Immersive Medical Visualization Parameter Exploration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for exploring medical visualization parameters in virtual spaces are limited in user interaction and navigation, making it difficult for users to efficiently identify optimal parameter sets for desired visualizations.

Innovation Solution

The use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) techniques to create an immersive layout centered on the user, allowing selection of parameter sets through natural gestures and 2D interfaces mapped to a 3D environment, with holograms displayed in a multi-dimensional virtual space that updates based on user orientation and interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional user interfaces or machine learning approaches are used to simplify parameter specification, then ease of operation is improved, but user interaction capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter specificationVSAvoiduser interaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional 2D interfaces to a 3D immersive virtual environment where parameter exploration occurs. Users navigate a virtual space containing multiple holographic displays showing different parameter combinations, enabling natural interaction through movement and gestures while maintaining comprehensive parameter control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a virtual environment as an intermediary between the user and the parameter space. This virtual space acts as a mediator that preserves full interaction capability while simplifying access through natural navigation, allowing users to explore parameters through spatial movement rather than complex interface operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive parameter spaces are explored, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisualization parameter optimizationVSAvoidparameter exploration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-computes and displays multiple parameter combination results as holographic visualizations in the virtual space before user selection. By preparing various parameter configurations in advance and making them simultaneously accessible, users can quickly compare and select optimal parameters without sequential exploration, reducing time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent organizes multiple parameter combinations in a spatial arrangement within the virtual environment, allowing parallel visualization of different parameter sets. This spatial organization enables users to survey comprehensive parameter spaces at once through spatial navigation rather than sequential review, significantly reducing exploration time while maintaining thoroughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If detailed parameter combinations are displayed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter discriminationVSAvoidinterface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the comprehensive parameter space into multiple discrete holographic visualizations, each representing a specific parameter combination. This segmentation allows detailed parameter information to be distributed across multiple manageable visual elements in the virtual space, maintaining precision while avoiding the complexity of displaying all parameters in a single interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3493041B1Exploration of medical visualization parameters in virtual spaces
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
  • EP3493041B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3493041B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3493041B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for exploration of medical visualization parameters in virtual spaces includes detecting a user location and a user orientation in a physical space and generating a display of an immersive layout centered at the user location and the user orientation. A plurality of holograms is generated within in the immersive layout. Each hologram depicts a rendering of a medical image with a distinct combination of rendering parameter values. The display is updated based on a change to one or more of the user location and the user orientation in the physical space.