Medical Image Overlay for Slice-Scout Alignment Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing medical image management systems, there is a lack of clarity in the correspondence relationship between slice images and scout images, leading to potential misalignment when these images are attached or displayed together, such as in reading reports or electronic health records.
Innovation Solution
A synthesized image is created by synthesizing the scout image in a predetermined region of the slice image, with a reference line indicating the cross-section position, using a hardware processor in the image management apparatus or reading terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If slice image and scout image are attached to reading report or stored in electronic health record separately, then storage and transmission flexibility is improved, but correspondence relationship between images becomes unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the slice image and scout image into a single synthesized image where the scout image is overlaid on the slice image. This combination preserves the correspondence relationship between images while maintaining storage flexibility, as the synthesized image can be stored and transmitted as a single unit without losing the association between slice and scout images.
Solution Approach 2:
The synthesized image acts as an intermediary that combines both slice and scout images into a single structure. This intermediary format allows external systems to access and display the correspondence relationship between images without requiring separate storage or complex association mechanisms, thus preventing information loss while maintaining flexibility.
2Loss of information
If slice image and scout image are displayed side by side in image management apparatus, then correspondence relationship is clear, but external systems cannot reliably recognize the association
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the slice and scout images into a synthesized image with overlay, the patent creates a self-contained format that externally displays the correspondence relationship clearly. The synthesized image can be directly viewed by external systems without requiring special processing or association metadata, thus maintaining external compatibility while preserving clear correspondence recognition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate selection of slice image and scout image is allowed, then system flexibility is improved, but misalignment and incorrect correspondence occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by automatically establishing the correspondence relationship between slice and scout images before they are selected for attachment. The system pre-associates these images based on their metadata (such as examination ID, patient information, and temporal-spatial coordinates), ensuring that when images are separately selected, the correct correspondence is maintained without requiring manual alignment, thus preventing misalignment while preserving selection flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores instructions causing a computer that processes information stored in an image management apparatus to execute: creating a synthesized image by synthesizing a scout image in a predetermined region of a slice image, the slice image and the scout image being stored in the image management apparatus, and the scout image specifying a cross-section position of the slice image.