Medical Image Orientation via Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical X-ray laboratories, reorienting X-ray images correctly when the C-arm imaging equipment and display monitor are moved around a patient is challenging, often requiring unnecessary exposure to X-ray radiation for diagnostic purposes.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging apparatus that receives orientation information from a patient imaging arrangement, processes it to determine a display transformation, and applies this transformation to the medical image data, allowing for automatic reorientation of the image display without exposing the patient to non-diagnostic X-ray radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stand-alone display monitor and C-arm imaging system are moved into different positions around a patient during an intervention, then ergonomic efficiency is improved, but identifying the correct orientation of the X-ray display becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses orientation sensors to continuously monitor the position of the C-arm imaging system and automatically adjusts the display image orientation based on this feedback. This closed-loop approach ensures the displayed image always corresponds to the actual patient anatomy regardless of equipment positioning, resolving the orientation identification challenge while maintaining ergonomic flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The display system automatically determines and applies the correct image orientation transformation without requiring manual intervention from medical staff. The system self-adjusts based on sensor data, eliminating the need for professionals to manually reorient images when equipment positions change, thus maintaining both ergonomic freedom and correct image orientation
2Measurement precision
If conventional methods are used to identify correct X-ray display orientation by attempting to use the X-ray image itself, then orientation can be determined, but the patient is exposed to short bursts of X-ray radiation that are not useful for diagnostic purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary orientation measurement using non-radiation sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, or optical tracking) before any diagnostic imaging is performed. This preliminary action establishes the correct display orientation without exposing the patient to radiation, allowing subsequent diagnostic images to be displayed correctly from the first exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism (orientation sensors on the C-arm or tracking cameras) that indirectly determines image orientation without requiring direct X-ray exposure. This intermediary approach provides the necessary orientation information while completely avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient
Data Source
AI summary
Patient imaging systems suffer from the disadvantage that it is not clear to a medical professional using such systems which image view is the correct way around relative to a patient's body during a medical intervention. The present invention proposes automatically to adjust a display transformation applied to medical image data, based on an orientation of the patient imaging system received, for example, from a digital compass attached to the patient imaging system.