Medical Image Data Modification for CAD Result Highlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD algorithms in medical imaging struggle to securely identify abnormalities without generating false positives, leading to difficulties in integrating and navigating image analysis results across different vendors and diagnostic workflows, which can result in overlooked findings and serious medical errors.
Innovation Solution
A method for modifying medical image data sets to highlight image analysis results by determining the positional information of these results within the data set and incorporating visual markers or annotations, allowing for better accessibility and interoperability between different systems and applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CAD algorithms output DICOM secondary captured images with burnt-in annotations, then image analysis results can be integrated into the diagnostic workflow, but navigating these results becomes difficult and cognitive effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by displaying multiple slices simultaneously in a tiled layout rather than sequentially navigating through slices. This dimensional change allows radiologists to see image analysis results across multiple slices at once, reducing navigation effort while maintaining reliable integration of CAD results into the diagnostic workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the large dataset of 1000+ slices into smaller, manageable tile groups that can be displayed simultaneously. By dividing the overwhelming number of slices into organized segments with visual indicators, the system maintains complete integration of image analysis results while making navigation significantly easier through the segmented view
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple CAD algorithms from different vendors are used, then comprehensive image analysis is achieved, but interoperability and integration become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal display framework that can accommodate image analysis results from multiple different CAD algorithms and vendors. The tiled layout system with visual indicators serves as a multi-functional platform that standardizes the presentation of diverse analysis results, enabling comprehensive image analysis while simplifying interoperability integration through a common interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a intermediary display system that acts as a mediator between multiple vendor-specific CAD algorithms and the radiologist's workflow. This intermediary tiled display framework translates and standardizes various formats of image analysis results into a unified visual presentation, reducing integration complexity while maintaining comprehensive analytical capabilities
3Quantity of substance
If image analysis results are displayed as tiny datapoints in large datasets, then complete data coverage is maintained, but important findings may be overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes and visual indicators in the tiled display to highlight slices containing image analysis results. By applying visual differentiation through color coding and indicators across the tiled slices, the system maintains complete data coverage of all 1000+ slices while ensuring important findings are prominently visible and not overlooked
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional sequential view to a multi-dimensional tiled layout that displays multiple slices simultaneously. This dimensional change allows complete data coverage to be maintained while transforming tiny datapoints into visually prominent indicators across the tiled arrangement, improving detection of important findings
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for enhancing a medical image data set for making corresponding image analysis results better accessible for a user. In particular, it is suggested to obtain the medical image data set, the medical image data set depicting an image volume and comprising a plurality of slices with image data depicting a certain section of the image volume, to obtain at least one image analysis result applicable to the medical image data set, to determine a positional information of the image analysis result in the medical image data set, to modify the image data of one or more slices of the medical image data based on the positional information so that the modified image data highlights the position of the image analysis results in the medical image data set, and to provide the modified image data.