and a second portion of the patient image data from a plurality of target patients. The first portion of the patient image data is matched to a corresponding age group for a set of patient identities associated with the first portion of the patient image data. The system also generates deviation map data that represents an amount of deviation for the second portion of the patient image data compared to the first portion of the patient image data. Furthermore, the system trains a neural network based on the deviation map data to determine one or more clinical conditions.