Medical Image Processing Apparatus for Ischemia Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical image processing methods struggle to accurately determine the relationship between ischemic regions and stenosis sites in coronary arteries, leading to subjective judgments and difficulties in determining the appropriate course of treatment for ischemic heart disease.

Innovation Solution

A medical image processing apparatus and method that generates diagnostic image data by superimposing vessel dominant region data and lesion site dominant region data on morphological and functional image data, using volume data collected from cardiac regions, to compute an ischemia involvement rate and objectively assess the involvement of stenosis sites in ischemic regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If separate collection modes are used to collect morphological image data and functional image data, then the completeness of image data is improved, but the objectivity of diagnosis deteriorates due to subjective analysis by doctors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of image dataVSAvoidobjectivity of diagnosis

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines morphological image data and functional image data into a single integrated diagnostic system. The image synthesis unit merges these separate data types to create comprehensive diagnostic images, eliminating the need for separate analysis processes and reducing subjective judgment by providing unified objective data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an image synthesis unit as an intermediary between data collection and diagnostic analysis. This unit automatically processes and integrates morphological and functional image data, serving as an objective mediator that eliminates subjective human analysis while maintaining data completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If doctors make subjective judgments based on their experiences by observing respective image data, then the flexibility of diagnosis is improved, but the accuracy of determining the relationship between ischemic region and stenosis site deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of diagnosisVSAvoidaccuracy of determining relationship

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the image synthesis unit provides integrated visual feedback showing the relationship between stenosis sites and ischemic regions. This feedback loop allows doctors to observe the quantitative relationship directly in synthesized images, improving accuracy while maintaining diagnostic flexibility through interactive visualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of subjective human judgment with an automated image synthesis and analysis system. The computer-based system objectively determines the relationship between ischemic regions and stenosis sites, eliminating variability in human judgment while preserving diagnostic flexibility through programmable analysis parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If conventional methods are used to determine the relationship between ischemic region and stenosis site, then the simplicity of the diagnostic process is improved, but the reliability of treatment determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of diagnostic processVSAvoidreliability of treatment determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary integration of morphological and functional image data before the diagnostic decision-making process. By pre-synthesizing the combined images and automatically identifying relationships between stenosis sites and ischemic regions, the system simplifies the subsequent diagnostic process while ensuring reliable, objective data foundation for treatment determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2442276B1Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method

Publication Date: 2017.07.12 TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYST CORP

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AI summary

A medical image processing apparatus includes a vessel running data generating unit, a lesion site detecting unit, a vessel dominant region data generating unit, a lesion site dominant region data generating unit, and a diagnostic image data generating unit. The vessel running data generating unit generates vessel running data of a vessel. The lesion site detecting unit detects positional information of a lesion site in the vessel. The vessel dominant region data generating unit generates vessel dominant region data indicating a region dominated by the vessel in a region provided with nutrition. The lesion site dominant region data generating unit generates lesion site dominant region data indicating a region dominated by the lesion site in the region provided with nutrition. The diagnostic image data generating unit generates diagnostic image data by superimposing the vessel dominant region data and the lesion site dominant region data on morphological image data.