Medical Image Diagnostic Apparatus Superimposing Cross-Modality Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical image diagnostic apparatuses, such as ultrasonic, MRI, and CT scanners, generate images that are difficult to interpret due to differences in modality, requiring specialized skills and knowledge, and users often struggle to understand ultrasonic images compared to CT or MRI images, leading to inefficiencies in diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A medical image diagnostic apparatus that acquires and superimposes analysis information from different modalities onto the primary image, generating a superimposed image to assist users in understanding spatial relationships and positional information, thereby facilitating precise diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If medical images from different modalities (ultrasonic, CT, MRI) are displayed separately, then each modality maintains its own imaging characteristics and diagnostic information, but users require much time to understand ultrasonic images and struggle to comprehend spatial positional relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ultrasonic images with anatomical reference images (CT or MRI) into a single composite display. The ultrasonic image showing real-time probe position and organ boundaries is merged with the high-resolution anatomical reference image, allowing users to immediately comprehend spatial relationships without requiring separate mental processing of multiple images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image synthesis unit that acts as an intermediary between the ultrasonic imaging system and the display system. This unit automatically generates composite images by integrating ultrasonic data with pre-acquired CT or MRI data, eliminating the need for users to manually correlate separate images and reducing interpretation time.
2Loss of information
If separate display of ultrasonic image and CT/MRI image is used, then comprehensive diagnostic information is provided, but users need specialized skills and knowledge to interpret ultrasonic images
Solution Approach 1:
The composite image merges the functional information from ultrasonic imaging (real-time organ boundaries, probe position) with the detailed anatomical information from CT or MRI. This integration allows users with limited ultrasonic expertise to interpret images more easily by referencing the familiar anatomical structures from the reference image while maintaining access to comprehensive diagnostic data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by allowing users to selectively adjust the display characteristics of different regions or modalities within the composite image. Users can enhance specific anatomical regions or switch between modalities locally, making interpretation easier without losing comprehensive diagnostic information.
3Loss of information
If multiple medical images are displayed in parallel, then comprehensive view of patient anatomy is provided, but the device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image synthesis unit merges multiple image sources into a single integrated display, reducing the need for complex multi-panel display systems. By combining ultrasonic and reference images into one composite view with automatic registration, the system maintains comprehensive anatomical information while simplifying the display architecture and reducing processing overhead compared to managing separate full-resolution images.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a medical image diagnostic apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires at least one piece of spatial analysis information obtained by analyzing medical image data of an object, the medical image data being generated by another medical image diagnostic apparatus of modality different from an own apparatus. The processing circuitry then generates a superimposed image by superimposing an image indicating the at least one piece of spatial analysis information on a first medical image of the object generated by the own apparatus, and causes a display to display the superimposed image.