Medical Image Quality Factor for Training Data Similarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine learning systems for medical imaging in radiation therapy lack a reliable method to assess the similarity between new data points and training data, leading to unreliable predictions and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A quality factor is generated to measure the similarity between new data samples and training data by computing distances and applying a model to determine the confidence level of applying the machine learning technique, ensuring the data sample is within the training data distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If machine learning systems are used for medical imaging in radiation therapy, then prediction speed and efficiency are improved, but reliability of predictions deteriorates due to lack of data similarity assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction speedVSAvoidprediction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by computing a quality factor that measures the similarity between new data samples and training data distribution. This quality factor feeds back into the machine learning prediction process, allowing the system to assess whether predictions should be trusted. When the quality factor indicates low similarity, the system can flag or reject predictions, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the speed benefits of ML processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary quality factor computation step between data input and final prediction output. This intermediary layer computes distances between new data samples and training data distribution, then uses these distances to generate a quality factor that mediates the prediction process. This intermediary mechanism enables reliable filtering of low-quality predictions without slowing down the overall ML processing pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If computational resources are allocated to process all data samples through machine learning, then prediction completeness is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates due to processing unsuitable data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing volumeVSAvoidcomputational resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by computing the quality factor before executing the full machine learning prediction process. By assessing data similarity in advance using distance computations and quality factor generation, the system can pre-filter out unsuitable data samples that would waste computational resources. This preliminary quality assessment prevents unnecessary processing of data samples that fall outside the training data distribution, thereby improving resource efficiency while maintaining complete processing of valid samples.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the machine learning model processes data outside training distribution, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to erroneous results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata range coverageVSAvoidprediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of processing out-of-distribution data into a benefit by using the quality factor to identify and flag such cases. Rather than blindly processing all data samples and risking inaccurate predictions, the system leverages the quality factor computation to detect when data samples fall outside the training distribution. This allows the system to adaptively handle diverse data while maintaining precision by identifying cases where predictions should be treated with caution or rejected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12580065B2Image quality relative to machine learning data
Publication Date: 2026.03.17 ELEKTA AB
  • US12580065B2 patent drawing
  • US12580065B2 patent drawing
  • US12580065B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing operations comprising: receiving a plurality of training medical images used to train a machine learning technique; applying a model to the plurality of training medical images to generate a distribution representation of the plurality of training medical images; computing a first distance between a given training medical image in the plurality of training medical images and the distribution representation; computing a second distance between a new medical image and the distribution representation; and computing a quality factor indicating a measure of similarity between a new medical image and the plurality of medical images as a function of the first distance and the second distance.