Functional Unit Grouping in Radiological Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiological clinicians face inefficiencies in navigating and reading radiological studies grouped by body parts, as they often need to focus on specific functional units like organs or tissues, which are not effectively highlighted by traditional body-part-based grouping methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for identifying and grouping radiological image data based on functional portions of a patient, using an identification module to automatically or manually recognize functional units like organs, tissues, or bones, and applying image enhancement techniques such as look-up tables, window levels, and filters to facilitate efficient navigation and reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If images are grouped by body part, then images can be organized by physical location, but clinicians cannot efficiently focus on specific functional units like organs or tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiological study by functional units (organs, tissues, bones) rather than by body parts. Each functional unit is identified and grouped separately, allowing clinicians to navigate to specific organs or tissues of interest. This segmentation enables focused review of individual functional units while maintaining the ability to access the complete study.
2Productivity
If images are grouped by body part, then organization is simple, but image enhancement cannot be optimized for specific functional units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing functional unit-specific image enhancement. Different window levels, look-up tables, and enhancement parameters can be applied to different functional units based on their specific imaging characteristics. For example, lung parenchyma can be enhanced with lung-specific windowing while bone structures receive bone-optimized enhancement, allowing optimal visualization of each functional unit.
3Loss of time
If traditional body-part-based grouping is used, then navigation is straightforward, but clinicians must manually search through multiple body parts to locate specific organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal grouping system that can organize images by multiple criteria simultaneously - by body part, by functional unit, by procedure type, or by custom groupings. The system provides multiple navigation pathways, allowing clinicians to access functional units through different organizational schemes depending on their specific needs, making the system adaptable to various reading workflows.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments provide a method for radiological imaging including: receiving a set of image data, the image data further including information corresponding to at least one functional portion of a patient; identifying the information corresponding to the at least one functional portion of the patient; and grouping the information corresponding to the at least one functional portion of the patient into a group. In an embodiment, the method is performable substantially automatically. In an embodiment, the method further includes enhancing at least a portion of the group. In an embodiment, the enhancing at least a portion of the group is performable automatically. In an embodiment, the enhancing at least a portion of the group is performable manually. In an embodiment, the enhancing at least a portion of the group includes at least one of: applying a look up table; applying a window level; applying an algorithm; and applying a filter.