Fusing Anatomical and Functional Images via Binary Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image fusion techniques are inadequate for combining more than two images in a clinically useful manner, often resulting in unclear and confusing visual representations when trying to overlay multiple color schemes, making it difficult to facilitate clinical diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that combines anatomical, functional, and binary-pattern representation images into a single fused image, where the anatomical and functional images are visible in the interspaces between binary points of the binary-pattern representation, using techniques like dithering to create a clear and interpretable visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple color-scheme images are overlaid or blended to fuse more than two images, then the quantity of information types displayed is increased, but the visual clearness deteriorates due to creation of undesired hues that confuse the observer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by converting one functional image from a color scheme to a binary pattern representation (black and white). This allows multiple functional images to be displayed without creating confusing mixed hues, as the binary representation uses only two tones rather than multiple colors. The anatomical image retains its grayscale or color representation while functional images use binary patterns, enabling clear differentiation of multiple information types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functional images by converting them to binary pattern representations, effectively dividing the continuous color information into discrete black and white patterns. This segmentation allows multiple functional images to be overlaid without creating intermediate mixed colors, as each binary image consists of distinct black and white regions that can be clearly distinguished even when combined.
2Manufacturing precision
If images are displayed side by side to avoid confusion from overlaying multiple color schemes, then the visual clearness is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty and time consumption in comparing different information types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple images (anatomical and multiple functional images) into a single composite fused image display. By combining all information types in one image using binary pattern representation for functional images, the system maintains visual clarity while enabling direct comparison of all information types in their spatial relationships, eliminating the need to switch between multiple separate image displays.
3Ease of operation
If conventional blending techniques are used to fuse two images, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the adaptability deteriorates when trying to combine more than two images in a clinically useful manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the representation parameter of functional images from continuous color schemes to binary patterns (black and white). This parameter change enables the system to handle any number of functional images without the limitations of conventional color blending, as binary patterns can be overlaid indefinitely without creating confusing mixed hues, thereby significantly improving adaptability to combine multiple images.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes fusing at least three images together into a single fused image, wherein at least one of the three images includes a binary-pattern representation image. A system includes an image processing system (100) that combines an anatomical image, a functional image and a binary-pattern representation image into a single image. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to combine an anatomical image, a functional image, and a binary-pattern representation of a different functional image into a single image such that the anatomical image and the functional image are visible in interspaces between binary points of the binary-pattern representation of the functional image.