Adaptive Fluid Flow Sampling for Clear Tubular Structure Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for displaying blood flow velocity vectors in medical images face challenges in setting appropriate sampling intervals, leading to either oversampling or undersampling, making it difficult to grasp the analysis results effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fluid analysis apparatus that analyzes medical images to derive fluid information, sets a second sampling interval based on the matching degree between pixel-of-interest positions and other pixel positions within a predetermined region, and displays the information at this interval, using processors to adjust the sampling based on the matching degree and the size of the tubular structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If flow velocity vectors are displayed for all voxels, then the information amount is complete, but the drawing processing requires an enormous amount of time and the vectors become too dense to grasp the analysis results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary flow velocity vectors for display by using a matching degree calculation that identifies pixel-of-interest positions. Instead of displaying all voxel vectors, the system selects a subset based on the matching degree between candidate pixels and reference pixels, thereby reducing the number of vectors to display while maintaining essential flow information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different sampling intervals in different regions of the blood vessel based on the matching degree. Regions with higher matching degrees (where flow patterns are consistent) use larger sampling intervals, while regions with lower matching degrees use smaller intervals. This local adaptation ensures appropriate vector density in each area without requiring uniform dense sampling throughout.
2Ease of operation
If sampling intervals are fixed, then the display process is simple, but the flow velocity vectors may be drawn roughly in portions to be focused on or densely in portions where not so much information is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sampling interval dynamic by calculating the matching degree between pixel-of-interest positions and other pixel positions within a predetermined region. The sampling interval is then adjusted based on this matching degree, allowing the system to automatically adapt the display density to the local flow characteristics without requiring manual user input or fixed parameters.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sampling intervals are set in accordance with displayed body part or display depth, then the sampling can be adapted to different regions, but the flow velocity vectors may still be drawn roughly in focused portions or densely in unnecessary portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the matching degree calculation as a feedback mechanism to evaluate the flow pattern consistency in different regions. This feedback information is then used to adjust the sampling interval for each region, creating a closed-loop system that automatically optimizes the vector distribution based on the actual flow characteristics detected in the medical image.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor analyzes an image obtained by imaging a subject including a tubular structure in which a fluid flows, thereby deriving fluid information regarding flow of the fluid at each of pixel positions in the tubular structure. The processor derives, within the tubular structure included in the image, a matching degree between the fluid information at a plurality of pixel-of-interest positions set at a first sampling interval and the fluid information at a plurality of pixel positions within a predetermined region based on the pixel-of-interest positions. The processor sets a second sampling interval for displaying the fluid information in accordance with the matching degree. The processor samples the fluid information at the set second sampling interval and causes a display to display the fluid information.