Medical Imaging Range Setting Using Body Thickness to Prevent Chipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging systems face issues with chipping in axial images due to insufficient imaging ranges when capturing scanogram images from a front direction, particularly for subjects with thick body thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a combination of scanogram images and camera images, either from optical or depth cameras, to determine an imaging range by incorporating body thickness information, adjusting for margins, and accounting for subject motion, to prevent chipping in axial images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If only scanogram image from front direction is used for positioning, then the positioning process is simple and fast, but the imaging range is insufficient for subjects with thick body thickness causing chipping in axial images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines scanogram images from multiple directions (front, side, and/or back views) with camera images to determine the imaging range. This merging of multiple image sources provides comprehensive body thickness information that prevents chipping while maintaining automated positioning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using only a single front-direction scanogram image to incorporating multi-directional scanogram images and camera images, adding dimensional information about body thickness from different angles. This dimensional enhancement ensures complete coverage of thick body portions in the imaging range.
2Ease of operation
If imaging range is automatically determined using only scanogram image, then the operation is simple and fast, but chipping occurs in axial images for thick body portions
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges information from scanogram images and camera images to automatically determine the imaging range. This combination maintains operational simplicity while improving reliability by ensuring complete coverage of the subject's body thickness, preventing chipping in axial images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses camera images as an intermediary to obtain accurate body thickness information, which then serves as a basis for determining the appropriate imaging range. This intermediary approach ensures complete body coverage while maintaining automated operation.
3Loss of time
If imaging range is set without considering body thickness information, then the processing is faster and simpler, but the imaging coverage is insufficient leading to chipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary acquisition of camera images and scanogram images to determine body thickness information before setting the imaging range. This preliminary action ensures that the imaging coverage area is adequately determined to prevent chipping, while the automated process minimizes additional time loss.
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 effectively suppresses the occurrence of chipping in axial images, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the subject's body and maintaining high-definition imaging quality.
Implementation Method 1
a camera image obtained by imaging the subject with an optical camera or a depth camera
Implementation Method 2
the camera image is an optical camera image obtained by imaging with the optical camera, and the body thickness information is information estimated by analyzing a subject image included in the optical camera image
Data Source
AI summary
A console (information processing apparatus) includes a scanogram image acquisition unit and a camera image acquisition unit that acquire a scanogram image obtained by imaging a subject and a camera image obtained by imaging the subject with an optical camera or a depth camera, and an imaging range determination unit that determines an imaging range in main imaging using body thickness information indicating a body thickness of the subject obtained from the camera image and the scanogram image.