Medical Image Processing System for Objective Disease Stage Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image processing systems for determining disease stages, such as in inflammatory bowel disease, are influenced by the doctor's experience and proficiency, as they rely on subjective assessment of red blood cell visibility and gland duct structure irregularity, lacking objective index values for accurate disease stage determination.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing system that uses multiple illumination light beams with different wavelength bands to acquire index values for red blood cell and gland duct structure visibility, allowing for objective determination of disease stages by indexing visibility and using weighted index values for more accurate disease stage assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple illumination light beams with different wavelength bands are used to acquire index values, then measurement precision of red blood cell and gland duct structure visibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the illumination light into multiple wavelength bands (first, second, and third illumination light beams with different center wavelengths) to independently acquire index values for different observation targets. This segmentation allows precise measurement of red blood cell visibility and gland duct structure irregularity separately, resolving the contradiction by dividing the complex measurement task into manageable spectral components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces the wavelength dimension as an additional measurement parameter, acquiring images at multiple wavelength bands rather than a single broad spectrum. This dimensional expansion enables differentiation between various tissue components (red blood cells, gland duct structures) based on their distinct spectral signatures, improving measurement precision while systematically managing complexity through structured spectral analysis.
2Measurement precision
If index values from multiple illumination light beams are combined, then determination accuracy of disease stage is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple index values acquired from different illumination light beams into a single comprehensive determination result. By combining the first index value (from first illumination light), second index value (from second illumination light), and third index value (from third illumination light), the system achieves more accurate disease stage determination while managing calculation complexity through systematic integration of multiple measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the acquired index values as feedback to iteratively determine the disease stage. The determination unit references predetermined correlations between index values and disease stages, adjusting the final determination based on the combined information from multiple wavelength bands. This feedback mechanism improves accuracy by systematically integrating multiple measurements rather than relying on single-point assessments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables reliable and objective determination of disease stages by providing index values for red blood cell and gland duct structure visibility, reducing the influence of doctor experience and improving determination accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit that emits a plurality of illumination light beams having different wavelength bands and different visibilities for red blood cells
Data Source
AI summary
In order to support determination of a disease stage, there are provided a medical image processing system, an endoscope system, a diagnostic support apparatus, and a medical service support apparatus for reliably acquiring an index value relevant to visibility with respect to the state of red blood cells or the degree of irregularity of a gland duct structure according to the disease stage determination accuracy desired by a doctor. A light source unit emits a plurality of illumination light beams having different wavelength bands and different visibilities for red blood cells. An image acquisition unit acquires a plurality of medical images corresponding to respective illumination light beams by imaging an observation target illuminated with the respective illumination light beams. A red blood cell index value acquisition unit acquires a red blood cell index value, which is obtained by indexing the visibility of red blood cells, from each of the medical images.