Fused-Image Visualization for Surgical Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies face challenges in accurately and efficiently recognizing anatomical structures within medical images, particularly due to noise and limited field of view in intra-operative images, which hinders surgeons' ability to interpret and evaluate surgical results effectively.
Innovation Solution
A symmetry-based visualization framework that aligns and fuses pre-operative and intra-operative images using rigid registration, allowing for improved orientation and comparison of anatomical structures, and providing a reference for evaluating surgical interventions by overlaying intra-operative images onto symmetrical regions in pre-operative images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intra-operative images are captured using advanced C-arm scanners during surgery, then image acquisition speed is improved, but the field of view remains very small and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple images (intra-operative image with pre-operative images) to create a composite visualization that merges the high-speed captured intra-operative view with the broader contextual information from pre-operative scans, effectively expanding the usable field of view while maintaining acquisition speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses symmetry-based registration and image fusion as an intermediary process to bridge the gap between the limited intra-operative field of view and the comprehensive pre-operative anatomy, allowing surgeons to see both the detailed surgical area and surrounding structures simultaneously
2Productivity
If intra-operative images are captured using advanced C-arm scanners during surgery, then image acquisition speed is improved, but image noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the intra-operative image with pre-operative images to create a composite where the lower-noise pre-operative data supplements the high-speed but noisy intra-operative capture, maintaining both speed and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The image fusion process acts as an intermediary that filters and combines data from both sources, reducing the harmful noise effect while preserving the rapid acquisition capability
3Productivity
If automatic image processing techniques are used to recognize anatomical structures, then processing speed is improved, but recognition accuracy may be compromised due to image quality limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges intra-operative and pre-operative images to create a composite with both speed and accuracy characteristics, allowing automatic processing to work on higher-quality fused data rather than noisy standalone intra-operative images
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary image fusion and symmetry-based registration before final anatomical structure recognition, preparing enhanced-quality composite images that improve subsequent processing accuracy while maintaining overall workflow efficiency
4Productivity
If surgeons rely on small field of view intra-operative images for evaluation, then surgical workflow efficiency is maintained, but interpretation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a merged visualization that combines the intra-operative view with pre-operative contextual anatomy, allowing surgeons to interpret structures more easily without leaving the surgical workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The fused image acts as an intermediary representation that translates the limited intra-operative view into a more interpretable format by incorporating anatomical context from pre-operative scans, improving ease of interpretation while maintaining workflow efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating fused-image visualization for surgery evaluation. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, at least one pre-operative image and at least one intra-operative image of an anatomical structure are received. A region of interest may be identified in the intra-operative image. The pre-operative image may be straightened, and a symmetric region may be identified in the straightened pre-operative image. The symmetric region is substantially symmetrical to a target region in the straightened pre-operative region. The target region corresponds to the region of interest in the intra-operative image. The symmetric region may be extracted and reflected to generate a reference image. The intra-operative image may be rigidly registered with the reference image to generate registered intra-operative image, which is overlaid on the target region in the straightened pre-operative image to generate a fused image.