User-Definable Scanning Protocols for Mammographic CAD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Film-based mammography systems face inefficiencies in digitization and identification processes due to non-standard scanning protocols, leading to costly errors and reduced productivity, especially when cases do not conform to manufacturer-defined standards.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to define custom scanning protocols for film-based mammographic data, including the number of films and sequence, enabling flexible handling of non-standard cases and automatic re-assignment of scanning protocols, thereby facilitating the digitization and storage of mammographic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manufacturer-defined standard scanning protocols are used, then the scanning process is simple and automated, but cases that do not conform to standard protocols result in costly errors and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows scanning protocols to be dynamically changed from fixed manufacturer-defined standards to user-definable custom protocols. Users can create, modify, and select different scanning protocols based on specific case requirements, enabling the system to adapt flexibly between standardized high-throughput scanning and customized scanning for non-standard cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables changes in scanning parameters such as number of films per case, film sequence order, and identification methods. Users can define custom parameters for different scanning scenarios, allowing the system to handle both standard and non-standard cases efficiently without errors.
2Measurement precision
If manual identification is performed for non-standard cases, then accuracy improves, but time consumption and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service capabilities through user-definable scanning protocols that automatically configure scanning parameters based on user preferences. For non-standard cases, users can define custom protocols once, and the system automatically applies them, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual identification while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Users can pre-define scanning protocols for different case types before actual scanning occurs. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically handle non-standard cases without requiring real-time manual intervention, thus maintaining high identification accuracy while preserving scanning speed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom scanning protocols are allowed, then handling of non-standard cases improves, but system complexity and initial setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a universal protocol management feature that allows users to create, store, and select multiple custom scanning protocols. The same interface and mechanism handle both standard manufacturer protocols and user-defined custom protocols, simplifying the user experience despite the increased functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Users can create custom scanning protocols by copying and modifying existing standard protocols or previous custom protocols. This reduces setup time and complexity, as users don't need to define every parameter from scratch but can adapt existing configurations to meet specific needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for processing mammographic data are described. The system includes a user input/output system adapted and configured to receive from a user a user-defined scanning protocol that identifies the laterality and view type for each mammographic film in a film case to be scanned. A storage system stores the user-defined scanning protocol for subsequent use in scanning film cases. A scanning system scans film cases and generates digitized versions of each mammographic film. A processor then assigns laterality and view types to the digitized versions of the mammographic film according to the user-defined scanning protocol. The system also receives user alterations to stored scanning protocols. The system can also re-assigns a case scanned according to one scanning protocol to another scanning protocol in response to a user's instruction to do so. The system processes the digitized versions according to at least one computer aided detection (CAD) algorithm for detecting anatomical abnormalities therein.