Medical Image Location Marking with Distinct Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reviewing multiple medical images to find corresponding regions is time-consuming for radiologists, as existing methods lack efficient tools to accurately and quickly identify matching locations across different images of the same object, especially due to patient movements.
Innovation Solution
A marking apparatus and method that provides a first marker in a medical image, determines a corresponding location in another image using a location determination unit, and presents a distinct second marker in the second image, along with uncertainty assessment to indicate the reliability of the correspondence, reducing the time needed to find matching locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user manually reviews multiple medical images to find corresponding regions, then the user can identify matching locations, but the process is very time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The location determination unit automatically determines corresponding locations in second medical images before the user needs to review them. This preliminary automated location identification reduces the time the user would otherwise spend manually searching for corresponding regions across multiple images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second marker as an intermediary visual cue that is different from the first marker. This intermediary element helps the user quickly identify and distinguish automatically determined corresponding locations from original markers, enabling faster and more accurate location correspondence identification.
2Ease of operation
If the same marker type is used for both first and second locations, then the interface is simple, but the user cannot distinguish between originally provided markers and automatically determined markers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using different marker types for first and second locations. The first marker indicates a location provided by the user, while the second marker (different from the first) indicates a location automatically determined by the location determination unit. This asymmetric differentiation provides clear visual distinction without complex interface elements.
3Productivity
If automatic location determination is used, then the time for finding corresponding locations is reduced, but the determination may be inaccurate due to patient movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by allowing the user to review and verify the automatically determined second locations. The user can assess whether the automatically determined corresponding locations are accurate given the context of patient movements, and can correct any errors. This feedback mechanism maintains high productivity while ensuring reliability through user verification.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus provide for marking a location in a medical image, including: providing a first marker within a first medical image, which shows an object, at a first location, determining a second location, which corresponds to the first location, within a second medical image showing the same object, marking the second location with a second marker, which is different to the first marker, and presenting the first medical image, the first marker, the second medical image and the second marker.