Dynamic Image Processing Apparatus for Medical Storage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic images require large storage capacity due to multiple frame images, and existing compression methods are insufficient, leading to inefficiencies in storage and retrieval for medical diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic image processing apparatus that extracts regions of interest and frame images of interest from a series of frame images, storing only these extracted portions to reduce storage needs and enhance efficient viewing for medical professionals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a dynamic image is compressed with a prescribed format (e.g. MPEG), then the storage capacity is reduced, but the compression amount is not enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores only the essential components of dynamic images: difference images representing changes between frames and reference images representing stable portions. This selective extraction achieves significant compression while preserving diagnostic quality, resolving the contradiction between storage reduction and compression effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the dynamic image data into difference images and reference images, storing them separately. This segmentation allows efficient compression by only storing actual changes (difference images) while referencing stable portions (reference images), achieving both reduced storage capacity and maintained compression quality.
2Loss of information
If all frame images of a dynamic image are stored, then complete diagnostic information is preserved, but the storage capacity required is large (about 1.5 GB per dynamic imaging)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary diagnostic information by storing difference images that capture changes between frames and reference images for stable portions. This extraction maintains complete diagnostic information while dramatically reducing storage requirements from 1.5 GB to a fraction of that size.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing all original frame images, the patent creates difference images as copies that represent only the changes. These difference images serve as sufficient copies for diagnostic purposes, preserving all necessary information while reducing storage capacity.
3Reliability
If a doctor performs re-interpretation of the dynamic image, then diagnostic accuracy can be improved, but the doctor needs to retrieve and see all frame images which spends much time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores only the essential diagnostic content in difference images and reference images. During re-interpretation, doctors retrieve only these extracted portions rather than all frame images, maintaining diagnostic accuracy while significantly reducing retrieval and review time.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic image processing apparatus includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor extracts (i) a region of interest and/or (ii) a frame image of interest from a series of frame images obtained by dynamic imaging of a subject. Further, the hardware processor stores, of the series of the frame images, only (i) the extracted region of interest, (ii) the extracted frame image of interest or (iii) the extracted region of interest in the extracted frame image of interest in a storage.