Medical Imaging Analyzer Overlapping Area Perfusion Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical imaging, perfusion analysis of large organs using time-series images captured with multiple doses of a contrast agent is hindered by organ movement and residual contrast agent, leading to reduced accuracy and incomplete analysis due to overlapping image areas and unspecified artery regions.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging analyzer divides the imaging area into overlapping partial areas, administers contrast agent, and captures time-series images, using pixel value transition calculations and registration methods to correct for organ movement and residual contrast agent effects, enabling accurate perfusion analysis even when artery areas are not specified in all images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If time-series images are captured by moving the imaging area with multiple doses of contrast agent to cover large organs, then the coverage area is improved, but the accuracy of perfusion analysis deteriorates due to residual contrast agent from previous administrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large organ into multiple partial areas and captures time-series images for each partial area separately with multiple contrast agent administrations. This segmentation allows the system to manage the complexity of multiple administrations while maintaining accuracy through subsequent correction processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pixel value transition information from overlapping areas between adjacent partial areas to calculate and correct the concentration of residual contrast agent. This feedback mechanism enables the system to accurately determine the actual contrast agent concentration despite multiple administrations, thereby maintaining perfusion analysis accuracy across the entire organ coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple doses of contrast agent are administered to capture time-series images of large organs, then the coverage area is improved, but organ movement during scanning causes steps in the combined image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs registration processing to align the images from different partial areas before combining them. This preliminary alignment action compensates for organ movement that occurs during the extended scanning time required for multiple contrast agent administrations, preventing steps in the combined image.
3Measurement precision
If the imaging area is divided into partial areas with overlapping regions, then the accuracy of residual contrast agent correction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent focuses correction processing specifically on the overlapping areas between adjacent partial areas, where pixel value transition information is most reliable for determining residual contrast agent concentration. This partial action approach simplifies the overall processing by concentrating computational efforts on the most informative regions.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a medical imaging analyzer includes an imaging unit, a calculator, and an analyzer. The imaging unit divides an area including an object of a subject to be captured into a plurality of partial areas such that the partial areas overlap each other to form an overlapping area, and administers a contrast agent to each of the partial areas to capture a plurality of time-series images. The calculator calculates, based on the transition of the pixel value in one of the time-series images having the overlapping area, the transition of the pixel value in the other time-series image having the overlapping area. The analyzer analyzes the time-series images based on the transition of the pixel value in the one and the other of the time-series images to obtain the hemodynamics of the subject.