Medical Image Time Windows for Bilateral Blood Flow Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional algorithms struggle to accurately estimate blood flow in bilaterally symmetrical body parts such as lungs, kidneys, and brain due to timing discrepancies between blood flow to these regions, which is exacerbated by the short retention time of contrast medium and heartbeat motion, leading to inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
A medical image-processing apparatus that sets regions of interest in each lung and determines individual time windows for measuring blood flow, using time-density curves to account for heartbeat motion and timing deviations, thereby generating accurate parametric images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional algorithms are used to estimate blood flow in symmetrical body parts, then the estimation process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to timing discrepancies between blood flow to left and right lungs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the blood flow estimation process into separate time window determination steps for the left lung and right lung. By segmenting the measurement process into region-specific time windows based on individual time-density curves, the system achieves higher measurement precision for each symmetrical region while maintaining a manageable algorithmic structure through modular processing steps.
2Reliability
If a single time window is used for both lungs, then the processing is efficient, but the reliability deteriorates due to heartbeat motion and timing differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining separate time windows specific to each lung region based on their individual time-density curves. This allows the system to account for local variations in blood flow timing caused by heartbeat motion, thereby improving measurement reliability for each region while processing efficiency is maintained through automated curve analysis.
3Speed
If the contrast medium retention time is short, then the imaging speed is fast, but the measurement precision worsens due to difficulty in capturing complete blood flow data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of region-specific time windows by analyzing time-density curves before conducting the actual blood flow measurement. This preliminary action allows the system to optimize the imaging timing for each lung region, ensuring that complete blood flow data is captured within the short contrast medium retention period, thereby maintaining both imaging speed and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image-processing apparatus of an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires a plurality of medical images including a predetermined region and having different time phases. The processing circuitry sets a first region of interest and a second region of interest in each of the plurality of medical images. The processing circuitry derives a temporal change in first pixel values, which are pixel values on the first region of interest, on the basis of the first pixel values and derives a temporal change in second pixel values, which are pixel values on the second region of interest, on the basis of the second pixel values. The processing circuitry sets a first time window on the basis of the temporal change in the first pixel values and sets a second time window on the basis of the temporal change in the second pixel values.