Medical Imaging Plate Alignment via Overlapping Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging systems face challenges in efficiently combining images from multiple imaging plates to create a composite image, particularly in intraoral imaging, where alignment and quality issues can lead to suboptimal results.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a container to hold two imaging plates in a predetermined overlapping orientation, with an image reader converting the images into digital format and a processor aligning and combining them to create a composite image, using techniques like rotational alignment and mutual information methods for precise matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple imaging plates are used to capture medical images, then the coverage area and diagnostic capability are improved, but the complexity of aligning and combining the images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system divides the imaging area into multiple segments by using multiple imaging plates arranged in a grid pattern. Each plate captures a specific portion of the medical image, allowing the system to cover a larger area while maintaining manageable image processing complexity through systematic segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that automatically aligns and combines images from multiple plates. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of image registration, overlap region identification, and composite image generation, shielding the user from the underlying complexity while enabling expanded coverage.
2Manufacturing precision
If imaging plates are held in predetermined overlapping orientation, then image alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging plates are pre-positioned in a container before the imaging process, with their overlapping orientations predetermined. This preliminary arrangement ensures precise alignment is built into the hardware configuration, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment adjustments during image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The container and plate positioning system is designed to self-align the imaging plates in the correct overlapping orientation without requiring external intervention. The physical structure of the container and the arrangement of plates within it automatically ensure proper positioning, making the system self-sufficient in maintaining alignment precision.
3Productivity
If automated image processing is used, then processing efficiency is improved, but the computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated image processing system operates continuously, seamlessly transitioning through image acquisition, alignment, overlap region identification, and composite image generation without interruption. This continuous processing flow maintains high efficiency while managing processing time through optimized algorithms that handle multiple plates concurrently rather than sequentially.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate and efficient creation of composite medical images by ensuring proper alignment and quality integration of images from multiple plates, enhancing image processing efficiency and reducing errors.
Implementation Method 1
imaging plates having different sizes... Digital x-rays operate with imaging plate readers
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging assembly includes a first imaging plate and a second imaging plate for acquiring a first and a second medical image. A container is configured to receive and hold the first imaging plate and the second imaging plate in a predetermined overlapping orientation. An image reader receives the first and second medical images and produces first and second digital medical images. A processor creates a composite image of the first and second digital images. A method of acquiring a medical image includes identifying an overlapped region of a lower image and an upper image. An alignment transformation is identified by matching the overlapped regions of the upper and lower images. The upper and lower images are aligned based upon the alignment transformation. A composite medical image is created from the upper image and the lower image.