Liver MRI Image Contrast Minimization for Lesion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MRI images of the liver during the hepatobiliary phase struggle to differentiate between liver lesions and blood vessels due to similar contrast enhancement patterns, making it difficult for radiologists to identify lesions accurately.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines first and second MRI images, where the first image depicts blood vessels with contrast enhancement during the dynamic phase, and the second image shows healthy liver cells with contrast enhancement during the hepatobiliary phase, to generate a third image that minimizes the contrast difference between blood vessels and liver cells, thereby enhancing lesion visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If contrast agents are used to enhance blood vessels during the dynamic phase, then blood vessel visibility is improved, but differentiation between blood vessels and liver lesions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the liver imaging into two distinct phases: dynamic phase imaging for blood vessel visualization and hepatobiliary phase imaging for lesion detection. By separating the imaging timing and contrast enhancement patterns, the method allows blood vessels to be highlighted in one phase while lesions are differentiated in another, resolving the contradiction between vessel visibility and lesion differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dynamic temporal characteristics of contrast agent distribution by acquiring images at different time points. The contrast agent kinetics differ between blood vessels (early enhancement) and liver lesions (delayed or different pattern enhancement), allowing the system to dynamically adjust imaging timing to optimize for either vessel visualization or lesion detection based on the diagnostic need
2Illumination intensity
If contrast enhancement is applied during the hepatobiliary phase, then liver cell visibility is improved, but contrast difference between blood vessels and liver cells deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary image processing by combining the dynamic phase image (showing blood vessels) with the hepatobiliary phase image (showing liver cells) before final interpretation. This preliminary combination allows the system to preserve both types of information simultaneously, preventing loss of contrast differentiation information while maintaining visibility of both blood vessels and liver cells
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach effectively suppresses the contrast between blood vessels and healthy liver tissue, allowing for clearer identification of liver lesions, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy in MRI imaging.
Implementation Method 1
T1 relaxation describes the transition of the longitudinal magnetization into its equilibrium state, T1 being that time that is required to reach 63.21% of the equilibrium magnetization prior to the resonance excitation
Implementation Method 2
Analogously, T2 relaxation describes the transition of the transversal magnetization into its equilibrium state
Implementation Method 3
In MRI, the magnetic moments of protons in an examination object are aligned in a basic magnetic field, with the result that there is a macroscopic magnetization along a longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 4
This is subsequently deflected from the resting position by the incident radiation of high-frequency (HF) pulses (excitation)
Implementation Method 5
For spatial encoding, rapidly switched magnetic gradient fields are superimposed on the basic magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the generation of artificial MRI images of the liver. The invention also relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for generating MRI images of the liver.