Dynamic Viewing Direction for Volumetric Image Occlusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for visualizing volumetric images in medical diagnostics, such as Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, are limited in their ability to efficiently display and compare large datasets, often leading to missed lesions or obstructions due to occlusion effects.
Innovation Solution
The method involves computing a plurality of projection images from volumetric images using varying viewing directions, with the option to use periodic continuous mathematical functions or user input to dynamically change the viewing direction, allowing for improved visualization and identification of obstructions like microcalcifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional static viewing methods are used for volumetric images, then the display system is simple and easy to operate, but lesions or obstructions are missed due to occlusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically varies the viewing direction through which projection images are generated from the volumetric dataset. Instead of displaying a single static view, the system automatically changes the projection angle to reveal structures that may be occluded in other directions, thereby improving diagnostic reliability without requiring complex manual manipulation by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the dimension of viewing angle variation to the traditional single-view display. By generating and displaying multiple projection images from different angular directions, the system transforms a 2D static display into a multi-angular visualization that reveals hidden structures, effectively adding a directional dimension to the diagnostic process.
2Reliability
If multiple projection images from varying viewing directions are computed and displayed, then occluded obstructions become visible, but the time required to process and display the images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores multiple projection images from different viewing directions in advance, before the diagnostic review process begins. This preliminary generation of多角度 projection images allows for rapid retrieval and display during actual diagnostic use, reducing the time penalty that would otherwise be incurred by generating images on-demand during the review process.
3Reliability
If a large number of projection images are displayed to overcome occlusion, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the ease of operation and review process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays projection images in a periodic sequence, automatically cycling through different viewing directions in a predetermined order. This periodic presentation allows the reviewer to systematically examine structures from multiple angles without manually navigating through numerous individual images, maintaining ease of operation while improving diagnostic accuracy through comprehensive multi-directional visualization.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides, in some aspects, a system for implementing a rule derived basis to display volumetric image sets. In various embodiments of the invention, the selection of the images to be displayed, the generation of the 3-D volumetric image from measured 2-D images including the rendering parameters and styles, the choice of viewing directions and 2-D projection images based on the viewing directions, the layout of the projection images, and the formation of a video can be determined using a rule derived basis. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user is presented with sequential images making up a video displayed based on their preferences without having to first manually adjust parameters. The present invention allows for novel ways of viewing such images to detect microcalcifications and obstructions when reviewing Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and other volumetric mammography images.