Medical Image Suitability Screening Before Algorithm Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical image evaluation algorithms require significant computational resources, are time-consuming, and often produce incorrect or unusable results when image data properties differ or quality is insufficient, leading to wasted effort and unnecessary costs.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that analyze medical image data sets to determine suitability for specific evaluation algorithms by checking quality and content requirements, ensuring only suitable data is forwarded for evaluation, and providing decision support for manual or automated actions to improve data quality or acquisition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If evaluation algorithms are applied to all image data sets, then comprehensive evaluation coverage is achieved, but computational resources are wasted on unsuitable data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation result qualityVSAvoidcomputational resource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a suitability check before the main evaluation process. The system analyzes image data sets against predefined requirements (image quality, content, format) and only forwards suitable data to evaluation algorithms. This preliminary filtering prevents wasted computational resources on unsuitable data while ensuring reliable evaluation results for appropriate cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If image data sets are sent to remote servers for evaluation, then specialized algorithms can be accessed, but communication traffic and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to specialized algorithmsVSAvoidcommunication traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary suitability assessment locally at the imaging device or local server before transmitting data to remote servers. By checking image quality, content, and format requirements upfront, the system avoids unnecessary communication traffic and costs while still enabling access to specialized remote algorithms when truly needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary suitability check mechanism between the image data set and the remote evaluation algorithm. This intermediary layer assesses whether the data meets requirements before initiating remote communication, acting as a filter that reduces unnecessary traffic while maintaining access to specialized capabilities when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If evaluation algorithms are used despite insufficient image quality, then evaluation process is completed, but incorrect or unusable results are produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation processing throughputVSAvoidevaluation result accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary quality assessment by checking image data sets against predefined requirements (resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast, presence of relevant features) before evaluation. This ensures that only images with sufficient quality proceed to evaluation, preventing incorrect results while maintaining efficient processing throughput for suitable cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12482551B2Methods for operating an evaluation system for medical image data sets, evaluation systems, computer programs and electronically readable storage mediums

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

At least one example embodiment provides an improved handling of image data sets of patients.