Intervertebral Disc Detection via Sagittal Luminance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image processing technologies face challenges in accurately detecting intervertebral discs, leading to inefficient and low-quality image scanning during spine examinations.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus and method that involves receiving two points on a sagittal plane image and performing four rounds of spine region-of-interest segmentation using different methods, followed by intervertebral disc detection and selection based on luminance distribution, to enhance detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional automatic scan planning methods are used to detect intervertebral discs from low-quality sagittal or coronal images, then the scanning process becomes more automated, but the detection accuracy remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary segmentation of the spine region from the sagittal image before detecting intervertebral discs. This preliminary action isolates the relevant anatomical structures and eliminates irrelevant background information, creating a focused region for subsequent disc detection. The segmentation step prepares the data in advance, allowing the detection algorithm to work with pre-processed, anatomically-relevant information only.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection process is divided into distinct segments: first segmenting the spine region from the full sagittal image, then segmenting individual intervertebral discs within the spine region. This multi-level segmentation approach breaks down the complex detection task into manageable stages, improving both computational efficiency and detection accuracy by focusing processing power on relevant anatomical structures.
2Measurement precision
If manual section setting is performed for intervertebral disc imaging, then detection accuracy can be maximized, but the examination time becomes extremely time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically segmenting the spine region and detecting intervertebral discs without requiring manual intervention. The algorithm autonomously identifies anatomical structures, determines their positions and orientations, and generates scan planning information. This self-service capability eliminates the time-consuming manual section setting while maintaining high detection accuracy through sophisticated image processing and pattern recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of section setting by radiologists is replaced with an automated computational system. The mechanical interaction between the operator and the imaging system (manual positioning, visual inspection, adjustment) is substituted with algorithmic image processing, automated feature detection, and computational geometry calculations that rapidly analyze the sagittal image and generate scan plans.
3Extent of automation
If blind scan is performed to acquire sagittal and coronal images for automatic detection, then the detection process becomes fully automatic, but the image quality is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the sagittal dimension specifically for automated intervertebral disc detection, recognizing that this viewing angle provides optimal anatomical visualization for the task. By focusing detection efforts on the sagittal plane where intervertebral discs are most clearly delineated, the system achieves high detection accuracy using automated methods on appropriately-oriented images, rather than attempting to perform detection on lower-quality multi-planar images.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a reception unit and a detection unit. The reception unit is configured to receive two points specified on at least one sagittal image. The detection unit is configured to detect an intervertebral disc by evaluating a luminance distribution within a region that includes the two points.