Medical Image Feedback via Embedded Machine-Readable Codes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods lack a simple and effective way for radiologists and referring physicians to provide feedback on medical image quality to technologists and device manufacturers, hindering improvements in image acquisition and device performance.
Innovation Solution
A system that embeds a machine-readable unique code in medical images, allowing authorized personnel to scan and decode it, access feedback forms, and transmit quality feedback to a server, which includes information about the imaging device and authorized reviewers, facilitating image quality assessment and faulty device detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional image acquisition and review processes are used, then the basic medical imaging workflow is maintained, but there is no feedback mechanism for image quality assessment and device improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a unique machine-readable code is embedded in each medical image. This code contains identifiers for the imaging device, authorized reviewers, and feedback forms. When scanned, it enables reviewers to submit quality feedback that is transmitted back to the imaging device manufacturer, creating a closed-loop feedback system for continuous improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The unique machine-readable code serves as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the imaging device, reviewers, and feedback collection system. The code embeds multiple pieces of information (device ID, reviewer ID, feedback form link) in a compact format that facilitates seamless communication and data exchange without requiring direct complex system integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a feedback mechanism is implemented, then image quality assessment capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unique machine-readable code performs multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies the imaging device, specifies authorized reviewers, provides access to feedback forms, and enables quality assessment. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the gray level of the embedded code to match the gray level of the medical image, making the code visually imperceptible while maintaining machine readability. This parameter adjustment allows the feedback mechanism to operate without affecting the diagnostic quality or visual characteristics of the medical image.
3Stability of the object's composition
If gray level adjustment of the code is performed, then the code blends with the image quality, but the coding visibility for scanning may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The gray level of the embedded code is adjusted to match the gray level of the medical image, making the code visually imperceptible while maintaining machine readability. This parameter adjustment allows the feedback mechanism to operate without affecting the diagnostic quality or visual characteristics of the medical image.
Data Source
AI summary
To obtain feedback on image quality from qualified reviewers, an optically machine readable code (e.g., a QR code or the like) is generated for each acquired medical image and embedded into the image. The embedded code includes information to the identity of the image, the imaging device, authorized reviewers, and authorized recipients of the feedback, as well as a link to a feedback form that can be retrieved by a communication device used by an authorized user. When the embedded code is scanned by the communication device, the code is decoded and the feedback form is retrieved from a server, completed by the reviewer, and transmitted back to the authorized recipients of the feedback.