Medical Image Processing Apparatus Breathing Phase Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The diagnosis of bronchi using X-ray CT apparatuses is hindered by the time-consuming process of calculating lung field volume changes across a breathing cycle, requiring extraction of lung field regions from multiple time phases of three-dimensional image data.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that calculates index values from pixel differences across time phases, allowing for the selection of inspiration and expiration phases without extracting the lung field region, thereby reducing processing time and improving throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the lung field region is extracted from three-dimensional image data to calculate volume changes, then the accuracy of breathing cycle analysis is improved, but the processing time is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for breathing cycle analysis - specifically the lung field volume at different time phases - without performing complete three-dimensional region extraction. By calculating volume changes from selected image data at key time points (inspiration and expiration phases), the system obtains sufficient measurement precision while avoiding the time-consuming process of extracting the entire lung field region from all three-dimensional image data.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing all three-dimensional image data completely, the patent applies partial action by selecting representative time phases and calculating lung field volume only at those specific moments. This partial processing approach provides sufficient information for breathing cycle analysis while dramatically reducing the overall processing time required.
2Loss of information
If three-dimensional image data from multiple time phases is processed to determine lung field volume, then the diagnostic information completeness is improved, but the device complexity and processing load are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical diagnostic information - lung field volume at inspiration and expiration phases - from the multi-phase three-dimensional image data. By focusing on these key parameters rather than processing all image data in detail, the system maintains diagnostic information completeness while reducing computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the breathing cycle into distinct phases (inspiration and expiration) and processes image data separately for each phase. This segmentation allows the system to capture essential diagnostic information at key moments without the complexity of continuous processing throughout the entire breathing cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes storage circuitry, image data processing circuitry, and association circuitry. The storage circuitry stores therein pieces of image data on a subject obtained at a plurality of time phases from a medical image diagnostic apparatus. The image data processing circuitry calculates an index value obtained by comparing a pixel value of image data of a reference time phase among the pieces of image data of the time phases and a pixel value of each of the pieces of image data of the time phases. The association circuitry selects at least one of the pieces of image data of the time phases based on the index value calculated for each of the time phases and associates the one piece of image data with a breathing time phase in at least one of inspiration and expiration of the subject.