Drug Recognition Apparatus Master Image Robustness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug recognition systems face challenges in enhancing the robustness of master images, particularly when drugs are packaged differently, leading to reduced recognition accuracy due to varying drug positions and illumination conditions.

Innovation Solution

A drug recognizing apparatus that includes an illumination unit, imaging unit, storage unit, drug position acquiring unit, updating determination unit, and master image generating unit, which acquires and updates the master image based on drug positions and cognitive power, ensuring high recognition rates even with changed drug positions and illumination directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the master image is constantly updated using existing techniques, then the recognition system adapts to different drugs, but the robustness of the master image deteriorates when drug positions vary in packaged drugs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different drugsVSAvoidrobustness of master image

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts specific feature regions (local areas) from drug images that are most important for recognition, such as the region containing the drug name or unique markings. By focusing on these local quality features rather than the entire image, the system maintains recognition accuracy even when the overall drug position varies in the package.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the recognition problem from position-dependent 2D image matching to position-independent feature extraction by analyzing multiple dimensions including color histograms, texture patterns, and shape characteristics. This dimensional transformation allows the master image to remain robust against position variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If drugs are imaged at positions with low recognition, then the system can handle varied packaging, but the recognition accuracy of the drug deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of varied packagingVSAvoidrecognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary image processing steps including illumination normalization, contrast enhancement, and feature region extraction before recognition. These preliminary actions prepare the image data to be less sensitive to position variations, ensuring accurate recognition even when drugs are located at suboptimal positions in the package.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where recognition results and confidence levels are used to adjust processing parameters. When recognition accuracy is low due to position variations, the system can request re-imaging with adjusted parameters or use alternative feature extraction methods to improve accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If the master image is updated without considering drug position, then the updating process is simple, but the robustness enhancement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of updating processVSAvoidrobustness of master image

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic master image updating strategy where the system automatically adjusts the updating frequency and method based on the detected drug position and recognition confidence. When positions are consistent, simple updates are performed; when positions vary significantly, more sophisticated robustness enhancement techniques are applied, balancing simplicity with effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively enhances the robustness of master images, improving drug recognition accuracy by dynamically updating the master images based on drug positions and illumination conditions, thereby maintaining high recognition rates across varying packaging and illumination scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

an illumination unit that illuminates a drug

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIllumination: Light

Implementation Method 2

an imaging unit that images the drug illuminated by the illumination unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage capture: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS11574141B2Drug recognizing apparatus, drug recognizing method, and drug recognizing program

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 FUJIFILM MEDICAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a drug recognizing apparatus, a drug recognizing method, and a drug recognizing program capable of enhancing robustness of a master image in a case where a drug is recognized. The drug recognizing apparatus includes an illumination unit that illuminates a drug; an imaging unit that images the illuminated drug; a storage unit that stores a master image for each drug type; a drug position acquiring unit that acquires a position of the drug on the basis of a captured image obtained by the imaging unit; a master image generating unit that generates the master image from a drug area in the captured image; an updating determination unit that determines whether to update the master image on the basis of the position of the drug acquired by the drug position acquiring unit; and a registration unit that registers the master image in the storage unit in a case where it is determined that the master image is to be updated.