Medical Image Processing With Dual-Region Blood Flow Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical image processing techniques struggle to accurately estimate the degree of abnormality or prognostic risk in anatomical structures based solely on the shape and blood flow state of a region of interest, as the surrounding structures' influence is often overlooked.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus calculates both the blood flow direction within a region of interest and its surrounding structure, using functions to identify the condition of the region based on these directions, enhancing the accuracy of abnormality estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only the blood flow direction within the region of interest is calculated, then the processing is simple and fast, but the estimation accuracy of abnormality and prognostic risk is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the blood flow analysis into two independent segments: (1) blood flow direction calculation within the region of interest, and (2) blood flow direction calculation in the surrounding structure. This segmentation allows the system to process complex interactions between regions while maintaining modular computational structure, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from analyzing blood flow in a single isolated region to a two-dimensional spatial relationship by introducing the surrounding structure as a separate analysis dimension. This dimensional expansion enables the system to capture inter-regional blood flow interactions, improving estimation accuracy without overwhelming complexity.
2Measurement precision
If only the shape of anatomical structures is extracted, then the processing is simple, but the evaluation of abnormality and prognostic risk is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple analysis dimensions into a unified evaluation framework: (1) shape extraction of anatomical structures, (2) blood flow direction calculation within the region of interest, and (3) blood flow direction calculation in the surrounding structure. This merging integrates morphological and hemodynamic information to comprehensively evaluate abnormality and prognostic risk while maintaining systematic processing architecture.
3Measurement precision
If the blood flow direction in surrounding structure is also calculated, then the estimation of abnormality and prognostic risk is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction and characterization of the surrounding structure's blood flow patterns before conducting the final abnormality evaluation. By pre-calculating blood flow directions in the surrounding structure and storing these as reference data, the system reduces computational time during the main evaluation phase, thus lowering overall processing time while maintaining comprehensive analysis accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain a medical image. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a first blood flow direction on the basis of a structure of a region of interest rendered in the medical image. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a second blood flow direction on the basis of a structure in the surroundings of the region of interest. The processing circuitry is configured to identify a condition of the region of interest, on the basis of the first blood flow direction and the second blood flow direction.