Medical Image Storage Pre-processing for Instant Comparative Interpretation

Solution Overview

Problem

Medical image storage systems face challenges in displaying image processing results instantaneously during comparative interpretations due to storage limitations and differences in image recognition algorithms, leading to delayed responsiveness and potential inability to display past image processing results in time-sensitive situations.

Innovation Solution

A medical image storage processing apparatus and method that identifies past medical images related to new storage target images, performs the same image processing, and stores the results, ensuring that image processing results for both new and past images are available instantaneously for comparative interpretations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If image processing is performed on past medical images when performing comparative interpretation, then the image processing result can be obtained, but there is a significant time delay compared to the instantaneous display of new image processing results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of past image processing resultsVSAvoidtime delay in displaying past image processing results

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image processing on past medical images in advance and stores the processed results. When a new medical image is stored or before its storage time point, the system identifies related past medical images and pre-processes them using the same image processing algorithms, so that when comparative interpretation is needed, both new and past image processing results are immediately available without time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If image processing results are stored in advance to improve responsiveness, then instantaneous display is achieved, but storage capacity is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponsiveness of image processing result displayVSAvoidstorage capacity for image processing results

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image processing on past medical images in advance and stores the processed results. When a new medical image is stored or before its storage time point, the system identifies related past medical images and pre-processes them using the same image processing algorithms, so that when comparative interpretation is needed, both new and past image processing results are immediately available without time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the same image processing algorithm is applied to past medical images for comparative interpretation, then consistent results are obtained, but the system must ensure the algorithm was not present at the time of original image capture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of image processing resultsVSAvoidcompatibility with historical imaging systems

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image processing on past medical images in advance and stores the processed results. When a new medical image is stored or before its storage time point, the system identifies related past medical images and pre-processes them using the same image processing algorithms, so that when comparative interpretation is needed, both new and past image processing results are immediately available without time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10599811B2Medical image storage processing apparatus, method, and medium

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

Providing a medical image storage unit that stores a medical image, an image processing unit that performs image processing on a medical image to be stored in the medical image storage unit and stores the result of the image processing in association with the medical image, and a past medical image identification unit that identifies, at a storage time point of a new storage target medical image in the medical image storage unit or at a time point before the storage time point, a past medical image related to the new storage target medical image from the medical images stored in the medical image storage unit, wherein the image processing unit performs the same image processing as that for the new storage target medical image on the identified past medical image and stores the result of the image processing in association with the past medical image.