Medical Image Noise Reduction Through Stable Frame Rewriting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical image processing systems fail to effectively reduce noise when the memory contains indefinite values, leading to inappropriate noise reduction and unsuitable images for observation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a noise processing unit that executes readout stop processing at a predetermined timing to rewrite the memory with stable images, ensuring appropriate data is used for noise reduction, thereby preventing the blending of unstable or indefinite values with current frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If noise reduction processing is executed using captured image data from memory, then noise reduction effect is improved, but when memory contains indefinite values (at power startup), inappropriate processing occurs leading to degradation of image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of data validity before executing noise reduction processing. The control unit checks whether the past frame data in memory is valid (not indefinite) before allowing the noise processing unit to perform noise reduction. This preliminary check prevents inappropriate processing when memory contains indefinite values at power startup or after resets.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the memory and the noise processing unit. It mediates the data flow by determining whether past frame data is valid and controlling the timing of readout operations. This intermediary control ensures that noise reduction processing only occurs when appropriate data is available in memory.
2Manufacturing precision
If readout stop processing is implemented to prevent inappropriate noise reduction, then image quality is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether past frame data is valid before initiating noise reduction processing. This preliminary determination simplifies the overall control logic by preventing inappropriate processing scenarios rather than adding complex real-time validation during the noise reduction operation itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own captured image data to determine validity and control the processing. The control unit leverages the already-captured current frame data to make determination decisions, eliminating the need for external validation mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing device includes an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image. The image processing unit includes: a memory configured to store the captured image; and a noise processing unit configured to enable execution of writing of the captured image into the memory and readout of the captured image from the memory individually, and execute noise reduction processing of reducing noise of the captured image of the current frame based on the input captured image of the current frame and the captured image of the past frame read out from the memory, the noise processing unit being configured to execute readout stop processing of stopping readout of the past frame from the memory at a predetermined timing and writing the captured image of the current frame into the memory without executing the noise reduction processing.