Medical Image Transfer Function Contrast Enhancement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image visualization techniques, such as the level-window method, often fail to effectively highlight anatomical information outside the primary region of interest, leading to missed details in medical imaging.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that generates a second, non-linear transfer function for intensity values outside the selected window, with a locally maximal gradient at transition points, to enhance contrast and reveal structural clues at transition regions, while maintaining standard visualization for the primary region of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a standard level-window transfer function is used to visualize the primary region of interest, then the contrast within the selected intensity range is enhanced, but anatomical information outside this range becomes invisible or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different transfer function characteristics for different intensity ranges. The first transfer function optimizes contrast for the primary region of interest (within the window range), while the second transfer function optimizes contrast for secondary regions (outside the window range). This allows each region to be visualized with appropriate contrast enhancement without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the intensity value range into at least two distinct ranges: a first range corresponding to the primary region of interest and a second range corresponding to secondary regions. By applying separate transfer functions to these segmented ranges, the system can independently optimize visualization for each region, preventing information loss in either area.
2Loss of information
If multiple transfer functions are applied to enhance contrast at transition points, then information content is increased, but information overload may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The second transfer function is designed with locally maximal gradient specifically at transition intensity values, applying contrast enhancement only where anatomical transitions occur rather than uniformly across all intensity ranges. This targeted approach increases information content at critical boundaries while avoiding unnecessary enhancement that would contribute to information overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies contrast enhancement partially - specifically at transition points identified by the transition region identifier - rather than applying uniform enhancement across all regions. This partial action approach provides just enough enhancement to reveal anatomical transitions without excessive enhancement that would create information overload and distract from the primary region of interest.
3Measurement precision
If the transfer function has maximal gradient at transition points, then contrast is enhanced at anatomical boundaries, but the complexity of the transfer function increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer function is segmented into at least two distinct functions: a first transfer function for the primary intensity range and a second transfer function for the secondary intensity range. The second transfer function is specifically designed with maximal gradient at transition points, while the first transfer function maintains standard characteristics. This segmentation allows complex gradient behavior only where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire transfer function.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
System and related method to visualize image data. The system comprises an input port (IN) for receiving i) image data comprising a range of intensity values converted from signals acquired by an imaging apparatus in respect of an imaged object, and ii) a definition of a first transfer function configured to map a data interval within said range of said intensity values to an image interval of image values. A transition region identifier (TRI) identifies from among intensity values outside said data interval, one or more transition intensity values representative of a transition in composition and/or configuration of said object or of a transition in respect of a physical property in relation to said object. A transfer function generator (TFG) generates for said intensity values outside said data interval a second transfer function. The second transfer function is non- linear and has a respective gradient that is locally maximal around said transition intensity values. A renderer (RD) then renders, on a display unit (MT), a visualization of at least a part of said image data based on the two transfer functions.