Medical Image Metadata Matching for Low-Latency Remote Exams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for remote real-time medical imaging fail to efficiently transmit large medical image data with associated metadata, leading to excessive latency and frustration due to insufficient bandwidth and improper handling of metadata transfer, which is crucial for effective remote examination.
Innovation Solution
Medical images and metadata are transmitted through separate communication channels, with medical images sent in real-time using a WebRTC video channel and metadata sent reliably using a WebRTC data channel, linked by an identifier encoded within the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If medical images and metadata are transmitted through the same communication channel, then the transmission process is simplified, but the latency increases and transmission reliability deteriorates due to competing bandwidth requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transmission process into two separate communication channels: one optimized for real-time medical image transmission and another for reliable metadata transmission. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific data type, reducing overall latency while maintaining transmission reliability.
2Speed
If medical images are transmitted with high bandwidth to reduce latency, then real-time examination is improved, but metadata transmission reliability deteriorates due to insufficient bandwidth allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data stream into two separate channels: a high-bandwidth channel for real-time medical images and a reliable channel for metadata. This allows the image channel to operate at high speed while the metadata channel ensures accurate transmission of critical parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an identifier as an intermediary element that is encoded into the medical image and used to match it with the corresponding metadata. This intermediary enables the receiver to correctly associate images and metadata even when transmitted through separate channels, ensuring reliability without compromising transmission speed.
3Reliability
If separate communication channels are used for images and metadata, then transmission reliability and latency are improved, but system complexity increases due to channel management and synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an identifier embedded in the medical image as a mediator to simplify the matching process between images and metadata. Instead of implementing complex synchronization protocols, the system relies on this identifier to automatically associate corresponding image and metadata pairs at the receiver, reducing system complexity while maintaining separate transmission channels.
4Productivity
If all medical imaging data is transmitted through a single high-bandwidth channel, then real-time transmission is achieved, but data loss increases due to network inconsistencies and lack of error correction for metadata
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission into two channels: one dedicated to real-time image delivery and another for reliable metadata transmission with error correction. This segmentation ensures that critical metadata is protected from data loss while maintaining real-time transmission capability for images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements prior cushioning by transmitting metadata through a reliable channel that is specifically designed to protect against data loss. This preparatory measure ensures that even if network inconsistencies occur, the metadata remains intact and can be used for accurate image interpretation and auditing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed concepts aim to provide schemes, solutions, concepts, designs, methods and systems pertaining to the transmitting, receiving and/or communicating medical imaging data for remote real-time examination. In particular, a medical image is encoded (120) with an identifier based on at least part of metadata associated with the medical image. As the medical image and the metadata may have different transmission requirements (i.e. bandwidth, latency, loss, etc.), they are communicated through different communication channels (130, 140). In this way, the medical image and the metadata may be communicated appropriately, while the identifier enables the medical image and the metadata to be matched at a receiver.