Medical Image Reduction via Priority-Based Material Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical information overview systems face difficulties in efficiently extracting and displaying desired medical images due to the large number of reduced images displayed, leading to degradation in visual image quality and poor browsability.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires medical information, extracts relevant material candidates, assigns priorities, and generates reduced medical images using selected materials, allowing for improved image quality and browsability by arranging images and documents effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of reduced medical images are displayed to provide comprehensive patient information, then the quantity of information is improved, but the visual image quality and browsability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the medical information display into two distinct views: a list view showing multiple reduced medical images with metadata, and a detailed view showing a single selected image with full information. This segmentation allows the system to display multiple images without compromising the quality of individual image display, as each image maintains its full resolution when viewed in detail while the list view provides an overview of multiple images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional change by adding metadata dimensions (patient information, examination details, timestamps) to the traditional image display. This allows the system to present multiple images in a structured list format with additional information dimensions, enabling comprehensive information display without forcing all images to be displayed simultaneously in a single view, thus preserving visual quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If reduced medical images are displayed one by one due to limited display region, then the visual image quality is maintained, but the time required for information extraction and browsing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by extracting and displaying key information (metadata, patient details, examination parameters) alongside the reduced medical images in the list view. This preliminary presentation of essential information allows users to quickly identify and select relevant images without having to browse through every image sequentially, significantly reducing the time required for information extraction while maintaining image quality when images are viewed in detail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user and the full medical images: the list view with reduced images and metadata serves as an intermediary that filters and pre-presents information. This intermediary structure allows users to quickly scan through multiple images and their associated metadata, making informed selections about which full images to view, thereby reducing browsing time while preserving the ability to access high-quality images when needed.
3Productivity
If key images are extracted from original images for reduced medical image generation, then the generation efficiency is improved, but the visual image quality and visibility of extracted images deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by selecting and extracting specific representative images (key images) from the complete set of original medical images. Instead of using arbitrary central slices or random selections, the system extracts images that are most representative of the examination findings. These extracted key images are then used to generate reduced medical images that efficiently represent the entire examination while maintaining high visual quality and diagnostic usefulness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring that the extracted key images have superior visual quality and representativeness in specific local regions of the medical examination. Rather than uniformly treating all images equally, the system identifies and extracts images with particular local characteristics (such as abnormal findings or diagnostic significance) to serve as the basis for reduced medical images, thereby maintaining high visual quality while improving generation efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire patient's medical information, an extraction unit configured to extract a part of the medical information as material candidates for a reduced medical image, a selection unit configured to assign priorities to a plurality of the extracted material candidates, and, based on the priorities, select materials to be used for generation of the reduced medical image out of a plurality of the material candidates, and a generation unit configured to generate the reduced medical image based on a plurality of the selected materials.