Medical Imaging Projection Method Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical imaging, particularly in tomographic imaging, changing or acquiring new representations of image data for diagnosis is time-consuming and costly, as existing reconstruction unit software requires complex changes for each new representation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that separates the reconstruction and display units, allowing for the transmission of raw data and scan protocols to enable flexible calculation of different representations by assigning display parameters to scan protocols, enabling quick and cost-effective changes in projection methods without re-acquiring data or reconstructing images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reconstruction unit software is changed to implement different representations, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the projection method parameters from the reconstruction unit software and places them in a separate display parameter data structure. This allows different projection methods to be implemented without modifying the reconstruction software, thereby maintaining functionality while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The scan protocol is designed to contain display parameters that can specify different projection methods (MIP, MPR, MinIP, etc.). A single reconstruction software implementation can serve multiple representation needs by interpreting different display parameters, achieving multi-functionality without increasing software complexity.
2Reliability
If image data is reconstructed again or raw data is re-acquired to obtain new representations, then the diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary reconstruction of the image data set once, and then applies different projection methods to the already reconstructed data. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming re-reconstruction or re-acquisition when different representations are needed, while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through proper projection processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A raw data set is acquired using a scan protocol via an imaging medical device. In an embodiment of a method, the raw data set and the scan protocol are transmitted from the medical device to a reconstruction unit. Furthermore, an at least two-dimensional image data set is calculated from the raw data set via the reconstruction unit. Furthermore, a display parameter is fetched via the reconstruction unit, the display parameter being assigned to the scan protocol and the display parameter defining a first projection method for the image data set. Furthermore, the image data set and the display parameter are transmitted from the reconstruction unit to a display unit, the reconstruction unit and the display unit being spatially separate. Furthermore, a first projection data set is determined by applying the first projection method to the image data set via the display unit.