Dynamic Image Processing for Lung Ventilation Diagnosis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dynamic image processing systems struggle to effectively display and analyze dynamic images of the respiratory function of lungs, particularly in diagnosing ventilation volume and detecting abnormal movements, due to limitations in displaying entire images at life size and insufficient diagnostic support for respiratory function assessment.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic image processing system that includes an imaging unit for capturing dynamic images, a calculation unit for calculating dynamic features such as area ratios of image regions, and a display control unit for modifying and coloring frames based on these calculations, allowing for enhanced diagnostic performance by displaying motion and still images in a way that highlights normal or abnormal movements and ventilation functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dynamic images are displayed by successively switching a sequence of images, then the sequence of movements of the target part can be grasped, but it becomes difficult to determine whether the movements are normal or abnormal and whether ventilation volume is sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by displaying difference images in color where the color intensity or hue indicates the degree of difference between consecutive frames. This allows doctors to visually identify abnormal movements and ventilation volume changes through color variations, resolving the contradiction between easy movement sequence grasping and difficult abnormality detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of information by calculating and displaying not only the spatial movement sequence but also the temporal difference magnitude through color coding. This adds a quantitative dimension to the qualitative movement sequence display, enabling simultaneous grasping of movement patterns and detection of abnormalities.
2Measurement precision
If the entire image is displayed at life size, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the display size becomes too large for general market monitors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into multiple regions: the original dynamic image is displayed at reduced size, while the calculated difference image is displayed in a separate region. This segmentation allows the system to maintain diagnostic accuracy through detailed difference information while fitting within standard monitor sizes by not requiring the entire original image to be displayed at life size.
Solution Approach 2:
The difference image acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the original life-size image and the reduced-size display. By calculating and displaying the difference between consecutive frames, the system provides diagnostic information without requiring the entire original image to be displayed at full size, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and display area.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If only affected parts are detected and displayed, then diagnostic reference information is provided, but the sequence of operations and ventilation function cannot be graphed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display of the original dynamic image sequence with the calculated difference image in a single display region. This combination allows the system to simultaneously show the complete sequence of operations for ventilation function analysis while highlighting affected parts through color-coded difference information, thus preventing loss of ventilation function information while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The difference image display serves multiple functions: it highlights affected parts through color variations, maintains the complete sequence of operations for temporal analysis, and provides quantitative information about ventilation volume changes. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single display element serve both detection and comprehensive information preservation purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
It is possible to improve a diagnostic performance by a dynamic image and in particular, to provide information effective for diagnosis of the lung ventilation function. Provided is a dynamic image capturing system (100) including: a calculation device (4) which calculates a dynamic feature amount according to a plurality of frame images of the dynamic image captured by an imaging device (1); and a diagnosis console (3) which displays the frame images of the captured dynamic image as a dynamic image display or a still image display on a display screen of a display unit (34) and colors at least one of the frame images with a color in accordance with a calculation result of a feature amount obtained by the calculation device (4). In the diagnosis of the lung ventilation function, the breast portion of an examinee is dynamically imaged over a plurality of time phases to calculate a feature amount and an estimated ventilation amount at each of the time phases, so that the calculation results are displayed on the display screen.