Medical Image Correlation Apparatus for Lesion Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate diagnosis of lesion sites in medical images from different imaging modalities is hindered by alignment errors and the difficulty in distinguishing between multiple regions of interest, making it challenging to efficiently identify the correct lesion site.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that selects a region of interest, obtains images from various modalities, calculates the existence range of the region on another image, and controls the display to highlight the selected region while hiding or making unselected regions less conspicuous, facilitating easier identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple existence regions are displayed on an ultrasonic tomogram to show all regions of interest, then complete information is provided, but it becomes hard for the observer to recognize the current region of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the display have different visual properties. The existence region of the currently selected region of interest is displayed with distinct visual characteristics (e.g., different color, brightness, or size) compared to other existence regions. This allows the observer to easily identify which region corresponds to the currently selected ROI while still showing all regions for reference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes to differentiate the currently selected region of interest from other regions. By changing the color or intensity of the display for the selected region's existence range, the system maintains information completeness while improving ease of identification through visual differentiation.
2Loss of information
If all regions of interest are displayed with equal prominence, then all information is visible, but the current region of interest cannot be easily distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by赋予 different visual weights to different existence regions based on their selection status. The currently selected region of interest receives enhanced visual treatment (such as increased brightness, different color, or larger display size) while unselected regions are displayed with reduced visual prominence, enabling accurate identification without hiding information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively emphasizing only the currently selected region of interest rather than treating all regions equally. This partial enhancement of visual properties for the active region provides sufficient information for accurate identification without the need to display all regions with equal prominence.
3Loss of information
If multiple in-plane indicators are displayed to show all lesion sites, then comprehensive navigation is provided, but visual clutter increases making diagnosis less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces display complexity by applying local quality to in-plane indicators. The indicator corresponding to the currently selected region of interest is displayed with enhanced visual properties, while indicators for other regions are displayed with reduced prominence or are selectively hidden. This maintains essential navigation information while reducing overall visual clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and emphasizes only the relevant in-plane indicator for the currently selected region of interest, while removing or minimizing the display of other indicators. This extraction approach provides sufficient navigation information for the current diagnostic task without the complexity of displaying all indicators simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus has a selection unit configured to select at least a first region of interest from regions of interest set in an imaging target, an image obtainment unit configured to obtain a first image representing the imaging target, and a second image from an imaging apparatus that images at least part of the imaging target, an information obtainment unit configured to obtain information of an existence range, and a display control unit configured to add, to the first image, displays representing positions of set regions of interest, and when the second image contains the existence range of the selected region of interest, display the existence range of the selected region of interest on the second image, and when the second image contains the existence range of an unselected region of interest, hide the existence range information.