DWMR Image Coordinate Transformation for MRI Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging systems face challenges in aligning patient anatomy with the MRI device frame of reference, particularly with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DWMR) images, leading to misalignment of visual attributes and incorrect representation of neural pathways when the patient is not positioned optimally within the bore coordinate space.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging system and method that transform DWMR images from bore coordinate spaces to patient-specific coordinate spaces by comparing anatomical MR images with reference anatomical data to determine transforms, allowing the DWMR images to be rendered with correct visual attributes aligned with the patient's orientation, using a processor and memory to control the display for accurate visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If patient positioning is optimized for comfort and surgical position, then patient movement is minimized and patient comfort is improved, but alignment with the MRI device frame of reference deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordinate transformation system that mediates between the patient's anatomical coordinate space and the bore coordinate space. By computing transformation matrices that map between these two coordinate systems, the system allows patient positioning to be optimized for comfort while maintaining accurate spatial relationships in the imaging data through mathematical coordinate conversion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If patient is positioned in most comfortable position, then patient movement during scan is minimized, but alignment of patient anatomy to imaging device frame of reference is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The transformation matrix computation acts as an intermediary that reconciles the conflict between patient stability in a comfortable position and alignment precision. The system computes coordinate transformations that account for the patient's specific orientation, allowing stable positioning while maintaining accurate anatomical mapping through mathematical transformation rather than physical realignment.
3Ease of manufacture
If DWMR images are acquired in bore coordinate space, then image acquisition is simplified, but visual attributes are misaligned and neural pathways are incorrectly represented when patient is not aligned with bore
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies coordinate transformation as an intermediary processing step between image acquisition and visualization. The system acquires images in the simpler bore coordinate space, then computes transformation matrices that map bore coordinates to patient anatomical coordinates, and finally applies these transformations to realign visual attributes and correctly represent neural pathways in the patient's anatomical orientation.
4Manufacturing precision
If coordinate transformation from bore space to patient space is implemented, then visual attribute alignment and neural pathway representation are improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a transformed copy of the imaging data in the patient's anatomical coordinate space while maintaining the original bore coordinate space data. By computing transformation matrices and applying them to generate a coordinate-transformed version of the images, the system preserves the original acquisition simplicity while creating an accurate anatomically-aligned representation for visualization and analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device: compares an anatomical magnetic resonance (MR) image of a patient region and reference anatomical data associated with the region to determine a first transform of a bore anatomical coordinate space of the anatomical MR image to a patient anatomical coordinate space associated with the patient; determines, from the first transform, a second transform of a bore DWMR coordinate space of a DWMR image to a patient DWMR coordinate space associated with the patient, the anatomical and the DWMR images being in respective bore coordinate spaces associated with a bore of an MR device which acquired the anatomical and the DWMR images; transforms, using the second transform, the DWMR image to the patient DWMR coordinate space; and controls a display screen to render the DWMR image, as transformed, according to visual attributes associated with the patient DWMR coordinate space.